Fire and Light: How the Enlightenment Transformed Our World

The Enlightenment: A History of Ideas That Shaped a Nation by James MacGregor Burns is an engaging and comprehensive history that explores the two-hundred-year conflagration of the Enlightenment, shedding light on the audacious questions and astonishing ideas that transformed thought, brought down governments, and inspired visionary political experiments.

This book delves into the origins of America's intellectual revolution, highlighting the contributions of influential thinkers like Benjamin Franklin, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson, while also examining the role of other key figures such as James Madison and Alexander Hamilton.

The Enlightenment: A History of Ideas That Shaped a Nation offers valuable insights into the ideals and arguments that formed the bedrock of our nation, providing answers to pressing questions about what a nation should be, who should lead and decide, how citizens can effect change, and what happiness is and how the state can contribute to it.

This book is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the foundations of American democracy and the ongoing relevance of Enlightenment ideals in today's world.