Thomas Jefferson

Average customer rating:

AMAZING! Teachers & Home school must read! :o)
OldFangled Educational Solution
Positive solutions - FINALLY!
Excellent Resource
All families need this book!

A Thomas Jefferson Education: Teaching a Generation of Leaders for the Twenty-first Century
Oliver Van DeMille
Manufacturer: George Wythe College Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 096712462X

Product Description

This completely update and revised Anniversary Classis Edition includes significant new material in addition to essential Thomas Jefferson Education Concepts including: -The 7 Keys of Great Teaching -The 4 Phases of Learning -The 5 Environments of Mentoring -Tips for Professional Educators -How to apply Thomas Jefferson Education in a homeschool -Teaching the classoscs of math, science, history, the arts, etc. -Thomas Jefferson Education in college and careers. From inside the book jacket: "As a high school teacher and administrator, I have yearned for a different approach to learning; and Oliver DeMille shows us how education should really take place - with classics and mentors, where students must dig it out for themselves with a little guidance. It may take a whole generation to throw off the bad habits, but let's get started." - Earl Taylor, Principal, Heritage Academy, Charter High School. "I felt like I was reading the 'Common Sense' of the Twenty-first Century, the book that will shape the minds of the leaders." - Tiffany Earl, Homeschooling Mother, Founder of Leadership Education Methods Institute. New Chapters in this lovely hardback book complete with a dustjacket and ribbon bookmark are: Chapter One: Two Towers Chapter Six: Great Teaching Epilogue: A New Golden Age?

Customer Reviews:

AMAZING! Teachers & Home school must read! :o).......2007-06-13

I literally devoured this book. I have personally had other parents tell me that this book has changed my life and my children's life since one month ago when I received it. It is amazing. I loved it. Very insightful. I found that just after starting to read this book that I have read to my children more. If that is the only thing that has changed... then it was worth it. But it wasn't the only thing that changed. We discuss everything. Since starting this book, and taking Mr. VanDeMilles' approach, one of my children has been more inspired to learn more already. In just the last few weeks. With no pressure from me? I don't understand why, but if it works.... It does work I am sure of it so read it...It is very insightful

OldFangled Educational Solution.......2007-05-14

If you're thinking of home schooling or UNschooling, if you're thinking of what sort of college you want to go to, if you're thinking of what really matters in education (certainly not standardized tests, sitting in straight rows, or walking single file down the hall under the watchful eye and ready ruler of the teachers) this will jumpstart you into TRUE education. It's a shame it is not required reading for every incoming school board member in every public school in every town in the nation (Mark Twain said: "For practice, God made an idiot; then he made a school board." It's easy to love this book and its sensibly simple solutions to the educational problems that beset us. Money won't solve them. More workbooks won't solve them. More assembly line education won't solve them. This book will.

Positive solutions - FINALLY!.......2007-04-23

Where do I begin? Incredible book, well written, easy read, inspiring on every level, LIFE CHANGING - you won't want to put it down once you open it!

If you have kids you need to read this book before they are schooled another day. If you don't have kids and you have accomplished any level of education (GED to PhD) this book is a must read. If you are a teacher or educator of any kind - again, a must read. You're life will never be the same!

2 years ago, I personally heard Dr. DeMille speak at a conference in CA and as he spoke it was as if someone had turned the lights on and I could finally see my kid's education AND my own clearly. I went out and bought the book (the first edition) as soon as he walked off the stage. As soon as the 2nd edition (this one) came out about a year ago, I bought 4 copies - one for our house, one for my parents and 2 to loan out.

"I've got a college degree but never liked school all growing up" - heard someone say that before? We all know there is something wrong with the current education system, but it's difficult to put a finger on just what it is. Everyone points blame in a different direction and at the end of the day nothing has been resolved and we're asked to throw more tax money at the problem we can't define.

This book is refreshing! It's positive, optimistic and finally explains where the breakdown occurred and continues to occur. It gives SOLUTIONS - hallelujah! Its premise is brilliant and simple all at the same time. After reading it you will want more for yourself, more for your life, more for your children and more for our country. You'll have hope again.

That's what it did for us. After reading this book, my husband and I decided to implement a Leadership Education in our own home and it's been exciting to watch our children respond and get excited about learning. Even if you can't homeschool your children, you can learn from the philosophies in this book and make their education the kind you only dreamed about growing up.

If I had the money, I'd buy a copy for everyone I know, every college student and every parent walking aimlessly around at homeschool fairs. Enrich your life and your grandchildren's...leave the legacy you want to leave...BUY THIS BOOK!

Excellent Resource.......2007-04-22

This book shows you why a leadership education is beneficial for your child/ren and how to go about it. It can truly open up a world of education opportunities for the whole family.

All families need this book!.......2007-04-21

I count A Thomas Jefferson Education as one of the most influential books that I have ever read. It has made a huge positive impact on our family. As a mother,I find myself constantly thinking about the principles that are taught in this book, and trying to apply them for the benefit of our children. This is a book for any parent who is seriously invested in their children's education and future. We love the patriotism. We highly recommend it to everyone we know. In fact, we have two copies now, just so we can loan one out. You're in for a treat!

Thomas Jefferson: Author of America (Eminent Lives)

Average customer rating:

Hitchens on Jefferson
Jefferson the polymath
Excellent
The most brilliant mind in today's mediocre world
HItch is so brilliant, I sometimes think that I must be stupid

Thomas Jefferson: Author of America (Eminent Lives)
Christopher Hitchens
Manufacturer: Eminent Lives
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0060598964
Release Date: 2005-05-31

Amazon.com

In this unique biography of Thomas Jefferson, leading journalist and social critic Christopher Hitchens offers a startlingly new and provocative interpretation of our Founding Father. Situating Jefferson within the context of America's evolution and tracing his legacy over the past two hundred years, Hitchens brings the character of Jefferson to life as a man of his time and also as a symbolic figure beyond it.

Conflicted by power, Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence and acted as Minister to France yet yearned for a quieter career in the Virginia legislature. Predicting that slavery would shape the future of America's development, this professed proponent of emancipation elided the issue in the Declaration and continued to own human property. An eloquent writer, he was an awkward public speaker; a reluctant candidate, he left an indelible presidential legacy.

Jefferson's statesmanship enabled him to negotiate the Louisiana Purchase with France, doubling the size of the nation, and he authorized the Lewis and Clark expedition, opening up the American frontier for exploration and settlement. Hitchens also analyzes Jefferson's handling of the Barbary War, a lesser-known chapter of his political career, when his attempt to end the kidnapping and bribery of Americans by the Barbary states, and the subsequent war with Tripoli, led to the building of the U.S. navy and the fortification of America's reputation regarding national defense.

