We generally think of James Madison (and most of our Founders) as a bunch of old men carved from marble and placed on pedestals. But guess what? They started out like the rest of us: they were kids and young adults before they became gray-haired and venerable. And what they learned as young people often had a profound effect on what they accomplished as adults.

Michael Signer has written a fascinating book about the boyhood and youth of James Madison, which explores in detail how such a small, sickly, quiet man was able to take on powerful opponents like Patrick Henry and win. Preview: it took lots of hard work.

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