Any recommendations on a good biography of TJ? Thanks!

Dumas Malone's 4 or 5 volume biography is considered the definitive one.

American Sphinx is a good short biography that goes into the complexities of his life and beliefs.

Thank you!

Read more bios of Jefferson than anyone else, I think, possibly Teddy Roosevelt excepted. Can't recall off my head, but I've never read a bad one.

One of my favorite books is Jefferson and Monticello by McLaughlin. No politics just the fascinating story of TJ designing, redesigning and building Monticello. You will learn a lot about 18th century living. Again an all time favorite.

The Jeffersons of Shadwell by Kern focuses on TJ as a youth and growing up before Monticello. Given all the Sally Hemings b.s. it is interesting that the Hemings never even get mentioned.

This one isn't purely TJ. It is Burr, Hamilton and Jefferson by Kennedy. It is a very good character study.

Lastly, before you get drug into the Hemings fiasco, read Framing a Legend by Holowchak. At least he understands how DNA works, a skill totally foreign to Gordon Reed.

Echo the comments on Malone.

Not solely about Jefferson, but I enjoyed The Pirate Coast by Zacks.

Barbary Pirates, US Marines, and foreign policy.

You're citing Holowchak? Yikes. His book is a massive ad hominem and does not substantively deal with the implications of the DNA. He's just so eager to absolve Jefferson that he latches onto any gray area no matter how tenuous to try and let Jefferson off the hook. And the best he can do is suggest that Jefferson allowed his brother to repeatedly rape one of his slaves.

I googled searched analysis of the Holowchak book and saw you and Sapper had it out about this almost exactly 6 years ago!
https://texags.com/forums/49/topics/2905795/2

I'm '73, zip year I took a course entitled Jeffersonian Democracy. Aced it but dang if I remember much about it, not even the prof's name.

Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power by Jon Meacham is a good read.