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Thomas Jefferson: A Biography of Spirit and Flesh
A revelatory new biography of Thomas Jefferson, focusing on his ethical and spiritual life
Thomas Jefferson was arguably the most brilliant and inspiring political writer in American history. But the ethical realities of his personal life and political career did not live up to his soaring rhetoric. Indeed, three tensions defined Jefferson's moral life: democracy versus slavery, republican virtue versus dissolute consumption, and veneration for Jesus versus skepticism about Christianity.
In this book Thomas S. Kidd tells the story of Jefferson's ethical life through the lens of these tensions, including an unapologetic focus on the issue where Jefferson's idealistic philosophy and lived reality clashed most obviously: his sexual relationship with his enslaved woman Sally Hemings. In doing so, he offers a unique perspective on one of American history's most studied figures.
Thomas Jefferson was arguably the most brilliant and inspiring political writer in American history. But the ethical realities of his personal life and political career did not live up to his soaring rhetoric. Indeed, three tensions defined Jefferson's moral life: democracy versus slavery, republican virtue versus dissolute consumption, and veneration for Jesus versus skepticism about Christianity.
In this book Thomas S. Kidd tells the story of Jefferson's ethical life through the lens of these tensions, including an unapologetic focus on the issue where Jefferson's idealistic philosophy and lived reality clashed most obviously: his sexual relationship with his enslaved woman Sally Hemings. In doing so, he offers a unique perspective on one of American history's most studied figures.
320 pages, Hardcover
Published May 10, 2022
54 people are currently reading
479 people want to read
About the author
Thomas S. Kidd
38 books118 followersThomas S. Kidd teaches history at Baylor University, and is Senior Fellow at Baylor's Institute for Studies of Religion. Dr. Kidd has appeared on the Glenn Beck tv program, the Hugh Hewitt and Dennis Prager radio shows, and written columns for USA Today and the Washington Post. He is a columnist for Patheos.com. His latest book is Patrick Henry: First Among Patriots. Other books include God of Liberty: A Religious History of the American Revolution. His next book projects are a biography of George Whitefield, and a history of Baptists in America.
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
November 6, 2025
It’s amazing to see so many contradictions exist within one man. Thomas Kidd ably navigates some of the ways that Jefferson seems to be at war within himself, especially with regard to his religious and philosophical views. Thomas Kidd is especially good for these sorts of books because of his sensitive handling of figures in history, as well as his excellent understanding of the religious and philosophical trends in the colonial period.
May 14, 2022
Fascinating dude who lived a bougee, elite and full life. Nevertheless, that life ended in financial, political, and spiritual ruin.
January 31, 2024
An expansive life in brief. A short "ethical" bio of our founding dillettante and a missed opportunity.
Kidd's 2022 biography of Jefferson purports to be a biography of his ethical life. Any combination of Jefferson and "ethics" is always a risky venture as the author invariably has to grapple with the many MANY contradictions in Jefferson's life and character. Fortunately, Kidd (a History professor at Baylor who focuses on American religious history), doesn't shy away from Jefferson's hypocrisy or pecadillos.
What follows is deeper (though not deep) examination into Jefferson's views on religion, ethical and moral philosophy, and biblical scholarship. I say it's a deeper look because Kidd does present many interesting asides through a selection of Jefferson's writings on religion and religiosity, but it's not a deep look because -- and this is and odd thing to say -- there's TOO MUCH biographical information contained therein.
The facts of TJ's life are well known so in such a fairly brief book, any time spent detailing well-worn factual events (his time as Governor, Sec State, President, etc) necessarily robs page space from the more interesting questions of his ethical or moral development.
Where Kidd *does* engage with TJ's writing and influences, the results are intruiguing and engaging -- for despite his soft Unitarianism and frequent disclaimers on following any singular Christian sect, so much of TJ's thought and writing carried spoke in terms of religiosity/providence. Whether this was an "act" by the supremely hypocritical and calculating Jefferson or just another example of him sincerely holding two wholly contradictory beliefs, is hard to say.
But Kidd does an insightful job of noting TJ's frequent reliance on the language of "heresy" to describe otherwise purely political disagreements. Again, whether that was simply a rhetorical product of the age or a conviction of Jefferson's is probably impossible to know, but it was a fine insight.
While a solid and quick read, overall, however, "A Biography of Spirit and Flesh" spends a little too much time on the straightforward historical biography at the expense of the more interesting intellectual biography.
Kidd's 2022 biography of Jefferson purports to be a biography of his ethical life. Any combination of Jefferson and "ethics" is always a risky venture as the author invariably has to grapple with the many MANY contradictions in Jefferson's life and character. Fortunately, Kidd (a History professor at Baylor who focuses on American religious history), doesn't shy away from Jefferson's hypocrisy or pecadillos.
