American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson by Joseph J. Ellis

Jun 23, 2011 Nathan rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: history, franklin-library

I suppose I knew what I was getting into with this book. The subtitle hints at the fact that this is a pretty thoroughgoing psychological history, rather than a historical narrative. Ellis posits Jefferson as an inscrutable figure shielded from effective analysis by a contradictory philosophy as well as a reserved personality. Both of which may be true, but both of which made this book scanty on real insight. Ellis doesn't spend much time asking why Jefferson was the way he was (a pretty worthwh...more

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May 20, 2008 Mike Mcfarland rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: history fans

Shelves: non-fiction

This book is more a series of portraits than a biography. It doesn't tell Jefferson's story in one long arc, but rather captures him at significant periods of his life. This method works well for Ellis (see: Founding Brothers), probably because the broader view allows him to write more lyrically than a stick-to-the-facts biography would allow.

What emerges from Jefferson's portraits is a man with extraordinary powers of self-delusion. These powers enabled him to bemoan slavery while owning slave...more

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Mar 04, 2008 Suzanne rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: biography, american-history

I loved the title. The iconic image of Jefferson takes a bit of a hit in this non-traditional biography. He was a brilliant, creative, imaginative and inventive man who helped transform our world with his vision on the role of government and in his writings. He was also a deeply flawed human being. He loved beauty and lived so beyond his financial means that, at his death, his beloved Monticello had to be auctioned off. He despised slavery yet, without them, could not afford his lifestyle. Since...more

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May 06, 2013 Steve rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

“American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson” by Joseph J. Ellis was published in 1996 and won the 1997 National Book Award in Nonfiction. Ellis is a well-known author and history professor focusing on the revolutionary era. He is probably best known for his Pulitzer Prize winning book “Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation” and has written about Presidents Washington and Adams as well.

“American Sphinx” has been described by some as a “psychological history” of Jefferson, but it...more “American Sphinx: The Character of Thomas Jefferson” by Joseph J. Ellis was published in 1996 and won the 1997 National Book Award in Nonfiction. Ellis is a well-known author and history professor focusing on the revolutionary era. He is probably best known for his Pulitzer Prize winning book “Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation” and has written about Presidents Washington and Adams as well.

“American Sphinx” has been described by some as a “psychological history” of Jefferson, but it is really much more than that: it is part character analysis, part personality profile and part history book. What it is not is a traditional biography or even an abbreviated narrative of Jefferson’s entire life - but as I have discovered by now, this is par for the course for a Joseph Ellis book on a revolutionary-era president.

Instead of following the story of Jefferson’s life in a single, continuous arc “American Sphinx” focuses on five significant periods in his life, observing his thoughts and actions during each of these periods and considering what can be learned about this enigmatic man. In this manner Ellis reflects on the many contradictions Jefferson presents as well as the difficulty he offers those who wish to portray Jefferson either as a hero or a villain, when he is certainly far more complex than that. (Not unlike many of us, he is a little of both…)

But rather than focusing dogmatically on just those five specific periods of his life (while he was in Philadelphia during the Second Continental Congress, in Paris as a diplomat, at Monticello after resigning as secretary of state, during his first presidential term and during his ultimate retirement to Monticello), Ellis pulls as much historical context from the “uncovered” periods as is needed to fully understand appreciate the points he makes and the conclusions he draws.

This book has been called dense by some and, less frequently, one-sided. But it is certainly neither. In contrast to his previous character analysis (“Passionate Sage” about John Adams written three years earlier), Ellis’s book on Thomas Jefferson is surprisingly sprightly and effervescent, lacking the overly-academic feel of the earlier work. And it is remarkably well-balanced; throughout “American Sphinx” Ellis is careful to note Jefferson’s brighter and darker sides, observing his flaws and singing his praises where due.

Of particular interest toward the end of the book, Ellis examines Jefferson’s legacy – noting those aspects which have survived the past two-hundred years undiminished (his emphasis on religious freedom, for instance) and which have been forced to bend to the will of American history and changing times (his zealous pursuit of limited government in almost all circumstances…except when he was president, of course). It is at this point that one of Ellis’s central points – that Jefferson’s actions cannot be easily judged outside the context of his time in history – is most forcefully made.

Overall, I was surprised at how much I enjoyed “American Sphinx,” particularly as Ellis’s previous character analysis (on John Adams) possessed an overly dry and academic tone. ”American Sphinx” on the other hand was colorful and dynamic, while also deep and insightful. But make no mistake- this is not the perfect book for someone just getting acquainted with Jefferson. Even though Ellis replays a great deal of Jefferson’s life in order to fully support his conclusions, this is not a comprehensive account of Jefferson’s entire life. However, as a third or fourth book on Thomas Jefferson, “American Sphinx” truly excels.

