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hanuhmckee's review against another edition
3.0
“This book, I hope, neither lionizes nor indicts Jefferson, but instead restores him to his full and rich role as an American statesman who resists easy categorization” (p. 507).
I wish I had this one sentence at the very beginning of reading this. In my quest to read and learn more about the Founding Fathers, I’ve wanted to get a full picture of each man; good and bad. In this biography, the “bad” was mentioned on occasion, but never delved into in the depth I’ve seen with other biographies. For example, the rivalry with Adams and Jefferson felt incredibly glossed over, with blame (if any) being put on Adams instead of exploring what caused the rivalry. This positive perspective put on Jefferson was especially clear when we are told “Rendering moral judgements in retrospect can be hazardous. It is unfair to judge the past by the standards of the present” (p. 477). This, to me, felt like the reader was being told to feel a specific way about Jefferson, instead of being allowed to come to a conclusion for ourselves.
Frustrations with the books perspective aside, I still get the feeling that Jefferson was a brilliant politician, but not a good person. One day I might pick this book up again, but I’d also think about finding another biography. I definitely want to see Jefferson through a more neutral perspective.
I wish I had this one sentence at the very beginning of reading this. In my quest to read and learn more about the Founding Fathers, I’ve wanted to get a full picture of each man; good and bad. In this biography, the “bad” was mentioned on occasion, but never delved into in the depth I’ve seen with other biographies. For example, the rivalry with Adams and Jefferson felt incredibly glossed over, with blame (if any) being put on Adams instead of exploring what caused the rivalry. This positive perspective put on Jefferson was especially clear when we are told “Rendering moral judgements in retrospect can be hazardous. It is unfair to judge the past by the standards of the present” (p. 477). This, to me, felt like the reader was being told to feel a specific way about Jefferson, instead of being allowed to come to a conclusion for ourselves.
Frustrations with the books perspective aside, I still get the feeling that Jefferson was a brilliant politician, but not a good person. One day I might pick this book up again, but I’d also think about finding another biography. I definitely want to see Jefferson through a more neutral perspective.
sarabearian's review against another edition
5.0
I have long been an advocate of David McCullough’s biographies. His loss in 2022 left a huge hole in the reporting of American history. Gladly, a friend gave me Meacham’s Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson. Lincoln’s biography was simply fantastic; Thomas Jefferson’s eclipsed it.
I thought I had a good handle on Jefferson’s life with a couple of biographies under my belt and what could be gleaned from a few American history books.
It was amazing to ride along with Jefferson’s first term and view how his conduct changed the nature of the presidency while affirming Jefferson’s faith in our democratic republic and Constitution. Even more intriguing is Meacham’s reporting of the conflict between the Monocrats (monarchists coupled with autocrats) that aligned with John Adams and the democratic republicans aligning with Jefferson. The political incursion was more than political dialog and opinions voiced in the press. Plans had been made to circumvent the Constitution to place a Monocrat in office instead of Jefferson.
The conflicts between the factions continued through Jefferson’s eight-year tenure. As the election of James Madison approached, also a democratic republican and father of the Constitution, two different groups hoped to splinter America: a nest of insurgents in the Northeast who hoped to secede from the Union and a group led by Aaron Burr hoping to carve out territory in the West for a new nation headed by Burr. Both failed.
As amazing as these revelations were, the book was filled with tantalizing reporting about Jefferson that will make any lover of the early nation gawk and grin. The book also portrays a man great in stature, much taller than my light dusting of history painted him.
This is not just recommended. Thomas Jefferson is now my favorite biography.
Pick it up. You will be delightfully stunned. -Tom L.
I thought I had a good handle on Jefferson’s life with a couple of biographies under my belt and what could be gleaned from a few American history books.
It was amazing to ride along with Jefferson’s first term and view how his conduct changed the nature of the presidency while affirming Jefferson’s faith in our democratic republic and Constitution. Even more intriguing is Meacham’s reporting of the conflict between the Monocrats (monarchists coupled with autocrats) that aligned with John Adams and the democratic republicans aligning with Jefferson. The political incursion was more than political dialog and opinions voiced in the press. Plans had been made to circumvent the Constitution to place a Monocrat in office instead of Jefferson.
The conflicts between the factions continued through Jefferson’s eight-year tenure. As the election of James Madison approached, also a democratic republican and father of the Constitution, two different groups hoped to splinter America: a nest of insurgents in the Northeast who hoped to secede from the Union and a group led by Aaron Burr hoping to carve out territory in the West for a new nation headed by Burr. Both failed.
As amazing as these revelations were, the book was filled with tantalizing reporting about Jefferson that will make any lover of the early nation gawk and grin. The book also portrays a man great in stature, much taller than my light dusting of history painted him.
This is not just recommended. Thomas Jefferson is now my favorite biography.
Pick it up. You will be delightfully stunned. -Tom L.
jonjee's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent biography that was at once educational and conversational. Fascinating person to read about and excellent writing.
fictionwriter's review against another edition
4.0
Jefferson the politician and president, a great and complex human being forever engaged in the wars of his era. Philosophers think; politicians maneuver. Jefferson’s genius was that he was both and could do both, often simultaneously. Such is the art of power.
Fascinating psychological study of the lengths to which Jefferson would go to avoid confrontation while all the time trying not to relinquish the power.
Excellent reading by Ed Herrmann.
