Goodreads Choice Awards 2025

The History Book Club discussion

Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power
This topic is about Thomas Jefferson
120 views
PRESIDENTIAL SERIES > THOMAS JEFFERSON: THE ART OF POWER - BIBLIOGRAPHY ~ (SPOILER THREAD)

Comments Showing 1-38 of 38 (38 new)    post a comment »
dateUp arrow    newest »

message 1: by Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief (new) - rated it 4 stars
Oct 26, 2012 09:01PM

Bentley | 44290 comments Mod
This thread is a "spoiler thread" and is a bibliography thread which identifies many of the books which were referenced or used as primary documents during the writing of Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power. Please feel free to add properly cited books (book covers, author's photo, and author's links). Add a review or a few words why this book is important to the subject matter, etc.; but remember there is no self promotion, etc. Any self promotion links or posts are removed.

Thomas Jefferson The Art of Power by Jon Meacham by Jon Meacham Jon Meacham


message 3: by Bryan (new) - rated it 3 stars
Nov 20, 2012 11:17AM

Bryan Craig The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution by Bernard Bailyn The Origins of American Politics by Bernard Bailyn To Begin the World Anew The Genius and Ambiguities of the American Founders by Bernard Bailyn Bernard Bailyn Bernard Bailyn

Background to Glory by John Bakeless John Bakeless

A Government Out of Sight The Mystery of National Authority in Nineteenth-Century America by Brian Balogh Brian Balogh

The Jeffersonian Persuasion Evolution of a Party Ideology by Lance Banning The Sacred Fire of Liberty James Madison and the Founding of the Federal Republic by Lance Banning Lance Banning

The Libraries, Leadership, and Legacy of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson by Robert C. Baron Robert C. Baron Robert C. Baron

Gilbert Stuart by Carrie Rebora Barratt Carrie Rebora Barratt

(no image)Papers Of James A. Bayard, 1796 1815 by James A. Bayard

Jefferson at Monticello Memoirs of a Monticello Slave and Jefferson at Monticello by James A. Bear, Jr. James A. Bear, Jr.

The Declaration of Independence A Study in the History of Political Ideas by Carl L. Becker Carl L. Becker

Justifying Jefferson The Political Writings Of John James Beckley by John James Beckley John James Beckley

(no image)Patrick Henry; A Biography & Plain, Honest Men The Making of the American Constitution by Richard Beeman Richard Beeman

Thomas Jefferson's Monticello by William L. Beiswanger William L. Beiswanger

(no image)American Political Trials by Michal R. Belknap

(no image)Jay's Treaty: A Study in Commerce and Diplomacy by Samuel Flagg Bemis

Presidential Courage Brave Leaders & How They Changed America 1789-1989 by Michael R. Beschloss Michael R. Beschloss

Jefferson's Demons Portrait of a Restless Mind by Michael Knox Beran Michael Knox Beran

The Cambridge History of American Literature Volume 1, 1590-1820 by Sacvan Bercovitch Sacvan Bercovitch

Many Thousands Gone The First Two Centuries of Slavery in North America by Ira Berlin Ira Berlin Ira Berlin

Thomas Jefferson by R.B. Bernstein R.B. Bernstein

The Life of John Marshall, Vol. 1 by Albert, J. Beveridge The Life of John Marshall, Vol. 2 by Albert, J. Beveridge The Life of John Marshall, Vol. 3 by Albert, J. Beveridge The Life of John Marshall, Vol. 4 by Albert J. Beveridge Albert J. Beveridge

Crisis of Empire Britain and America in the Eighteenth Century by Jeremy Black Jeremy Black

(no image)George Wythe of Williamsburg by Joyce Blackburn

Eleven Exiles Accounts of Loyalists of the American Revolution by Phyllis R. Blakeley Phyllis R. Blakeley

Angel in the Whirlwind The Triumph of the American Revolution by Benson Bobrick Benson Bobrick Benson Bobrick

(no image)George Rogers Clark, His Life And Public Services by Temple Bodley

Seeing Jefferson Anew In His Time and Ours by John B. Boles John B. Boles

Jefferson and Hamilton the Struggle for Democracy in America by Claude G. Bowers Jefferson in Power - The Death Struggle of the Federalists by Claude G. Bowers Claude G. Bowers

(no image)Number Seven: Alexander Hamilton's Secret Attempts to Control American Foreign Policy by Julian P. Boyd

