More Pages: Jefferson Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38


Garbage...
Good survey of American racial thought.
Inspirational

First Six Chapters of Vol.1
A remarkable achievement
Best diplomatic history of early America

interesting
The History of the "Wall" that Jefferson Built
Thomas Jefferson and the Wall of SeparationIntroduced in an 1802 letter to the Danbury, Connecticut Baptist Association, Jefferson's "wall" has been accepted by many Americans as a concise description of the U.S. Constitution's church-state arrangement and conceived as a virtual rule of constitutional law. This book delves into what Jefferson really had in mind about the separation of church and state, and gives the reader a scholarly understaning of this famous phrase.
The book is not very long, but the impact that you get from reading it feels like a book much larger. At 128 pages long we are provided an opportunity to disseminate Jefferson's views on the constitutional relationship between church and state and, in particular, to explain his reasons for refusing to issue presidential proclamtions of days for public fasting and thanksgiving.
The "wall of separation" metaphorically represents the constitutional provision, the admendment, however, differs in significant respects from Jefferson's felicitous phrase. The former prohibits the creation of laws "respecting an establishment of religion" (excepting, perhaps, laws to protect religious excerise), thereby limiting civil government; the latter, more broadly, separates "church" and "state," thereby restricting the actions of, and interactions between, both the church and the civil state.
Reading this book splits the fine hairs and you get an appreciation of what is happening and the suggnificance of why it is written as such. Dreisbach has provided appendices in which documents from the Papers of Thomas Jefferson gives the reader an insight as to Jefferson's thinkings and are invaluable. There are notes and a selected bibliography that is also very helpful.
Jefferson's architectural metaphor, in the course of time, has achieved virtual canonical status and becomes more familiar to the American people that the actual text of the First Amendment... moreover, jurists have found the metaphor irresistible, adopting it not only as an organizing theme of church/state jurisprudence but also as a virtual rule of constitutional law.
I found this book to be very interesting and the prose to be fluid and well-documented making for and interesting read.


PURE CONTRADICTIONMr Jefferson was by every means a slave-holder. Thus, this idea of linking his name to the Rights of Man is a contradiction.
If Dumas Malone must continue on this track, then he should mention the names of John Adams, James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, and Abraham Lincoln, and we shall listen to him. Thomas Jefferson does not fit in this realm. He doesn't belong here! But, I am not really surprised. This book was published in 1951: at the peak of Color-Bar.
Jefferson in ParisJefferson is not worthy of our interest because of Sally Hemmings and because he kept slaves. Jefferson is great because of the Declaration of Independence and his fight for the rights of man. While it may have been hypocritical to preach liberty and keep slaves, it is doubtful that slavery ever would have been abolished if Jefferson had never gained the prominence that he did. This book and the others that follow show why we should continue to honor the public man even though his private side may have been wanting.
Jefferson and the Rights of ManJefferson's European mission starts off this volume, concluding with his service as the United States's first Secretary of State under George Washington. But, in between we see Jefferson laying the seeds of his philosophy and the implication regarded as timeless and universal.
George Washington's first term was a proving ground for Jefferson to get his views across to Washington, but Washington has Hamilton and there in lies the rub. As political parties were in their infancy, the time was ripe for a political view points to be exploited and Hamilton was up to task. So, naturally Jefferson had a different view point and was voicing his opinion to Washington.
Jefferson in this period of time was primarily concerned with foreign affairs which kept him busy as Great Britain was being pulled into a European war. But the "war" between Jefferson and Hamilton was just begining. Jefferson was well aware of the implicit dangers in the political and economic situation, but Enlightenment was budding and thus, begining to give proof of his undying faith, that men and society can be saved by means of knowledge.
This period in Jefferson's life is the richest with regards to private friendships and will lay the bricks to the foundation to the rest of his life. As Jefferson begins his battle with the Federalists, Hamilton is his primary opposition.


not a speck of credibility in this inane serial killer tale
Parker is masterful at capturing hard-to-look-at emotions
Summer of Fear by T. Jefferson Parkerone of the best authors around.
THIS book was my favorite however, because there are two stories going on at once and they are both fascinating.
The first is a crime writer who's wife if dying, literally wasting away in front of him, and the touching realistic way he is trying to deal with it.
Then, there is a serial killer on the loose in So. CA (Orange County) which is a laid back beach community, and the serial killer begins communicating with the crime writer. Some serial killer books can be too grueling to read, and although I was glad I wasn't alone while reading this book, it was a good psychological thriller, and with the skill of a writer like T. Jefferson, this book was just hard to put down.
Scary one minute, and then heart breaking in the next chapter.
I'm hoping that this book will have some sort of sequel, at least with the crime writer coming back so we can see how his life is now, and his job is so interesting that there are many more story line possibilities.
I'm an avid read, and mystery is my favorite genre, and T. Jefferson Parker just gets better and better the more he writes.
I recommend you read any of his books, especially this one. The latest books with Merci Rayborne are great as is Silent Joe.
I love the California beach background and all of his main characters; you feel as if you've met them and care about their life. He is a truly gifted writer, and if I recommend a writer to read it is definetly T. Jefferson Parker!
Summer of Fear is for the truly hard core mystery fans, which I am, and the mixture of fear, pathos and also love, loss and closure, makes for a book that I didn't want to end.
Thank you T. Jefferson Parker.