What follows is deeper (though not deep) examination into Jefferson's views on religion, ethical and moral philosophy, and biblical scholarship. I say it's a deeper look because Kidd does present many interesting asides through a selection of Jefferson's writings on religion and religiosity, but it's not a deep look because -- and this is and odd thing to say -- there's TOO MUCH biographical information contained therein.
The facts of TJ's life are well known so in such a fairly brief book, any time spent detailing well-worn factual events (his time as Governor, Sec State, President, etc) necessarily robs page space from the more interesting questions of his ethical or moral development.
Where Kidd *does* engage with TJ's writing and influences, the results are intruiguing and engaging -- for despite his soft Unitarianism and frequent disclaimers on following any singular Christian sect, so much of TJ's thought and writing carried spoke in terms of religiosity/providence. Whether this was an "act" by the supremely hypocritical and calculating Jefferson or just another example of him sincerely holding two wholly contradictory beliefs, is hard to say.
But Kidd does an insightful job of noting TJ's frequent reliance on the language of "heresy" to describe otherwise purely political disagreements. Again, whether that was simply a rhetorical product of the age or a conviction of Jefferson's is probably impossible to know, but it was a fine insight.
While a solid and quick read, overall, however, "A Biography of Spirit and Flesh" spends a little too much time on the straightforward historical biography at the expense of the more interesting intellectual biography.
July 14, 2024
Thomas Kidd is a careful, thoughtful historian and, as you would expect, this biography of Thomas Jefferson is balanced, well-researched, and mature. Kidd's particular focus is on the moral life of Jefferson. Three key areas (or tensions) are examined: his views on democracy vs slavery, his advocacy for republican virtue vs his personal, uncontrolled spending and indebtedness, and his veneration for Jesus vs his skepticism about Christianity.
Early on Kidd describes him as "brilliant but troubled" and the many contradictions are apparent.
Among the various topics Kidd covers: his excessive spending on books, wine and clothes (he confessed to James Monroe that "I had rather be ruined in my fortune than in their esteem"), his epicurean philosophy of life, his intellectual independence, liberty was his religion, the strong support he received from southern evangelicals, especially Baptists, because of his views on religious freedom, the "Jefferson Bible", that he is probably best described as a Unitarian (a belief in providence, the golden rule, and the after-life), Sally Hemings- the slave with whom the fathered at least six children, and his relationships with Patrick Henry, James Madison, John Adams and others.
Early on Kidd describes him as "brilliant but troubled" and the many contradictions are apparent.
Among the various topics Kidd covers: his excessive spending on books, wine and clothes (he confessed to James Monroe that "I had rather be ruined in my fortune than in their esteem"), his epicurean philosophy of life, his intellectual independence, liberty was his religion, the strong support he received from southern evangelicals, especially Baptists, because of his views on religious freedom, the "Jefferson Bible", that he is probably best described as a Unitarian (a belief in providence, the golden rule, and the after-life), Sally Hemings- the slave with whom the fathered at least six children, and his relationships with Patrick Henry, James Madison, John Adams and others.
April 19, 2023
This book is a serious consideration of Jefferson's philosophical journey that unfolded throughout his life. He studied many subjects, among them history, philosophy (political and otherwise), religions, languages, botany, engineering, and agriculture to name a few.
The author tries to open the reader's mind to Jefferson's mind and fails dismally. Jefferson was a complicated man, but on numerous occasions merely a man. The reader is left with not much for his efforts beyond acknowledgement that Jefferson's complexity was a never ending labyrinthine of thought.
This book is not for a general audience; those more academically inclined --those thinking a glimpse into Jefferson's mind is worthwhile-- may gain some additional insight for their own satisfaction. Frankly, beyond that cohort, I suggest that you not waste your time.
The author tries to open the reader's mind to Jefferson's mind and fails dismally. Jefferson was a complicated man, but on numerous occasions merely a man. The reader is left with not much for his efforts beyond acknowledgement that Jefferson's complexity was a never ending labyrinthine of thought.
This book is not for a general audience; those more academically inclined --those thinking a glimpse into Jefferson's mind is worthwhile-- may gain some additional insight for their own satisfaction. Frankly, beyond that cohort, I suggest that you not waste your time.
December 8, 2025
Super thought provoking. Thomas S. Kidd hones in on Jefferson's worldview in this biography, highlighting tensions in his thinking as he guides readers through the various events of his life. Fascinating on all accounts. Jefferson penned the declaration of independence and acknowledged that slavery was an evil that society must/would grow out of, yet owned slaves over the course of his life. He was opposed to "race mixing" yet had secret a sexual relationship with the enslaved Sally Hemings and fathered children with her. He was committed to frugality and living within his means, but perpetually overspent and struggled to get out of debt. I have a lot of sympathy for his thoughts on limited government and distinct categories of church and state, but admittedly do need to refine my thinking on this a bit more (I'm currently reading Carson's The Gagging of God, which highlights the serious societal problems when its highest commitment is to "religious pluralism," many of which Jefferson would not have been able to envision, given the era he lived.).