In the background of this sophisticated analysis is a large historical drama: the fledgling nation's struggle for independence, formed in the crucible of the eighteenth-century Enlightenment, and, in its shadow, the deformation of that struggle in the excesses of the French Revolution. This artful portrait of a formative figure and a turbulent era poses a challenge to anyone interested in American history -- or in the ambiguities of human nature.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" color="cc6600">Discover More Eminent Lives</font></strong>

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Book Description

Customer Reviews:

Hitchens on Jefferson.......2007-05-12

Part of the Eminent Lives series Christopher Hitchens has written a great fairly short biography of Thomas Jefferson that examines the man warts and all. Off most interest to many these days will be his constant battle with his conscience versus the practicality of freeing all the slaves in the South.
That while this is meant to be a short history it is by no means one that skimps. Christopher Hitchens eloquent style is well used her getting the idea across while not being too wordy. He uses Jefferson's own words and writings to demonstrate how the great man felt during his lifetime.
It is hard to describe how important Jefferson was to the history of the United States, whether it be his penning most of the Declaration of Independence to his major role in the monumental Louisiana Purchase towards the end of his career. He even managed to provide the foundation for the modern Library of Congress after the fire that destroyed 2/3s of the book in their collection. Then there is Monticello, his house and lands, of a most impressive type.
The man was not infallible as he had his troubles over slavery, his half-black mistress and his bitter rivalries with some of the other major players of the early American experience. He was an writer of note, philosopher, orator, politician and diplomat in extremis. A man not afraid to take it the enemy when needed as seen in his handling of the Muslim Barbary Pirates. A test for a young nation that Jefferson made sure they passed.
Who better than Christopher Hitchens to tell us his fascinating life's tale.

Jefferson the polymath.......2007-03-08

Hitchens has written a brilliant and concise biography of Jefferson, a complex, multitalented and flawed man. Writer, author, architecht, botanist, diplomat, president. America was fortunate that President John Adams served only one term and lost his re-election bid (barely) to Jefferson because of 3 things: 1. War on Terror; Jefferson sent the US Navy to the Barbary Coast and tamed the pirates of North Africa who kidnapped Americans and demanded ransom. Adams preferred to pay ransom. Jefferson did away with this menace once and for all. 2. Louisiana Purchase; Adams was dead set against this bargain purchase which Jefferson obtained from France for 4 cents an acre. 3. Lewis and Clark expedition; here Jefferson had a vision of manifest destiny. Adams ridiculed Jefferson's vision as fanciful and a waste of money. Had Adams won re-election, America would certainly have been different today. On a matter of character, Adams was clearly a better man. He wanted to end slavery. Jefferson (unlike George Washington) did not free his slaves even upon his death with the exception of his mistress Sally Hemmings and their 3 children. Hitchens did a great job putting the story of this complex man together in a short book.

Excellent.......2007-01-03

Hitchins is brilliant, and even if he were not, I would read anything on TJ. Good book.

The most brilliant mind in today's mediocre world.......2006-10-21

Although this author once bashed a book I had written, I refused to turn away from this writer and miss out on the writings of the most brilliant mind and greatest wordsmith since Winston Churchill. I never tire of seeing him on talk shows where his brillance simply overpowers everyone attempting to put him down. I buy and read every book written by this author, and his output is unbelievable -- obviously thoughts flow from his mind straight onto the page. Reading one of this author's books remind me of being thrust into the midst of a mind feast. Like your mother's best Sunday dinner, it's just impossible to push back. I'm now reading his latest, THOMAS JEFFERSON, and I recommend it, as I highly recommend all of Hitchen's books to you. Jean Sasson, author of Mayada, Daughter of Iraq

HItch is so brilliant, I sometimes think that I must be stupid.......2006-09-28

However, Reading his books, make me feel like I get a chance to understand what it must be like to be brilliant. I loved this book on Jefferson, an easier read than most of his books, becasue I love what Jefferson understood. In spite of the new revisionist history that is being taught today in American schools ( Jefforson came to America for his own financial benfits, he was a slave owner, he raped women, etc. etcl.etc.)I found this book to be refreshing, as it tells of one of the most important founders of this democracy that allows teachers to teach drivel to my child, which I must un-do when he returns home. If I could only get the teachers to read this book, perhaps saying the Pledge of Alligence would not be "nerdy" and would be stated wth pride, as I fear that we are losing our country, to political correctness, lack of values, loss of religion (I know Hitchens hates religion, but we have to agree to disagree)and values of democracy being bitten away by Islam and the desire to resetablish a Caliphate here in America. Read this book, and be proud to live in the best country in the world.

Undaunted Courage: Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson, and the Opening of the American West

Average customer rating:

excellent
a compelling narrative of a courageous American's contribution
A little up-and-down in its narrative
There is no better overview
"men to match my mountains..."

Undaunted Courage: Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson, and the Opening of the American West
Stephen Ambrose
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0684826976

Amazon.com

A biography of Meriwether Lewis that relies heavily on the journals of both Lewis and Clark, this book is also backed up by the author's personal travels along Lewis and Clark's route to the Pacific. Ambrose is not content to simply chronicle the events of the "Corps of Discovery" as the explorers called their ventures. He often pauses to assess the military leadership of Lewis and Clark, how they negotiated with various native peoples and what they reported to Jefferson. Though the expedition failed to find Jefferson's hoped for water route to the Pacific, it fired interest among fur traders and other Americans, changing the face of the West forever.

Book Description

In this sweeping adventure story, Stephen E. Ambrose, the bestselling author od D-Day, presents the definitive account of one of the most momentous journeys in American history. Ambrose follows the Lewis and Clark Expedition from Thomas Jefferson's hope of finding a waterway to the Pacific, through the heart-stopping moments of the actual trip, to Lewis's lonely demise on the Natchez Trace. Along the way, Ambrose shows us the American West as Lewis saw it -- wild, awsome, and pristinely beautiful. Undaunted Courage is a stunningly told action tale that will delight readers for generations.

