Joseph Ellis’s book about Thomas Jefferson describes and sheds some light on his character . In contrast, it informs us much more about American politics nowadays, reflected in Ellis’s own attitude about this leader and American type of government. Yes, he is respectful enough of Jefferson, and he is dismissive enough of his principles. The scientific references of this book don’t include serious advocates of minimalist government like Nobel Laureate F.A. Hayer with his famous The Constitution of Liberty, Milton Friedman or James M.Buchanan.
Jefferson as a follower of Rousseau, seeing no government as the best of all, moves from Rousseau towards Locke. It’s the principles of actual and positive Jefferson government, that Ellis either ignores or mischaracterizes. He called activities of T.Jefferson "a recipe for anarchy". Contrary, this is not Jefferson’s thought. It means that something, from which people must be protected, threatens rights to "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness". An anarchistic "natural order" is against one of Jefferson’s most meaningful statements: a government "shall restrain men from injuring one another".
The concept of government we received from Ellis is not American at all, but Prussian.
I read this book on line, and strongly recommend for future political leaders if they want to see their countries developped and flourishing.