John Adams and Thomas Jefferson realised the value of education, of books, and of libraries in a democracy. What is the role of books and reading in the thoughts and actions of Adams and Jefferson? How did they organise their libraries and how familiar were they with the books in them? How did these books inform their roles as founding fathers? This collection of essays, from some of today’s premier historians of Adams and Jefferson celebrates these two founding fathers and the importance of books and libraries in America.