Customer Reviews:

excellent.......2007-06-24

This book is primarily about Meriwether Lewis and his role in the
expedition across the continent. Stephen Ambrose is phenomenally gifted in bringing history to life.
He sticks very close to the sources and only occasionally takes detours to make conjectures
about things about which the historical record is silent. Despite this the
book is a real page-turner. While Ambrose does an excellent job in describing the ups and downs
of the expedition, I do think that it is a very worthwhile reading the original journals.
I have only read excerpts, however, I believe they surpass even this book. Also, the recent PBS documentary
shows many of the locations described in this book. It is well narrated definitely worth seeing.

a compelling narrative of a courageous American's contribution.......2007-06-21

Many know the overall story of Lewis and Clark. Yes, those two strapping chaps who traversed across our country with that teenage Indian girl before anyone else did. Indeed, before reading Stephen Ambrose's near 600-page book "Undaunted Courage" I doubted how much truly "interesting" detail could exist in their journey. After seeing a few History Channel specials, I was convinced I knew the gist of their journey more than most, and felt that was probably sufficient. What else was there to really consider? As it is with most detailed historical nonfiction I read, I was surprised instantly. Not only did this book provide an intense examination of exploration in early 19th century America, but it is, in general, the most intriguing, intense, suspenseful, joyous, depressing, and inspiring book I've read in a long time. How Ambrose is able to exude such a variety of emotions in his writing I hope to one day discover. How Lewis was able lead people and conquer unknowns so successfully while fading so tragically I doubt I will ever be able to comprehend.

The book's title comes from a characteristic given to Meriwether Lewis both during childhood by a schoolmate, and, after his death, by Thomas Jefferson. It may seem strange that two friends of Lewis so separated from each other at such separate times in Lewis' life would choose the words "undaunted courage" to describe him, but if one is to simply observe the broadest aspects of Lewis' personality, such a description would only be expected. Indeed, the book is more of a biography of Lewis' life and his "undaunted courage" than a historical account of the journey itself. Certainly Ambrose dives into great detail of the journey, but it is always done through Lewis' eyes. The book begins with Lewis' childhood and ends with his death, giving the legendary expedition only about 3/5 of the book's content. This is not a downside by any means.

Ambrose's detailed description of Lewis' childhood, family, education, connection to Jefferson, and military history is not only valuable in understanding Lewis' complex personality, but is beneficial in understanding how Lewis was able to manage the expedition so well. From the very beginning there is a sense, as Ambrose hints at, that Lewis' upbringing prepared him for the unknown journey ahead better than anyone could've planned. The implicit vocational thoughts that come to mind are intriguing to say the least. Ambrose's pre-expedition account doesn't stop with Lewis biographical detail and, alongside his outline of Lewis' evolution from boy to man, he examines the economic and political aspects building up to the expedition from America's infancy to its firmer nationalism. This sort of context is not only helpful, but is essential for understanding the fair-weather friendship between the American people and the expedition before, during, and after the expedition. Details given, like Lewis' firm Democratic-Republican politics, may not appear a necessary issue in understanding the men as they pursue the landscape on the expedition, but in the pre- and post-expedition situations there is high relevance to Lewis' political relations with Jefferson as well as the influential Federalist voices at the time.

After outlining the events leading up to the expedition, Ambrose dives into the detailed planning Lewis put into the journey, his uniting with Clark on the Missouri River, and their party's expedition to and from the Pacific. Ambrose's narrative abilities had, up to this point, done well enough with the biographical and political context, but now, along with the heavy use of Lewis' highly narrative journals, they completely satisfied my reading wants. With the amount of Lewis' journals used in the narrative of the journey, one could even see the book as being written by both Ambrose and Lewis. Given that Lewis may be an even better narrative writer than Ambrose, the book is enhanced to the highest level of narrative historical nonfiction one could ask for. Accounts are always detail-abundant, and mostly firsthand in their variety of descriptions: relations with Indians both peaceful and bloody; songs sung and issues chatted around the bonfire; unique imagery of the plains, Rockies, and Pacific costal forests; hunting expeditions chasing and being chased by grizzlies; feasting on elk and buffalo; starving and scraping by on horse meat and roots; arguments turned to whipping and tribunals. Nearly every aspect one could want in an adventure is given with enough narrative vigor to turn its historical detail to an inspirational asset. Ambrose covers all sides of every account he is able to attain and after it all I felt as though I knew not only Lewis, but Clark and the rest of the party's members. I knew who was a good hunter and who wasn't. Who complained and who was helpful. Who Lewis liked and who he didn't care for. These are the types of details that make you feel a part of something (and to feel a part of the Core of Discovery is no boring trip).

After experiencing both the emotional peaks of success and the devastating disasters, I felt as though I didn't want the trip to simply return and have the book end. Perhaps Ambrose understands his ability to foster intrigue, because most of the detail he delves into post-expedition would probably feel unnecessary and boring without the companionship and connection to Lewis that is developed in the book. While the last leg of Lewis' life as a politician and national hero is probably the most emotional and depressing of the book, this section would not seem so intense and personal without understanding Lewis' somewhat supernatural vitality and leadership skills exhibited up until his return. Therefore, Ambrose wraps the book up in a successful manner I would think impossible, given the complexity of Lewis as a person. I felt as though every aspect one could inquire of Lewis was covered with such comprehensiveness and wrapped up with such clarity that even the most emotionally disappointing instances were covered in full by the artistic and historical impression Ambrose impressed. The reality of it all felt more inspiring than anything.

The book is quite long and took me a considerable amount of time to "plow through", but it never felt tiresome given Ambrose's ability to convey a wealth of information in a way that is concise with its detail and both paced and climactic. I recommend this book for any American whether or not you are interested in history. It reads better than any modern fictional novel would, but it is valuable in the way it describes the type of courage and determination that this country was built on and the fact that that brand of courage was not just some author's fabrication. It is by the daring and courageous efforts of men like Lewis and Clark that we are allowed to enjoy a country not only free from countries like Britain, Spain, and France, but one that ranges from coast to coast and from sea to shining sea.

A little up-and-down in its narrative.......2007-06-05

I have two favorite historians: David McCullough and Stephen Ambrose. When trying to describe their differences to my husband, I told him that David Ambrose is a tweed jacket with patches, a snifter of brandy and a roaring fireplace. Ambrose is a shot of whisky, jeans and flannel and an audience around a campfire. I appreciate Ambrose's style, for the most part, and knowing that he actually retraced most of the voyage in doing his research leaves me in awe of him. But the nature of this narrative is rather up-and-down, particularly working up to the party setting off from St. Louis. I recognize that the pre-journey preparations were important to telling the tale, but I got the idea that he was rather bored with it, and as a result the details weren't too compelling. I had to keep setting the book aside and coming back to it. But once he got to the story of the exploration itself, the momentum picks up, and so does his writing style. I appreciated his use of the actually writings of the Captains, but there were a few places where their entries were used too frequently in place of him conveying their story in a possibly more riveting style. But over all it was a well-written book, and I would recommend it to anyone that I already knew was interested in the Lewis and Clark expedition.