Overall rating: 4¼ stars(less)

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Dec 22, 2012 Jeff rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

"American Sphinx", Joseph J Ellis. 1996. Historical revisionist, Joseph J. Ellis, ostensibly enjoys championing himself as a renegade historian, unafraid to attempt to topple one the most well respected and admired of America's founding fathers. Recklessly wielding his anachronistic values upon Thomas Jefferson, "American Sphinx" escalates into a full contact assault on one the most important and revered figures in western culture. Thomas Jefferson is no longer the successful plantation owner, b...more

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Nov 29, 2012 Ob-jonny rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is the book to read if you want to know about the life of Thomas Jefferson. I learned so much from reading this book that I realize that I really had known nothing about Thomas Jefferson until now except the obvious historical facts and that he was an inventor. His actual political views are fascinating to learn and I think they are easy to understand in today's context. He was moderate compared to the extremist southern states rights faction, but he was very suspicious of big government an...more This is the book to read if you want to know about the life of Thomas Jefferson. I learned so much from reading this book that I realize that I really had known nothing about Thomas Jefferson until now except the obvious historical facts and that he was an inventor. His actual political views are fascinating to learn and I think they are easy to understand in today's context. He was moderate compared to the extremist southern states rights faction, but he was very suspicious of big government and thought that federal authority and "consolidation" could only lead to corruption. He thought this in the context of monarchical tyranny which made it seem like all centralized power was evil and that the ideal government was the one who governed the least. It sounds like the current day Republicans and Jefferson considered himself a Republican which is interesting. The context is very different now since the government has shown its ability to do good with a minimum of corruption which I guess had never happened before Jefferson's time.

He saw the Federalists as the bringers of this evil and their takeover of the government in the 1790s made the revolution seem pointless to Jefferson. While he was in Europe the Federalists had seemingly ruined what Jefferson had fought for. He considered his election as president to be the revolution of 1800 where he could restore the Republican values which were the true spirit of '76. Although who knows what the Federalists could have done with another generation of presidents. With the hindsight of history, it's kind of sad to realize that the anti-federalist clan which held power during the Jefferson, Madison, Monroe administrations were actually rebelling against a strong central government that was closer to the progressives of the Roosevelt era instead of monarchical tyranny. Jefferson hated Alexander Hamilton but maybe he just misunderstood what the Federalists were really trying to accomplish.

It was interesting to learn details about the interaction between Jefferson and Adams in the latter years of their lives. It allows the reader to appreciate their sense of humor and it makes them seem more human and down to earth. Their letters had the wit and sarcasm of real people as opposed to the stiff, statue-like appearance of the history books.

The book doesn't come to a conclusion about the Sally Hemmings controvery but it along with the Sally Hemmings entry in Wikipedia reveal some amazing details about her and her family that most people don't know. She was 3/4 white and the daughter of Jefferson's father-in-law, and she would not have looked like an ordinary slave girl. She probably had the same coloring as Lolo Jones the olympic hurdler who's 1/4 black 3/4 white. Her children were 7/8 white and all passed for white people except one, the daughters marrying into white Washington DC high society. Her sons were named James Madison Hemmings and Thomas Hemmings. Her family tree was recorded in detail and there is at least as much written about her descendants in a historical context then Jefferson's own legitimate family. Also take into account that Jefferson had been a widower for 10 years before the first Hemmings child was born.

After reading this book I would really like to go back to visit Monticello.

Also, I should point out that the current audiobook version has no problems despite what is written on older reviews.(less)

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Apr 17, 2012 Gary Hoggatt rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: biography, all-non-fiction, audiobooks, american-revolution-era, history-bio-18th-century, history-bio-19th-century

I have read and enjoyed two books by Joseph J. Ellis in the past. Several years ago, I first encountered Ellis with Founding Brothers and found it a great look into the revolutionary generation. More recently, I read His Excellency: George Washington a couple of months ago and really enjoyed Ellis' presentation of Washington (see my review of His Excellency here on Amazon). So it was with high expectations that I started American Sphinx. Unfortunately, those expectations were not met.

Sphinx is n...more I have read and enjoyed two books by Joseph J. Ellis in the past. Several years ago, I first encountered Ellis with Founding Brothers and found it a great look into the revolutionary generation. More recently, I read His Excellency: George Washington a couple of months ago and really enjoyed Ellis' presentation of Washington (see my review of His Excellency here on Amazon). So it was with high expectations that I started American Sphinx. Unfortunately, those expectations were not met.

Sphinx is not a biography of Jefferson. It's goal is only to look at his "character" by reviewing selected portions of his life, primarily the writing of the Declaration of Independence, his time in Paris as diplomat, his first presidential term, and retirement. Almost entirely glossed over are his youth, his time as Washington's Secretary of State and his second presidential term. I felt that, not having a full picture, it was harder to jump from period to period, as, for example, the discussion of Jefferson's retirement made oblique references to difficulties in his second term, but did not explain much about them. This biographical issue may not have been as pronounced had I previously read a dedicated Jefferson biography, but unfortunately my exposure to him this far has been through general histories of the Revolution and biographies of his contemporaries.

Now, as for Ellis' discussion of his character itself, I found it difficult to follow. Ellis continually discussed various issues that caused Jefferson to say one thing and think another, or not think about it at all, with frequent - over-used, even - references to Jefferson's "psychological dexterity." I really felt that, after reading Sphinx, that I didn't have much better a grasp on Jefferson than I had at the start, as Ellis seems to either make excuses for Jefferson's inconsistencies and/or fall back to the "psychological dexterity" theme again. Another overused phrase was "Jeffersonian." That may sound odd at first, but describing Jefferson and his thoughts and actions as Jeffersonian over and over again doesn't tell me much. It's like saying the color red is very reddish repeatedly. It doesn't add to the reader's understanding.

Additionally, Ellis spends far too much time discussing what Jefferson has meant to American history and what Jefferson would think of this or that modern development. Frankly, that's not what I was looking to get out of this book, and don't see how it relates much to the reality of Jefferson and his times. References comparing America Online and Jefferson's thought only serve to make the book seem dated.

