George Washington is not known as an intellectual, but the historian author of this book claims that he was a great reader and to understand the man you need to know what he read over the course of his life. Despite what John Adams thought, GW was a man of intellectual substance.
"Washington was not a scholar," he told Rush. "That he was too illiterate, too unlearned, unread for his station and reputation is equally beyond dispute." Meaning: To John Adams GW did not have a Harvard education like himself. P. 1
GW pursued "useful knowledge," not knowledge just for the sake of it. P. 9
To develop an understanding of GW's reading and its significance in his life it is necessary to delve into what, where, and why he read certain things and not others. P. 10
Washington was self-conscious about his lack of formal education. P. 10
His library was personal and was not for impressing others. P. 16
GW did not read for pleasure; he read for utilitarian purposes. P. 17
Copying the The Rules of Civility. P. 19
Influenced by mother and not father, who died when he was 11.
Hurt by not being able to speak French. P. 30
Washington's ambition to become a British officer were dashed forever. P. 43
Both Washington and Franklin evolved toward being Americans after being humiliated by British officials. P. 47
Franklin became internationally acclaimed despite not having a formal education. P. 49
The author compares Franklin and Washington. Really no comparison: two different intellects. BF received honorary doctoral degrees from Oxford and Edinburgh. Henceforth, he would be known as Dr. Franklin. P. 51
Washington became an "American" before Franklin, which is to say GW felt English rejection before BF. P. 56
Washington did not have the broad-based library of a Jefferson and the broad interests of a Franklin; nevertheless, the author says GW's book collection deserves respect for its directed purposes. P. 57
At heart GW was a farmer; he loved the land. P. 59
Though not in the same intellectual league as Jefferson et. al. GW was a strong reader in particular with regard to the subject of agriculture. P. 62
His reading habits:
Hard to determine which books in his library he actually read since there is little marginalia and references to what he read. P. 64
Martha was the richest widow in Virginia. P. 72
My problem is reading the author's summary of what GW read is that I do not recognize any of the books.
The great passion of his life was agriculture. Washington was a man of the land, not only engaging in land speculation but connected viscerally to the land itself.
Though not a bibliophile, Washington realized that he owed much of his success in life to the knowledge he gained from directed reading. P. 97
According the John Adams, the real revolution was in the minds of the people. P. 126
GW became a revolutionary and an American before most of his fellow Americans. P. 127
Religion and politics went together. Hence, GW had an enormous sermon collection. P. 128
He was interested in John Wesley. P. 132
Had many political tracts. P. 133
Military field manuals, political pamphlets, political religious works, and periodicals. P. 136
Preventing democratic excesses fueled federalists at the constitutional convention including Washington. P 152
He lambasted the anti-federalists. P. 157
The case for Washington as our greatest President is that he invented the office on his own without any role models. P. 159
Practical reading into practical application. P. 167
Shaping his legacy in retirement involved also shaping his library in retirement. P. 182
He was the ONLY founder to free his slaves. His reading on slavery helped him toward this decision, but it was complicated due to laws at the time. P. 183
Part of Washington's evolving view on slavery came from his reading on the subject. By the time of his death he had at least 20 works in his library and emancipation. P. 190
What is more impressive is that Washington gave thought to what would happen to slaves after emancipation. P. 191
Believed in not only emancipating but in education. This speaks well of GW. P. 193
His decision to free and attempt to educate his slaves sets him apart from those who only spoke out against slavery but did nothing to make it happen. P. 194
Did he thereby make peace with his conscience? P. 195
The capacity for growth like Lincoln? P. 197
His reading style. P. 200-201
The value that George Washington placed on reading. P. 223
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