There is no better overview.......2007-06-03

These guys are my heroes. My interest started 11 years ago taking my son along the Columbia River following part of the trail. It has been non-stop from there. I have become an avid first edition collector of L&C and Mr. Ambrose's synopsis can only be topped by the generosity he showed the L&C Foundation. Once you finish reading Undaunted Courage many will undoubtedly want more. Dr. Moulton's synopsis makes a nice follow-up or delve into Dr. Moulton's rewrite of the full journals or if you have the $ find yourself a 1st edition of Thwaites. Earlier first editions, particularly the 1814 Biddle and 1807 Gass, while more valuable are very limited.

This story can only told better by Lewis and Clark. Those who want to see two sites that are as the were should visit Camp Disappointment and The Fight Sight by Cutbank, MT. Camp Disappointment still has as many mosquitoes as complained about by Mr. Lewis.

Fascinating reading and should be a first read by anyone looking to indulge themselves on a journey that hopefully will yield as much pleasure as it has to me.

Mr. Ambrose lives on with this fine piece of early Americana and I am ever indebted to him for enhancing the publics awareness of 29 of American's greatest heroes.

"men to match my mountains...".......2007-04-11

"Bring me men to match my mountains, bring me men to match my plains.... "(American poet Sam Foss, 1894)

This is the greatest story of early America I've read.

I received it as a gift right after 9/11 when I had a stack of books about the Middle East I'd acquired and looked forward to reading. I wasn't in the mood for what appeared to be to be a hagiography of Lewis and Jefferson.

What a surprise when I found this to be the most readable, gripping, informative and inspiring book about American history I've read in my entire life. Far from being a hagiographer Stephen Ambrose describes his characters with all their flaws. His narrative of the heroism and genius of these real people will forever remain one of the greatest adventure stories of all time. The book has copious images of maps, paintings and photographs which help bring the story to life.

I could not put this book out of my mind until I'd completed it. Its fundamental theme is the effort and cooperation of two extraordinary men, Thomas Jefferson and Meriwether Lewis; to map and explore the breadth of the U.S. continent, including researching the native Indian population and the flora and fauna. This was all unknown territory. Lewis was the point man, and Jefferson oversaw the excursion from headquarters in Washington. Fortunate for us, a third exceptionally talented man, Stephen Ambrose, has brought this awesome adventure to life for our enjoyment and enlightenment.

Meriwether Lewis died by suicide at age 35. Perhaps, having lived on the edge of peril and experiencing the heady feeling of challenging the unknown for so long he simply couldn't adapt to settled society. (I was reminded of the lives and deaths of two other American adventurer/writers, Jack London and Ernest Hemingway.) Whatever the cause of this sad conclusion, the triumph of his brief life outshines the tragedy of his death.

Following is an extract from Jefferson's journal of 1813, paying tribute to Lewis: "Of courage undaunted, possessing a firmness and perseverance of purpose...of sound understanding and a fidelity to truth so scrupulous that whatever he should report would be as certain as if seen by ourselves, with all these qualifications as if selected and implanted by nature in one body for this express purpose, I could have no hesitation in confiding the enterprise to him."

Average customer rating:

THOMAS JEFFERSON ON WINE
Jefferson the Connoisseur

Thomas Jefferson on Wine
John Hailman
Manufacturer: University Press of Mississippi
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 157806841X

Book Description

In Thomas Jefferson On Wine, John Hailman celebrates a founding father's talents as a wine connoisseur and provides unprecedented insight into a seldom explored facet of this great man. In both his personal and public lives, Jefferson wielded his considerable expertise and influence to change the views of his friends, fellow founding fathers, and the American public on the pleasures and refinements of wine.

An international wine judge and former wine columnist for the Washington Post, Hailman discusses the particular wines Jefferson sought, the ways in which Jefferson's tastes developed, and how Jefferson became one of the great wine connoisseurs of the early American republic. His recommendations governed the president's table before and after his tenure there. Thomas Jefferson on Wine explores the third president's fascination with scores of wines from his student days at Williamsburg to his lengthy retirement years at Monticello, using mainly Jefferson's own vivid words from hundreds of immensely readable and surprisingly modern letters on the subject.

Hailman examines Jefferson's five critical years in Paris, where he learned about fine wines at Europe's salons and dinner tables. The book uses excerpts from Jefferson's journals, as well as his letters to friends and wine merchants, whose descendants still produce the wines Jefferson enjoyed. Vivid contemporary accounts of dinners at the White House allow readers to vicariously experience the enjoyment of fine wine. The book concludes with an overview of the current restoration of the vineyards at Monticello and the new Monticello Wine Trail and its numerous world-class Virginia wineries. In Thomas Jefferson On Wine Hailman presents an absorbing and unique view of this towering historical figure.

Customer Reviews:

THOMAS JEFFERSON ON WINE.......2007-02-16

This book is super for anyone interested in wine-to know what was going on in wine in Jeffersons time-some European wines that we drink today but were surly different at that time.Well written as well

Jefferson the Connoisseur.......2007-02-14

Thomas Jefferson is so well known that it is difficult to find a book about him that offers new insight into his multi-faceted character. This book does: it presents Jefferson through his very discriminating taste in wine, which was so expert that his favorite French wines later became the great Classified Growths of Bordeaux and the premiere wines of Burgundy. He traveled through France, Germany, and Italy with the express purpose of selecting wines for Monticello, the house he had built in Virginia, capitalizing on an opportunity that came when he was appointed Ambassador Plenipotentiary to the French court. When he was elected President he built the wine cellar for the White House and stocked it with his favorite imported wines. All this is to his credit, and provides further evidence of Jefferson's extensive learning, which went beyond books. But he never succeeded in his pet project, of planting a vineyard and cultivating at home the fine wines he enjoyed abroad. That was for later Virginians to do, and the author provides a tour map of the wineries that now surround Monticello, fulfilling the dream Jefferson himself failed to realize.

The Jefferson Bible: The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth

Average customer rating:

Jefferson's Bible--a lens that worked for him
Founding "god" father
The Truth shall set you free....
Interesting premise
His book

The Jefferson Bible: The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth
Thomas Jefferson
Manufacturer: Applewood Books
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Binding: Hardcover

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The Gospel of Thomas: Annotated & Explained (Skylight Illuminations,)
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Thomas Jefferson : Writings : Autobiography / Notes on the State of Virginia / Public and Private Papers / Addresses / Letters (Library of America)
Beyond Belief
The Religious Life of Thomas Jefferson

ASIN: 1557091846

Book Description

Thomas Jefferson believed that the pure-principled teachings of Jesus should have been separated from the dogma and abuse of organized religion of the day. This led him to recast, by cutting and pasting from the gospels, a new narrative of the life and teachings of Jesus, where, according to Jefferson, "there will be found remaining the most sublime and benevolent code of morals which has ever been offered to man."