The Oxford Companion to United States History by Paul S. Boyer Paul S. Boyer Paul S. Boyer

(no image)Impeachment: Trials and Errors by Irving Brant

American Insurgents, American Patriots The Revolution of the People by T. Breen Tobacco Culture The Mentality of the Great Tidewater Planters on the Eve of Revolution by T.H. Breen T.H. Breen

(no image)The Spirit of '76: The Growth of American Patriotism Before Independence, 1607-1776 by Carl Bridenbaugh

Thomas Jefferson An Intimate History by Fawn M. Brodie Fawn M. Brodie Fawn M. Brodie

James Madison by Richard Brookhiser Richard Brookhiser

(no image)American Aristides: A Biography of George Wythe by Imogene E. Brown

Good Wives, Nasty Wenches, and Anxious Patriarchs Gender, Race, and Power in Colonial Virginia by Kathleen M. Brown Kathleen M. Brown

(no images)The Good Americans: The Loyalists In The American Revolution & King's Friends: The Composition and Motives of the American Loyalist Claimants by Wallace Brown

(no image)Victorious Defeat by Wallace Brown

(no image)John Randolph Of Roanoke, 1773 1833; A Biography Based Largly On New Material.,( 2 Volumes ) by William Cabell Bruce

America on the Brink How the Political Struggle Over the War of 1812 Almost Destroyed the Young Republic by Richard Buel Richard Buel

(no image)My Head and My Heart, A Little History of Thomas Jefferson and Maria Cosway by Helen Duprey Bullock

Political Disquisitions, Or, an Inquiry Into Public Errors, Defects, and Abuses Illustrated by and Established Upon Facts and Remarks Extracted from by James Burgh James Burgh

The Writings & Speeches of Edmund Burke Volume II - On Conciliation with America; Security of the Independence of Parliament; On Mr. Fox's East India by Edmund Burke Edmund Burke Edmund Burke

Vineyard of Liberty V 1 The American Experiment by James MacGregor Burns James MacGregor Burns

Madison and Jefferson by Andrew Burstein

Jefferson's Secrets Death and Desire at Monticello by Andrew Burstein Andrew Burstein

CRIMES, FOLLIES, AND MISFORTUNES by Eleanore Bushnell Eleanore Bushnell

Adams Family Correspondence, Volumes 3 and 4 April 1778 - September 1782 by L. H. Butterfield Lyman H. Butterfield

Commonplace Book of William Byrd II of Westover by Kevin Berland Kevin Berland


message 4: by Joanne (last edited Nov 26, 2012 06:04AM) (new) - added it
Nov 26, 2012 06:04AM

Joanne | 647 comments First hand accounts by not-so-famous people who knew Thomas Jefferson can be particularly interesting, such as the memories of his overseer, Edmund Bacon, and his former slave, Issac Jefferson. Here's what Goodreads says about: "Jefferson at Monticello."

Covering the years from 1781 into the 1820s, these valuable accounts remain the chief source of information about Thomas Jefferson's domestic and personal life, interests, habits, appearance, and day-to-day activities at Monticello.

Isaac Jefferson and Edmund Bacon were each sixty-five years old when their recollections were recorded. What they remember best, of course, are scenes from the past made vivid and immediate by details involving their own experience. Although their recollections of Jefferson differ in a number of ways, apparent in both accounts is a concern for the master whose involvement in national affairs made his life so different from their own.

Jefferson at Monticello Memoirs of a Monticello Slave and Jefferson at Monticello by James A. Bear, Jr. by James A. Bear, Jr.


message 5: by Bryan (last edited Nov 26, 2012 06:23AM) (new) - rated it 3 stars
Nov 26, 2012 06:22AM

Bryan Craig Thanks, Joanne. It is an important resource Mr. Bear put together for us. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to learn more.

James A. Bear, Jr.


message 9: by Joanne (new) - added it
Nov 27, 2012 09:09AM

Joanne | 647 comments A few years ago, when I started my "review" the life and times of Thomas Jefferson, I began with Alan Pell Crawford's "Twilight at Monticello." It was,for me, a perfect place to start, especially because Crawford emphasizes TJ's domestic world and his final retirement.

Twilight at Monticello The Final Years of Thomas Jefferson by Alan Pell Crawford by Alan Pell Crawford


message 12: by Tomerobber (new) - rated it 5 stars
Dec 05, 2012 07:18PM

Tomerobber | 334 comments Actually I bought this book based on an article about it in the Oct. 2012 ed. of Smithsonian magazine. It was released on Nov. 12.