Fascinating psychological study of the lengths to which Jefferson would go to avoid confrontation while all the time trying not to relinquish the power.
Excellent reading by Ed Herrmann.
coreypud's review against another edition
4.0
Great view of Jefferson
I think this biography did a very good job at painting Jefferson as a great but human man. Many faults and mistakes but admirable and driven all the way. Looking forward to going back to read my highlights as I read it.
I think this biography did a very good job at painting Jefferson as a great but human man. Many faults and mistakes but admirable and driven all the way. Looking forward to going back to read my highlights as I read it.
davidiwilliams's review against another edition
5.0
After winning the Pulitzer Prize for his masterful biography of Andrew Jackson, Jon Meacham turned his considerable skills to the most enigmatic man in American History: Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson ranks at the top of any list of most important men in the history of the United States.
Born to the planter class in Virginia he never knew anything other than a life of luxury. That did not shield him from the troubles of life. Loss was something that Jefferson knew quite well. He lost his father at a young age. His beloved wife died from complications of childbirth. He outlived all but one of his children. He was also a man who loved liberty. His vision of a nation of liberty would come to dominate the debate in the formative years of the United States. Here we encounter the enigma. Jefferson was a believer in freedom who owned slaves. The story of Jefferson's slaves are very much wrapped up in his own story. Meacham comes back to this topic over and over again. The subject of Sally Hemmings is never far away and it makes for an interesting topic.
Jefferson was a man of many accomplishments. He served in the Virginia legislature, the Continental Congress, as governor of Virginia, as ambassador to France, As the first secretary of state, as the second vice-president of the United States, and as the third president. He wrote letters, books, and legislation. Of course he is famous as the author of the Declaration of Independence. On his tombstone he only asked that three items be remembered. Those accomplishments are the Declaration of Independence, the Virginia Statutes of Religious Freedom, and Father of the University of Virginia. In some ways this sums up his life quite nicely.
Any biography of Thomas Jefferson is a daunting task. There is a wealth of primary source material and an avalanche of secondary material. Huge multi-volume biographies are out of style in our time and that may not be a bad thing. Instead of trying to cover every aspect of Jefferson's life in detail he gives an overview of Jefferson's story, but the focus of the book can be found in the title. Jefferson was a man who craved the power to make the world a better place. This is part of the contradiction. In the thought of the time no leader of a free society was supposed to desire power. Jefferson actively desired power, but had to cultivate an image of indifference. A vocal enemy of political parties he helped to create and lead the first political party in the United States. In a usual Jeffersonian twist this party was an opposition party that he led as Washington's secretary of state and Adams' vice-president.
Meacham has given a wonderful start to Jefferson studies for this generation. His prose is always delightful to read. The book is well researched, but is accessible to the general reader. It is doubtful that we will ever truly be able to understand Thomas Jefferson, but this volume will help to gain insight into fascinating person.
Born to the planter class in Virginia he never knew anything other than a life of luxury. That did not shield him from the troubles of life. Loss was something that Jefferson knew quite well. He lost his father at a young age. His beloved wife died from complications of childbirth. He outlived all but one of his children. He was also a man who loved liberty. His vision of a nation of liberty would come to dominate the debate in the formative years of the United States. Here we encounter the enigma. Jefferson was a believer in freedom who owned slaves. The story of Jefferson's slaves are very much wrapped up in his own story. Meacham comes back to this topic over and over again. The subject of Sally Hemmings is never far away and it makes for an interesting topic.
Jefferson was a man of many accomplishments. He served in the Virginia legislature, the Continental Congress, as governor of Virginia, as ambassador to France, As the first secretary of state, as the second vice-president of the United States, and as the third president. He wrote letters, books, and legislation. Of course he is famous as the author of the Declaration of Independence. On his tombstone he only asked that three items be remembered. Those accomplishments are the Declaration of Independence, the Virginia Statutes of Religious Freedom, and Father of the University of Virginia. In some ways this sums up his life quite nicely.
Any biography of Thomas Jefferson is a daunting task. There is a wealth of primary source material and an avalanche of secondary material. Huge multi-volume biographies are out of style in our time and that may not be a bad thing. Instead of trying to cover every aspect of Jefferson's life in detail he gives an overview of Jefferson's story, but the focus of the book can be found in the title. Jefferson was a man who craved the power to make the world a better place. This is part of the contradiction. In the thought of the time no leader of a free society was supposed to desire power. Jefferson actively desired power, but had to cultivate an image of indifference. A vocal enemy of political parties he helped to create and lead the first political party in the United States. In a usual Jeffersonian twist this party was an opposition party that he led as Washington's secretary of state and Adams' vice-president.
Meacham has given a wonderful start to Jefferson studies for this generation. His prose is always delightful to read. The book is well researched, but is accessible to the general reader. It is doubtful that we will ever truly be able to understand Thomas Jefferson, but this volume will help to gain insight into fascinating person.
cmt86's review against another edition
4.0
Very good! I'm happy I read it. Now, though, on to Lafayette!
musicdeepdive's review against another edition
3.75
Still seems a bit superficial for a cradle-to-grave biography (which it is, despite the author's insistence otherwise at the end), but it does make a better case for its existence than the Jackson book and works pretty well as a basic intro piece.
thingtwo's review against another edition
5.0
Everything I ever wanted to know about Thomas Jefferson, and then some. Great unbiased presentation of a very complicated man.