Customer Reviews:

Jefferson's Bible--a lens that worked for him.......2007-03-23

It is interesting that any religious writing that is capable of being used in some way to detract from the "authority" of the church is so often the object of great discussion. Jefferson's Bible provides such an occasion, for no doubt Jefferson questioned some of the claims of the church that he felt to be unreasonable. That's the bind. We are attracted to Jesus but often repulsed by the Church. It is only fitting that we reclaim Jesus in any way that we can. Jesus is the chief metaphor revealing humanity at its best. Through this metaphor we learn of redemptive love. Jefferson found his lens by which to connect with Jesus. The rest of us must find our own lense--and one way we can do this, perhaps, is by trying to understand what others have done. Jefferson has left us a personal "testament" by having extracted those parts of the New Testament that spoke to him. Those parts of the Scripture are for him now "framed and on the wall", so to speak, and because the book has been published, his favorite Scripture portions are spotlighted for us in this book. I'm not sure he meant his special portions of the Scripture to be on public display. Perhaps each of us who are interested might find our own set of very special parts of the Bible? If we ourselves were to do this, that would probably have pleased Jefferson, in my opinion.

Founding "god" father.......2007-02-13

This streamlined synopsis of the teachings of Jesus Christ is drawn from the gospels of the bible without any religious dogma. The parables Jesus spoke are compiled nicely and provided me with the life lessons which I attempt to live by.

The Truth shall set you free...........2007-02-08

God Bless Mr.Jefferson for making this bible;ALL FACTS & NO FICTION. If your like me, a follower of Christ and find "magic" insulting to your intelligence, get this book. Never mind the "magic", tell me about Jesus, the man who brought us the truth.

Interesting premise.......2006-11-04

The approach Jefferson took by pulling only those items out that could be directly attributed to Jesus made for a very good read. It provides a different view of the bible.

His book.......2006-09-26

Good book for research, but by itself more a statement of the man who put it together..

No matter, a worthwhile book to be in the collection of serious studiers of faith & religion (and honest faith).

My California: Journeys By Great Writers

Average customer rating:

For the Californian--or sociologist-- in your life.
Interesting and beautifully wriiten
MY CALIFORNIA:JOURNEYS BY GREAT WRITERS
I loved this book (and I normally don't read short stories)
A Wonderful Book

My California: Journeys By Great Writers
Michael Chabon
Manufacturer: Angel City Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1883318432

Book Description

Fly-fish the pristine waters of the Owens River. Step up to the microphone in a California honky-tonk. Surf the biggest waves California has ever seen. Mingle with ducks in an urban oasis. Roller skate through L.A.'s Union Station. See California through the eyes of 27 of the state's finest writers in this delicious travel and adventure anthology. All of the contributors to MY CALIFORNIA donated their work so proceeds of this book can benefit the beleaguered California Arts Council, an agency forced to suspend school writing and arts education programs in 2003. The arts council has earmarked money from MY CALIFORNIA for writing programs for children statewide. Join contributors Pico Iyer, Michael Chabon, Thomas Steinbeck, Dana Gioia, Matt Warshaw, Patt Morrison, T. Jefferson Parker, Edward Humes, Mark Arax, Deanne Stillman, Rubén Martínez, Percival Everett, Kathi Kamen Goldmark, Mary Mackey, Gerald Haslam, Aimee Liu, D.J. Waldie, Héctor Tobar, Firoozeh Dumas, devorah major, Carolyn See, Chryss Yost, Anh Do, Derek M. Powazek, Daniel Weintraub, David Kipen, and Veronique de Turenne in a good read for a good deed!!

Customer Reviews:

For the Californian--or sociologist-- in your life........2007-01-04

A neighbor (in Long Beach, California) loaned her copy to us--my husband was born in Long Beach--and we went out and bought copies as Christmas presents for the native Californians in our extended family. It's a book of nostalgia and confirmation for them--"I remember that! Yes, it was just like that!"--and one of sociological interest for anyone who likes people and wants to be invited into the lives and homes of a broad spectrum of the ingredients in our state melting pot.

I'm not sure I'd call all the authors "great writers" but most of them were comfortable with words.

Jessica Shaver Renshaw,
Author, Compelling Interests,
Gianna: Aborted and Lived to Tell About It

Interesting and beautifully wriiten.......2006-10-24

I really liked this book! There are many essays written in it, each one about a different area of California. It's really upbeat and interesting, and the authors are top authors who write beautifully. It's fascinating to read about times and places in California that I didn't know about. All the stories are modern stories, in that they are about growing up in California within the last forty years or so.
This book flows very quickly, and before you know it, you've finished it and wish there were more!

MY CALIFORNIA:JOURNEYS BY GREAT WRITERS.......2005-09-07

This is the book selected by the City of Long Beach,CA for their 'One book read by all' 2006,or something like that.It's a GREAT choice!.

I loved this book (and I normally don't read short stories).......2005-09-01

I loved this book too, as I see others have, and this prompted me to write a review. I have tried to give it as a gift whenever possible and will continue to do so, as I think it is a great idea to benefit CAC. I wish local bookstores would display it more prominently. I grew up in California but this book allowed me a personal look at histories from different corners of the state. Fascinating, well written and truly enjoyable.

A Wonderful Book.......2004-08-24

This is an amazing collection of essays and the point of the book is not just to provide eloquent perspectives on the state. Every cent that the publisher receives in revenue goes directly to the California Arts Council,whose budgets were cut by 97%. When you buy a "used" book none of that money goes to CAC. Please think twice about saving the 40ish cents.
This book is a good read and you will feel very good about your deed!

