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The Resource First principles : what America's founders learned from the Greeks and Romans and how that shaped our country, Thomas E. Ricks

First principles : what America's founders learned from the Greeks and Romans and how that shaped our country, Thomas E. Ricks

Creator
Author
Narrator
Contributor
Summary
"Ricks knocks it out of the park with this jewel of a book. On every page I learned something new. Read it every night if you want to restore your faith in our country."--James Mattis, General, U.S. Marines (ret.) & 26th Secretary of Defense The Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and #1 New York Times bestselling author offers a revelatory new book about the founding fathers, examining their educations and, in particular, their devotion to the ancient Greek and Roman classics--and how that influence would shape their ideals and the new American nation. On the morning after the 2016 presidential election, Thomas Ricks awoke with a few questions on his mind: What kind of nation did we now have? Is it what was designed or intended by the nation's founders? Trying to get as close to the source as he could, Ricks decided to go back and read the philosophy and literature that shaped the founders' thinking, and the letters they wrote to each other debating these crucial works--among them the Iliad, Plutarch's Lives, and the works of Xenophon, Epicurus, Aristotle, Cato, and Cicero. For though much attention has been paid the influence of English political philosophers, like John Locke, closer to their own era, the founders were far more immersed in the literature of the ancient world. The first four American presidents came to their classical knowledge differently. Washington absorbed it mainly from the elite culture of his day; Adams from the laws and rhetoric of Rome; Jefferson immersed himself in classical philosophy, especially Epicureanism; and Madison, both a groundbreaking researcher and a deft politician, spent years studying the ancient world like a political scientist. Each of their experiences, and distinctive learning, played an essential role in the formation of the United States. In examining how and what they studied, looking at them in the unusual light of the classical world, Ricks is able to draw arresting and fresh portraits of men we thought we knew. First Principles follows these four members of the Revolutionary generation from their youths to their adult lives, as they grappled with questions of independence, and forming and keeping a new nation. In doing so, Ricks interprets not only the effect of the ancient world on each man, and how that shaped our constitution and government, but offers startling new insights into these legendary leaders
Language
eng
Work
Publication
Edition
Unabridged.
Extent
1 online resource (1 audio file (11 hr., 59 min., 06 sec.))
Isbn
9780062997487
Link
Instance
Label
First principles : what America's founders learned from the Greeks and Romans and how that shaped our country
Title
First principles
Title remainder
what America's founders learned from the Greeks and Romans and how that shaped our country
Statement of responsibility
Thomas E. Ricks
Creator
Contributor
Author
Narrator
Subject
Genre
Language
eng
Summary
"Ricks knocks it out of the park with this jewel of a book. On every page I learned something new. Read it every night if you want to restore your faith in our country."--James Mattis, General, U.S. Marines (ret.) & 26th Secretary of Defense The Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and #1 New York Times bestselling author offers a revelatory new book about the founding fathers, examining their educations and, in particular, their devotion to the ancient Greek and Roman classics--and how that influence would shape their ideals and the new American nation. On the morning after the 2016 presidential election, Thomas Ricks awoke with a few questions on his mind: What kind of nation did we now have? Is it what was designed or intended by the nation's founders? Trying to get as close to the source as he could, Ricks decided to go back and read the philosophy and literature that shaped the founders' thinking, and the letters they wrote to each other debating these crucial works--among them the Iliad, Plutarch's Lives, and the works of Xenophon, Epicurus, Aristotle, Cato, and Cicero. For though much attention has been paid the influence of English political philosophers, like John Locke, closer to their own era, the founders were far more immersed in the literature of the ancient world. The first four American presidents came to their classical knowledge differently. Washington absorbed it mainly from the elite culture of his