Master of the Mountain Thomas Jefferson and His Slaves by Henry Wiencek by Henry Wiencek Henry Wiencek

and I couldn't help myself . . . I'm reading it along with Meacham's book.


message 13: by Bryan (new) - rated it 3 stars
Dec 06, 2012 07:04AM

Bryan Craig Interesting, Tomerobber. Let me know how you like it. It is a controversial book.

Master of the Mountain Thomas Jefferson and His Slaves by Henry Wiencek Henry Wiencek Henry Wiencek


message 16: by Tomerobber (new) - rated it 5 stars
Dec 06, 2012 09:38PM

Tomerobber | 334 comments Bryan wrote: "Interesting, Tomerobber. Let me know how you like it. It is a controversial book.

Master of the Mountain Thomas Jefferson and His Slaves by Henry WiencekHenry WiencekHenry Wie..."

It's pretty interesting so far . . I also have bought the Dumas Malone 6 vol. set on TJ as audiobooks and am listening to the first vol. as well . . . I like more then just one viewpoint and though much material is duplicated . . . each brings a different perspective.


Jefferson and His Time, 6 Volume Set by Dumas Malone by Dumas Malone Dumas Malone


message 17: by Bryan (last edited Dec 07, 2012 06:46AM) (new) - rated it 3 stars
Dec 07, 2012 06:44AM

Bryan Craig So true, Tomerobber. Malone does come from a different viewpoint. He worked on these wonderful volumes from 1948 until 1981. He is criticized for being too pro-Jefferson and not giving enough balance to other things like slavery. However, they are impressive and I still recommend them with that viewpoint in mind.

Jefferson the Virginian by Dumas Malone Jefferson and the Rights of Man by Dumas Malone Jefferson and the Ordeal of Liberty by Dumas Malone Jefferson the President First Term, 1801-1805 by Dumas Malone Jefferson the President Second Term, 1805-1809 by Dumas Malone The Sage of Monticello by Dumas Malone Dumas Malone Dumas Malone


message 18: by Joanne (new) - added it
Dec 10, 2012 07:48AM

Joanne | 647 comments Jon Meacham's discussion of Thomas Jefferson's experience as Governor of Virginia is fairly brief. For more about this fascinating and exciting time in TJ's life, I recommend, "Flight from Monticello," by Michael Kranish.

Flight from Monticello Thomas Jefferson at War by Michael Kranish by Michael Kranish


message 19: by Bryan (new) - rated it 3 stars
Dec 10, 2012 07:54AM

Bryan Craig Indeed, Joanne, I'm glad this book was written, because no one bothered to do it besides one journal article back a long time ago.


message 20: by Joanne (new) - added it
Dec 10, 2012 08:24AM

Joanne | 647 comments Bryan wrote: "Indeed, Joanne, I'm glad this book was written, because no one bothered to do it besides one journal article back a long time ago."

Indeed, Bryan. The discussion of this period was overdue and sheds a great deal of light on Jefferson's psychology.


message 36: by Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief (new) - rated it 4 stars
Feb 19, 2013 01:19AM

Bentley | 44290 comments Mod
Great Bibliography.


message 37: by Bryan (new) - rated it 3 stars
Feb 19, 2013 06:25AM

Bryan Craig Thanks, Bentley. Great stuff to read.


message 38: by Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief (new) - rated it 4 stars
Mar 05, 2013 08:12AM

Bentley | 44290 comments Mod
If we only had all of the time in the world (smile)


back to top

8115

The History Book Club

Group Home Bookshelf Discussions
Photos Videos
Send invite Members Polls
unread topics | mark unread


Books mentioned in this topic

The Pirate Coast: Thomas Jefferson, the First Marines & the Secret Mission of 1805 (other topics)
Revolutionary Backlash: Women and Politics in the Early American Republic (other topics)
The Washington Community 1800-1828 (other topics)
Unbecoming British: How Revolutionary America Became a Postcolonial Nation (other topics)
Whose American Revolution Was It?: Historians Interpret the Founding (other topics)
More...

Authors mentioned in this topic

Richard Zacks (other topics)
Rosemarie Zagarri (other topics)
Alfred F. Young (other topics)
James Sterling Young (other topics)
Kariann Akemi Yokota (other topics)
More...