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jimbowen0306's review against another edition
4.0
This is an interesting book. The author points out that there've been a number of very good books about the founding fathers in the last few years. He also points out that those books tend to paint the more instinctively Federalist/pro-English elements (i.e. Washington, Adams, and Hamilton) in a particularly good light, while being negative about the more Republican/Francophile revolutionaries (a category that contains Jefferson). I'd probably agree with him.
I guess you could say that this book tries to address this issue. It looks at Jefferson's leadership style (which could be described as more intellectual (and involving more backroom politics)). The problem was I didn't much like Jefferson before I read the book (I've read a bunch of those pro-federalist biographies), and I didn't much like him after I finished the book either. I mean I can see he was successful (his party was in power for 32 of the 36 years that started with his presidency, and as a result, he defined America, but.... the book still didn't endear him, or his politics to me. I just found his tendency to equate federalism with monarchism too hard to believe.
I guess you could say that this book tries to address this issue. It looks at Jefferson's leadership style (which could be described as more intellectual (and involving more backroom politics)). The problem was I didn't much like Jefferson before I read the book (I've read a bunch of those pro-federalist biographies), and I didn't much like him after I finished the book either. I mean I can see he was successful (his party was in power for 32 of the 36 years that started with his presidency, and as a result, he defined America, but.... the book still didn't endear him, or his politics to me. I just found his tendency to equate federalism with monarchism too hard to believe.
tillwyatt's review
4.0
It always amazes me that an author can pack the life of a man such as Jefferson into a 500 page book. This book was dense but well worth the time invested.
What did I love? Meacham has done his research. I’m convinced he has looked at every letter and paper that Jefferson wrote in his life. Not only that, but he was able to turn this information into a story. I didn’t feel like I was reading a High school history textbook, but rather a memoir. It was a surprisingly fun read!
I did have some issues with the first hundred pages. Here was this young Jefferson, whom it appears didn’t have to work very hard to rise in rank. Hell he drafted the Declaration of Independence at age 33. I didn’t get a good glimpse of what his motivations were or how his mind worked. Grew up in a wealthy family, went to Law School, and wrote the Declaration of Independence? Why? How? I feel that this was missed. Maybe it just speaks to the times.
That being said…wow. What an inspiring story. Jefferson was born to lead and inspire, and he did it in such a calm and untraditional way.
It’s funny. Every revolutionary biography I read leaves me thinking “Wow. This man did more than anyone to shape this country into what it is today.” I suppose that this is the sign of a good Biographer. Well done Meacham.
What did I love? Meacham has done his research. I’m convinced he has looked at every letter and paper that Jefferson wrote in his life. Not only that, but he was able to turn this information into a story. I didn’t feel like I was reading a High school history textbook, but rather a memoir. It was a surprisingly fun read!
I did have some issues with the first hundred pages. Here was this young Jefferson, whom it appears didn’t have to work very hard to rise in rank. Hell he drafted the Declaration of Independence at age 33. I didn’t get a good glimpse of what his motivations were or how his mind worked. Grew up in a wealthy family, went to Law School, and wrote the Declaration of Independence? Why? How? I feel that this was missed. Maybe it just speaks to the times.
That being said…wow. What an inspiring story. Jefferson was born to lead and inspire, and he did it in such a calm and untraditional way.
It’s funny. Every revolutionary biography I read leaves me thinking “Wow. This man did more than anyone to shape this country into what it is today.” I suppose that this is the sign of a good Biographer. Well done Meacham.
raruther's review against another edition
fast-paced
3.5
Disappointingly shallow - more than a summary view than anything, a short book drawn thin by the necessity of covering Jefferson's long life. Not much in the way of analysis; you learn relatively little about his 'Art of Power' as the book speeds on to the next major event. Should have either chosen a few things to focus on or written a much longer book. Still, this might be a good introduction for a casual reader who wants a general timeline of his life. 3 stars, +0.5 for being refreshingly honest about Jefferson's hypocrisy on slavery.
noranne's review
3.0
Obviously, this book was a bit of a slow read. Perhaps my off-handed reading of a chapter or two here and there affected my overall impression of the book, which was that it was disjointed and lacked focus. It was mostly chronological, but with enough discrepancies to become confusing. The random interspersement of personal and professional anecdotes that were unrelated in any manner and often not well-explained left me unable to really get into it. I wasn’t sure what the goal of the biography was. Ostensibly it was an exploration of how TJ grasped and wielded power. I feel like that if the book had truly focused on that it would have been much more compelling. In any case, it was not a bad book. TJ is certainly an outsized and complex figure in American history, so I enjoy getting a chance to understand a bit more about him. While this book is certainly favorable to him, I did not find it to be fawning. The fact that TJ was human and flawed was certainly not hidden, although it was not explored as deeply as it could have been.
Overall, a wide-ranging but superficial look at Jefferson.
Overall, a wide-ranging but superficial look at Jefferson.
karinlib's review
3.0
I liked this book about Jefferson, and I learned a great deal about things I didn't know, or had forgotten from my high school American History classes. I was a history major in college, but concentrated on European history.
I find Jefferson to be an ordinary person in that he was full of flaws, but had a wonderful personality, loved people and was a unique leader. Regardless of how I feel about the man, he did help create an enduring government, when America needed it most.
I gave the book 3 stars because of Meacham's writing style, it felt choppy and a little disjointed. It just wasn't in the storytelling style of David McCullough or Doris Kearns Goodwin.
I find Jefferson to be an ordinary person in that he was full of flaws, but had a wonderful personality, loved people and was a unique leader. Regardless of how I feel about the man, he did help create an enduring government, when America needed it most.
I gave the book 3 stars because of Meacham's writing style, it felt choppy and a little disjointed. It just wasn't in the storytelling style of David McCullough or Doris Kearns Goodwin.
jasperburns's review
4.0
View my best reviews and a collection of mental models at jasperburns.blog.
duparker's review
4.0
I enjoyed that this book focused on Jefferson's politics and not so much on his character or his personal life. It was good to see where the two intermix, but also enjoyable to not focus on potential scandal or personal choices that did not affect his professional or political life. That said, I enjoyed learning more about his childhood and early years and enjoyed, as always, the style the author uses in discussing his subjects.
sindri_inn_arsaeli's review against another edition
4.0
Well balanced and well told history of a complicated man, and well read by reader Edward Herrmann.