Thomas Jefferson by R. B. Bernstein Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Thomas Jefferson
Book Review: Meager product
Summary: 1 Stars
Why did Mr. Bernstein come up with such a meager product?--as though someone with an "in" suggested, "Hey, there's a commercial niche for a small book on Jefferson. Give it a go." I wish he hadn't. He gave little substance either to Jefferson or his book and made factual and interpretative missteps in the bargain. Save your money. Book Review: Lovely Book
Summary: 5 Stars
I thought Mr. Bernstein did a lovely job and gave us a lovely book on the life of Thomas Jefferson. I am writing this so as to recommend it to you. I in turn am in the throes of reading "West Point, Thomas Jefferson, Character Leadership Education" by Remick at the recommendation of a few previous reviews and am far enough along and pleasantly surprised enough to suggest that you do the same when you have finished the Bernstein book.Book Review: Very good first book on Jefferson
Summary: 5 Stars
If you have read several other books on TJ, then this is probably not for you. This is a very concise 200 page book that somehow covers his entire life in seemingly precise detail considering it's short length. Very well written and difficult to put down. I also liked it because it seemed objective - Bernstein discusses some of the negative attributes that some viewed Jefferson as having. He also discusses the Sally Hemings issue at length.
Great starter book on Jefferson.
Book Review: This book is worthwhile.
Summary: 4 Stars
As a part of my review I can't help but be amused at one who would claim this book "never should have been published" and "bad writing, I think, always reveals the shallowness of perception." Talk about the shallowness of perception... it sounds as though the reviewer is a frustrated and unpublished writer. To the point, just as beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so too is the value of this book to the reader. If you are a Jeffersonian scholar, well versed in his life and times, this book will have little to offer you. If, on the other hand, your knowledge of Thomas Jefferson stems from American History class and fanciful movies, then it has something to offer. I don't know the author, but I doubt that he intended it to be the definitive biography of Thomas Jefferson. Rather, it is a concise, well written and easily read synopsis of Jefferson's life and worth the time it takes to read it. For those who want more in depth analysis there are other excellent books to fill that need.Book Review: Good Concise Biography of Jefferson
Summary: 5 Stars
I have always admired many of the principles espoused by Thomas Jefferson, including the ideas expressed in the preamble of the Declaration of Independence, his defense of civil rights and his statements on religious freedom and separation of church and state. Indeed, when compared with most revolutions, we in the United States were most fortunate in our founding fathers. Not just Jefferson, but Washington, Adams, Maddison, Franklin and several others as well. However, all leaders have their warts and Jefferson had quite a few. These included his view that blacks were inferior, his preference in maintaining his southern gentleman life style over freeing his slaves, his relationship with Sally Hemings, his tendency to relegate women to the hearth and his fiery temper and often unforgiving nature in political fights. Despite all this he laid the foundation for a much broader view of civil rights and fortunately this broader view has taken hold, despite the fact that it is still not as good as it could be. As a case in point, Thomas Jefferson's old position as Secretary of State (under Washington) is now held by a black woman! Although we are not there yet, we have come a long ways!
Still, Jefferson had a way with words, was a great architect, a fairly competent scientist, a voracious reader and a brilliant diplomat. It is seldom that we come upon such talent and a few (if egregious) warts are probably to be expected, but of course should not be overlooked because of hero worship.
The life, philosophy, triumphs and failings of our third president are concisely covered in a very readable manner by R. B. Bernstein in his book "Thomas Jefferson". I think every American citizen should read this book, or something like it, in order to at least have some understanding of the beginning of our country and the principles on which it was founded. It is somewhat comforting to note that the period of the early republic was often as turbulent as is our current time and that even great leaders like Washington, Maddison, Adams and Jefferson had their sometimes grievous faults and often disagreed among themselves over the best course of action.