INTRODUCTION: THOMAS JEFFERSON: THE ART OF POWER BY JON MEACHAM (SPOILER THREAD)

[Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief]

Yes I agree, make sure to bring your best questions to the Q&A about the book.

[Bryan]

Awesome, a great opportunity to get our questions on all things TJ answered.

[William]

This is very exciting! I was watching Jon Meacham on TV again this morning, he's one of my favorite commentators when he's on, as he brings a historians POV to current politics. They of course mention the book every time as well. I believe this morning he mentioned that there's a great deal of interest in the book already. Very pumped for this! I'll make sure to spend some energy to compose a worthy question.

[Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief]

Yes, Will he is sort of professorial on the show and very calm which I very much appreciate. So often - many of the commentators are yelling at you. I like how he positions his answers in a very thoughtful way without jumping to conclusions and takes a look at all of the nuances of each issue. Should be fun. Bring your best questions about TJ and the book.

[Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief]

All, I will be posting the list of the folks selected for the free book offer soon. Keep posted on this thread for the announcement.

[Lib]

I'd like to recieve the book and be considered for future discussions.
Lib Grimmett

I will abide by the terms and conditions of this offer.

[Aubrey]

I would love to participate in reading this book. I agree to the terms and conditions and I will write a review after reading it.

[Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief]

Lib, Aubrey - the offer has been closed for some time.

[Lib]

Bentley wrote: "Lib, Aubrey - the offer has been closed for some time."

Thanks - unfortunately, I didn't see your post in time - maybe next time! Have a great weekend!
Lib

[Mark]

Bentley wrote: "ANNOUNCEMENT

Jon Meacham will be joining us on the Q&A thread for this discussion. Very good news; I just got this confirmed. I am sure that all of you will be very excited about this. I know t..."

That is excellent news.

[Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief]

Yes, it is.

[Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief]

Here are the lucky recipients of the Jon Meacham book:

The book will be sent more than likely mid October and I will let you know when the books have gone out. The discussion will begin on November 19, 2012. When the books do go out, we will ask you to check in and/or send me a PM (you all know how to do that now) indicating that you have received your book. This helps everybody know how soon they should be getting theirs and also lets us know that you have your book in hand and nothing happened to it during mailing. During the last mailing, we did have a couple go astray.

1. Bentley
2. Alisa Tazioli
3. Mark Mortensen
4. Jill Hutchinson
5. Bryan Craig
6, Travis Anderson
7. Judith Stoner
8. Germaine Hodges
9. Kathy Harris
10.Mark K. Gardner
11.Vivien Mudgett
12.Cheryl Kennedy
13.Michael Middleton
14. Greg Thiele
15. Clayton D. Brannin
16. Tere Archibald
17. Alan Sumrall
18. Marissa Gill
19. Iris Lagrimas
20. Peter Flom
21. Lewis Codington
22.Brian Horgan
23.Debi Cummings
24. Frank Morrison
25. Clifford Davis
26. Frederick Coxen
27. Chase Mudd
28. Brad Kalmanson
29. David Sanders
30. Will Mego
31. Jason Clearfield
32. Christine Upton
33. Sherry Landrum
34. Craig Sanders
35. Lisa R. Maher
36. James Pinnick
37. Brad Beightol
38. Gabriel Perez
39. Heather Rieseck
40. Ann Davey
41. Greg Gates
42. Donna Witherspoon
43. Logan Beirne
44. Steve Datz
45. Cynthia Baca
46. Mona Mostow
47. Miranda Carbaugh
48. Steven Harbin
49. Michael Blackburn
50. Brian Glanzberg
51. Jason Page
52. Marc Towersap

[Cynthia]

This is great news!!! Thanks!

[G]

Thank you! I'll do my best to make reasoned comments and ask thoughtful questions.

[Donna]

Thanks! Looking forward to the book and discussion.

[Frederick]

Great news! I'm honored

[William]

Very very happy to get this book! So delighted! Now to convince everybody to read war of 1812 stuff.

[Jill H.]

Let me join Bentley in requesting that you all introduce yourselves on the Introduction thread which is cited below. Thanks so much.

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/9...

[Katy]

I am very excited. Should be a great read.

[Brian]

Thanks ! Very excited

[Clayton]

Thank you very much! I truly look forward to the reading & discussion of this book.

Clayton D Brannon

[Mark]

I'm excited. Jefferson with all his gifts and talents certainly lived life and left his mark with history.

[Marc]

Cool! this is my first discussion, and I'm looking forward to reading the book and then the following discussions!

[Greg]

Fantastic! I'm really looking forward to this.

[[deleted user]]

Thanks. Looking forward to it, especially the Q&A.

[Tomerobber]

Woohoo . . . thanks so much for this . . . this will be my B'day present. ;-)

[Gabriel]

I appreciate the gift. I am all excited now.

[Bryan]

I just got the message about receiving an advanced reading copy of Jon meachams new book about Thomas Jefferson. I am interested in participating and accept the terms and conditions for receiving and reviewing this book. I am a student of history, have read Meacham's other book American Lion, and have a keen interest in Jefferson as a politician and author of United States' founding documents. Hope I'm not too late.

[Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief]

Bryan, since I have posted the winners in message 165, I guess you are too late (smile).

Better luck next time; make sure to check the threads frequently in the future.

You can still buy the book on November 13th and participate in the discussion.

[Gary]

I just purchased my ticket to hear Jon Meacham speak in person, and to receive a copy of his book,and to be able to get it,and the others I own signed by him.

I am going,and taking a friend in early December. I am so excited. :-)

Very pumped about meeting him!

I also met Tim Weiner.....great booksigning!

[Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief]

Tremendous. Make sure to tell him you are looking forward to the discussion on the History Book Club site on goodreads and are looking forward to the Q&A.

I imagine that Tim Weiner was very enthusiastic; he was a great asset here.

[Gary]

but can i be involved in that discussion when i didn't get a copy of the book?

[Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief]

Yes, but you would have to purchase the book; the book is released on November 13th and the discussion starts on November 19th, I am not sure when you will be going to the book signing or what date you plan to purchase the book; but it is never too late to join in when you do purchase the book.

[Steven]

I'm looking forward to the discussions. I'm particularly interested in Meacham's take on our 3rd President. Over the years I've read so many different views and opinions about him, from to to - everyone seems to have a different take on him. To me he is one of our most enigmatic and interesting historical figures. Deeply flawed and at the same time deeply gifted, I think this will be a very interesting book and forum. I'm really looking forward to November.

[Tomerobber]

I'm not sure about posting this here, but for background or add. Info . . . I just got the Oct. 2012 issue of Smithonian magazine that has a very interesting article on a new portrait of Thomas Jefferson. I haven't finished reading it yet but hope it will help me formulate questions to ask Mr. Meacham when we do the discussion part.

[Mark]

Steven, great synopsis. Posting books is not easy as I also needed a bit of assistance this morning from Bentley. :-)
Fawn M. Brodie

Daniel J. Boorstin
Annette Gordon-Reed

[Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief]

Hi Steven,

We are glad that you are excited Steven. Yes, Mark sometimes when there are variations or parts missing; certain things are done differently.

Normally we have three parts to citing a book:

bookcover, author's photo when available and always the author's link.

If you are really talented you can figure out how to put the word by in front of the photo or if there is no photo in front of the link.

Here is an example with all three parts (with the word by put in manually):

by Fawn M. Brodie

by Daniel J. Boorstin

Here is an example of a book you cite which does not have a photo of an author: (I simply add at the end no photo in parentheses: (but never add the blank no photo icon - I guess it looks too odd)

by Annette Gordon-Reed (no photo)

And if you come across a book that has no bookcover - then you simply add the link like so and the author's photo if available and always the author's link and at the end in parentheses say no book cover:

The Battle of Hamburg: Allied Bomber Forces Against a German City in 1943 by Martin Middlebrook (no book cover)

Always check out the Mechanics of the Board thread and that should help you - you can even practice there:

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/2...

[Gary]

Bentley wrote: "Yes, but you would have to purchase the book; the book is released on November 13th and the discussion starts on November 19th, I am not sure when you will be going to the book signing or what date..."

I had to purchase the book with my ticket. I can take a friend,and get a copy of the book. The event is Dec. 5th. So, guess I am out. Oh well. LOL.

[Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief]

Not really Gary, we are not starting until November 19th; we were asked by RH to hold off from starting the discussion until after the book is released. We will only be 2.5 weeks into the discussion - about 100 pages or so; not that far ahead at all. You can start reading on the 5th or so and post on the appropriate weekly non spoiler thread until you get caught up. And no matter how long it takes we will answer your posts.

[William]

There's a page of his appearances on his website, if anybody is in the Chicago Suburbs as I am, he's appearing in my former home of Naperville on December 6th at the notable indy small chain of Anderson's Bookstore, which I hope to attend.

[Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief]

Good for you Will; in an earlier post on this thread I actually listed the places confirmed at that time.

Make sure to tell him that you are a member of the History Book Club.

[Michele]

Are all the free copies taken? Would be happy to join in the discussion and be a friendly virtual neighbor.

[Michele]

I will try and pick up the book s soon as it is released. Look forward to the discussion.

[Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief]

Michele, I have already posted the list on the thread of recipients so the answer is yes all of the free copies were taken and announced.

We are delighted that you will pick up the book upon its release on November 13th. The discussion does not start until November 19th so you should be ready for the group discussion when it starts.

[Brandon]

I agree to abide by the t's and c's. Mr Jefferson is one of my favorite historical characters. I am excited to read this book. Thanks

[Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief]

Brandon, this offer has already been awarded.

[Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief]

Francesca, I am always amazed at folks who are still requesting this offer when the thread keeps repeating that the offer is closed and the names of the folks in the offer are already posted.

We would of course be delighted for you to participate but for this offer you will have to go to either a local bookstore or an on line source for the book. The release date will be the 13th and the discussion does not start until the 19th so you would be fine.

[Bob]

I am interested in the book. I will abide by the terms and conditions

[Bentley, Group Founder, Leader, Chief]

Hello Bob, the book offer is closed right now - see message 201.

[Chris]

Thanks. I very excited and looking forward to the release of the book, and meeting the author at the L.A. public library speaker's series next month.