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Title: American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson by Joseph J. Ellis ISBN: 0-679-76441-0 Publisher: Vintage Pub. Date: 07 April, 1998 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $15.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.9 (83 reviews)
Rating: 2
Summary: Clash of Titans between Theory and Practice
Comment: Unlike David McCullough in his superb "John Adams", Joseph J. Ellis has a hard to get into style that does turn Thomas Jefferson into a sphinx. The audience can have a difficult time to understand the similarities and differences existing between Jefferson and John Adams. Jefferson was a study in contradictions. He was often not practicing what he was preaching. For that reason, many people can reasonably claim to be the spiritual heirs of Jefferson.
Rating: 2
Summary: Sphinx Stinks
Comment: I did not enjoy this book. I was looking for a comprehensive review of Jefferson's life and theories. To his credit, the author makes an attempt at a balanced analysis of Jefferson's thoughts and influences. That is more than most other authors provide. The large and significant omissions of key events in Jefferson's life, however, are the biggest disappointment in this book.
Rating: 4
Summary: What an Interesting Read!
Comment: Although this book left me wanting more (not NEARLY enough coverage of Jefferson's 2nd term--this book needed 200 more pages), what was there was extremely interesting and well-written. Thomas Jefferson has to be the most interesting of all of the Revolutionary period figures (although not necessarily the most admirable). He could lie, cheat and back-stab and then be completely and honestly indignant when accused of doing the same. What an enigma! I cannot decide whether to praise or revile him (I'm closer to the latter), but I LOVE to read about him! I was looking for a recent, complete, single-volume biography of Jefferson and chose this one over the one by Randall Sterne for whatever reason. Although I am extremely glad that I read it, I still feel that I have not read a complete biography of Jefferson because so much of his presidency (especially the aforementioned second term) was given such short shrift. But for that omission, this was a 5-star book!
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Title: Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation by Joseph J. Ellis ISBN: 0375705244 Publisher: Vintage Pub. Date: 05 February, 2002 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
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Title: Washington: The Indispensable Man by James Thomas Flexner ISBN: 0316286168 Publisher: Back Bay Books Pub. Date: 22 February, 1994 List Price(USD): $17.95 |
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Title: John Adams by David McCullough ISBN: 0743223136 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Pub. Date: 03 September, 2002 List Price(USD): $18.95 |
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Title: The First American: The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin by H.W. Brands ISBN: 0385495404 Publisher: Anchor Pub. Date: 12 March, 2002 List Price(USD): $17.00 |
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Title: Passionate Sage: The Character and Legacy of John Adams by Joseph J. Ellis ISBN: 0393311333 Publisher: W.W. Norton & Company Pub. Date: September, 2001 List Price(USD): $15.95 |
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