Speaking of dated, Ellis makes frequent skeptical mention of Jefferson's relationship with Sally Hemings. Scientific evidence uncovered since this book was published has made it clear Jefferson did indeed father children with Hemings. To his credit, Ellis has changed his opinion on the matter in the face of the new evidence. Unfortunately, that doesn't do anything to prevent these sections of the book remaining irrelevant or misleading as written.

I listened to Sphinx on audio book, read by Susan O'Malley. I was not particularly impressed with the narration. O'Malley seemed rough and halting far too often, as if she was looking at the book for the first time as they were recording her.

All in all, I was disappointed by Sphinx since, as I've said, I'd enjoyed Ellis' work before. Perhaps I should have read Sphinx after reading a general Jefferson biography, but one of Ellis' usual strengths is making history accessible and enjoyable to those who aren't as well-read on the topic. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case with Sphinx.(less)

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Apr 12, 2012 Matt rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

A convincing and pleasurably readable psychohistory of - let's face it - a very eccentric man. Especially interesting are the passages where Jefferson's official actions are placed in the context of deep personal motivations and conflicts. For example, the author suggests that Jefferson's determination to reduce the national debt was largely based on his inability to pay off his own crushing personal debts. What he could not do for himself, he did for his country.

Like his subject, the author se...more A convincing and pleasurably readable psychohistory of - let's face it - a very eccentric man. Especially interesting are the passages where Jefferson's official actions are placed in the context of deep personal motivations and conflicts. For example, the author suggests that Jefferson's determination to reduce the national debt was largely based on his inability to pay off his own crushing personal debts. What he could not do for himself, he did for his country.

Like his subject, the author seems almost obsessed at times with certain aspects of Jefferson's contradictory personality, especially his views on slavery. It seems intolerable that the same man who wrote the most famous and eloquent summary of American views on liberty and equality, and who early in his career called in strong terms for the eventual abolition of slavery, could have failed so remarkably in his own life on such a fundamental moral question. Yet while it isn't very useful to condemn a historical figure based on modern values, it is also important to remember that many of Jefferson's contemporaries viewed slavery in basically present-day terms. Jefferson certainly knew about their arguments and even agreed with them, at least in principle. But his own economic situation and his fear that liberation would lead inevitably to vengeful insurrection caused him to continue to hold "the wolf by the ears," right up to his death.

It's always difficult to know what to make of Jefferson. Ellis repeats several times that Jefferson was a moralistic thinker, a man of absolute blacks and whites. But one comes away with the impression that he was in fact all shades of gray. He is the sole author of the Declaration of Independence and he heavily borrowed ideas and even language from other writers. He opposed domestic government power viscerally and was responsible for the extra-constitutional purchase of Louisiana, probably his most important achievement as president. He opposed military buildup during the Adams administration and benefited from it when he sent a fleet to fight the Barbary pirates. He argued, bizarrely, that slavery would dissipate and eventually disappear if it were allowed to expand into the western territories. In the end, he defies neat description, and like so many great men and women, one can read in him what one wishes. He is, as John Adams put it, "a shadow man."

The Sally Hemings affair, which is not after all very important, is mercifully relegated to a few brief comments at the end of the volume.

Finally, my favorite sort of thing: trivia that's interesting only to other nerds. It was Jefferson, and not Washington in his Farewell Address, who coined the term "entangling alliances."(less)

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Apr 30, 2011 Carrie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: history

This purpose of this book was to explore Jefferson’s character and how it shaped the man. It is not exhaustive by any means so you have to look to other sources if you want a full run through of all of his life, presidency years, etc.

In essence, Ellis argues that Jefferson had a vision in his head and was the type of person who was (nearly) always true to that vision without taking into consideration the reality of the world around him. There was a certain kind of naivete and “innocent dreamer”...more

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Dec 07, 2010 Bill rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Biographers have a choice on what to emphasize, their subject, the subject’s times or a combination of their subject and times. Again, the writer’s choice is one of emphasis and not one of exclusion. Ellis, who won the National Book Award in 1997 for American Sphinx, chose to emphasize Thomas Jefferson’s character first and then how he related to such events as writing the Declaration of Independence, representing the United States in Paris, serving as Adams Secretary of State and as President.

W...more Biographers have a choice on what to emphasize, their subject, the subject’s times or a combination of their subject and times. Again, the writer’s choice is one of emphasis and not one of exclusion. Ellis, who won the National Book Award in 1997 for American Sphinx, chose to emphasize Thomas Jefferson’s character first and then how he related to such events as writing the Declaration of Independence, representing the United States in Paris, serving as Adams Secretary of State and as President.

War with England had started by late spring and early summer 1776. The Continental Congress believed that a formal declaration was needed to describe the colonies’ independence. Jefferson, who was representing Virginia at the Congress, was chosen to write the document largely based on his previous writings. Jefferson knew he was a powerful writer and a poor public speaker. He would remain a writer for the rest of his life. As president he communicated largely by letter and after his retirement answered thousands of letters.

As many before him, Ellis notes the hypocrisy between “All men are created equal” and slavery.

Jefferson’s position toward slavery greatly displays his overall character. He owned many slaves, not to mention the Sally Hemings, and as a Virginia planter was dependent on slave labor. He believed the slavery issue would be solved by future generations.

Politically, Jefferson was a Whig and believed in limited government, a guiding principle throughout his life. Under Jefferson these Whig principles were incorporated into the newly formed Republican Party. He was a concept man not bothered by details. For example, he believed that governments should only last a generation. All treaties, laws and contracts would last a generation giving the next generation a new start.

