A solid account of the political turmoil surrounding the 1800 election, with vivid portraits of Jefferson, Hamilton, and Aaron Burr (J. Adams is more sketchy, a fact more evident in the post-McCullough treatment days.) There's less on broad electoral college strategizing than there might be and more on romance, as the narrative is centered around a series of love letters which might interest others more than they did me. Well-written and factual, to my knowledge, certainly worth a read by those interested in this era.

The Turning Point: Jefferson's Battle For The Presidency offers a comprehensive presentation of the dramatic, dead-heat, 1800 presidential campaign between Thomas Jefferson and his vice presidential running mate Aaron Burr. This is also the story of other key personalities involved including Margaret Bayard Smith, the daughter of a firm Federalist, who defied her family and gave her heart to Samuel Harrison Smith, a pro-Jefferson newspaper editor. Then their was Margaret's cousin, Delaware congressman James A. Bayard who held the key vote when Jefferson, after thirty-five deadlocked ballots in the House of Representatives, finally wrested victory from Aaron Burr amid threats of civil war, thereby concluding the Federalist era of aristocratic rule and opening American politics to the age of modern democracy. The Bayard-Smith love letters from the basis of this insightful, original presentation of the issues, events, and politically active personalities of an intensely fought and pivotal presidential campaign that would profoundly influence American history.

55 Celebration Doughcraft Designs offers advice on how to make, bake, paint and finish dough crafts. This book offers designs that make the perfect little gift for almost every occassion you can think of. To help you master the techniques, there are full-color illustrations throughout the book.

If you are looking for a family activity that every one will enjoy, pick up this book. The kids get to play with dough and the parents might can save money by making their own, original gifts.

Paul D. Escott shines a light on the President of the Confederacy and reveils new information about why the Civil War ended in the maner in which it did. Escott focuses on the attempts to strengthen Confederate Nationalism, particularly focusing on the efforts of Jefferson Davis. Davis' characteristics and attitudes are respectful analized by Escott to determine how they affected the survival of the Confederate States of America. Escott also looks at Davis' attitudes towards his generals and cabinet members, compairing them to that of Abraham Lincoln. This book particularly appeals to those that enjoy the Civil War, but is also enjoyable to those that would just like to know more about this aspect of American history.

This book is an introduction to postmillennialism. Although this particular view of the "end times" is probably currently the least favored in the Christian church, it is definitely worth looking at to see if what we believe is truly biblical. (The leading view within the Christian church is pre-millennialism.) (I personally do not espouse either of these views.)

Dr. John Jefferson Davis is a professor systematic theology and Christian ethics at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary where he graduated with the presidents' award (highest grades) when he got his Master of Divinity. He is also the author of several books, "Foundations of Evangelical Theology," "Evangelical Ethics," "Handbook of Basic Biblical Texts," and "Abortion and the Christian."

Dr. Davis starts out by listing 5 tenets of postmillennialism (pps. 10-11): 1. Through the preaching of the gospel and dramatic outpourings of the Holy Spirit, Christian missions and evangelism will attain remarkable success, and the church will enjoy an unprecedented period of numerical expansion and spiritual vitality (e.g., revival). The church will achieve world-wide dominance.

2. This period of spiritual prosperity, the millennium, understood as a long period of time, is to be characterized by conditions of increasing peace and economic well-being in the world as a result of the growing influence of Christian truth.

3. The millennium will also be characterized by the conversion of large numbers of ethnic Jews to the Christian faith (Rom. 11:25-26).

4. At the end of the millennial period there will be a brief period of apostasy and sharp conflict between Christian and evil forces (Rev. 20:7-10).

5. Finally and simultaneously there will occur the visible return of Christ, the resurrection of the righteous and the wicked, the final judgment, and the revelation of the new heavens and the new earth. (This view is called postmillennialism because of Christ's return after the millennium.)

Although this is an optimistic view of human history (as opposed to the pessimistic view that premillennialism tends to have), there are also some misunderstandings. Dr. Davis lists what postmillennialism is not: it is not social gospel or liberalism, it is not logical positivism, nor optimistic evolution. It is not universalism, nor to be identified with American manifest destiny.

He lists some people in history who have held to postmillennialism, including Daniel Whitby, the Savoy Declaration, Jonathan Edwards, Archibald Alexander, J. A. Alexander, and the Hodges, B. B. Warfield, and many others.

Dr. Davis then lists some Scriptures (from the Old Testament and the New Testament) that may suggest a postmillennial reading (for instance, Isa. 2:2-4, Gen. 12:3, Psa. 2, 22, 72, 110, Eze. 47, Dan. 2:31-35, and 7:13-14, Matthew 28:18-20)

His controlling center is the parables in Matthew 13:31-33: the parable of the mustard seed, and the parable of yeast. Just as the mustard seed starts small and grows very large, so it is with the kingdom of God. And the same with the parable of yeast; although a small amount, it will eventually distribute through the entire dough. Thus, Davis interprets this to mean the eventual victory of Christ's kingdom. One of the organization themes for postmillennialism is 1Cor. 15:22-26; according to Davis, this indicates that until all foes of Christ are being conquered, then the end will come and Christ will put the last enemy under his feet.

