Reviews
Bernstein proposes that his narrative is balanced among the clashingopinions of professional historians; we in the grandstands, however, can cheerBernstein's offering as a capable, interpretive survey of Jefferson's long andverbose life....The author strongly emphasizes Jefferson's democrat ic idealsand his practical enactment of them in his political career. However crowded theTJ shelf, libraries should allow room for Bernstein's compact, competentcontribution. -- Gilbert Taylor, Booklist|9780195169119|, "His marvelous little book gives us an objective account of what made President Jefferson the looming figure he is and why he occupies a central place in our history. Mr. Bernstein's work is so complete, yet concise, that I'm tempted to call it 'the pocket Jefferson.' But that would not do.The notion of Mr. Jefferson--or of Mr. Bernstein's research--being pocket-sized is misleading. The book may be trim enough to fit inside a very large pocket, but it will fill your heart and mind."--New York Law Journal, "It is difficult to be objective about Thomas Jefferson, but this book succeeds wonderfully. Neither attacking Jefferson for his sins nor lauding him for his accomplishments, Thomas Jefferson does equal justice to Jefferson's political, intellectual, and personal life in a concise biographythat can be enjoyed by all. Bernstein has given us an admirably balanced life in context."--Joanne B. Freeman, Professor of History, Yale University, "The best short biography of Jefferson ever written...highly recommendedfor those who want a brief and historically reliable account of this incrediblycomplicated character.... Authoritative, judicious, clearly written andremarkably complete."--Gordon S. Wood, The New York Times Book Review, "Bernstein has brought as much clarity to a famously elusive subject as anyone can, and he's done it all at concise, readable length."--Christian Science Monitor, "Two-time Pulitzer prize nominee Bernstein has produced a readablebiography of a leading figure of the young American nation. He effectivelyweaves together information on Jefferson's planter background, emergence as aleading thinker of the Independence era, ongoing struggle to balance hispersonal life with public responsibility as his nation emerged, and eventualservice as the third President. The author is especially adept at placingJefferson's accomplishments in context without oversimplifying them, which in abook only about 250 pages long and aimed primarily at general readers is animpressive feat....This work is recommended particularly for public librariesand other general collections." -- Library Journal, "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."--Gordon S. Wood, The New York Times Book Review "Bernstein's Jefferson is a brilliant success. There is nothing like it in the literature."--Peter Onuf, Thomas Jefferson Foundation Professor of History, University of Virginia "Here, in just 200 pages of text, is an eminently readable, insightful and fair account of the life and times of the third president of the United States.... Bernstein's book [is] lucid, fascinating."--Roanoke Times "R. B. Bernstein has produced a fascinating, extremely intelligent examination of the life of Thomas Jefferson. With a clear eye and deft historical touch, Bernstein reminds us why studying Jefferson and his world will always remain central to understanding the development of the American character."--Annette Gordon-Reed, author of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings: An American Controversy "Veteran historian Bernstein pulls off a remarkable feat: he writes of Jefferson and his 'ambiguous legacies' with utter serenity, detachment and balance.... In prose of the utmost directness and clarity, Bernstein simply lays out the great founder's life in all its complexities, achievements and, at the end, ruin.... Anyone wanting to brush up on Jefferson's life or gain exposure to the latest findings about it will find this book of huge value. It will be most valuable to those seeking an introduction to Jefferson's life and achievements. There's little doubt that the book will become the standard brief one-volume biography of someone who was 'the leading spokesman for the revolution of ideas that changed...the face of America and the world.'"--Publishers Weekly (starred review) Two-time Pulitzer nominee Bernstein has produced a readable biography of a leading figure of the young American nation. The author is especially adept at placing Jefferson's accomplishments in context without oversimplifying them, which in a book only about 250 pages long and aimed primarily at general readers is an impressive feat....This work is recommended particularly for public libraries and other general collections. -- Library Journal "Bernstein has brought as much clarity to a famously elusive subject as anyone can, and he's done it all at concise, readable length."