First Principles

What America's Founders Learned from the Greeks and Romans and How That Shaped Our Country

By: Thomas E. Ricks

Narrated by: James Lurie

New York Times Bestseller
Editors' Choice —New York Times Book Review

""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.

Brilliant

I really loved this book. This is a new approach to understanding the founders of our country; one I've never encountered before. That translates into I learned something new about them, about America and maybe even about me as an American. I've always had trouble with Jefferson and Adams. Jefferson because of his massive contradictions, Adams, well, because he's Adams. Now I think I understand them better. Ricks gets Washington and Madison or at least I agree with him. I don't think he understood Hamilton nearly as well. I've already read/ listened to it twice. James Lurie gives a masterful performance. Just a wonderful book!

Outstanding

Knowing what the Framers read helps one appreciate the intent behind The Constitution — the intent behind our country.

fantastic

A magnificent dive into the most promising past. A well written, honest and in depth portrayal of what a modern and revolutionary past the USA had as a project.

US early government formatio thinking

A good understanding of the basis our leaders in our early government used to form their opinions and their actions. both good and bad it's an excellent perspective and in listening gives us a good perspective for different things that have happened in our history such as what's happening today and in each major self initiated insult we've experienced throughout our history.

This book ties them together

I’ve read dozens of books about the founding and the founding fathers, this one relates each to the others. The same can be said about the chronology of events. In so doing, it delivers many aha moments!