Davis goes through several 'contrary texts' in the New Testament and tries to give a resolution (e.g., texts on tribulations or lack of faith).

Although this is an introduction to postmillennialism (and not an extensive treatise to postmillennialism), I would have liked to have seen more dialogue about different interpretations (i.e., postmillennial and amillennial). Even for instance, does a great multitude in Revelation 7:9, 19:1, 6 really indicate some kind of revival? I would have liked to have seen that Davis exegeted and interpreted the texts better (as these texts can generally support a postmillennial, premillennial, or amillennial reading).

An excerpt from the preface: "...it is not a textbook full of long, boring proofs and hundreds of problems, rather it is an intellectual adventure, to be read with pleasure. It was written to be easily accessible and with concern for the mental tranquility of the reader who will experience considerable fulfillment when he/she sees the simplicity of basic mathematics. The emphasis throughout the book is on the clear explanation of mathematics concepts."

I have to say that the promises in the excerpt above are gracefully delivered. This is such a great book in it's scope. But it is completely missing graphic illustrations - you know, diagrams, figures, pictures, etc.. It could be the absolute best book hands down, if it just had illustrations in each chapter. Otherwise beautifully written. So, I can't give it five stars. A second edition with graphic illustrations would be awesome! You should know that there are no problem-solution exercises in the book but many good examples and applications are discussed. This book is very friendly and un-assuming. Kudos to the Authors!!!

OK, the chapters are as follows:

1. The Number System 2. Irrational Numbers, Imaginary Numbers, and Other Curiosities 3. From Arithmetic to Algebra 4. Graphic Algebra 5. The Geometry of Straight Line Figures 6. The Geometry of the Circle and Trigonometry 7. Analytic Geometry 8. The Calculus and Mathematics in Science Epilogue

I loved it! Enjoy...

This isn't a book that will explain why aphids are eating your roses, or why the tomoatoes are yellow---but it will tell you why a gardener cares. It would make a lovely gift for a gardener at Christmas or Hanukkah--the time of the year when we long for a little bit of sun, or perhaps a weed to pull. Simon's prose perfectly captures the essence of _why_ we garden, and the added whimsy of the "correspondance" with Jefferson allows her to add fascinating information about gardening and how it has changed over the years. An excellent read on a rainy, non-gardening day

I read the first 90 pages of this book for a report in a graduate course...Now I'm buying it to read the rest! Fliegelman traces the development of a new American language and a new way of using it. Public speaking and "performance", against the backdrop of the Declaration of Independence, are his focus in this unique book. Whether you agree or not, you'll find it hard to put down.

I am surprised to be the first person to review this book The Die Song, by Donald T. Lunde and Jefferson Morgan, was a wonderfully written nonfiction book It was about Herbert William Mullin, a mass murderer who was sent to prison although it was clear he was insane. The psychologist who helped write the book, Donald T. Lunde, was the one who worked with the murderer during the trial. It was written in a way that made the reader feel like a witness to the murders, the trial and the criminal's life. It provided a deep analysis into the background of Mullin. The book was very well written, and I could hardly put it down! I highly recommend this book to those interested in either psychology or criminology.

I've been waiting for three months to write this review, because I didn't fully understand Jefferson's points: on the one hand this biography resembles a cultural history of postWeimar era (he certainly is an expert in that field); on the other, he starts promisingly what seems is going to be a series of unveiled actions and secrets and deeds performed by Schwarzkopf in Berlin and elsewhere. But he doesn't honour his promise. He limits to suggest that she could've been Goebbels' favourite (lover); that she exercised her radiant and ravishing looks to gain the favour of producers, directors in Berlin and Vienna within a rapacious careerism. He doesn't go any further. Jefferson himself has responded to criticism in Amazon.com saying that he wrote about someone who's still alive and his pains with Editor Victor Gollancz, all of which didn't allow him too much room to display the "proof he has in his hands about Schwarzkopf's deeds with the Nazi Party". We all know if we read in Grove that Schwarzkopf was "cleared" by the Allies late in 1947; so I don't think Jefferson is saying nothing new. We also know that her marriage to perfectionist Walter Legge resulted in a master-slave relationship. But to my view, and as an admirer of Schwarzkopf's art, Jefferson's account is more a ratifying document about human frailty, in this case Elisabeth Schwarzkopf's. I hoped I was going to find in this book some sort of balance between John Steane/Alan Sanders' Schwarzkopf: A career on records and Jefferson's book. The formers put Dame Elisabeth under the light of a goddess. Well, I must say that a goddess of magic with words she was, and that she was quite capable of bringing tears to one's eyes when performing with her voice. Jefferson and Steane: The supreme artist and the very earthly creature. Jefferson's book has several merits: one of the strongest is his marvelous way with Schwarzkopf's interpretations. In spite of his tendency to be dry his reviews and metaphors are very good indeed. As formyself I rather keep in my mind, as when I heard her "in the flesh" and turned pages for Geoffrey Parsons, the memory of Dame Elisabeth's quintessence of femininity, of beauty of looks, of beauty of voice and of sounds that cannot be forgotten. THE BALANCE WAS LOST!!!

