The Greatest Sentence Ever Written
Simon & Schuster · Hardcover · November 18, 2025
America’s bestselling biographer reveals the origins of the most revolutionary sentence in the Declaration of Independence, the one that defines who we are as Americans—and explains how it should shape our politics today. “Isaacson uses a jeweler’s loupe to scan what gives his snappy little book its engaging title….Isaacson skillfully teases fresh pith and resonance out of those familiar words.” —The Wall Street Journal “A short, smart analysis of perhaps the most famous passage in American history reveals its potency and unfulfilled promise.” —Kirkus Reviews To celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, Walter Isaacson takes readers on a fascinating deep dive into the creation of one of history’s most powerful sentences: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” Drafted by Thomas Jefferson and edited by Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, this line lays the foundation for the American Dream and defines the common ground we share as a nation.
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- Who it’s for
- A word-by-word reading of a founding sentence, with its political afterlife in view.
- Genres
- Revolutionary America (1775-1800), Constitutional Theory, Democracy
- Published
- Simon & Schuster, November 18, 2025
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Benjamin FranklinWalter Isaacson69% match
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John AdamsNelson Runger, David McCullough60% match
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For younger readers: What Is the Constitution?, ¿qué Es La Declaración De Independencia?, Fault Lines in the Constitution
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America’s bestselling biographer reveals the origins of the most revolutionary sentence in the Declaration of Independence, the one that defines who we are as Americans—and explains how it should shape our politics today. “Isaacson uses a jeweler’s loupe to scan what gives his snappy little book its engaging title….
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Isaacson skillfully teases fresh pith and resonance out of those familiar words.” —The Wall Street Journal “A short, smart analysis of perhaps the most famous passage in American history reveals its potency and unfulfilled promise.” —Kirkus Reviews To celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, Walter Isaacson takes readers on a fascinating deep dive into the creation of one of history’s most powerful sentences: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” Drafted by Thomas Jefferson and edited by Benjamin Franklin and John Adams, this line lays the foundation for the American Dream and defines the common ground we share as a nation. Isaacson unpacks its genius, word by word, illuminating the then-radical concepts behind it. Readers will gain a fresh appreciation for how it was drafted to inspire unity, equality, and the enduring promise of America. With clarity and insight, he reveals not just the power of these words but describes how, in these polarized times, we can use them to restore an appreciation for our common values.
Words in Public Life
A word-by-word reading of a founding sentence, with its political afterlife in view.
Come here for
- A close look at the craft and force of a founding sentence
- The long reach of language about equality and rights
Expect
- The sentence’s drafting and the ideas behind its words
- A connection between founding ideals and today’s polarized politics
Where it sits
| Revolutionary America (1775-1800) | 67% |
|---|---|
| Constitutional Theory | 46% |
| Democracy | 19% |
Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.
Publisher categories
- Colonial America (to 1775)
- Revolutionary America (1775-1800)
- Democracy
- Authors
- Walter Isaacson
- Publisher
- Simon & Schuster
- Published
- November 18, 2025
- Format
- Hardcover
- Reading lane
- Colonial America (to 1775)