He regarded the almost total elimination of the national debt as one of the primary successes of the first term of his presidency. It is Ellis’ opinion that Jefferson’s strong anti-debt position stemmed from his own significant personal indebtedness to English and Scottish lenders. Monticello was under almost constant very costly construction and enlargement.

The Louisiana Purchase challenged Jefferson’s limited government outlook. He quickly agreed to the purchase, which was promptly implemented by his Republican majority in Congress. The country’s size almost doubled. The purchase was made without regard to the Constitution, which his opponents thought did not provide for such executive action.

Chief among Jefferson’s political enemies were Alexander Hamilton and John Marshall. Hamilton was a leading Federalist advocating a strong central government in contrast to Jefferson’s limited government beliefs. Marshall, as Chief Justice of an independent judiciary, also advocated a strong federal government rather than states rights.

After two terms as president Jefferson retired to his beloved Monticello, his family and his books.

No biography of Jefferson would be complete without addressing the Sally Hemings issue. When he began his research, Ellis doubted the affair occurred. Now, based on very conclusive DNA tests, he believes that Jefferson was the father of several, if not all, of Sally’s children.
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Sep 08, 2010 Damian rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

As I read "American Sphinx", an odd thing happened. The more I learnt about Jefferson the less I liked him. The Jefferson of Ellis' biography is an arrogant, obsessive ideologue, whose successes are the lucky results of others' hard work, and whose failures are inevitable given his substantial flaws. As someone who was looking to like Jefferson, this was all pretty disappointing.

Ellis' biography follows Jefferson from his first entrance into public life right until his providential death on Jul...more As I read "American Sphinx", an odd thing happened. The more I learnt about Jefferson the less I liked him. The Jefferson of Ellis' biography is an arrogant, obsessive ideologue, whose successes are the lucky results of others' hard work, and whose failures are inevitable given his substantial flaws. As someone who was looking to like Jefferson, this was all pretty disappointing.

Ellis' biography follows Jefferson from his first entrance into public life right until his providential death on July 4th 1826 (and the same day as his friend/enemy John Adams). Over the course of this journey, we see Jefferson evolve from a quiet but brilliant polemicist into the leader of the "Republican" faction, which calls for a small and relatively weak central government.

In modern terms, Jefferson of course would have been a contradiction: a progressive who fought his entire life for smaller government. It's this defying of modern political boundaries that allow both sides today to claim as their own.

If Ellis has "an angle", it is his attempt to delve into Jefferson's psyche. His contradictions were too overt, argues Ellis, yet his dialogue too sincere to be hypocrisy. His conclusion is that Jefferson was a master not (just) of deception but of SELF-deception -- he "compartmentalized" certain ideas in parts of his brain where they needed not be bothered by other contradictory ideas that he held just as sincerely. Thus, the small-government president who purchases Louisiana from the French, the anti-slave crusader who is himself a slaveowner, the self-indulgent aristocrat who surrounds himself with luxury, yet spend his entire life in crushing debt, and passes his debt to his children when he dies. This is not hypocrisy, argues Ellis, this is "compartmentalization".

Of course such an argument sounds ridiculous when stated so baldly, and I think for good reason. Ellis is attempting to draw deep psychological conclusions from sources that are entirely public: letters that Jefferson wrote, often with the intention of their being published. Positions he publicly took, or speeches he gave. Each and every one of these had an agenda, and while we may want to believe in "compartmentalization" since it leaves intact the image of the honest Jefferson, there's another much more obvious explanation that Occam demands we accept: political expediency.

Even if -- horror of horrors -- Jefferson turns out to have been a politician, he remains one of the most visionary and influential of our history, and if I took one major realization away from this book, it was this: that one of the central essences of our American flavor of democracy -- the conscious limiting of the rights and powers of the central government, and the constant clamoring for smaller and less at the federal level -- comes directly and almost singularly from Jefferson. Had it been up to Washington, Adams and Hamilton, early democracy in the United States would not doubt have taken a far more European form. As is, Jefferson and his disciples (Madison and Monroe) provided a crucial opposition voice at a crucial time -- a voice that continues to resonate in today's conservative circles and the Tea Party movement. And while I might not agree with that voice all the time, I'm glad it's there.

I would not recommend this book to others as an introduction to Jefferson for three reasons. The first, the psycho-babble described above. Second, the book's odd chronology -- it leaves large gaps in the Jefferson story, including for example, his entire tenure as Secretary of State under Washington, and his second term as president. Was this period really so uneventful, that it doesn't deserve mention? (And really practically no mention is given.)

Third is, I really can't be sure that the portrait Ellis is painting might not itself be a politically skewed one. His portrayal so one-sided that one puts down the book longing for a more objective take. I suspected throughout that Ellis felt his own conclusion so strongly -- that Jefferson was a self-deceiver -- that he was arguing it with his every decision of inclusion or omission. The result is a Jefferson that is at best, a self-deceiver, at worst, a craven hypocrite.

One way or another, Jefferson -- whether the Jefferson of American Sphinx or the Jefferson of Wikipedia -- DOES end up disappointing, if only because the soaring of his ideals clashes so jarringly with his somewhat uglier reality.(less)

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Dec 22, 2009 Steven Peterson rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Thomas Jefferson, according to the author, was an American Sphinx. And, indeed, there is an elusive quality to Jefferson. As the biography outlines, he could be as vicious a political assassin as there was (e.g., his attacks on John Adams through others, while trying to keep his own hands "clean"), but he did not appear to want to accept or confront this in himself.

