The Lost World of Thomas Jefferson

This book is invaluble if you realy want to study or "get a feel" for the times of the 18th and early 19th century. The author goes to great pains in explaining particular events and ideas that were concerning these early scientific thinkers.

This book conveys the thought process behind the events and how the minds of the thinkers moved the nation. Mostly, this book is about American intellectual history, and is engaging as it is history of ideas. These ideas are blended with a purpose to bring the thought of the time into perspective and defines the key problems facing how Jefferson appeared.

This book is worthy of a place on your bookshelf, for reference and a look into American life and thought, aspects that are hard to see today, but are brought out richly in this book.

I highly recommend reading this book by one of America's leading historians .


Valuable reference to Jeffersonian thought of "Natural Law"   August 29, 2001
 2 out of 3 found this review helpful

The Lost World of Thomas Jefferson provides an in depth study of the philosophies and amazing depth of scientific knowledge that Thomas Jefferson displayed during his lifetime. The renowned historian, Daniel Boorstin, wrote this wonderful historic piece decades before his more famous works of The Creators, The Discovers and The Seekers. Boorstin's ability to explain a specific set of events and ideas amid the complex myriad of late 18th and early 19th century concerns in political thought and philosophy makes this book a invaluable reference. Thomas Jefferson's basic principle that all law, social construction and philosophy should be grounded with "Natural Law" is explained at depth. Boorstin also explains how the liberal ideals attributed to Jefferson were misinterpreted in the 100 years following his death. If you an interest in either early American Anthropology (although term was not being used per se, it is the only accurate way to describe the emphasis of this book) or American Scientific thought, then this book must grace your shelf.


Boorstin Brings History to Life   July 7, 2001
 5 out of 8 found this review helpful

Boorstin is the best historian I have read. He brings history to life by examining the thought behind the events and the assumptions behind the thought. This is not so much a book about what happened as to why it happened; what the underlying ideas were of the minds that moved the nation at its birth. Boorstin manages to effectively communicate thought processes that are foreign to the modern age. A remarkable achievement. I plan on reading more of his work in the future. Highest recommendation!


Insight into the Jeffersonian World   October 12, 2000
 1 out of 4 found this review helpful

Daniel Boorstin is one America's great historians and one of America's great writers - a rare combination. Boorstin provides insight into the mind of Thomas Jefferson that illuminates this crucial period of American History. He shows how Jefferson departed from the Puritan heritage and forged a new philosophical base for America that was rooted in her land, not her people. "Things, not ideas, drove the Jeffersonian Worldview". If you are looking for the truth underlying the birth of our nation, you will not find a better resource.


The book was terrible   March 9, 2000
 2 out of 29 found this review helpful

I found that the author's philosophical ramblings were as uninformative as they were boring. I recommend this book to those suffering from insomnia.