day; Adams from the laws and rhetoric of Rome; Jefferson immersed himself in classical philosophy, especially Epicureanism; and Madison, both a groundbreaking researcher and a deft politician, spent years studying the ancient world like a political scientist. Each of their experiences, and distinctive learning, played an essential role in the formation of the United States. In examining how and what they studied, looking at them in the unusual light of the classical world, Ricks is able to draw arresting and fresh portraits of men we thought we knew. First Principles follows these four members of the Revolutionary generation from their youths to their adult lives, as they grappled with questions of independence, and forming and keeping a new nation. In doing so, Ricks interprets not only the effect of the ancient world on each man, and how that shaped our constitution and government, but offers startling new insights into these legendary leaders
Accompanying matter
technical information on music
Cataloging source
TEFOD
http://library.link/vocab/creatorName
Ricks, Thomas E
Dewey number
973.09/9
Form of composition
not applicable
Format of music
not applicable
LC call number
E176.1
LC item number
.R53 2020ab
Literary text for sound recordings
other
Music parts
not applicable
PerformerNote
Read by James Lurie
http://library.link/vocab/relatedWorkOrContributorName
  • Lurie, James
  • OverDrive, Inc
http://library.link/vocab/subjectName
  • Washington, George
  • Adams, John
  • Jefferson, Thomas
  • Madison, James
  • Adams, John
  • Jefferson, Thomas
  • Madison, James
  • Washington, George
  • Political science
  • Classical literature
  • Classicism
  • Philosophy, Ancient
  • Presidents
  • Civilization
  • Civilization
  • Classical literature
  • Classicism
  • Philosophy
  • Philosophy, Ancient
  • Political science
  • Politics and government
  • Presidents
  • United States
  • United States
  • United States
  • United States
Transposition and arrangement
not applicable
Label
First principles : what America's founders learned from the Greeks and Romans and how that shaped our country, Thomas E. Ricks
Link
Instantiates
Publication
Antecedent source
unknown
Capture and storage technique
digital storage
Carrier category
online resource
Carrier category code
  • cr
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Color
not applicable
Configuration of playback channels
unknown
Content category
spoken word
Content type code
  • spw
Content type MARC source
rdacontent
Dimensions
  • not applicable
  • unknown
Edition
Unabridged.
Extent
1 online resource (1 audio file (11 hr., 59 min., 06 sec.))
File format
unknown
Form of item
online
Groove width / pitch
not applicable
Isbn
9780062997487
Kind of cutting
not applicable
Kind of disc cylinder or tape
not applicable
Kind of material
unknown
Level of compression
unknown
Media category
computer
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Media type code
  • c
http://library.link/vocab/ext/overdrive/overdriveId
d988da88-ec62-4927-8207-c10e2cd781f1
Quality assurance targets
not applicable
Reformatting quality
unknown
Sound
sound
Special playback characteristics
digital recording
Specific material designation
  • other
  • remote
Speed
other
System control number
  • (OCoLC)1204602108
  • (OCoLC)on1204602108
Tape configuration
not applicable
Tape width
not applicable
Label
First principles : what America's founders learned from the Greeks and Romans and how that shaped our country, Thomas E. Ricks
Link
Publication
Antecedent source
unknown
Capture and storage technique
digital storage
Carrier category
online resource
Carrier category code
  • cr
Carrier MARC source
rdacarrier
Color
not applicable
Configuration of playback channels
unknown
Content category
spoken word
Content type code
  • spw
Content type MARC source
rdacontent
Dimensions
  • not applicable
  • unknown
Edition
Unabridged.
Extent
1 online resource (1 audio file (11 hr., 59 min., 06 sec.))
File format
unknown
Form of item
online
Groove width / pitch
not applicable
Isbn
9780062997487
Kind of cutting
not applicable
Kind of disc cylinder or tape
not applicable
Kind of material
unknown
Level of compression
unknown
Media category
computer
Media MARC source
rdamedia
Media type code
  • c
http://library.link/vocab/ext/overdrive/overdriveId
d988da88-ec62-4927-8207-c10e2cd781f1
Quality assurance targets
not applicable
Reformatting quality
unknown
Sound
sound
Special playback characteristics
digital recording
Specific material designation
  • other
  • remote
Speed
other
System control number
  • (OCoLC)1204602108
  • (OCoLC)on1204602108
Tape configuration
not applicable
Tape width
not applicable

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