At one time, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were great friends, founding cousins, as it were, of the new republic. Both added grea...more Thomas Jefferson, according to the author, was an American Sphinx. And, indeed, there is an elusive quality to Jefferson. As the biography outlines, he could be as vicious a political assassin as there was (e.g., his attacks on John Adams through others, while trying to keep his own hands "clean"), but he did not appear to want to accept or confront this in himself.

At one time, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson were great friends, founding cousins, as it were, of the new republic. Both added greatly to the republic as diplomats abroad. However, Jefferson's "dark side" led to a rupture that lasted some time before they began to repair that relationship.

Ellis' statement following begins to identify his approach to Jefferson (page xvi): ". . .affection and criticism toward Jefferson are not mutually exclusive postures. . . " He goes on to say that (page xvii): "As I have found him, there really is a core of convictions and apprehensions at his center. Although he was endlessly elusive and extraordinarily adroit at covering his tracks, there were bedrock Jeffersonian values that determined the shape of the political vision he projected so successfully onto his world and that remain such a potent factor in ours." Ellis characterizes Jefferson as (page 26) ". . .a flawed creature, a man who combined massive learning with extraordinary naïveté, piercing insights into others with daunting powers of self-deception, utter devotion to great principles with a highly indulged presumption that his own conduct was not answerable to them."

This volume traces his adult career from the Constitutional Convention (and his role in authoring the Declaration of Independence) to his service as a diplomat in Paris to his work in the Washington Administration and retirement to Monticello to his service as President and his subsequent retirement. His great accomplishments and his sometimes nasty actions are documented, as are his continuing unsuccessful efforts to establish a sound economic footing for his plantation. There is also a useful appendix on Sally Hemings.

This is not a massive biography, but it is useful and does a nice job of portraying the "Sphinx"-like quality of one of the most fascinating of our Founders.
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Aug 29, 2009 Audrey rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really prefer to read biographies in which the author actually has some affection for his subject! Mr. Ellis treated Thomas Jefferson as a neurotic and idealistic man who just happened to experience a few flashes of brilliance because he was at the right place during the right time. Ellis was consistently patronizing and apologetic in his discussions about Thomas Jefferson's thoughts, ideas and actions. I generally expect a biographer to present his subject with an emphasis on his strengths an...more I really prefer to read biographies in which the author actually has some affection for his subject! Mr. Ellis treated Thomas Jefferson as a neurotic and idealistic man who just happened to experience a few flashes of brilliance because he was at the right place during the right time. Ellis was consistently patronizing and apologetic in his discussions about Thomas Jefferson's thoughts, ideas and actions. I generally expect a biographer to present his subject with an emphasis on his strengths and a few notes on his weaknesses as well. According to Joseph Ellis, Thomas Jefferson was essentially deeply flawed.... unable to form intimate relationships, thin-skinned, radically idealistic, hypocritical, self-deceptive... and the list goes on.

One can't help but wonder if Mr. Ellis saw Jefferson through the lens of his OWN neurosis. Ellis' own unsavory history of self-deception and public lies seems to have been reflected right back onto Thomas Jefferson. After all, isn't it true that it's almost impossible to interpret the thoughts and actions of others except through the lens of our own character? It's the ironic and temporal twist to the Biblical warning: "Judge not that ye be not judged." God will judge us, certainly, but already we judge everyone else according to our own character and our indictments of others certainly indict ourselves just as clearly. As Mr. Ellis seems indeed to have done here.

This biography was also a chronicle of Jefferson's political self mainly; the larger picture of his life was mostly ignored and it is that larger picture that makes Jefferson most interesting, I think. Ellis has written a long analysis of Jefferson's political actions and philosophies with a few personal incidents sprinkled in here and there. I think that possibly the most significant information I gained from the book was a better understanding of Whig philosophy and a clear account of the contest between the Federalists and the Republicans. I expected more of this book. I'm not sorry I read it, though--I just need to read more about Jefferson to get a less polarized opinion of him. (less)

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Bobby Bermea I don't know, Audrey, it seems like you missed the point of the book. From the title on the book never purports to be a simple biography of the man. T...more
updated Jun 12, 2010 10:48pm

Michael Hattem Granted that the seemingly contradictory nature of Jefferson is what the point of any book on him should be. However, I don't feel that Ellis ever rea...more
Aug 21, 2010 12:02pm

Jun 14, 2009 Julie rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book is a well disguised attack on Jeffersonian ideals of smaller government...accomplished through lengthy "psychoanalytic" attacks on Jefferson's character. It amazes me that so many find this illuminating and deserving of the Pulitizer Prize. Ellis chiefly does this by showing Jefferson to be a secretive, ultimately anarchic radical who was incapable of perceiving the need for political governance under the Constitution (the "necessary evil" described by Paine in Commons Sense).

Perhaps m...more This book is a well disguised attack on Jeffersonian ideals of smaller government...accomplished through lengthy "psychoanalytic" attacks on Jefferson's character. It amazes me that so many find this illuminating and deserving of the Pulitizer Prize. Ellis chiefly does this by showing Jefferson to be a secretive, ultimately anarchic radical who was incapable of perceiving the need for political governance under the Constitution (the "necessary evil" described by Paine in Commons Sense).

