Thomas Jefferson Paperback – September 15, 2005

This is probably one of the best biographies I've read on a Founding Father. This came with a recommendation from Tom Wood's forum [...] as being a good book on Jefferson.Bernstein presents probably the fairest assessment of a person from the time period as I've seen. He doesn't ascribe deity or hero worship or perfection to the man. He also doesn't disparage Jefferson for being a product of his time and class and society. Bernstein presents Jefferson as a flawed individual who is not always consistent and doesn't always come out on top - also known as "a man".Bernstein takes a look at large periods of Jefferson's life and isn't writing to complete a minutia detailed account of every aspect of his life. However, the areas he does point to build up the man into who he would become, who he was, and how he ended life. Bernstein does reveal quite a bit that you don't learn about in history books or in school because Jefferson tends to be known for only one to two very large things - but he was so much more than those labels only. Bernstein also makes sure the reader understands some of the settings and places and even people surrounding Jefferson. Again, this is covered with a good amount of balance. Jefferson isn't the "man who could do no wrong". I did learn quite a bit about Jefferson, which should be one of the main goals when reading a biography. Bernstein does not shy away, either, of covering points of Jefferson's life like his contradictory position on slavery or his possibly fathering children from one of his slaves. Again, Bernstein, doesn't excuse it but he also doesn't call for readers of the current time to look back and denigrate those who don't hold the same values. Sadly, that's where mainstream conversations and populist books tend to go nowadays.Bernstein does a wonderful job at presenting Jefferson and his history. I highly recommend this book for those wanting to read about Jefferson or the era of the founding of America. I would have liked Bernstein to have gone a bit more into the political discussions Jefferson had with some areas of my own interest. Sometimes he tends to write as Jefferson on one side of the issue, someone else on the other, and here's the outcome. There are times that I wish the author would provide the reasons why Jefferson held to certain positions or had certain interests. However, I believe that may be the hindrance of history rather than the author. Final Grade - A

R.B. Bernstein's biography on Thomas Jefferson packs a great deal of information into a very little space. Inside this a fewer than two-hundred-and-fifty-page work, is the life of the third president of the United States. Yet, the work has very ease flowing narrative that makes it enjoyable to read.Thomas Jefferson's entire life is put into to nicely fit little chapters. The Revolution starts right at the second chapter, which makes sense considering Jefferson was only thirty. The second chapter covers Jefferson's glory years in the Continental Congress fighting for independence and authoring the Declaration. While the third and fourth chapters focus on some of Jefferson's less than great moments, such as his disastrous governorship of Virginia to his time as U.S. Minister to France, where he to in love with the French Revolution.The fifth chapter focuses Jefferson coming home to be the nation's Secretary of State, under President George Washington, that he finds very frustrating and leaves after a single term. The next chapter goes into his brief exile from politics where he plots the campaign of 1796. Through a fluke in the Constitution, in 1796, he is elected his opponent's, John Adams, vice president, and in 1800 is stuck in House of Representatives battling a tie with his own running mate. These elections and his vice presidency are all in chapter seven.Chapter eight covers his glorious first term as president. From his brilliant inaugural address to his brilliant, although accidental, purchase of the Louisiana territory. Other then the Declaration of Independence, I feel that Jefferson's first term as President is his great accomplishment.The next chapter covers his not-so-great-second term as President. Although he does abolish U.S. participation in the trans-Atlantic slave trade, his 1808 trade embargo caused a huge economic downturn for the nation. Unpopular though the embargo was, Jefferson's chosen successor, James Madison, is elected to replace him. The final chapter is Jefferson in retirement, his thoughts, fears and founding of the University of Virginia."Unfortunately, the students showed little inclination to behave like the serious scholars whom Jefferson had hoped to welcome. Instead, they carried on in ways resembling Jefferson's idle, boisterous classmates at William and Mary. Their favorite activities were drinking, gambling, and riots, all of which Jefferson denounced as `vicious irregularities.' In particular, the students' nighttime raids up and down the Lawn, known as `calathumps,' alarmed and outraged him. Those who took part in calathumps wore masks to avoid being recognized and punished as they shouted and yelled, fired guns into the air and whirled noisemakers, broke windows, and otherwise made a ruckus." p.176This book is a good one-stop little biography of the nation's third president. The book covers all that was stated in this small review and much more, it has some surprising depth for such a small book. It is a good starting point for someone who knows nothing about Thomas Jefferson.

