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on October 3, 2014
A good book, product of extensive research and thought. Meacham does better as a writer in shorter pieces, and I think he gave short shrift to his relationship with Sally Hemmings, but I was fascinated by his treasure trove of information about Jefferson's personality and politics. What an incredibly complex man. We were so lucky to have someone like him as a Founding Father.
on May 11, 2017
Fascinating, insightful account of Jefferson's life, loves, and our nation's early life formative politics. Should be required reading for everybody in our democracy so they can know what it is, how it works, and understand and repel existential threats to it by unstudied, unreasoning citizens.
on October 9, 2013
This is the third and most satisfying biography I have read about Thomas Jefferson. Jon Meacham presents a solid view of Jefferson, the political legend, and Jefferson, the man. My key motivation for reading this book was that I wanted to understand more about who Jefferson was and what motivated him personally to take some of the political positions he did. I was very satisfied on both accounts. Previous to reading this book, I read Merrill Peterson's massive biography of Jefferson. While Peterson was extremely detailed about Jefferson's political life, he was unsatisfyingly spare in writing about Jefferson's personal life. Meacham purposely chose the opposite tact. He instead focused on Jefferson's personal life much more. Uniquely, he also analyzed Jefferson's political and leadership skills, of which of course, Jefferson was a genius beyond all men of his day (except for Alexander Hamilton, arguably). Yet, while Peterson's book was weakened by his lack of Jefferson's personal side, Meacham's book could have been strengthened by including more details about his political life, though he states this wasn't his intention when writing the book. I couldn't help but wonder though how much better both Peterson's and Meacham's books would have been if they combined the best qualities of each book into one definitive tome. I was largely pleased with the way Meacham wrote his book. I found it to be the biography I wish I had read when seeking to read about Jefferson in the first biography of his that I tackled rather than the third one. I finally feel like I understand WHO Thomas Jefferson was as a man and a political legend. This book is well worth the time to explore.
on August 13, 2016
The contents are a wonderful read; the quality of the book is terrible. Chunks of pages are falling off the spine of the book,
some of the pages are ripped due to the weight of the section separating.
I'm afraid to take the book anywhere with me since it is so poorly bound; I'm afraid I'll lose entire sections of the book.
I have been buying books on Amazon for years and I've never received a book produced with so little attention to basic
book binding. I purchased the paperback version because I love reading while travelling; in this case, it would have
made sense to buy the hardback version. I wish someone else had written a review before I purchased this copy.
some of the pages are ripped due to the weight of the section separating.
I'm afraid to take the book anywhere with me since it is so poorly bound; I'm afraid I'll lose entire sections of the book.
I have been buying books on Amazon for years and I've never received a book produced with so little attention to basic
book binding. I purchased the paperback version because I love reading while travelling; in this case, it would have
made sense to buy the hardback version. I wish someone else had written a review before I purchased this copy.
on January 14, 2017
Wonderful history book! How so many great men came together at just the right time is nothing short of a miracle!
on March 12, 2017
First off, Meacham does an amazing job of summarizing historical events that relate to the story of Jefferson. That being said, I never really felt like I was traveling inside Jefferson's mind as I have felt while reading other biographies. While reading, I never really felt like I "knew" Jefferson.
on May 17, 2015
It gives you a new view on the times Jefferson lived in, especially in Virginia, which extended to the Mississippi River at the time. It also gives you an appreciation for how people in the Colonies viewed attacks on their rights. It also shows how superb a politician Jefferson was. He fought for an ideal, but settled for the best reality he could get. It also shows that while he was not much of a speaker, he could use writing as both a tool and a weapon. I have read a lot of books on Jefferson, and wasn't sure this one could add anything to the others I have read, but it did. We tend to view historical figures alone, without the environment they lived in, but that very environment made them what they were.
It also has a story about how Jefferson ended up writing the Declaration of Independence I had not previously read. It could have been John Adams, but for a conversation Adams was previously a party to. It's a good story.
It also has a story about how Jefferson ended up writing the Declaration of Independence I had not previously read. It could have been John Adams, but for a conversation Adams was previously a party to. It's a good story.
on April 24, 2015
As most young Americans. I read the textbook description of Thomas Jefferson in grade school and was bored to tears. Jon Meacham has written a passionate account of the life of probably the most influential of our forefathers. Although most of the story is complimentary. I particularly liked the fact that he did not discount Jefferson's less desirable qualities. Whether they were due to the times or just a part of his personality. The entire story allowed me to feel the humanity,struggles, victories and genius that Thomas Jefferson lived through.
I picked up this book because of our present day political crisis. I wanted to revisit what this country was founded upon. I got that and so much more. The majority of the ideals of Jefferson were what this country needed and now needs to regain. I recommend this to all Americans and the French too. He played a role in their revolution as well. Something I did not know before reading this.
I picked up this book because of our present day political crisis. I wanted to revisit what this country was founded upon. I got that and so much more. The majority of the ideals of Jefferson were what this country needed and now needs to regain. I recommend this to all Americans and the French too. He played a role in their revolution as well. Something I did not know before reading this.
on August 31, 2014
Meacham has chronicled all (or most of)what he knows about Jefferson; a more readable, but less scholarly work would have been the result of an editor with a. heavier eraser.
Jefferson was one of the architects of America. His vision of what government should be able to do and more importantly what government must protect, is essential to our present liberty. Ironically his debates with Hamilton in Washington's Cabinet and then with Adams were against a strong federal government, but as Part he took execs actions which would have delighted his former adversaries. Jefferson's philosophy was balanced by his practicalities.
Terms like heroes and roll models tend to foster unrealistic expectations of perfectionism. Meacham makes it clear that warts and all, Jefferson is worthy of our reverence.
Jefferson was one of the architects of America. His vision of what government should be able to do and more importantly what government must protect, is essential to our present liberty. Ironically his debates with Hamilton in Washington's Cabinet and then with Adams were against a strong federal government, but as Part he took execs actions which would have delighted his former adversaries. Jefferson's philosophy was balanced by his practicalities.
Terms like heroes and roll models tend to foster unrealistic expectations of perfectionism. Meacham makes it clear that warts and all, Jefferson is worthy of our reverence.