Perhaps most telling is the fact that Ellis goes out of his way to explain that he does not consider Jefferson to be insane: "Jefferson was not--let us be clear and emphatic on this point--a mentally unstable person or a man with latent paranoid tendencies. The conspiratorial character of his political thinking in the 1790s...was a common feature of the political literature of the time, and substantial traces of the same feverish mentality can be found in the private correspondence of the entire political leadership...Unless one is prepared to make sweeping psychiatric charges against the vanguard members of the entire revolutionary generation...psychiatric appraisals of Jefferson himself should be recognized as both misleading and unfair." (pp. 155-56 of the paperback edition).

If this in fact is how Ellis really feels about Jefferson, then WHY does it take him 155 pages to get to this statement? And Ellis loses no time in renewing his attack; indeed only letting up on Jefferson long enough to allow him one moment of reverential glory in his description of Jefferson's First Inaugural Address (pp. 214-221).

Indeed, Ellis' other major attempt at denying his own methods of psychological attack is not contained in the main narrative of the book at all; rather, buried in the footnotes for pages 183-186 (note 65). In it Ellis discusses his mistrust for psychohistory and the empirical methods of modern psychoanalysis, whether Freudian, neo-Freudian, or Ericksonian. If Ellis is so skeptical, then why is he so eager to embrace their methods?

The problem with Ellis is that he simply does not agree with Jefferson's ideals. Do not miss his afterword, "The Future of an Illusion," in which he asserts "after 1865, Jefferson's...convictions about the proper distribution of power between state and federal governments, if not completely washed away, were permanently put on the defensive" (p. 352); "the New Deal was in fact the death knell for Jefferson's idea of a minimalist government" (p. 353); and "no one seriously contemplates the elimination of Social Security or the Federal Reserve Board" (p. 355).

Bad news for you, Ellis. We Jeffersonians are still out there.

If you read this book, rush to the nearest bookstore or library and read Ron Paul's "The Revolution: A Manifesto." Make sure to get one for Joseph Ellis, too.

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Crystal Thank you so much for your comment! There are so many five star ratings on here that your review caught my eye. I was worried about this book after I...more
Aug 12, 2009 06:45am

Julie Glad you saw my review of Joseph Ellis’ “American Sphinx,” which was mostly just a rant. You ask an interesting question, whether you should continue...more
Aug 12, 2009 08:38am

Crystal Thank you for taking the time to respond. You make a great point. You cannot defend a belief well if you do not know the opposing argument. I know we...more
Aug 12, 2009 06:57pm

Aug 07, 2012 Guinevere rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

As the greatest admirer of Thomas Jefferson, I can certainly say that Mr. Ellis's book did him justice; though not because it doused this revolutionary scribe with praise and awe. Mr. Jefferson was a most enigmatic figure, and so it was necessary to maintain a very neutral, unbiased attitude in writing a biography on him. Joseph Ellis controlled his extremely well. He offers the reader everything- both positive and negative. Many reviews state that Ellis ends up portraying a less appealing Thoma...more

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Sep 24, 2011 Murdock Hendrix rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Joseph J. Ellis has given an in-depth look at the political life and times of Thomas Jefferson. This book opened up the proverbial Pandora’s Box for me and brings down Jefferson’s god-like statue in my mind to a level that makes him a real person. As the pages unfold you see how in his mind, Jefferson balances, miserably, his written words of the Declaration of Independence and the fact that he was a slave owner. Its as if he is or has to be in a constant state of internal dialog with himself re...more Joseph J. Ellis has given an in-depth look at the political life and times of Thomas Jefferson. This book opened up the proverbial Pandora’s Box for me and brings down Jefferson’s god-like statue in my mind to a level that makes him a real person. As the pages unfold you see how in his mind, Jefferson balances, miserably, his written words of the Declaration of Independence and the fact that he was a slave owner. Its as if he is or has to be in a constant state of internal dialog with himself regarding his slave issue and the words of freedom that ring from the Declaration.

Jefferson believed that the slaves, if they were freed, should be returned to Africa or banished to the unexplored American West. His fear was that with freedom there may be a race war for the wrongs done to the slaves. His own slaves were treated as extended family members, in a sense, and compared to other plantation owners were treated fairly.

I found the book very enlightening regarding the many facets of Jefferson’s life. Ellis’ treatment of the Sally Heming’s affair is handled in about 4 pages in the appendix. The author tends to discount the alleged affair and offers some thought provoking material on the matter.

The depth of the effects of the attack of 9/11 runs deep, both in the simple and the complex areas of life. One example of this is this book review. I asked myself as I was reading this book what impresses me and what doesn’t impress me about what I read. Because of the attack the passage I have quoted below will show just how far it has reached into our thoughts and activities.

Amazing excerpt from “American Sphinx” regarding Muslim sponsored terrorism on the high seas in the 18th century, how ironic that we are still fighting against this scourge today:

…Adams and Jefferson described the audacity of these terrorist attacks, pirates leaping onto defenseless ships with daggers clenched in their teeth. They had asked the ambassador from Tripoli, Adams and Jefferson explained, on to what grounds these outrageous acts of unbridled savagery could be justified: “The Ambassador answered us that it was founded on the Laws of the Prophet, that it is written in their Koran, that all nations who should not have acknowledged their authority were sinners, that it was their right and duty to make war upon them wherever they could be found, and to make slaves of all they could take as Prisoners….”

Unbelievable that after 200 plus years we still face the terror that Jefferson and his contemporaries did too.

You will find much dialog between Jefferson, Adams, Madison, and other well-known and some unknown participants of the fight for freedom within this book.

