Light and LibertyReflections on the Pursuit of Happiness by Thomas Jefferson

Random House ^ | June 2005 | unknown

[Republicanprofessor]

Reflections on the Pursuit of Happiness by Thomas Jefferson edited by Eric Petersen

Were Thomas Jefferson alive to read this book, he would recognize every sentence, every elegant turn of phrase, every lofty, beautifully expressed idea. Indeed, every word in the book is his. In an astonishing feat of editing, Eric S. Petersen has culled the entirety of Thomas Jefferson’s published works to fashion thirty-four original essays on themes ranging from patriotism and liberty to hope, humility, and gratitude. The result is a lucid, inspiring distillation of the wisdom of one of America’s greatest political thinkers.

From his personal motto—“Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God”—to his resounding discourse on “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” in the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson defined the essential truth of the American spirit. In the essays that Petersen has crafted from letters, speeches, and public documents, Jefferson’s unique moral philosophy and vision shine through. Among the hundreds of magnificent sentences gathered in this volume, here are Jefferson’s pronouncements on

Gratitude: “I have but one system of ethics for men and for nations— to be grateful, to be faithful to all engagements and under all circumstances, to be open and generous.”

Religion: “A concern purely between our God and our consciences.”

America’s national character: “It is part of the American character to consider nothing as desperate; to surmount every difficulty with resolution and contrivance.”

Public debt: “We shall all consider ourselves unauthorized to saddle posterity with our debts, and morally bound to pay them ourselves.”

War: “I abhor war and view it as the greatest scourge of mankind.”

In stately measured cadences, these thirty-four essays provide timeless guidance on leading a spiritually fulfilling life. Light and Liberty is a triumphant work of supreme eloquence, as uplifting today as when Jefferson first set these immortal sentences on paper.

From the Hardcover edition.

“An extraordinary distillation of the though and wisdom of Thomas Jefferson.” —MERRILL D. PETERSON, professor emeritus of history, University of Virginia, author of The Jefferson Image in the American Mind

[Republicanprofessor]

I heard this book discussed on New Hampshire Public Radio this morning and found it fascinating. I could not (easily) find any book reviews other than Random House's own review of the book. Has any one else heard of it, or better yet, read it? It sounds wonderful and so appropriate for this weekend. And the author foiled the expected liberal questions by the host, Laura Knoy, very well.

The entire interview may be posted on NHPR later on, but the audio was not yet available.