Bad cartoons, worse prose.
A scandal-ridden PresidencyIt is a book that is definitely not for Clinton-lovers ...
Compilation of cartoons from multiple cartoonistsIt is a virtual history of Clinton's scandal-ridden presidency that also includes Al Gore, Hillary, Monica Lewinsky, Paula Jones, and Ken Starr.
There are multiple Quotations from several prominent Democrats, a past President, Mikhail Gorbachev and many best selling authors.
The Introduction thoroughly explains the word 'Thief' in the Title.
Anyone that has followed the presidency of William Jefferson Clinton will be able to remember the event portrayed in the cartoons by their creator.
Most Liberals and Clinton apologists will not welcome a book of this nature that exposes their president's immoral conduct while in office.


Good as a first introduction to Jefferson
Excellent overview of TJ's life
"That government which governs best governs least"

Not really biography, and not mainly about JeffersonThe six-volume series has been described as « a major achievement in the half-way house between history and biography ». Laudatory though this comment may be, it summarizes for me the major flaw of Malone's enterprise : its failure as biographical writing. Nowhere is this clearer than in this fourth volume, where Jefferson himself seems to recede in the background while the author retells the most tedious details of the workings of his administration, however unrelated to Jefferson himself.
The « un-biographical » character of the work is reinforced by its format : instead of following Jefferson chronologically, Malone has chosen to offer us a series of chapters organized around such themes as the executive appointments, Marbury vs. Madison or the Louisiana Purchase, thus imposing conventional textbook divisions on the organic flow of Jefferson's life. As a result, the « biography » reads as a series of historical essays, and certain important topics are relegated to the next volume. Nothing is said for instance about Jefferson's personal relation with Meriwether Lewis or his involvement in the preparations of the Lewis and Clarke expedition.
Perhaps even more regrettable is the general impression of Jefferson given by Malone as a relatively unintellectual man who had apparently done most of his reading in his youth and never bothered to systematize his thinking, being more concerned with his presidential duties, his social life and the occasional joys of the countryside.
Apart from a few interesting chapters, therefore, such as « The Religion of a Reasonable Man », and the welcome refutation of the Sally Hemings myth, this curious hybrid of a volume should be eschewed by those who seek a genuine understanding of Jefferson the man. To them, David Mayer's « The Constitutional Thought of Thomas Jefferson », and a good selection of Jefferson's own writings, should prove much more profitable reading.
Jefferson: The President First Term 1801-1805Jefferson's immediate goal was to show a peaceful transfer of authority and then never lose sight of this goal then maintain unity within his party. Jefferson was more moderate politically than his party partisians, but he did require unity and loyalty.
Jefferson was a man of paradox, he was recognied as the head of his party, but he longed of his home in the Virginia foothills. Jefferson put his faith in the individual as he sought to increase personal freedoms, but he was plagued early on by the Hamiltonians wanting a stronger central government. Later on John Marshall appointed as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court by John Adams in his waining Presidency would be at odds with Jefferson. This conflict was mainly a political viewpoint, but the arguments would be heated as the successive phases took shape.
Jefferson had forethought and wanted the river rights of the Mississippi. This later worked toward the Louisiana purchase and the expansion of the United States west of the Mississippi. Jefferson was determined that New Orleans should be part of the United States. So, by shrewd dipolmacy, the deal was struck. But to acquire West Florida was not to come till his second term and so with the exploration of the Louisiana territory with Lewis and Clark.
Jefferson symbolized freedom and democracy, but friends clearly showed respect. Jefferson's composure while President showed and he ran a balanced government. This is a very good and scholarly work, but the deals and facts are there... only thing the author needed to do was bring out Jefferson the man more to the forefront.
Jefferson in powerJefferson is not worthy of our interest because of Sally Hemmings and because he kept slaves. Jefferson is great because of the Declaration of Independence and his fight for the rights of man. While it may have been hypocritical to preach liberty and keep slaves, it is doubtful that slavery ever would have been abolished if Jefferson had never gained the prominence that he did. This book and the others that follow show why we should continue to honor the public man even though his private side may have been wanting.


Ok for frittering away an afternoon under the apple treeThe author does a good job of conveying the Mood of the times, but not so good on characterizations. The group reminded me of a little of the ladies of Amanda Pepper's book club in "Helen Hath No Fury" which is a more riveting book. {Yep - this reviewer just made a pun on Rosie the Riviter ;-)
An entertaining read.This is a great book. I was drawn into the world of small town America during World War II from the first page. The characters are well constructed and interesting. And the plot is great. I was hooked, and completely surprised by the ending. If you enjoy a good who done it, pick up this book. You won't be disappointed.
A small town in war-time . . .America's involvement in the war is now nearly one year old, and the little town of Robinsville, Pennsylvania, is preparing for its traditional Thanksgiving celebration; the big football game, perhaps a trip to Philadelphia for the big parade, a community Thanksgiving service, and of course, turkey dinner with all the trimmings. In addition, the town will mourn those of its young men who went off to war and will not return.
Eight women in the community, including young Kate Fallon, who has become an ace welder due to the shortage of young men left at home as part of the work force, have formed the Molly Pitcher Society, named after the Revolutionary War heroine. The mission of this new group is to aid the war effort in whatever way seems best. The first project is a servicemen's club, or canteen.
Almost before anything can be accomplished, however, all eight women receive 'poison pen' letters, sent anonymously, of course. A suicide and two murders follow rapidly, disturbing the peace of the small town. A wrong arrest is questioned by Kate, who shrewdly analyzes the various parts of the puzzle before enacting her own Agatha Christie-type showdown.
As in the first book, the research lends an aura of authenticity and nostalgia, and is seamlessly blended into the narrative. Only one problem looms--Robinsville is such a small town--if multiple murders are to keep Kate busy, the town will soon be decimated! Maybe she'll need to move to Philly to keep her skills intact until her soldier boy comes home again!


written by either an amateur or a "fake" professional
A good book for the uninitiated.
Bought 2 more copies