The book weighs in at a little over 300 pages. It also includes footnotes and an index. I enjoyed the read very much. For an outstanding chacacter study on Jefferson and his thoughts this is a must read book.
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Sep 06, 2010 Jill rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: biographies-memoirs, history

I didn't find this read quite as interesting as the Abigail Adams bio I just finished, but it was still quite interesting. I learned so much. There were a few pieces of information that were repeats from Abigail Adams (letters between John Adams and Jefferson, differences of opinion they had, etc.). I think the most interesting thing about Jefferson was how his life's practices often did not coincide with his strong beliefs. He's such a fascinating contradiction. A few examples include his posit...more

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Jan 14, 2012 Lorena Bathey rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historic-research

I picked this book up at the Monticello museum store. After touring the house and hearing more about Jefferson I was intrigued to know the man, especially since I got an idea for an novel about him and his first wife. This book does give you a deeper insight than just his politics which matters to me and to really understand the man. It's slow cause it's lots of history and facts...but I am interested. Can't always say that about historical books.

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Jul 15, 2011 Colette rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is my third Joseph J. Ellis book, and, like the others, I appreciate his very readable rendition of history. Unlike the very straight foward, decision minded Washington, Jefferson is perhaps best loved as the ideal of himself rather than the true man. Most of his presidency was done at a writing desk, after all. His views on slavery vary greatly from the reality, one of his many ideological paradoxes. Ellis seems to want the reader to admire Jefferson for seeking the ideal, pastoral life, i...more

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May 02, 2011 Darlene rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I finished this biography of Thomas Jefferson a couple of days ago and needed to think about it for a bit. In considering what I learned, I have found this is not a simple book to review. First off, it is not a typically written biography. Ellis did not write it in the usual chronological order that biographies tend to follow.He presented different aspects of Jefferson's life and presidency and alternated forward and backward through time.

By the time I was halfway through this book, I felt as...more I finished this biography of Thomas Jefferson a couple of days ago and needed to think about it for a bit. In considering what I learned, I have found this is not a simple book to review. First off, it is not a typically written biography. Ellis did not write it in the usual chronological order that biographies tend to follow.He presented different aspects of Jefferson's life and presidency and alternated forward and backward through time.

By the time I was halfway through this book, I felt as if the more I knew about Jefferson, the less I liked him...as a person AND a president and that made me very disappointed. I believe Ellis struggled with these very same feelings as he often would try to present a psychological explanation for some of Jefferson's seemingly contradictory characteristics. Jefferson often appeared petty and seemed obsessed with his reputation and how others viewed him.

By the end of the book, although I felt disappointment in this president, who was responsible for writing some of the most eloquent words in our country's history, I also realized that my feelings about Jefferson were a little more complicated... much as Jefferson himself seemed to be a little more complicated. There seemed to be a conflict going on within Jefferson for most of his life.

What I believe in the end is that Jefferson, like all human beings, possessed many contradictions within his personality. He wrote beautiful words expressing his 'belief' that "all men are created equal" and are entitled to "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" and yet he owned slaves. He wrote that he was not in favor of the federal government carrying a huge debt and yet he, himself, had a debt so huge that at the end of his life, his property, Monticello, and many of his slaves needed to be auctioned off to satisfy those debts. He wrote in support of a very limited, practically non-existent federal government and believed in states' rights and yet he fought very hard in his campaign to be part of that federal government he claimed to hate..as president.

In the end, what I believe about Thomas Jefferson is that he was an ideologue. He held grand ideals which sound beautiful to many on paper but perhaps do not translate so well into the practicality needed in everyday life and the everyday governing of people. I have come to the conclusion that although I am disappointed in Jefferson as a president, I will continue to admire him for the beauty and eloquence of his words. Although he was one of the founders of this country and the third President of the United States, he was also very simply... a human being.(less)

