"The Idea of America" Reflections on the Birth of the United States by Gordon S. Wood

"CBS Early Show" anchor Jeff Glor speaks with Gordon S. Wood about his latest book, "The Idea of America."

Jeff Glor: What inspired you to write the book?

Gordon S. Wood: Because the book is a collection of essays written over the past half century, it's difficult to pinpoint a specific moment. In each essay the inspiration was essentially my desire to answer a question that had emerged in my historical research.

JG: What surprised you the most during the writing process?

GW: Often it was the extent of stumbling and fumbling that people in the past had in working out solutions to problems that we now take for granted. For example, the idea of a constitutional convention to frame a constitution so that it would be different from a mere statute.

JG: What would you be doing if you weren't a writer?

GW: I can't imagine another career from the one I've had. Of course, as a university professor I did more than write history; I also taught students.

JG: What else are you reading right now?

GW: Right now I am reading the letters of John Adams from 1784 until his death in 1826. Of course, I read other works in the meantime including a new book on counterfeiting in early America.

JG: What's next for you?

GW: I am working on the Library of America volumes on John Adams's writings from 1784 to 1826. The first two volumes dealing with the period 1755 to 1783 have just been published.

For more on Gordon S. Wood, visit the Penguin Group website.