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Preceded by a short background note, a time-line and a cheat-sheet with the most important issues and terminology explained, the bulk of the volume is devoted to the biographies of the signatories. Each of those follows a standard format with a portrait, basic life information (dates of birth and death, age at signing, profession and a place of burial) and a short biographical chapter focusing – but by no means limited to - the signatory's role at the Philadelphia Convention. Each such a chapter has a headline, a one-liner that summarises his role (The Signer Who Overcome Religious Discrimination), a personal characteristic (The Signer Who Was Destroyed by the Drink) or another important or catchy aspect of the signatory's life (The Signer Known throughout the World). Some are more eye catching then useful (The Signer with the Mysterious Middle Name) and some are delightfully pithy (The Signer Who... Oh, There is No Way to Dance Around the Issue, This Guy Was a Crook). Thus introduced, the thirty-nine parade before the modern reader in their ''fame and misfortune'', affording a unique glimpse of the newly emerging elite of the New World and the document that immortalised them at least in name.

This brings me to the subject of the intended audience of this volume. The style is breezy and conversational but erudite, accessible but not gratingly colloquial. The jokes, references to the political folklore and assumptions the authors make about myths and misconceptions a reader might have point very clearly at an U.S. readership. There is a lot of mythology associated with the American fathers of the nation, some of it known, but most of it obscure to people who did not grow up in the U.S. (a bit like the Alfred's cakes) and ''Signing Their Rights Away'' joyously relates these stories to the historical fact. Despite that, there is very little assumed knowledge and a reader that knows close to nothing about the U.S. Constitution and is familiar with just the basic facts of the early American history can easily read the book with interest and enjoyment (though it obviously helps to know some context). I feel it is a title primarily aimed at young people but could easily interest adults too and I for myself enjoyed getting more closely acquainted with the U.S. Constitution or its signatories.

If you happen to know somebody who has just became a freshly naturalised U.S. citizen ''Signing Their Rights Away''would make an ideal gift (assuming they feel like celebrating the fact in any way). A U.S. teen keen on history or anybody else with interest in Americana might also like it.

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