Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power

By: Jon Meacham

Narrated by: Edward Herrmann, Jon Meacham

Length: 18 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY The New York Times Book Review • The Washington Post • Entertainment Weekly • The Seattle Times • St. Louis Post-Dispatch • Bloomberg Businessweek

In this magnificent biography, the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of American Lion and Franklin and Winston brings vividly to life an extraordinary man and his remarkable times. Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power gives us Jefferson the politician and president, a great and complex human being forever engaged in the wars of his era. Philosophers think; politicians maneuver. Jefferson’s genius was that he was both and could do both, often simultaneously. Such is the art of power. Thomas Jefferson hated confrontation, and yet his understanding of power and of human nature enabled him to move men and to marshal ideas, to learn from his mistakes, and to prevail. Passionate about many things—women, his family, books, science, architecture, gardens, friends, Monticello, and Paris—Jefferson loved America most, and he strove over and over again, despite fierce opposition, to realize his vision: the creation, survival, and success of popular government in America. Jon Meacham lets us see Jefferson’s world as Jefferson himself saw it, and to appreciate how Jefferson found the means to endure and win in the face of rife partisan division, economic uncertainty, and external threat. Drawing on archives in the United States, England, and France, as well as unpublished Jefferson presidential papers, Meacham presents Jefferson as the most successful political leader of the early republic, and perhaps in all of American history.

The father of the ideal of individual liberty, of the Louisiana Purchase, of the Lewis and Clark expedition, and of the settling of the West, Jefferson recognized that the genius of humanity—and the genius of the new nation—lay in the possibility of progress, of discovering the undiscovered and seeking the unknown. From the writing of the Declaration of Independence to elegant dinners in Paris and in the President’s House; from political maneuverings in the boardinghouses and legislative halls of Philadelphia and New York to the infant capital on the Potomac; from his complicated life at Monticello, his breathtaking house and plantation in Virginia, to the creation of the University of Virginia, Jefferson was central to the age. Here too is the personal Jefferson, a man of appetite, sensuality, and passion.

The Jefferson story resonates today not least because he led his nation through ferocious partisanship and cultural warfare amid economic change and external threats, and also because he embodies an eternal drama, the struggle of the leadership of a nation to achieve greatness in a difficult and confounding world.

Praise for Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power

“This is probably the best single-volume biography of Jefferson ever written.”—Gordon S. Wood

“A big, grand, absorbing exploration of not just Jefferson and his role in history but also Jefferson the man, humanized as never before.”—Entertainment Weekly

“[Meacham] captures who Jefferson was, not just as a statesman but as a man. . . . By the end of the book . . . the reader is likely to feel as if he is losing a dear friend. . . . [An] absorbing tale.”—The Christian Science Monitor

“This terrific book allows us to see the political genius of Thomas Jefferson better than we have ever seen it before. In these endlessly fascinating pages, Jefferson emerges with such vitality that it seems as if he might still be alive today.”—Doris Kearns Goodwin

©2012 Jon Meacham (P)2012 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"A true triumph. In addition to being a brilliant biography, this book is a guide to the use of power. Jon Meacham shows how Jefferson's deft ability to compromise and improvise made him a transformational leader. We think of Jefferson as the embodiment of noble ideals, as he was, but Meacham shows that he was a practical politician more than a moral theorist. The result is a fascinating look at how Jefferson wielded his driving desire for power and control." (Walter Isaacson, author of Steve Jobs)

"This is probably the best single-volume biography of Jefferson ever written; it is certainly the most readable." (Gordon Wood, author of The Radicalism of the American Revolution)

“Jon Meacham resolves the bundle of contradictions that was Thomas Jefferson by probing his love of progress and thirst for power. Here was a man endlessly, artfully intent on making the world something it had not been before. A thrilling and affecting portrait of our first philosopher-politician.” (Stacy Schiff, author of Cleopatra: A Life)

Very good and factual

the story of Jefferson is told interestingly and thoroughly from thorough research. The epilogue is excellent. We would like more summary and evaluation as the story unfolds. what happens when a certain action is taken. why was that action taken.

Excellent

It seems the author truly understands Jefferson better than most. Also a stellar audio performance!

Great read!

insight into the motivation, personal experiences and struggles of one of the key contributors on early America. this story helps you walk a mile in his shoes and learn.

the real Thomas Jefferson

enjoyed this book. I felt it was a good representation of this founding father.

Amazing book!

Would you consider the audio edition of Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power to be better than the print version?

I have not read the print version so I cannot make that assessment.

What did you like best about this story?

How much I learned about Thomas Jefferson. I always knew he was very impressive and accomplished, but I learned so many things about him, the Founding Fathers, and early America that I had never known.

What does Edward Herrmann and Jon Meacham bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Edward Hermann did an amazing job narrating the book! It would not have been the same without him. Jon Meacham did such a stellar job researching and writing this book. It is told almost completely from Jefferson's point of view because it is told through letters he wrote. You also get a good idea of what others thought about him, good and bad, because of their correspondence. Fantastic book!

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Tommy J is here to save America.

Any additional comments?

Wonderful book, so well written and researched. I am very happy I made this purchase. Will look for more books from this author.

Extremely informative

I learned so much in this audiobook. The story is great, the reading/writing style fits the narrative and the content feels all encompassing about the life of Thomas Jefferson. I rather enjoyed the journey through his life and parts of the lives of his contemporaries.

Fair and accurate storytelling

If you could sum up Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power in three words, what would they be?

Interesting, Fair, Insightful

What did you like best about this story?

I really liked that Meacham was fair to Jefferson's rivals and didn't trash their reputations to make Jefferson look better. Nor did he make Jefferson out to be a glowing hero. Jefferson had flaws and was human, and Meacham helped highlight his greatness without glossing over his mistakes.

Which scene was your favorite?

This might sound macabre, but it was the scene he lost his wife. It evoked the most emotion and helped to show that in spite of this horrible heartbreak, he went on to do these great things. Rather than grow bitter, he healed and went on to live a long full life.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I rarely cry at books, so no crying, but I laughed several times.

Any additional comments?

I hope HBO makes a TV show like they did on John Adams with this biography. It was wonderful and thorough without being dry. I felt Jon Meacham fairly represented all the men whose lives were interwoven with Jefferson's, which I've found is pretty rare in a biography. Most people write a biography with a clear bias towards their subject, and their rivals are presented as the villain of the story. I read this after studying Alexander Hamilton and I wanted a better understanding of Thomas Jefferson, who hadn't been painted in the most flattering light. I cringed coming onto the chapters about Hamilton, expected he'd be portrayed pretty harshly, but was pleasantly surprised to find that Jefferson's biographer not only presented him fairly and explained his positions as I'd learned them, but was careful to point out Jefferson's actions/political positions that led to their falling out.I got a much better understanding of Thomas Jefferson, and, while I still find some of his actions hypocritical regarding his views on liberty and slave owning, Meacham reminds readers that Jefferson was a human being who did what he could in the time he lived.

Inspirational full context history

I liked the tone the of the writing as well as the plot and openness to address the thinking and understanding of the epoch. To Those who find culture a cult this is a must.I truly fell in love to the father of America

A must read by every american.

I found this book eye opening transporting me to the times it took place. My admiration from Jefferson worts and all grew immensely. We owe him a debt of gratitude. I read it following read of John Adams biography which I also recommend. Next I will read correspondance between these two great men.

Excellent, but a bit long.

Wonderful narration by the late Mr. Herrmann.
I understand Jefferson’s life was complex and long, still, I think it would make sense to have the this edited abut more and reduce the length by removing some of personal content that was superfluous in content.
Still, excellent nonetheless.