--Christian Science Monitor "However crowded the TJ shelf, libraries should allow room for Bernstein's compact, competent contribution. -- Gilbert Taylor, Booklist "It is difficult to be objective about Thomas Jefferson, but this book succeeds wonderfully. Neither attacking Jefferson for his sins nor lauding him for his accomplishments, Thomas Jefferson does equal justice to Jefferson's political, intellectual, and personal life in a concise biography that can be enjoyed by all. Bernstein has given us an admirably balanced life in context."--Joanne B. Freeman, Professor of History, Yale University, "Veteran historian Bernstein pulls off a remarkable feat: he writes of Jefferson and his 'ambiguous legacies' with utter serenity, detachment and balance. He takes no sides and offers no particular arguments about the man. Instead, in prose of the utmost directness and clarity, Bernsteinsimply lays out the great founder's life in all its complexities, achievements and, at the end, ruin.... Anyone wanting to brush up on Jefferson's life or gain exposure to the latest findings about it will find this book of huge value. It will be most valuable to those seeking an introduction toJefferson's life and achievements. There's little doubt that the book will become the standard brief one-volume biography of someone who was 'the leading spokesman for the revolution of ideas that changed...the face of America and the world.'"--Publishers Weekly (starred review), "Veteran historian Bernstein pulls off a remarkable feat: he writes ofJefferson and his 'ambiguous legacies' with utter serenity, detachment andbalance. He takes no sides and offers no particular arguments about the man.Instead, in prose of the utmost directness and clarity, Bernstein simply laysout the great founder's life in all its complexities, achievements and, at theend, ruin.... Anyone wanting to brush up on Jefferson's life or gain exposure tothe latest findings about it will find this book of huge value. It will be mostvaluable to those seeking an introduction to Jefferson's life and achievements.There's little doubt that the book will become the standard brief one-volumebiography of someone who was 'the leading spokesman for the revolution of ideasthat changed...the face of America and the world.'"--Publishers Weekly (starredreview), "Here, in just 200 pages of text, is an eminently readable, insightful and fair account of the life and times of the third president of the United States.... Bernstein's book [is] lucid, fascinating."--Roanoke Times, "R.B. Bernstein's Thomas Jefferson may be the best short biography of the founder ever written. One could spend whole books trying to explain the body of Jefferson's thought; indeed many scholars have. Wisely, Bernstein has chosen to show us ideas in action. Without saying it in so manywords, Bernstein conveys that Jefferson was an enormously controversial figure and that his ideas, which we, like Abraham Lincoln, accept as "the definitions and axioms of free society" (p. 198), encountered continuous opposition. Sometimes less is more, and in this very fine biography, R.B.Bernstein has succeeded in showing Jefferson's greatness and complexity and the tumultuousness of the times."--Jan Ellen Lewis, Department of History, Rutgers University, Newark, "R. B. Bernstein has produced a fascinating, extremely intelligent examination of the life of Thomas Jefferson. With a clear eye and deft historical touch, Bernstein reminds us why studying Jefferson and his world will always remain central to understanding the development of the Americancharacter."--Annette Gordon-Reed, author of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings: An American Controversy, "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."--Gordon S. Wood,The New York Times Book Review "Bernstein'sJeffersonis a brilliant success. There is nothing like it in the literature."--Peter Onuf, Thomas Jefferson Foundation Professor of History, University of Virginia "Here, in just 200 pages of text, is an eminently readable, insightful and fair account of the life and times of the third president of the United States.... Bernstein's book [is] lucid, fascinating."--Roanoke Times "R. B. Bernstein has produced a fascinating, extremely intelligent examination of the life of Thomas Jefferson. With a clear eye and deft historical touch, Bernstein reminds us why studying Jefferson and his world will always remain central to understanding the development of the American character."