December 13, 2025
4.25 stars
I really liked this book. After reading Jon Meacham’s biography I was left wanting: Meacham lays out the facts thoroughly, but I still didn’t feel like I knew Jefferson as a person. This book fills that gap.
Kidd’s strength is psychological and ethical portraiture. Rather than just cataloguing events, this book explores Jefferson’s moral framework and inner contradictions, and it succeeds at making him feel human. He was brilliant, principled, often conflicted, and sometimes painfully inconsistent. The result is a textured, sympathetic, and occasionally unsettling portrait that brings Jefferson off the page.
What worked for me: clear prose, thoughtful analysis of Jefferson’s ethics, and a real sense of personality. What held it back slightly: at times the interpretive lens felt a touch speculative, which may bother readers who prefer a strictly documentary approach.
This is a rewarding read for anyone who wants to understand not just what Jefferson did, but who he was. Highly recommended for readers who want nuance over hagiography.
I really liked this book. After reading Jon Meacham’s biography I was left wanting: Meacham lays out the facts thoroughly, but I still didn’t feel like I knew Jefferson as a person. This book fills that gap.
Kidd’s strength is psychological and ethical portraiture. Rather than just cataloguing events, this book explores Jefferson’s moral framework and inner contradictions, and it succeeds at making him feel human. He was brilliant, principled, often conflicted, and sometimes painfully inconsistent. The result is a textured, sympathetic, and occasionally unsettling portrait that brings Jefferson off the page.
What worked for me: clear prose, thoughtful analysis of Jefferson’s ethics, and a real sense of personality. What held it back slightly: at times the interpretive lens felt a touch speculative, which may bother readers who prefer a strictly documentary approach.
This is a rewarding read for anyone who wants to understand not just what Jefferson did, but who he was. Highly recommended for readers who want nuance over hagiography.
November 26, 2022
Kidd focuses his Jefferson biography on the beliefs and thoughts of his subject, leaving off many of the particular events that surrounded his life. Enough history is woven in to provide context. He expertly and convincingly lays out the self-evident contradictions of Jefferson: frugality vs. debt, freedom vs. slavery, professing Christianity vs. rejecting Jesus' deity, strict Constitutional construction vs. pragmatism, and so on. This was not an attempt to condemn hypocrisy. The effect was to create in the mind of the reader a better understanding of the man.
June 17, 2022
Kidd skillfully charts a course through Jefferson's "moral universe" as he also goes over the major events of Jefferson's life. I was intrigued to learn about Jefferson's habits of wine consumption and his attachment to honor in connection to his habits of hospitality. In short, this is an ambivalent book about a brilliant but highly flawed and double-minded man.
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January 2, 2026To read about Jefferson is to experience nauseating levels of cognitive dissonance.
November 24, 2022
Kidd presents a unique way of thinking about Jefferson’s impact on our history by exploring the profound inconsistencies of his life, especially “Jefferson’s belief in God-given equality and his deep investment in the enslavement of African Americans.” While these and other contradictions are impossible to reconcile, I was interested in learning more. As the writer of the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson holds a large and mythical presence in our American imagination, especially as a great thinker. That makes an exploration of his inner life and spirituality worthwhile. Kidd, a professor of religion at a Baptist college, focuses a great deal on Jefferson’s religious beliefs. “I too am trying to untangle the thicket of Jefferson’s moral, philosophical, and theological commitments in the context of his time, not ours…Enigmas abound: Jefferson was a skeptical providentialist, a higher critic of Scripture yet a lifelong reader of biblical texts…”
Kidd mapped Jefferson’s religious thoughts through his correspondence with others, when he would recommend books to friends or when he would debate philosophical issues. I learned that Jefferson often read the Bible for moral wisdom but did not believe one should “uncritically receive its miraculous claims.” He was friendly with many Anglican ministers and other religionists, especially when they concurred with him politically. There is a detailed analysis of Jefferson’s literary inspirations for the Declaration, including the views of Algernon Sidney, an English writer who believed in “Hebraic republicanism” or the idea that Israel needed no king. There are some complicated intersections between the ideas of the Declaration and the ideas of Aristotle, Cicero, and Locke.