The Pirate Coast: Thomas Jefferson, the First Marines, and the Secret Mission of 1805

Average customer rating:

Great Telling of an Obscure Story
Fantastic Non-Fiction!
the Pirate Coast and the fall of Tripoli
WOW WHAT A HISTORICAL MASTERPIECE
Tripoli and early American foreign policy

The Pirate Coast: Thomas Jefferson, the First Marines, and the Secret Mission of 1805
Richard Zacks
Manufacturer: Hyperion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 140130849X

Book Description

In an attempt to stop the legendary Barbary Pirates of North Africa from hijacking American ships, William Eaton set out on a secret mission to overthrow the government of Tripoli. The operation was sanctioned by President Thomas Jefferson, who at the last moment grew wary of intermeddling in a foreign government and sent Eaton off without proper national support. Short on supplies, given very little money and only a few men, Eaton and his mission seemed doomed from the start. He triumphed against all odds, recruited a band of European mercenaries in Alexandria, and led them on a march across the Libyan Desert. Once in Tripoli, the ragtag army defeated the local troops and successfully captured Derne, laying the groundwork for the demise of the Barbary Pirates. Now, Richard Zacks brings this important story of Americas first overseas covert op to life.

Customer Reviews:

Great Telling of an Obscure Story.......2007-05-30

Richard Zacks' "Pirate Coast: Thomas Jefferson, the First Marines, and the Secret Mission of 1805" is an engrossing tale of one of the first US overseas "covert" missions. While also telling the story of the First Barbary War, Zack concentrates on the energetic and ambitious William Eaton, whose audacious plan was to march over 500 miles across the North African desert to attack Tripoli (one of the Barbary States) from land.

Eaton's successful attack on the town of Derna was a key element in the peace made to conclude the war. However, upon his return to the United States, Eaton fell into political conflict with President Thomas Jefferson and was never compensated for much of his personal expenses from the expedition - and he eventually died a broken alcoholic.

"Pirate Coast" is not a full telling of the First Barbary War, but Zacks gives enough background that the reader can follow the big picture while also focusing on Eaton's courageous and daring mission. Zacks also brings the many historical characters to life, showing how their personalities impacted the war, the mission, and the aftermath. This is an excellent book for anyone interesting in US history, military history, or who wants to learn more about this forgotten war.

Fantastic Non-Fiction!.......2007-05-08

Think you know American History? Richard Zacks will put you in a place, 200 years back, that you never knew existed.

Simply put, I couldn't believe this was a true story, but it is.

Cultural clashes with Islam, slavery and politicians' egos the size of our 13 colonies. GREAT reading. One of best books of this genre' I've ever devoured.

the Pirate Coast and the fall of Tripoli.......2007-04-13

The Pirate Coast: Thomas Jefferson, the First Marines, and the Secret Mission of 1805 by Richard Zacks is the story of the first American covert operation in a foreign country. This conflict inspired the words of the marine hymn "on the shores of Tripoli" commemorating the first raising of an American flag on foreign soil.

For centuries the principalities of the Barbary Coast of North Africa had sailed on the Mediterranean as pirates, taking merchant ships and selling captured seamen as slaves. Eventually, to safely sail theses trade routes, a system of tributes was established and annually paid by European nations.

When Thomas Jefferson came to the presidency he abhorred the practice and refused to pay tribute to these pirates. Then in 1803 the USS Philadelphia ran aground at Tripoli. 300 sailors and marines were captured and taken as slaves to be ransomed or sold. Jefferson sent a naval squadron to Tripoli to intimidate the Bashaw of Tripoli into releasing his captives. In addition, he sent his agent William Eaton to Alexandria with secret orders to incite a rebellion against the Bashaw. And finally, to negotiate their release, he sent diplomat Tobias Lear, Who supported peace at any cost and encouraged Jefferson to secretly pay the tributes and ransom.

Eaton was a patriot to the core. Plagued by debt and an impulsive nature he sailed under Jefferson's secret orders to Alexandria. Once there he was to raise an army, overthrow the Bashaw and replace him with an exiled prince. With 8 US marines Eaton raised a ragtag army of Muslims, Christians, and mercenaries. He then gave himself the title of General and set march for Tripoli. Before reaching their goal Jefferson was persuaded to stop funding the expedition, Eaton refused to betray his men and used his own money and negotiated loans to equip and feed his army. Battling the desert, each other, and betrayal they marched across the North African desert.

Reading this book will give you a new perspective on our problems with the Arab countries of the Middle East. It's also an eye opening tale of the political betrayal of those who make the greatest sacrifices for their country.

In the words of William Eaton, "My name shall be written in blood on the walls of Tripoli before I will consent to pay one cent for ransom or tribute". This is a fascinating book about a man we should have learned about in high school. Unfortunately too often the real heroes are replaced by self serving political opportunist. This book is well worth your time.

WOW WHAT A HISTORICAL MASTERPIECE.......2007-04-11

Many unknown facts about pirating and the first marines. A must have for any history buff.

Tripoli and early American foreign policy.......2007-04-03

This book was my first exposure to the Barbary Pirates and that era of American foreign policy. It is a terrifically interesting period of American history. America,the young nation dealing with foreign policy issues in North Africa where local Muslim powers are capturing ships and demanding ransom. The Bashaw of Tripoli and his history with the politics of that region in the early 1800s is rendered more relevant given current events.
It is a truly human read with the strengths and weaknesses of those portrayed exposed. This is not sugar coated American history, be advised.

A Thomas Jefferson Education Home Companion

Average customer rating:

Just what the doctor ordered
If you home school this is a must !!!!!

A Thomas Jefferson Education Home Companion
Oliver DeMille; Rachel DeMille; Diann Jeppson
Manufacturer: George Wythe College Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0967124638
Release Date: 2006-10-25

Customer Reviews:

Just what the doctor ordered.......2007-06-17

This book along with the Thomas Jefferson Education are the only two books I needed to homeschool my four children. When I started this system of education I had no idea what I was doing, then Diann's book came along as the "companion" and all was right with the world. The forms, systems and processes in this book work hand-in-glove with Dr. Demille's book. I recommend both books as the core system for homeschoolers wanting to raise leaders.

Diann's writing style and easy-going approach to homeschooling will leave you feeling totally in control and not wandering around in the dark forest of philosophy. Her systems are easy to use and her language is easy to read.

Janine Bolon, financial coach, speaker, radio talk show host, and author of [ASIN:1411643437 Money...It's Not Just for Rich People!]]

If you home school this is a must !!!!!.......2007-01-04

If you already have read "A Thomas Jefferson Education" then you can guess what this book has to offer. I have been using Oliver DeMille's book for 8 years and have been reaping the rewards. I feel sorry for people who have a desire to home school and are intimidated by it, but have not read this book and the "Thomas Jefferson Education" together. I have not met a person who has read this book and didn't wish they had know about it earlier. What ever you think home schooling is, you will see it and life very differently after reading the two books together. I own and enjoy horses and think that homeschooling without this book is like owning a horse without Clinton Anderson or Pat Pereli training.