--Annette Gordon-Reed, author ofThomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings: An American Controversy "Veteran historian Bernstein pulls off a remarkable feat: he writes of Jefferson and his 'ambiguous legacies' with utter serenity, detachment and balance.... In prose of the utmost directness and clarity, Bernstein simply lays out the great founder's life in all its complexities, achievements and, at the end, ruin.... Anyone wanting to brush up on Jefferson's life or gain exposure to the latest findings about it will find this book of huge value. It will be most valuable to those seeking an introduction to Jefferson's life and achievements. There's little doubt that the book will become the standard brief one-volume biography of someone who was 'the leading spokesman for the revolution of ideas that changed...the face of America and the world.'"--Publishers Weekly(starred review) Two-time Pulitzer nominee Bernstein has produced a readable biography of a leading figure of the young American nation. The author is especially adept at placing Jefferson's accomplishments in context without oversimplifying them, which in a book only about 250 pages long and aimed primarily at general readers is an impressive feat....This work is recommended particularly for public libraries and other general collections. --Library Journal "Bernstein has brought as much clarity to a famously elusive subject as anyone can, and he's done it all at concise, readable length."--Christian Science Monitor "However crowded the TJ shelf, libraries should allow room for Bernstein's compact, competent contribution. -- Gilbert Taylor,Booklist "It is difficult to be objective about Thomas Jefferson, but this book succeeds wonderfully. Neither attacking Jefferson for his sins nor lauding him for his accomplishments,Thomas Jeffersondoes equal justice to Jefferson's political, intellectual, and personal life in a concise biography that can be enjoyed by all. Bernstein has given us an admirably balanced life in context."--Joanne B. Freeman, Professor of History, Yale University, "Bernstein's Jefferson is a brilliant success. There is nothing like it in the literature."--Peter Onuf, Thomas Jefferson Foundation Professor of History, University of Virginia, "Bernstein proposes that his narrative is balanced among the clashing opinions of professional historians; we in the grandstands, however, can cheer Bernstein's offering as a capable, interpretive survey of Jefferson's long and verbose life....The author strongly emphasizes Jefferson'sdemocrat ic ideals and his practical enactment of them in his political career. However crowded the TJ shelf, libraries should allow room for Bernstein's compact, competent contribution."--Gilbert Taylor, Booklist, "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."--Gordon S. Wood, The New York Times BookReview, "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."--Gordon S. Wood, The New York Times Book Review "Bernstein's Jefferson is a brilliant success. There is nothing like it in the literature."--Peter Onuf, Thomas Jefferson Foundation Professor of History, University of Virginia "Here, in just 200 pages of text, is an eminently readable, insightful and fair account of the life and times of the third president of the United States.... Bernstein's book [is] lucid, fascinating."-- Roanoke Times "R. B. Bernstein has produced a fascinating, extremely intelligent examination of the life of Thomas Jefferson. With a clear eye and deft historical touch, Bernstein reminds us why studying Jefferson and his world will always remain central to understanding the development of the American character."--Annette Gordon-Reed, author of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings: An American Controversy "Veteran historian Bernstein pulls off a remarkable feat: he writes of Jefferson and his 'ambiguous legacies' with utter serenity, detachment and balance.... In prose of the utmost directness and clarity, Bernstein simply lays out the great founder's life in all its complexities, achievements and, at the end, ruin.... Anyone wanting to brush up on Jefferson's life or gain exposure to the latest findings about it will find this book of huge value. It will be most valuable to those seeking an introduction to Jefferson's life and achievements. There's little doubt that the book will become the standard brief one-volume biography of someone who was 'the leading spokesman for the revolution of ideas that changed...the face of America and the world.'"-- Publishers Weekly (starred review) Two-time Pulitzer nominee Bernstein has produced a readable biography of a leading figure of the young American nation. The author is especially adept at placing Jefferson's accomplishments in context without oversimplifying them, which in a book only about 250 pages long and aimed primarily at general readers is an impressive feat....This work is recommended particularly for public libraries and other general collections. -- Library Journal "Bernstein has brought as much clarity to a famously elusive subject as anyone can, and he's done it all at concise, readable length."