In the end, the surprises for me were many. I didn’t realize his contemporaries pointed out Jefferson’s inconsistencies during his life. I didn’t realize how many early American religious groups such as Baptists and Congregationalists supported Jefferson because he defended religious liberty for all, while others attacked him as a “closet atheist” because he rejected a state religion. Jefferson wrote an essay on Jesus Christ in 1803 wherein he analyzed the New Testament and later told his friend William Short that he was not “with Jesus in all his doctrines,” going on to say, “Jesus did not mean to impose himself on mankind as the son of god physically speaking.” There are so many fine points to Jefferson’s expressed religious beliefs; it left me more and more curious.
He did not believe white men should rule as kings over other white men, but what about them ruling over people of color and women? Jefferson freed only two enslaved persons during his lifetime – he had hundreds -- five others were freed at his death. The rest of the people were sold at auction. He fathered “at least six children” with Sally Hemings, an enslaved woman he owned (according to Monitcello.org). While he wrote that slavery was evil, he continued to practice it throughout his life. These truths seem self-evident.
Kidd mapped Jefferson’s religious thoughts through his correspondence with others, when he would recommend books to friends or when he would debate philosophical issues. I learned that Jefferson often read the Bible for moral wisdom but did not believe one should “uncritically receive its miraculous claims.” He was friendly with many Anglican ministers and other religionists, especially when they concurred with him politically. There is a detailed analysis of Jefferson’s literary inspirations for the Declaration, including the views of Algernon Sidney, an English writer who believed in “Hebraic republicanism” or the idea that Israel needed no king. There are some complicated intersections between the ideas of the Declaration and the ideas of Aristotle, Cicero, and Locke.
In the end, the surprises for me were many. I didn’t realize his contemporaries pointed out Jefferson’s inconsistencies during his life. I didn’t realize how many early American religious groups such as Baptists and Congregationalists supported Jefferson because he defended religious liberty for all, while others attacked him as a “closet atheist” because he rejected a state religion. Jefferson wrote an essay on Jesus Christ in 1803 wherein he analyzed the New Testament and later told his friend William Short that he was not “with Jesus in all his doctrines,” going on to say, “Jesus did not mean to impose himself on mankind as the son of god physically speaking.” There are so many fine points to Jefferson’s expressed religious beliefs; it left me more and more curious.
He did not believe white men should rule as kings over other white men, but what about them ruling over people of color and women? Jefferson freed only two enslaved persons during his lifetime – he had hundreds -- five others were freed at his death. The rest of the people were sold at auction. He fathered “at least six children” with Sally Hemings, an enslaved woman he owned (according to Monitcello.org). While he wrote that slavery was evil, he continued to practice it throughout his life. These truths seem self-evident.
May 9, 2024
Yet another excellent work from Thomas Kidd! My first book from Kidd was his biography on Benjamin Franklin. As I went through that book, I was fascinated to learn about the incredibly nuanced and extremely frustrating ethical system of Franklin as he was a man who disparaged “doctrinal” Christianity and adored ethical Christianity, but he did not follow Christian ethics in his relational life. Thomas Jefferson is uncannily similar to Franklin in his views on Christian doctrine and ethics.
Throughout the book, Kidd develops a portrait of Jefferson as a man who loved being lavish with his money, and one of Jefferson’s major expenditures in his life was the money he spent on his library of 6,000+ books. Jefferson read extensively in the field of science, ethics, and biblical studies. I was greatly intrigued to learn about Jefferson’s fascination with the Septuagint and his view of radical discontinuity between Old Testament and New Testament law. Truthfully, there is a lot of content in Kidd’s work that biblical studies majors and biblical scholars can sink their teeth into. As many may also know, Jefferson decried the “speculative metaphysics” of many Christians and the doctrine of the Trinity that resulted from such reflection. I am increasingly fascinated by the notion of how Christians can think in a metaphysical manner in such an anti-metaphysical age, and this biography showed me key prejudices against metaphysical reflection that have popped up in history.
Kidd is an excellent Christian historian who understands well the religious and theological questions and issues of his context, and engages the past in a way that shows the relevance of historic figures for our contemporary period. This book is a prime example of Kidd’s remarkable skill! While Kidd does spend a lot of time on the religious views of Jefferson, he also highlights the major accomplishments in Jefferson’s political career that historians will find significant. I also greatly appreciate Kidd’s careful analysis of Jefferson’s very bizarre view of slavery. Kidd demonstrates great interest in American stances on slavery throughout his publications as he also carefully analyzes slavery in his history of American Baptists, and Kidd captures American history from the perspectives of many slaves in his general text on American history. Who would’ve thought Jefferson was a figure who saw emancipation as ideal? If only he allowed this ideal to influence his own practice of owning slaves.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in American history or the religious views of the Founding Fathers.
