Rating: 
Summary: Adequate
Review: This book is adequate. It contains the full Federalist Papers and a copy of the Constitution in the back, plus synopses of the content of each of the Papers. However, not much blank space is left on each page, making it difficult to write margin notes and underline. The paper and typeface are pretty low quality, a little better than newsprint. A good copy if you're not planning to spend a lot of time with the book, but if you are, go for another edition.
Rating: 
Summary: A necessity to understanding the founder's intent
Review: This is a good edition of the Federalist Papers, the introduction by Gary Wills is excellent. However, I would strongly recommend purchasing the Mentor edition, as that edition contains the text of the Constitution, as does this edition, but the Mentor edition has cross-references to specific portions of the Federalist Papers which address that clause of the Constitution.In general the Federalist Papers is a must read, no matter what edition you use, for anyone interested in the founding of the US, or desiring to learn how our system of federalism, and separation of powers was intended to work. I recommend reading numbers 10, 49, and 78 first.
Rating: 
Summary: The best edition of the Federalist Papers
Review: This is the best edition of the Federalist Papers. It includes many extras, but especially useful is the text of the US Constitution with cross-references to specific pages of the Federalist Papers referring to that provision. I highly recommend the Federalist Papers generally, and more specifically this edition to anyone wishing to know more about the founding and ratification of the Constitution.
Rating:
Summary: What can you say about pure gold?
Review: This is the book that is constantly being quoted--often by parties on the opposite sides of an argument, about what this country means and where it should go. There is nothing else like it, despite books written during the time, most of which are meant to glorify a person or political idea and are valuable to understanding the subject written about (despite any biases, if you understand what they are). This is where a study of America's founding should begin, and should be REQUIRED reading in every history/civics course.
Rating:
Summary: The "stars & stripes forever" book
Review: Want to read about how the American government actually got started, and how it was originally envisioned it would work? And want to be at least mildly shocked as to how different things are today from that original, lucid, compelling, vision? Read The Federalist Papers by Hamilton, et. al. Yes, the world (& technology) have changed substantially since the founding fathers conceived of our govt, but human nature & the concepts espoused within most assuredly have not.
Read, study, and learn. There is no easier way to increase your understanding of the world & human nature! And despite the flaws in the American govt (which obviously are many & often brutally ugly), it truly is the best form of govt yet conceived of, and possibly the best which will ever be conceived of. Despite politicians.
Rating:
Summary: A very handy edition
Review: You may ask yourself, "What's the difference between one version of the Federalist papers and another?" So did I. I found myself looking back to the Federalist papers so much during my first year of law school that I wanted a small, paperback edition. This was a great choice. The best feature is that the Papers are cross-referenced to the relvant articles of the Constitution. It also includes copies of the Constitution, the Articles of Confederation, and the Declaration of Independence. It makes it much easier to be aware of the context the Papers were written in as well as the result of the debates. The only thing missing was a copy of the Anti-Federalist papers -- but I haven't found a single volume that includes both yet.
| 
