Thomas Jefferson is best known for his interest in philosophy and issues of individual rights. He is credited with having significant influence in the writing of the early documents in American history. Most specifically, he is given credit for the Declaration of Independence and the addition of the Bill of Rights to the Constitution. Because of Jefferson's importance in politics, Bernstein acknowledges all of the positive and negative highlights of his political career. Much of the mudslinging discussed in the book is reminiscent of contemporary politics.
However, there is much more to the reluctant 3rd President. Bernstein paints picture of a man who hated the bickering nature of politics, preferring the his time to his studies and writing while managing his plantation in Virginia. His obsession was the legendary Monticello, which he designed and continually redesigned.
Bernstein pays little attention to Jefferson's relationship to Sally Hemings except in the epilogue. While some may argue that this omission detracts from the quality of the book, I would disagree. Bernstein chooses to focus on the man and politician rather than his sexual escapades. Even when his seemingly conflicting views of slavery are brought into focus, these facts are not essential to the Jefferson story. When his concern for human rights is put into focus, any discrepancies in his views are only a reflection of his era.
All of the essential facts of Jefferson are discussed in this handsome book. I would highly recommend this book either as a reference book for school papers or a leisurely read about the life of a truly great American.
At the very least, however, Jefferson read and listened to others and tried to understand their side of issues. With faith in common people and common causes he directed his gifts--during what he saw as practical opportunities--toward advocacy and action in their behalf. He didn't always succeed, but when he did the results were spectacular.
Will there ever be another like him?
Last evening a descendant of Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings notified me, "Today I gratefully passed my Masters Thesis Defense!" Shannon Lanier will receive both a Bachelor of Science degree in electronic media production and a Master of Arts degree in media management from Kent State University next month. Shannon, a gifted and extremely likeable young man, co-authored JEFFERSON'S CHILDREN in 2000 and has done more than most to try to reunite the Jefferson and Hemings families.
To honor my friend Shannon and all in his blended family, I'll put aside petty resentments. R.B. Bernstein, for all his self-confessed "kvetching" and self-doubts and his shots at me, deserves more than the one star I awarded him, but I can't go for five. I think he would agree that in current affairs we're seeing too much of settling differences by shooting instead of listening to one another. We can all set a better example for those who will soon inherit a world we're currently mismanaging.
For my part in this, I know that (1) anyone's vetting of my book DIAGNOSING JEFFERSON will reveal no misstep in my scholarship, though they can argue with my hypotheses, that (2) my descriptions of the compatibility of Jefferson's traits with Asperger's are well grounded and validated by experts, that (3) my work was edited by one of the best in the business--Hillel Black, that (4) the book has inspired countless young people with the condition, and several have told me it turned their lives around, and that (5) those who belittle the work without doing more than leaf through it may be surprised when they take the trouble to read it.