Throughout the book, Kidd develops a portrait of Jefferson as a man who loved being lavish with his money, and one of Jefferson’s major expenditures in his life was the money he spent on his library of 6,000+ books. Jefferson read extensively in the field of science, ethics, and biblical studies. I was greatly intrigued to learn about Jefferson’s fascination with the Septuagint and his view of radical discontinuity between Old Testament and New Testament law. Truthfully, there is a lot of content in Kidd’s work that biblical studies majors and biblical scholars can sink their teeth into. As many may also know, Jefferson decried the “speculative metaphysics” of many Christians and the doctrine of the Trinity that resulted from such reflection. I am increasingly fascinated by the notion of how Christians can think in a metaphysical manner in such an anti-metaphysical age, and this biography showed me key prejudices against metaphysical reflection that have popped up in history.
Kidd is an excellent Christian historian who understands well the religious and theological questions and issues of his context, and engages the past in a way that shows the relevance of historic figures for our contemporary period. This book is a prime example of Kidd’s remarkable skill! While Kidd does spend a lot of time on the religious views of Jefferson, he also highlights the major accomplishments in Jefferson’s political career that historians will find significant. I also greatly appreciate Kidd’s careful analysis of Jefferson’s very bizarre view of slavery. Kidd demonstrates great interest in American stances on slavery throughout his publications as he also carefully analyzes slavery in his history of American Baptists, and Kidd captures American history from the perspectives of many slaves in his general text on American history. Who would’ve thought Jefferson was a figure who saw emancipation as ideal? If only he allowed this ideal to influence his own practice of owning slaves.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in American history or the religious views of the Founding Fathers.
June 24, 2023
Thomas Jefferson is one of those figures who has had no shortage of biographies written about him. Did he really need another when Thomas Kidd, a professor at Baylor University, published “Thomas Jefferson: A Biography of Spirit and Flesh” in 2022? I’ll leave the ultimate answer to that question to the experts on Jefferson, but I found this biography informative and enjoyable to read.
Since there is abundant primary source material on Jefferson’s life and work, historians could easily get carried away with trying to cover too much. Kidd doesn’t do that, focusing his research on the spiritual and religious life of the Founding Father. Essentially, Kidd’s thesis is that the concept of liberty encompasses the nexus of Jefferson’s moral and spiritual thought. It’s a reasonably simple explanation for a man that most would consider complicated and contradictory. If individual human liberty is considered foundational for what is true and right, then conflict is inevitable when differing interests collide in the name of liberty.
Kidd writes a well balanced biography. He avoids the temptation toward hagiography that can ensnare many biographers of such a figure. He does not give Jefferson a pass on his moral failings, which are now well known. Neither does he unfairly demonize Jefferson, but lends appropriate empathy to the context in which he lived, worked, and struggled to architect a nation we now call home.
For readers unfamiliar with the life and thought of Jefferson, this book is a readable introduction that effectively summarizes the highlights of his life—childhood, education, drafting the Declaration of Independence, diplomacy in Paris, U.S. vice presidency and presidency, and founding the fledging University of Virginia before retiring virtually penniless at his crumbling Monticello estate. For the more informed Jefferson historian, this book provides a study especially dedicated to his moral and religious life in 239 pages
Since there is abundant primary source material on Jefferson’s life and work, historians could easily get carried away with trying to cover too much. Kidd doesn’t do that, focusing his research on the spiritual and religious life of the Founding Father. Essentially, Kidd’s thesis is that the concept of liberty encompasses the nexus of Jefferson’s moral and spiritual thought. It’s a reasonably simple explanation for a man that most would consider complicated and contradictory. If individual human liberty is considered foundational for what is true and right, then conflict is inevitable when differing interests collide in the name of liberty.
Kidd writes a well balanced biography. He avoids the temptation toward hagiography that can ensnare many biographers of such a figure. He does not give Jefferson a pass on his moral failings, which are now well known. Neither does he unfairly demonize Jefferson, but lends appropriate empathy to the context in which he lived, worked, and struggled to architect a nation we now call home.
For readers unfamiliar with the life and thought of Jefferson, this book is a readable introduction that effectively summarizes the highlights of his life—childhood, education, drafting the Declaration of Independence, diplomacy in Paris, U.S. vice presidency and presidency, and founding the fledging University of Virginia before retiring virtually penniless at his crumbling Monticello estate. For the more informed Jefferson historian, this book provides a study especially dedicated to his moral and religious life in 239 pages
April 13, 2023
4.1 Stars
"Thomas Jefferson: A Biography of Spirit and Flesh" by Thomas Kidd is a biography examining the religious life of the American founding father Thomas Jefferson. Rather than writing a traditional thorough biography Thomas Kidd focuses on the contradictory religious thinking and living of Jefferson. Of particular interest was Kidd's dealing with Jefferson's relationship with slavery, particularly with his female slave Sally Hemmings, and with the Bible. Jefferson was incredibly intelligent and knew his Bible but rejected many of the core truths of the Christian faith, mainly the doctrine of the Trinity, the divinity of Jesus, and the infallibility of the Scriptures. But at the same time, he saw himself as a model of true Christian virtue, and that teachings of the Bible held the greatest ethical teachings known to man, but were no more than that. As well Jefferson had a conflicted relationship with slavery, he at the same time wished for slavery to be abolished but did little to bring about its end in the founding of the United States.
