James W. Ely, Jr., Milton R. Underwood Professor of Law and History, Vanderbilt University

Acclaim for previous editions "An informative and balanced account of the history of property rights protections under the Constitution. - The American Journal of Legal History

Acclaim for previous editions "This slender volume should serve well on reading lists both in introductory American history courses and in upper-division legal history or constitutional law courses. - The American Historical Review

Acclaim for previous editions "Greatly clarifies the pivotal place of private property in the American system. Through a sophisticated historical analysis, Ely illuminates two recurring issues of great importance: the constitutional limits on government regulation of property and the complex relationship between property ownership and individual liberty. - Norman Dorsen, New York University School of Law

Acclaim for previous editions "A wonderfully compact odyssey through the history of constitutional protection for property rights in this country. Tracing the winding evolution of Supreme Court decisions that affected the uses and enjoyment of property, as well as the government's attempts to regulate the same, Ely constructs a comprehensive, yet surprisingly readable examination of the issues. - The Journal of Southern History