A review by kmanbooks
Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power by Jon Meacham

3.0

The impression one gets of Jefferson here is that of Khaleesi in Game of Thrones, prior to her snapping the final season; there are dark, Machiavellian passages which really should make us think twice about trusting or loving Jefferson, but basically everything in the book is priming the reader to overlook any ill-feeling and play along with the lionization of the great American hero Jefferson. Genocidal ramblings are shrugged off as "hyperbole" and abuses of power as the "prudent" and "pragmatic" thing to do rather than the "idealistic" or "philosophical" choice. The villain was here all along, and we made him the hero of the story. Were it judged as an academic history, it would be found somewhat lacking; as 'pop history', however, it is better than most. For such a long book, it really does flow, and is at least useful as an introductory survey of the Jefferson life.