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Dec 06, 2011 Logan Mitchell rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I have always been an american history buff, and i have often heard of the great Thomas Jefferson as being one of the most influential Americans of all time. This book outlines his accomplishments that were seen in the public eye, and also gives readers a look at a more personal version of Jefferson. The author starts with an interesting observation about how the character of Jefferson is vastly celebrated in present times, compared to other figures of similar historical importance. From there t...more I have always been an american history buff, and i have often heard of the great Thomas Jefferson as being one of the most influential Americans of all time. This book outlines his accomplishments that were seen in the public eye, and also gives readers a look at a more personal version of Jefferson. The author starts with an interesting observation about how the character of Jefferson is vastly celebrated in present times, compared to other figures of similar historical importance. From there the author talks about how Jefferson entered the political arena, first as a member of the House of Burgesses, then as a member of the Continental Congress. The author talks in detail about how Jefferson's earlier writings on independence helped to influence the final draft of the Declaration of Independence. After Jefferson's wife died Jefferson was devastated, and i find it surprising that he returned to the public eye not too long after. After the Revolutionary War had finished Jefferson became a member of the United States Congress, from the state of Virginia. Later he would become the third President of the United States, which would mark the start of a time Jefferson called the Revolution of 1800. I believe this is the climax of his life, i mean how can one surpass becoming president? Jefferson had swift and tremendous success as president in his first term, organizing the Louisiana Purchase and balancing the budget. However, in his second term relations with England were stressed and Jefferson's embargo would severely hurt the American Economy. After his second term Jefferson retired from public life, and resided to his famous home in Monticello.
"Jefferson was asked to draft the Declaration of Independence, then, in great part because the other eligible authors had more important things to do"(58).
Ideas such as this one is why i enjoyed the book so much. Before reading this book i had always assumed that Jefferson wrote the declaration, because he had been seen by his peers as a master orator and an eloquent writer. While reading the book, it was astonishing to discover that Jefferson had not been an out-spoken individual, that debated during the continental congress sessions. Jefferson was rather a quiet individual, that preferred writing his ideas rather than speaking them. The author however does a tremendous job explaining how Jefferson received a reputation as a writer, through his publishing of A Summary View, and his work in drafting the Virginian Constitution. Still little tidbits of history such as these make reading this book fascinating. The books doesn't just account for the History or Jefferson, but the character of him as well.
"Jefferson's financial problems and long-standing debts had forced him to sell his huge(nearly seven thousand volumes)library in 1815 for the relatively meager price of $23,950"(326).
This is another interesting fact that to me makes this book intriguing. I would have never guessed that a figure such as Jefferson could have accumulated substantial debts, resulting in the sale of his beloved collection of books. It is kind of ironic how his economic policies helped to instigate his own debt problems. The significance of that sale is seen today in a structure known as the Library of Congress. I find it interesting that such a situation caused the creation of what is now the largest library in the world. While this book does include a lot of information on the character of Jefferson, the reason i enjoyed reading the book so much, is because of the little details involved that had tremendous influence on our history. I am familiar with many of the major events in our Nation's history, but the underlying details are what give me the most pleasure learning about. This book includes many of those small details involved with the life of Jefferson, and i would recommend this books to any history buff.
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Aug 22, 2010 Donnac rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I was so disappointed with this book. From the very first pages, you could sense the author was antagonistic towards his subject; and this continued throughout the book. I cannot count the number of times Ellis alluded to Jefferson as some kind of narcissistic mental case. As a grandmother to two children with autism, I could easily have seen Jefferson as being on the spectrum! He was incredibly intelligent, and his devotion to the building of Monticello and his love for agriculture as all-encom...more

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Sep 19, 2010 Andrew Bolender rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Joseph Ellis, before he wrote, "His Excellency," based on the life of George Washington, took on the dynamic personality of Thomas Jefferson. As a person who had never read a thing about Jefferson, at least nothing that was free of fabrications and myths, I found the style Ellis uses to be something of a constantly shifting, dynamic language. While he notes that Jefferson had two sides to his personality, he interweaves these seemingly opposing personalities seamlessly into his story. Although t...more

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Mar 03, 2011 Jim rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Good review of Thomas Jefferson's character. Not a chronological look at Jefferson's life. Rather the author looks at various times in Jefferson's life and the incidents that occurred during them, to elucidate his political and world view.

This book contains a fair amount of what some deride as historic-psychobabble - the tendency to try and psychoanalyze historic figures to find the origins of their greatness or perfidy (depending on your point of view). In this case, while it does at times feel...more

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Mar 14, 2010 Kay rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: borrowed-library, read-in-2010

Joseph Ellis is an excellent writer. His style is almost musical in places. His work was very well-researched and was a joy to read.

Ellis took a look at some of the major turning points in the life of Thomas Jefferson, and paid special notice of how his political views sometimes seemed to be contradictory - and of the times when what he did contradicted what he said.

He really was an interesting man - a leader of the American revolution, an idealist, and an introvert with a scientific and innovat...more

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Jan 13, 2012 Steve rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: history, biography, non-fiction

I like the fact that Ellis goes against the grain and shows the contradictory nature of Jefferson's character:

1) Like many of the founding fathers, Jefferson was haunted by the slavery question for his entire life. He owned a huge amount of slaves, yet he argued for the self-evident rights of all mankind.

2) Jefferson's presidency was dedicated to reducing the national debt, while he had absolutely no control of his personal finances.

3) Jefferson also was a strong believer in reducing the power o...more

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Jan 17, 2013 Jonathan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This was recommended by an online article written by a history professor. He compiled the top 5 or 10 Jefferson books/biographies and this one piqued my interest as one written by an academic but more for public consumption. I enjoyed Ellis' angle: dissecting Jefferson's character and motives given certain portions of his life. The book is not long and is by no means exhaustive of Jefferson's life. I think this is one of the shortfalls, and the author even admits to it: he leaves out significant...more

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Aug 21, 2011 Bob rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: biography, us-history

Interesting book showing a different side of the Jefferson we all were been presented in school. After reading about John Adams, I grew fascinated by their relationship. The Character of Thomas Jefferson was certainly flawed in many ways. A southern gentleman who struggled with the founding fathers about slavery, wanting all men to be free, owned over 200 slaves. He politicked openly about how the races should not mix, yet fathered at least one child with one of his slaves. And, the politics be...more

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Jul 01, 2010 Zohar - ManOfLaBook.com rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is an elegant, informative and well researched book. I’ve learned many things about Thomas Jefferson (for example: he didn’t like public attention) and Mr. Ellis’ analysis is certainly worth of praise.

The book is divided into five parts:
- Philadelphia: 1775 -76
- Paris: 1784-89
- Monticello: 1794 – 97
- Washington D.C.: 1801 – 04
- Monticello: 1816 – 26

As you can see, the book starts at the dawn of the American Revolution with Jefferson’s arrival in Philadelphia as the delegate from Virginia to...more

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Aug 10, 2009 Johnathan rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical

An excellent biography of the ever-enigmatic Jefferson. Perhaps my only complaint would be the length of the book...Ellis could have easily written a longer and much more detailed view of the man. It presents Jefferson as a man full of contradictions...supporting the liberties and freedoms of all men, while owning slaves at the same time.

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