This book is concise and easy to read, which is important to maintain the reader's interest. You'll learn many things about Jefferson that you didn't know, especially his nuanced feelings about slavery. What's most interesting is the often overlooked time Jefferson spent in Europe. Understanding this period of Jefferson's life is crucial to understanding his sympathy for the French Revolution, which was one of a couple of major points of contention between Jefferson and Hamilton. (By the way, the Jeffersonians and Hamiltonians were the first major political divide in America.)Bernstein achieves what is very difficult: withhold judgment on Jefferson and let the facts speak for themselves. After reading several books about the Founders, I've found that Jefferson is an idealist to a fault and much too faithful in the goodness of men. Also, his determination not to choose sides between the French and British was one of a series of mistakes made by Presidents Adams through Madison that left America open to attack from the British in 1812.My only complaint of this book is that the chapter on Jefferson's second term in office is rather brief. Besides that, it is pleasantly informative and balanced.

I suspect that if you were brought up and educated in the USA that a load of information that is contained in this gem of a book would indeed be "self-evident" However for me a Scotsman who is working his way through the Bios of each US president it is great to have read a book that gives you both the depth of the Characters and the situations surrounding them but builds this picture from the point of view of needing no prior information.I would therefore warmly recommend this book.Of particular note were some passages that ring all too true today: the birth of Partisan politics, the use of Bias media, and how Debt issues then sound very familiar to debt issues now, frankly the only thing in modern USA that does not seem to be reflected from a similar issue in Jeffersons time is Universal Healthcare!JeffersonCare Anyone?

I was looking for a concise book which would give me some basic understanding of the character and lifetime achievements of Thomas Jefferson, without having to read a fully blown biography about every minor decision and event that helped shape his life. After spotting this book on Amazon, I decided that even though priced slightly higher than what I was looking to pay, I would give it a go - and I'm pleased I did.Written in a very easy to read style and remarkably detailed for such a short book, this title highlights the most important aspects of Jefferson's life, and shows clearly how his experiences helped shape the political views and decisions made while in office. It also demonstrates his incredibly complex character by highlighting changing viewpoints, personal and political contradictions and the possibilities of an illicit relationship. Whatever the reason for the contradictions, be it for personal gain or for the greater good of America, the facts are fully explored and well documented by the author, both from the perspective of when Jefferson was alive, and also a retrospective viewpoint which includes new evidence that has come to light since his death.Covering nearly all the major areas which I had an interest in, including the writing of the Declaration of Independence, his time in France, his political career including positions held prior to becoming President, and his contributions to the founding of the University of Virginia, this book gave me an incredibly well rounded insight and detailed understanding of not only Jefferson as a person, but how his views, insight and political decisions helped shape the politics, laws and country we understand today.The only slight area lacking was more in depth explanations on some of Jefferson other activities - we understand from the book that he was an avid reader and book collector, and also dabbled in the world of mechanical innovation / invention and architecture, but only a few sentences scattered throughout the book touch on these subjects. Perhaps a little more detail in this area would make Jefferson more rounded, multi-layered character for the reader, however this is only a very small observation, and I am fully aware that there is only so much that can be written in 300 pages.In all, this book provides a clear picture of Jefferson and his political views and major accomplishments and failures. Entertainingly written and simple enough for those without a degree in politics (or those, like myself, who live outside of America) to follow, this title will give you a ground level understanding into one of the most fascinating American figures. It certainly whets the appetite, increases intrigue and lays the groundwork for further more in depth reading both on Jefferson and the early history of the founding of America. I certainly agree with Gordon S. Wood's review from The New York Times Book Review, which states; "The best short biography of Jefferson ever written...highly recommended for those who want a brief and historically reliable account of this incredibly complicated character.... Authoritative, judicious, clearly written and remarkably complete".

Having watched the excellent John Adams mini-series on TV I was inspired to find out about the great Enlightenment men who founded the USA.I was a bit worried when not far into the biography the author noted that Jefferson did not have much of a sense of humour - but it was a well written and very interesting account of his life.In Britain we are moving towards a system where the role of a politician is being seen as a job rather than a representative role. There are calls for MPs to have no outside interests. Such a system would favour political hacks and one wonders whether men such as Jefferson and Franklin would have been persuaded to enter politics under such pre-conditions. We are perhaps entering the age where the nonentity is favoured over the polymath?

Thomas Jefferson was a complex character who shaped America's future yet remains a man of contradictions. History has rightly acknowledged his contribution as Bernstein points out in this very readable biography. We can always learn something about ourselves and our 21st century attitudes but sifting through the past. This book which looks at a turbulent era of Amercan and British relationships helps the reader in that respect.