All in all, Kidd's biography of Jefferson is an excellent book. It is not a thorough biography and I wish he had spent a bit more time on an analysis of Jefferson's thinking, but in the end, this was a satisfying book to read on an American founder's religious thinking. The book is a stark reminder of the genius but also the faults of our founders, and that they were incredibly religious and dealt with a large number of religious issues, but were not very Christian. This is a great book and I think it's a great place to start learning about Thomas Jefferson.
"Thomas Jefferson: A Biography of Spirit and Flesh" by Thomas Kidd is a biography examining the religious life of the American founding father Thomas Jefferson. Rather than writing a traditional thorough biography Thomas Kidd focuses on the contradictory religious thinking and living of Jefferson. Of particular interest was Kidd's dealing with Jefferson's relationship with slavery, particularly with his female slave Sally Hemmings, and with the Bible. Jefferson was incredibly intelligent and knew his Bible but rejected many of the core truths of the Christian faith, mainly the doctrine of the Trinity, the divinity of Jesus, and the infallibility of the Scriptures. But at the same time, he saw himself as a model of true Christian virtue, and that teachings of the Bible held the greatest ethical teachings known to man, but were no more than that. As well Jefferson had a conflicted relationship with slavery, he at the same time wished for slavery to be abolished but did little to bring about its end in the founding of the United States.
All in all, Kidd's biography of Jefferson is an excellent book. It is not a thorough biography and I wish he had spent a bit more time on an analysis of Jefferson's thinking, but in the end, this was a satisfying book to read on an American founder's religious thinking. The book is a stark reminder of the genius but also the faults of our founders, and that they were incredibly religious and dealt with a large number of religious issues, but were not very Christian. This is a great book and I think it's a great place to start learning about Thomas Jefferson.
August 27, 2023
When I began studying early American history in earnest in college, I wasn't much of a Christian. I had the impression of Thomas Jefferson as a brilliant, deeply flawed man.
Today, as I finished this marvelous biography focused on "Jefferson's moral universe" (p. 3), what stuck me the most deeply, having become a committed Christian who desires others turn to Jesus as their Savior, is how often God provided many, many messengers of the gospel to Thomas Jefferson.
Believers who didn't know Jefferson wrote to him, seeking his conversion. So too did friends and acquaintances. We even have evidence of one enslaved woman witnessing to this man who kept her in bondage. Yet Thomas Jefferson was stubbornly unmoved, imagining he'd be saved by his good deeds. Deeply, deeply tragic, unto eternity.
Today's America recalls Jefferson's good deeds and ideals, as well as his bad (even evil) deeds in human terms. Yet even more should the believer be motivated to keep on sharing the gospel of salvation in Christ alone. In the long run, nothing else matters like how you respond to Jesus.
Today, as I finished this marvelous biography focused on "Jefferson's moral universe" (p. 3), what stuck me the most deeply, having become a committed Christian who desires others turn to Jesus as their Savior, is how often God provided many, many messengers of the gospel to Thomas Jefferson.
Believers who didn't know Jefferson wrote to him, seeking his conversion. So too did friends and acquaintances. We even have evidence of one enslaved woman witnessing to this man who kept her in bondage. Yet Thomas Jefferson was stubbornly unmoved, imagining he'd be saved by his good deeds. Deeply, deeply tragic, unto eternity.
Today's America recalls Jefferson's good deeds and ideals, as well as his bad (even evil) deeds in human terms. Yet even more should the believer be motivated to keep on sharing the gospel of salvation in Christ alone. In the long run, nothing else matters like how you respond to Jesus.
January 8, 2026
Thomas Kidd’s Thomas Jefferson succeeds because it is straightforward and refuses to view the man through the distorted lens of today's sensibilities. Kidd avoids the tempting path of lionizing Jefferson as a superhuman, whilst pointedly not denouncing him or advocating his statues be torn down. He sticks strictly to the written record and avoids speculation where proof is lacking. By thoroughly examining Jefferson's stated positions within the world he actually inhabited, filled with factionalism and hyperbole, Kidd reveals a man who is fundamentally human. He wanted to see himself as epicurean and utilitarian, but even the might of a founding father is futile in crafting their legacy. He presents a figure capable of great idealistic aspirations who was nonetheless comfortable in a status quo that benefited him, and beset with all the births, deaths, and debts any person who lives encounters. The result is an honest look at a man who, like all of us, can easily be called a hypocrite.