-- Christian Science Monitor "However crowded the TJ shelf, libraries should allow room for Bernstein's compact, competent contribution. -- Gilbert Taylor, Booklist "It is difficult to be objective about Thomas Jefferson, but this book succeeds wonderfully. Neither attacking Jefferson for his sins nor lauding him for his accomplishments, Thomas Jefferson does equal justice to Jefferson's political, intellectual, and personal life in a concise biography that can be enjoyed by all. Bernstein has given us an admirably balanced life in context."--Joanne B. Freeman, Professor of History, Yale University, "His marvelous little book gives us an objective account of what madePresident Jefferson the looming figure he is and why he occupies a central placein our history. Mr. Bernstein's work is so complete, yet concise, that I'mtempted to call it 'the pocket Jefferson.' But that would not do. The notion ofMr. Jefferson--or of Mr. Bernstein's research--being pocket-sized is misleading.The book may be trim enough to fit inside a very large pocket, but it will fillyour heart and mind."--New York Law Journal, "A capable, interpretive survey of Jefferson's long and verbose life.... The author strongly emphasizes Jefferson's democratic ideals and his practical enactment of them in his political career. However crowded the TJ shelf, libraries should allow room for Bernstein's compact, competentcontribution."--Booklist, "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."--Gordon S. Wood, The New York Times Book Review"Bernstein's Jefferson is a brilliant success. There is nothing like it in the literature."--Peter Onuf, Thomas Jefferson Foundation Professor of History, University of Virginia"Here, in just 200 pages of text, is an eminently readable, insightful and fair account of the life and times of the third president of the United States.... Bernstein's book [is] lucid, fascinating."--Roanoke Times"R. B. Bernstein has produced a fascinating, extremely intelligent examination of the life of Thomas Jefferson. With a clear eye and deft historical touch, Bernstein reminds us why studying Jefferson and his world will always remain central to understanding the development of the American character."--Annette Gordon-Reed, author of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings: An American Controversy"Veteran historian Bernstein pulls off a remarkable feat: he writes of Jefferson and his 'ambiguous legacies' with utter serenity, detachment and balance.... In prose of the utmost directness and clarity, Bernstein simply lays out the great founder's life in all its complexities, achievements and, at the end, ruin.... Anyone wanting to brush up on Jefferson's life or gain exposure to the latest findings about it will find this book of huge value. It will be most valuable to those seeking an introduction to Jefferson's life and achievements. There's little doubt that the book will become the standard brief one-volume biography of someone who was 'the leading spokesman for the revolution of ideas that changed...the face of America and the world.'"--Publishers Weekly (starred review)Two-time Pulitzer nominee Bernstein has produced a readable biography of a leading figure of the young American nation. The author is especially adept at placing Jefferson's accomplishments in context without oversimplifying them, which in a book only about 250 pages long and aimed primarily at general readers is an impressive feat....This work is recommended particularly for public libraries and other general collections. -- Library Journal"Bernstein has brought as much clarity to a famously elusive subject as anyone can, and he's done it all at concise, readable length."--Christian Science Monitor"However crowded the TJ shelf, libraries should allow room for Bernstein's compact, competent contribution. -- Gilbert Taylor, Booklist"It is difficult to be objective about Thomas Jefferson, but this book succeeds wonderfully. Neither attacking Jefferson for his sins nor lauding him for his accomplishments, Thomas Jefferson does equal justice to Jefferson's political, intellectual, and personal life in a concise biography that can be enjoyed by all. Bernstein has given us an admirably balanced life in context."--Joanne B. Freeman, Professor of History, Yale University, "A capable, interpretive survey of Jefferson's long and verbose life....The author strongly emphasizes Jefferson's democratic ideals and his practicalenactment of them in his political career. However crowded the TJ shelf,libraries should allow room for Bernstein's compact, competentcontribution."--Booklist
