The Back to School Book Review, Part 1

Jefferson: Architect of American Liberty by John B. Boles

It’s back to school time, and that means I have time and the mental headspace to actually read a book.*

* Books, to me, are nonfiction. Fiction is lame, unless its Jane Austen, and even then, a good film adaptation can do the trick.

Some of you may remember that my dear beloved Angus liked to review books. Since he is no longer with us, I have to carry on the torch without him, knowing I can never do as good a job as he would.

I really learned a lot about Jefferson from this book. TJ never held the same cache for me as other Founders, even though we have much in common: We both lived in Williamsburg, we both didn’t really like William and Mary…ok, so that’s it.

Anyway, here are some of the things I remarked on, in no particular order:

1. This was a very sympathetic biography, and the author begins by saying that we cannot judge Jefferson by modern standards: “As much as we might wish, Jefferson was not a modern man.” Fine dude, but we’ll all keep judging him as one anyway.
2. When Jefferson took over as president, he basically undid a lot of what his predecessor did. He was so bent on doing the opposite of everything the last guy did, that he even walked to his inauguration to prove how Plain and Simple his was. Love it. Way to drive (walk) it home. 
3. Jefferson would 100% disapprove of how kingly Angus looks in this picture.
4. Many politicians in Jefferson’s time *hated* each other’s ideas. Most things were voted on by strict party lines. Reading about such partisan hatred was oddly comforting to me as a modern person living in the present dumpster fire.
5. Aaron Burr was a real bastard. Again, old news, but a good reminder of seriously douchebaggery.
6. Jefferson did not like to capitalize anything in his personal writing. I feel seen, though in my case I like to capitalize Random Things.
7. Jefferson’s gig in France sounded like a sweet deal. He traveled all over France and wrote about everything and drank lots of wine. Now I want to be an ambassador to France. I’m no Jefferson, but I’m also not a convicted felon (because guess what? Our current one is!). So I got that going for me. 
8. I knew Jefferson was a huge lover of books, but somehow I didn’t know that he donated all his books to the Library of Congress after Great Britain burned it during the war of 1812 (Jim knew this--of course). As one of my students put it: God, Britain is the WORST.
9. UVA was Jefferson’s baby, which I knew. He really wanted “natural geniuses” of good character to go there to be trained for public service. I did not know, however, that the first students at the revolted against the professors by throwing a bottle of urine through the window (among other things). Go Cavs!
10. And finally, arguably my favorite TJ quote of the book from a letter to his nephew: “We are out of salad oil, and you know it is a necessity of life here, can any be had in Richmond?” Perhaps “Lover of a Good Dressing” should be added to his tombstone (Be honest, a good dressing can transform what is in essence a plate of leaves).

Overall score: 9/10. Not nearly enough pictures.