Thomas Jefferson's Reading Lists

Thomas Jefferson supplied lists of recommended books in letters to Robert Skipwith1 in 1771 and Bernard Moore2 about the same time, to his nephew, Peter Carr, in 17853 and 1787,4 to John Minor5 in 1814, and to several others.6 The following is a distillation and synthesis of his recommendations in classical studies -- history, philosophy, religion, and literature. Items in each section are in a rough suggested reading order based by Jefferson's comments. Clearly more works could be added; as Jefferson wrote to Moore:          1. Ancient History          2. Philosophy          3. Literature          4. American History          5. Quotes          6. Notes          7. Resources Herodotus – c. 450 BC, 'Father of History' [audible] Thucydides – c. 395 BC [audible] Xenophon – c. 400 BC, philosopher, student of Socrates, general [audible] Polybius – c. 150 BC [audible] Julius Caesar – c. 50 BC [audible] Sallust (historian) – c. 50 BC [audible] Quintus Curtius Rufus – Roman Historian, c. 50 A

Thomas Jefferson supplied lists of recommended books in letters to Robert Skipwith1 in 1771 and Bernard Moore2 about the same time, to his nephew, Peter Carr, in 17853 and 1787,4 to John Minor5 in 1814, and to several others.6 The following is a distillation and synthesis of his recommendations in classical studies -- history, philosophy, religion, and literature. Items in each section are in a rough suggested reading order based by Jefferson's comments. Clearly more works could be added; as Jefferson wrote to Moore:          1. Ancient History          2. Philosophy          3. Literature

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