Thomas Jefferson : Writings : Autobiography / Notes on the State of Virginia / Public and Private Papers / Addresses / Letters (Library of America)

Average customer rating:

QUOTATIONS OF THOMAS JEFFERSON
The other customer reviews seem to be about another book
The writings of a one of the Great Americans - a must have!
Excellent Comprehensive Collection
Jefferson, a renaissance man.

Thomas Jefferson : Writings : Autobiography / Notes on the State of Virginia / Public and Private Papers / Addresses / Letters (Library of America)
Thomas Jefferson
Manufacturer: Library of America
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 094045016X

Book Description

The most comprehensive one-volume selection of Jefferson ever published. Contains the "Autobiography," "Notes on the State of Virginia," public and private papers, including the original and revised drafts of the Declaration of Independence, addresses, and 287 letters.

Customer Reviews:

QUOTATIONS OF THOMAS JEFFERSON.......2007-01-18

At approximately $10.00 I expected a little more material than this 32 page, index card size book, provided.

The other customer reviews seem to be about another book.......2006-12-18

I have this book (I checked the IBSN#). It's 32 pages of quotes, and that's it. No papers, no index, etc. I think the other customer reviews are innacurate in that they are probably about an entirely different book.

So about *THIS* book, I love it. It's got the well-known quotes like "Governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed." and lesser-known quotes like "When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and hang on."

It's not a scholarly work. It doesn't have citations to explain where the quotes came from, but it was exactly what I was looking for.

If you are a fan of Liberty, this book is a must buy.

The writings of a one of the Great Americans - a must have!.......2005-05-09

What a difference of few decades make. When I was a youngster the founders were all revered and taught in school. Nowadays, they are almost ignored and condemned for not conforming to our modern view of morality. Of course, the present view is both arrogant and ignorant because we assume that future generations will believe as we do and lacks the humility to realize that the human condition is fraught with weakness and sin as well as triumph and wisdom.

Thomas Jefferson was one of the most remarkable men this country or any country has ever produced. All you need do is sample these writings and you will begin to understand the powers of his mind, the charisma he manifested, the range of his interests, and the paradoxical foibles as well. The writings included here are his autobiography, his Notes on Virginia, all kinds of essays, letters, speeches, and selected other papers.

He writes of philosophy, English prosody, natural history, political observations, the history of the Founding, theological beliefs, and many other topics. Both of his inaugural addresses are included as well has his notices to Congress (what we now call State of the Union Addresses used to be handled in a letter). There are also letters to Indian tribes that are quite interesting.

The idea that the Indian tribes would want to remain as they were seemed a mistaken to notion to Jefferson and his contemporaries. They needed to understand that realities of their world had changed forever and they had great opportunities for improving their lives (as he saw it). Their rejection of overtures to assimilate seemed evidence of an imprisoned mind rather than what we would call a "lifestyle choice".

This is another of the great volumes from the Library of America. It includes a chronology of Jefferson's life, great notes on the texts included, and an index.

Something you really should have on your shelf of American History and our Founding.

Excellent Comprehensive Collection.......2003-04-26

This edition of Jefferson's writings is an excellent comrehensive collection. Edited by Jefferson biographer Merrill Peterson this volume is a treasure.

It includes Jefferson's Anas, Autobiography, The Notes on Virginia( complete), Summary View of the Rights of British America, his version of the Declaration of Independence, numerous public papers, and addresses. This volume is a must have for the Jefferson reader. It also very necassary for the current state of the American Republic which would be wise to hear the words of this great man. A great buy!

Jefferson, a renaissance man........2002-06-15

This book is a treasure: it contains many of the writings of Thomas Jefferson, and his letters.
They are reveal a crisp thinking, like Voltaire, Rousseau, the abbey Gregoire, Rabeau Saint Etienne, and other geat thinkers of the 17th Century (T.Jefferson meet with most), as well a Pascal who was way ahead of his time. TJ try to explain the rational for generosity, compassion, respect for life, respect for people, respect for justice, and more: anyone who claims to be president of the USA (or any sovereign nation) should read and understand this book. Unfortunatly this is probably not the case... Politicians love to use a citation of TJ, but their policies would often be despised by TJ.
Let's hope that the future will give the US presidents with the values of this great thinker, and for the time being let's just be patient.

American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson

Average customer rating:

Pass on this one.
I never said half the things I said.
If I wanted to read a textbook...
The accidental and reluctant Voice of America
The enigmatic Founder

American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson
Joseph J. Ellis
Manufacturer: Vintage
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0679764410
Release Date: 1998-04-07

Amazon.com

Well timed to coincide with Ken Burns's documentary (on which the author served as a consultant), this new biography doesn't aim to displace the many massive tomes about America's third president that already weigh down bookshelves. Instead, as suggested by the subtitle--"The Character of Thomas Jefferson"--Ellis searches for the "living, breathing person" underneath the icon and tries to elucidate his actual beliefs. Jefferson's most ardent admirers may find this perspective too critical, but Ellis's portrait of a complex, sometimes devious man who both sought and abhorred power has the ring of truth.

Book Description

For a man who insisted that life on the public stage was not what he had in mind, Thomas Jefferson certainly spent a great deal of time in the spotlight--and not only during his active political career. After 1809, his longed-for retirement was compromised by a steady stream of guests and tourists who made of his estate at Monticello a virtual hotel, as well as by more than one thousand letters per year, most from strangers, which he insisted on answering personally. In his twilight years Jefferson was already taking on the luster of a national icon, which was polished off by his auspicious death (on July 4, 1896); and in the subsequent seventeen decades of his celebrity--now verging, thanks to virulent revisionists and television documentaries, on notoriety--has been inflated beyond recognition of the original person.

For the historian Joseph J. Ellis, the experience of writing about Jefferson was "as if a pathologist, just about to begin an autopsy, has discovered that the body on the operating table was still breathing." In American Sphinx, Ellis sifts the facts shrewdly from the legends and the rumors, treading a path between vilification and hero worship in order to formulate a plausible portrait of the man who still today "hover[s] over the political scene like one of those dirigibles cruising above a crowded football stadium, flashing words of inspiration to both teams." For, at the grass roots, Jefferson is no longer liberal or conservative, agrarian or industrialist, pro- or anti-slavery, privileged or populist. He is all things to all people. His own obliviousness to incompatible convictions within himself (which left him deaf to most forms of irony) has leaked out into the world at large--a world determined to idolize him despite his foibles.