January 5, 2023
“Thomas Jefferson: a biography of spirit and flesh,” by Thomas S. Kidd (Yale, 2022). Kidd focuses on Jefferson’s thinking about freedom and religion, and his often-contradictory impulses and knowing hypocrisies. He always spent far more than he had and was forever in debt. He was a brilliant thinker and writer, and was quickly famous among the Revolutionary generation for his leadership, first in Virginia and then in the nation as a whole. He barely did anything to hide his relationship with Sally Hemings, whom he brought to Paris with him when she was still a teenager, and treated as a member of the family. Ultimately he did free his slaves---but only after his death. Throughout his life he wrestled with his ethical life, and often lost. Fascinating story. https://yalebooks.yale.edu/book/97803...
May 19, 2024
Can anyone write anything other than him being a Slave owner. Seriously you would think if they did their research they would know he didn’t believe in just turning people loose that could not care for themselves and he whole life it attempted to make everyone self sufficient and to educate them.
There is still no proof that it was Thomas that was the father verses his Brother, regardless of what I personally think about the issue I think it is important to at least mention it when making claims. I am sure with the DNA capabilities we now have we could resume his body and do the necessary tests and prove one way or another but then what would people have to write about. Colleges, Education, Higher Beliefs…. This is the only book that I found to be more towards the disrespectful and overly negative towards the country’s Founding Father.
There is still no proof that it was Thomas that was the father verses his Brother, regardless of what I personally think about the issue I think it is important to at least mention it when making claims. I am sure with the DNA capabilities we now have we could resume his body and do the necessary tests and prove one way or another but then what would people have to write about. Colleges, Education, Higher Beliefs…. This is the only book that I found to be more towards the disrespectful and overly negative towards the country’s Founding Father.
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September 9, 2023For the 2023 #vtReadingChallenge, this is #26, for the category "A Biography". Astute observers will notice a very long gap in my reading challenge posts... this book got great reviews, but it did not capture my attention and my read through of it dragged quite a bit. I don't want to give too harsh a review of the book; history and biography are not really my big areas. I did feel that the book suffered a bit much from being too "meta" -- it seemed almost equal parts "here's what you should think about Jefferson" and "here's what you should think about what other people have said/written about Jefferson" along with "actual biography of Jefferson". That might be exactly the book some people want, but I did not love it.
January 13, 2024
Thomas Jefferson may be best known as the third President of the United States or as the primary writer of the US Constitution. His statesmanship and political savviness helped frame the early American government, but it may come as a surprise to learn that Jefferson’s personal religious beliefs didn’t always fit with his contemporaries, or what the current leadership project them to be. Jefferson’s beliefs both religious and political evolved over his life and influenced his work as a lawyer, plantation owner, and politician.
Thomas S. Kidd digs into Jefferson’s evolution in his Thomas Jefferson: a biography of spirit and flesh. Kidd reflects on the moral dilemma Jefferson faced as a slaveholder and as the parent of bondspeople when slavery became a major issue for lawmakers. Utilizing Jefferson’s writings and those of several contemporaries, Kidd reflects on Jefferson’s journey from religious skeptic to Christian believer. This is a book that will unveil lesser-known facts about Jefferson’s life and the motivations behind some of his most important decisions.
I give Thomas Jefferson 4 out of 5 stars. This is a well-researched biography, but the author spent too much time reviewing other biographers’ works when he could have been building the connection between the characters and the reader. It felt a bit like he was putting down the other works to justify his positions. I also found sections of the book hard to follow and pedantic. I did enjoy the look at Jefferson’s religious beliefs – I don’t remember hearing much about his early skepticism before reading this book. I was also fascinated by the look at Jefferson’s relationship with the Hemmings family and the motivations behind his decisions about his bondspeople.
I would recommend this biography to readers looking to delve into the lesser-known aspects of Jefferson’s life. If you love American Revolutionary history or Presidential history, this book is for you! Given the light discussions of war and sexual relations, I would direct this book to more mature audiences over 13.
I chose Thomas Jefferson: a biography of spirit and flesh as my January nonfiction read. After working through a long list of biographies for the first two presidents, this is my first on Thomas Jefferson. I have a few more planned for later in the year on both Jefferson and his contemporaries. Given his relationship with his own bondswoman and his lack of definitive decisions on slavery, Jefferson’s legacy has recently been called into question much like it was in his contemporary period. However, there is a value to studying his influences and decisions as there is with any historical figure – reviewing the past helps us better understand the implications of our own choices on the future. Do you have a favorite president to study? Share in the comments!
