Thomas jefferson biography meacham review of optometry

A trustee of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, The McCallie School, and The Harpeth.

American history , biographies , book reviews , Jon Meacham , presidential biographies , Presidents , Thomas Jefferson. Meacham received the Pulitzer Prize for his biography of Andrew Jackson, and has also written about Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill as well as the civil rights movement and the influence of religion in American politics.

But that is part of the delight of this biography: in relatively few pages it manages to capture the essence of Jefferson, describing his core principles and philosophies, outlining his primary accomplishments and failures, and highlighting the contradictions he offers posterity. But happily, such a pace provides the book no opportunity to find itself bogged down in unnecessary detail or to pursue trivial tangents.

Review of Optometry.

I did not detect this fault, and Meacham seems to harbor no greater sympathy for Jefferson than most biographers do with their subjects. Although Meacham does seem to admire Jefferson, his affection is not without qualification. Others have pointed out that although Meacham seems to have been quite diligent in his preparation for writing this book the endnotes and bibliography alone consume over two hundred pages , it contains little that is truly new or revealing.

Rather than describing the controversy which has pervaded this issue for over two hundred years, Meacham treats the topic as fully resolved. Only in the extensive endnotes does the reader find a multi-page note admitting to, and describing, the controversy. I found it easy, entertaining and enjoyable to read. It required relatively little from me, but offered disproportionately greater rewards.

As a serious student of Jefferson, this would not be my first or even second stop on the lengthy journey to understanding Jefferson. However, as an efficient, wonderfully descriptive and generally comprehensive introduction to Thomas Jefferson, I am unaware of better biography. Liz Parrott said:. April 30, at pm. Thanks, this is a very thorough and impartial review.

Steve said:.