By examining United States foreign policy between 1783 and 1809 in their book "Empire of Liberty," Robert W. Tucker and David C. Hendrickson put the myth of Thomas Jefferson under fire. Tucker and Hendrickson's central thesis is that Jefferson's statecraft wavered between two contradictory principles of liberty and empire. While president, Jefferson often found himself torn between pursuing a foreign policy role that provided examples of liberty, and a role as an "active crusader in international affairs" (Chaudhuri, American Political Science Review, September 1991). Tucker and Hendrickson claim that Jefferson tried in vain to accomplish both of these conflicting goals. The aim of his "new diplomacy" was to pursue the traditional ends of security and prestige while renouncing the traditional means of entangling alliances and wars that had been constantly used by European powers in the past (Mayer, Washington Post, August 2, 1990). Instead, Jefferson would rely upon what he called "peaceable coercion"--a foreign policy establishing security by commercial arrangements, through the force of American ideals. Jefferson believed that liberty and empire could go hand in hand in the formation of United States foreign policy.
Tucker and Hendrickson analyze several policies during the Jefferson administration to give historiographical context to their argument. The 1803 Louisiana Purchase is mentioned as a case in point. On the surface, the acquisition of almost half a continent at a negligible price was a great triumph of statecraft. Jefferson believed that this incredible land acquisition "preserved the republican character of the Union by removing the presence of dangerous neighbors and the prospect of wars that must result in the imposition of unbearable burdens on society" (Dallek, New York Times, July 1, 1990). It also insured that a predominantly agricultural political economy would be sustained while the United States experienced a steady increase in population. The Louisiana Purchase appeared to be clearly within the interests of the United States.
However, Tucker and Hendrickson point out that in order to make this purchase, Jefferson abandoned several of his sacred principles of liberty. In acquiring Louisiana, Jefferson abandoned his deeply held commitment to strict construction of the Constitution, which did not specifically mention a power to acquire territory (Dallek 1990). Tucker and Hendrickson question this abandonment of principle in light of the circumstances revolving around the purchase. They point out that Napoleon would most likely have not repudiated the agreement if action had been delayed, and that the speedy ratification of the treaty that Jefferson advocated was not necessary (Cunningham, Journal of the Early Republic, September 1991). Like Henry Adams, whose history of Jefferson's administration the authors admire and frequently draw upon, Tucker and Hendrickson emphasize the president's abandonment of strict construction in regard to the Louisiana Purchase as evidence of his desire to establish an empire.
This book has many notable strengths. Tucker and Hendrickson advance their ideas with a portrayal of Jefferson's statecraft that is very comprehensive. Most of the main foreign policy circumstances and events of the Jefferson era are described in detail--in addition to the Louisiana Purchase and policies regarding Native Americans, the authors provide comprehensive analysis on the maritime crisis with Great Britain, and Jefferson's views on Napoleon. Tucker and Hendrickson give a freshness to historical subjects of the Jeffersonian era that have already been mulled over by countless historians.
Along with its strengths, a couple weaknesses exist in "Empire of Liberty." Occasionally the authors press their points too hard. Although Jefferson somewhat abandoned his embrace of free trade in 1807, Tucker and Hendrickson exaggerate his original devotion to the principle. Additionally, labeling him as a "true believer in strict constructionism" until the Louisiana Purchase ignores his acceptance of Hamiltonian policies from the inception of his administration (Kaplan, Journal of American History, June 1991). Tucker and Hendrickson's critique of Jefferson's foreign policy is perhaps somewhat overbearing.
Regardless of any shortcomings Tucker and Hendrickson's analysis may have, they do an exceptional job of making a definite contribution to Jeffersonian literature. They create a picture of Jefferson somewhat different than the image conveyed by such historians as Gilbert Chinard, Merrill Peterson and Dumas Malone. "Empire of Liberty" tends to lean more towards to so-called "darker side" of Jefferson represented by the work of Leonard Levy. Overall, by provoking thoughts on Jeffersonian foreign policy, Tucker and Hendrickson's work contributes monumentally to the discourse on the life of Thomas Jefferson.