Thomas S. Kidd digs into Jefferson’s evolution in his Thomas Jefferson: a biography of spirit and flesh. Kidd reflects on the moral dilemma Jefferson faced as a slaveholder and as the parent of bondspeople when slavery became a major issue for lawmakers. Utilizing Jefferson’s writings and those of several contemporaries, Kidd reflects on Jefferson’s journey from religious skeptic to Christian believer. This is a book that will unveil lesser-known facts about Jefferson’s life and the motivations behind some of his most important decisions.
I give Thomas Jefferson 4 out of 5 stars. This is a well-researched biography, but the author spent too much time reviewing other biographers’ works when he could have been building the connection between the characters and the reader. It felt a bit like he was putting down the other works to justify his positions. I also found sections of the book hard to follow and pedantic. I did enjoy the look at Jefferson’s religious beliefs – I don’t remember hearing much about his early skepticism before reading this book. I was also fascinated by the look at Jefferson’s relationship with the Hemmings family and the motivations behind his decisions about his bondspeople.
I would recommend this biography to readers looking to delve into the lesser-known aspects of Jefferson’s life. If you love American Revolutionary history or Presidential history, this book is for you! Given the light discussions of war and sexual relations, I would direct this book to more mature audiences over 13.
I chose Thomas Jefferson: a biography of spirit and flesh as my January nonfiction read. After working through a long list of biographies for the first two presidents, this is my first on Thomas Jefferson. I have a few more planned for later in the year on both Jefferson and his contemporaries. Given his relationship with his own bondswoman and his lack of definitive decisions on slavery, Jefferson’s legacy has recently been called into question much like it was in his contemporary period. However, there is a value to studying his influences and decisions as there is with any historical figure – reviewing the past helps us better understand the implications of our own choices on the future. Do you have a favorite president to study? Share in the comments!
July 20, 2022
Lacked a clear sense of purpose, wandering between Jefferson's expressions of faith, his attitude towards slavery, his slave concubine and their progeny, his profligate spending, and his inability to manage his financial affairs. Kidd draws no particular conclusions on any of these topics. He fails entirely to discuss whether the relationship with the slave Sally was consensual. Jefferson comes across as a man who thinks he is principled but is in fact ruled by his appetites. Perhaps that is the picture Kidd intends to paint, but his execution is messy.
July 19, 2022
Thomas Kidd, historian at Baylor and, now, Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, has cornered the market on academic-yet-pleasurable religious biographies of founding figures in the United States. Having already ably covered Patrick Henry and Benjamin Franklin, he has now turned to perhaps the most enigmatic subject from the era: Thomas Jefferson. Some, like David Barton, try to claim Jefferson as a man who, despite some heterodox beliefs, was essentially an evangelical Christian. Others claim that Jefferson, while not an atheist, was a Deist if there ever was one, someone who simply focused on living a good life in the here and now...
Read more here: https://tonypetersen.substack.com/p/y...
Read more here: https://tonypetersen.substack.com/p/y...
April 9, 2023
A raw and clear look at the life of my favorite president. Thomas S. Kidd did a fantastic job of plowing through the life of the troubled genius that was arguably our most important forefather. Kidd does not sugarcoat any of Jefferson's shortcomings, but thoroughly explored his contribution to the founding. Great book, I recommend to all that want to learn more of our real history.
August 5, 2023
Interesting overview of the development of Jefferson’s religious ideas. Jefferson is often classified as a deist, but it was interesting to learn that he was likely a Unitarian rather than a Deist. Kidd seems to strike the right balance of praise for the good that Jefferson did while pointing out serious problems in his lifestyle and religious thought.
Want to read
November 18, 2022Worlds book of the year 2022
July 1, 2024
I listened on Audible. Interesting look at his moral and religious views.
January 20, 2024
Interesting but boring. I listened to it as an audiobook; it would have been a struggle to get through a hard copy of the book.
August 29, 2022
Another excellent work from Dr. Kidd. I must admit I enjoy his books.
Kidd tries to answer questions surrounding Jefferson,particularly his religious views.
It is clear Jefferson is not an Evangelical. Kidd makes the case he would probably be classified as a Unitarian.
Kidd addresses other aspects of Jefferson's life: Sally Hemings, his financial struggles, his friendship with John Adams, his fondness for political argument.
All in all a good work and worth reading.
Kidd tries to answer questions surrounding Jefferson,particularly his religious views.
It is clear Jefferson is not an Evangelical. Kidd makes the case he would probably be classified as a Unitarian.
Kidd addresses other aspects of Jefferson's life: Sally Hemings, his financial struggles, his friendship with John Adams, his fondness for political argument.
All in all a good work and worth reading.
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