US Constitution is flying off the shelves as Americans seek clarity in chaos

Founding documents spark renewed public interest

As political debates intensify and elections approach, publishers are seeing unprecedented demand for America's core texts.

Random House announced plans to release a hardcover edition combining the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution in July, followed by the Federalist Papers in November. Both volumes will feature introductions by Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Jon Meacham.

According to market analyst Circana, over 162,000 copies of these documents were sold by mid-April, nearly triple the number from the same period last year.

"The spike is likely in response to the recent change of administration," said Brenna Connor of Circana, adding that interest has also grown for books about democracy like On Tyranny and Who Is Government?

Political climate and historic milestones fuel the boom

Similar sales surges occurred during Trump's first term, with early 2017 numbers doubling those of 2016.

Experts point to multiple factors this year: intensified political discourse, policy shifts, and the upcoming 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

"It is a tumultuous moment... to put it kindly," said Meacham in a recent interview. "One way to address the chaos of the present time... is to re-engage with the essential texts that are about creating a system that is still worth defending."

Donald Trump has not ruled out the possibility of running for a third presidential term, stating he is "not joking" and that there are "methods" to bypass constitutional restrictions.

This bold statement, along with ongoing debates about changing the Constitution, has further fueled Americans' interest in the nation's core laws.

In uncertain times, many Americans are turning to the nation's founding ideals in search of clarity and direction.