From Ellis we learn that Jefferson sang incessantly under his breath; that he delivered only two public speeches in eight years as president, while spending ten hours a day at his writing desk; that sometimes his political sensibilities collided with his domestic agenda, as when he ordered an expensive piano from London during a boycott (and pledged to "keep it in storage"). We see him relishing such projects as the nailery at Monticello that allowed him to interact with his slaves more palatably, as pseudo-employer to pseudo-employees. We grow convinced that he preferred to meet his lovers in the rarefied region of his mind rather than in the actual bedchamber. We watch him exhibiting both great depth and great shallowness, combining massive learning with extraordinary naïveté, piercing insights with self-deception on the grandest scale. We understand why we should neither beatify him nor consign him to the rubbish heap of history, though we are by no means required to stop loving him. He is Thomas Jefferson, after all--our very own sphinx.

Download Description

Following his subject from the drafting of the Declaration of Independence to his retirement in Monticello, Joseph Ellis unravels the contradictions of the Jeffersonian character. A marvel of scholarship, a delight to read, and an essential gloss on the Jeffersonian legacy, American Sphinx is "history at its best" (Chicago Tribune).

Customer Reviews:

Pass on this one........2007-06-16

Joseph J. Ellis is a noted Pulitzer Prize winning author, so obviously many readers will disagree with my assessment of AMERICAN SPHINX: THE CHARACTER OF THOMAS JEFFERSON. While I did learn things here about TJ that other authors passed over, I can't really say I learned anything of great relevance.

When reading Founding Brothers, for which Ellis won the aforementioned Pulitzer, I found the book painfully slow, but gradually building momentum. That book improved with each chapter (or subject, if you will). I began reading this one and found it too to be painfully slow. The difference is, this one remained so to the end, save the last 10 or so pages. Perhaps that was simply my own induced enthusiasm at reaching the end.

I've found Ellis's books to be somewhat like walking through a plowed field after a hard rain. You'll get there eventually, but you'll have to stop and rest along the way and will be exhausted when you reach the other side.

There are things to learn here, and the TJ enthusiast will want to read this, but for my money, there are countless other volumes available that blow this one away. For me, the highpoint of this volume is the colossal 40 page bibliography.

I never said half the things I said........2007-06-12

That famous quote , from Yogi Berra, certainly does not apply here: Jefferson said it all. In fact, as Ellis points out, you can quote him to prove ANYTHING. [Including the right of secession]

I am going to respectfully disagree with a couple of other reviewers: I think that this book IS a good place to start. Of course, Ellis doesn't have Jefferson "figured out", any more than anyone else does. Thomas Jefferson was, and remains, the most complicated character in all of history. The contradictions are just too numerous: the man who hated slavery while owning slaves [as did Washington, Marshall, Henry, Wythe, and others], the apostle of fiscal responsibility who died broke, the advocate of limited government who expanded the government far beyond what Washington and Adams had, and then bought Louisiana, the athiest who "swore on the altar of God" [Jefferson had his own ideas about religion, as he did everything else, but he was NOT an athiest...he and Patrick Henry are the two men mainly responsible for our own religious freedom].

Thomas Jefferson may have been, in some respects, the real "Father of our Country". Washington won the war, but it remained for Jefferson to invent the governmental theories that make our nation work. Today, he would be an unknown speech writer. The personal scandals, and conflicting quotes, not to mention a complete lack of public speaking ability, would have finished him. [An effective attorney who couldn't speak in public? Sure--another contradiction]. But, Thomas Jefferson was a man of just the right time and place, and we are all richer for it. If you want the definitive study of Jefferson, try Dumas Malone. For those who lack the time, or interest for six long volumes, this book is a great place to begin.

If I wanted to read a textbook..........2007-04-01

Sadly disappointed in this book. It read like a textbook without a thread to string the sections together. There was a great deal of insight into TJ's life, but compared to a book like Fischer's Washington's Crossing that brings a founding father to life Ellis cannot compete.

The accidental and reluctant Voice of America.......2007-03-30

Just imagine the man had been born poor, like Hamilton. We would never have heard of him. Being from the Virginia gentry pushed him into the political limelight, and being a lousy speaker, he got pushed into the writer's role: that way his fame was born, and from there he moved into positions of power.
A fascinating person, obviously a key to understanding America's history.
The book is not a bio, and does not claim to be one. It says it is about the 'character'. Ellis plays with the dichotomic structure of TJ's thinking and carries it through several stages of the life. (Actually, this mental structure implies easy access to binary analysis...)
The book is not a good first book about the subject. Better get that from somewhere else. But it is worth reading to fill some gaps. It helped me a lot to understand some of the contradictions or rather complexities in American political terms and culture. A democratic Republican.
My favorite phrase of the book, paraphrased: TJ's duplicity was of the kind that is only possible to the pure of heart. Not exactly a great verdict on his analytical rigor, but since when would that be a relevant political category?

The enigmatic Founder.......2007-02-04

Thomas Jefferson, according to the author, was an American Sphinx. And, indeed, there is an elusive quality to Jefferson. As the biography outlines, he could be as vicious a political assassin as there was (e.g., his attacks on John Adams through others, while trying to keep his own hands "clean"), but he did not appear to want to accept or confront this in himself.

At one time, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were great friends, founding cousins, as it were, of the new republic. Both added greatly to the republic as diplomats abroad. However, Jefferson's "dark side" led to a rupture that lasted some time before they began to repair that relationship.

Ellis' statement following begins to identify his approach to Jefferson (page xvi): ". . .affection and criticism toward Jefferson are not mutually exclusive postures. . . " He goes on to say that (page xvii): "As I have found him, there really is a core of convictions and apprehensions at his center. Although he was endlessly elusive and extraordinarily adroit at covering his tracks, there were bedrock Jeffersonian values that determined the shape of the political vision he projected so successfully onto his world and that remain such a potent factor in ours." Ellis characterizes Jefferson as (page 26) ". . .a flawed creature, a man who combined massive learning with extraordinary naïveté, piercing insights into others with daunting powers of self-deception, utter devotion to great principles with a highly indulged presumption that his own conduct was not answerable to them."

This volume traces his adult career from the Constitutional Convention (and his role in authoring the Declaration of Independence) to his service as a diplomat in Paris to his work in the Washington Administration and retirement to Monticello to his service as President and his subsequent retirement. His great accomplishments and his sometimes nasty actions are documented, as are his continuing unsuccessful efforts to establish a sound economic footing for his plantation. There is also a useful appendix on Sally Hemings.

This is not a massive biography, but it is useful and does a nice job of portraying the "Sphinx"-like quality of one of the most fascinating of our Founders.

Political Leaders:

Political Leaders

Political Leaders