“He’s never happier than when he can recommend a course of reading to somebody else.”
President Jefferson tells us what books he might recommend to juvenile readers, and it turns out to be a fairly limited list. He does, however, recommend Don Quixote, Gulliver’s Travels and Robinson Crusoe.
"I cannot live without books; but fewer will suffice where amusement, and not use, is the only future object."
— Thomas Jefferson to John Adams, June 10, 1815
Further Reading
Monticello: Jefferson and Reading
Monticello: Shadwell Library Reconstructed (Partial)
The Wealth of Nations by Adam Smith
What Would Jefferson Do?
“Every individual [is] led by an invisible hand to promote an end which was no part of his intention.”
Tune in to your local public radio or join the 1776 Club to hear this episode of What Would Thomas Jefferson Do?
Listen to this week's episode.
Every individual... neither intends to promote the public interest, nor knows how much he is promoting it... he intends only his own security; and by directing that industry in such a manner as its produce may be of the greatest value, he intends only his own gain, and he is in this, as in many other cases, led by an invisible hand to promote an end which was no part of his intention.
— Adam Smith, The Theory Of Moral Sentiments, Part IV, Chapter I, pp.184-5, para. 10.
"He's never happier than when he can recommend a course of reading to somebody else."
— Clay S. Jenkinson
President Jefferson tells us what books he might recommend to juvenile readers, and it turns out to be a fairly limited list. He does, however, recommend Don Quixote, Gulliver’s Travels and Robinson Crusoe.
“I’m just thinking of your career, here.”
— Joseph Ellis
We continue our conversation this week with the award-winning author Joseph Ellis, and we conclude our discussion about his book First Family: Abigail and John Adams as part of our first entry of the Thomas Jefferson Hour Book Club series.
You can't understand the founding of this country without understanding the Founding Fathers' obsession with classical languages and literature.
"I had a canine appetite for reading."
— Thomas Jefferson, as portrayed by Clay S. Jenkinson
This week, President Jefferson shares his views on reading fiction versus non-fiction and recommends works of fiction from his time.