Person
Every book C. Bradley Thompson recommended on podcasts
C. Bradley Thompson appears on discussion programs like The Rubin Report as a historian and academic who specializes in the American Founding era, intellectual history, and the philosophical origins of the United States. Across his appearances, Thompson frequently analyzes the foundational texts that shaped the minds of the American Founding Fathers and key historical figures like John Adams. He explains that the intellectual matrix of the American founding was deeply informed by seminal works of the Scientific Revolution and the Enlightenment. Thompson frequently references Francis Bacon's Novum Organum and Sir Isaac Newton's Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica, noting how these texts introduced revolutionary concepts of universal physical laws and empirical science. He similarly highlights John Locke's An Essay Concerning Human Understanding as a critical text that provided the framework for modern political philosophy and a secular science of ethics. In discussing the personal intellectual development of John Adams, Thompson notes that Newton and Locke were pivotal in changing Adams's life at Harvard. Furthermore, Thompson draws parallels between Adams and Benjamin Franklin, pointing to Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography as a primary source for understanding Franklin's methodical pursuit of moral perfection. To illustrate the educational methods of the era, Thompson contrasts the biblical texts with classical moral philosophy, highlighting Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics, along with the writings of Cicero and Seneca, as essential reading recommended by Adams for teaching self-governance.
Books recommended by C. Bradley Thompson
-
An Essay Concerning Human Understanding
An Essay Concerning Human Understanding is a foundational philosophical work by John Locke that investigates the origins, nature, and limits of human knowledge and understanding.
Discussed“And Sir Isaac Newton in his Principia Mathematica, and John Locke, in his Essay Concerning Human Understanding”
Where to get it
-
A Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America
A Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America by John Adams is a comprehensive historical treatise examining the principles of republican governance and political theory.
Discussed“so you know Adams wrote a great treatise called a defense of the Constitution's of the United States of America in which if read shall in a very shallow way and without really reading what Adams is actually saying one”
Where to get it
-
Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography
Discussed“Benjamin Franklin when he was the same age as Adams decides that he wants to achieve moral perfection and you can read about this in in Franklin's autobiography which and if you think about it I mean this is extraordinary”
Where to get it
-
Common Sense
Common Sense by Thomas Paine is a historically significant pamphlet that forcefully argued for American independence from British rule in language accessible to everyday citizens.
Discussed“in to that end he drafted a document or a pamphlet called thoughts on government and it's a kind of proto Constitution and it it was in many ways other than Tom Paine's Common Sense it was the most influential pamphlet written during I think the Revolutionary period”
Where to get it
-
De Officiis
Discussed“well it's it's never the Bible it is Aristotle Nicomachean ethics Cicero cicero's de o'fee key Seneca and epictetus”
Where to get it
-
Diary and Autobiography of John Adams
Discussed“which is interesting if you if you read his diary his autobiography all of his political writings and more”
Where to get it
-
Dissertation on the Canon and Feudal Law
Discussed“he wrote his first major treatise in 1765 was called a dissertation on the Canon in feudal law”
Where to get it
-
Epictetus
Epictetus by Epictetus comprises the surviving teachings and discourses of the ancient Stoic philosopher on self-governance, reason, and personal resilience.
Discussed“Well it's it's never the Bible it is Aristotle Nicomachean ethics Cicero cicero's de o'fee key Seneca and epictetus”
Where to get it
-
Holy Bible (NIV)
The Holy Bible (NIV) is a widely utilized contemporary English translation of the Christian scriptures, encompassing various ancient historical, prophetic, and theological texts that form the foundation of Judeo-Christian faith.
Discussed“or what it for instance what are the books that one can read Well it's it's never the Bible it is Aristotle Nicomachean ethics Cicero cicero's de o'fee key Seneca and epictetus”
Where to get it
-
Letters from John Adams to His Constituents
Discussed“he wrote what I think is still to this day the most importance certainly I think the most brilliant Revolutionary tract that was published it was the title is the no Vangelis letters”
Where to get it
-
Newton's Principia
Newton's Principia by Sir Isaac Newton is a monumental scientific publication that outlines the laws of motion and universal gravitation, establishing the bedrock of classical mechanics.
Discussed“he's introduced to two books that that change his life The first is Newton's Principia Mathematica and the second is John Locke's essay concerning human understanding”
Where to get it
-
Newtons Principia
Discussed“the first is Newton's Principia Mathematica and the second is John Locke's essay concerning human understanding”
Where to get it
-
Nicomachean Ethics
Aristotle's Nicomachean Ethics is a foundational work of ancient Greek moral philosophy examining virtue, character, and the path to human flourishing.
Discussed“well it's it's never the Bible it is Aristotle Nicomachean ethics Cicero cicero's de o'fee key Seneca and epictetus”
Where to get it
-
Novum organum
Discussed“English scientists, and philosophers like Francis Bacon in his Novum Organum.”
Where to get it
-
Philosophiae naturalis principia mathematica
Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica by Sir Isaac Newton is a monumental scientific masterpiece that sets out the laws of motion and universal gravitation, marking a turning point in the scientific revolution.
Discussed“And Sir Isaac Newton in his Principia Mathematica, and John Locke, in his Essay Concerning Human Understanding”
Where to get it
-
Seneca in English
Discussed“Well it's it's never the Bible it is Aristotle Nicomachean ethics Cicero cicero's de o'fee key Seneca and epictetus”
Where to get it
-
The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin
Discussed“and you can read about this in in Franklin's autobiography which and if you think about it I mean this is extraordinary”
Where to get it
-
The Works Of John Adams, Second President Of The United States: With A Life Of The Author, Notes And Illustrations; Volume 9
Discussed“so the passage that you just read and much of what you reference here that this was all in his biography so he was just writing this to himself”
Where to get it
-
Thoughts on government
Discussed“in to that end he drafted a document or a pamphlet called thoughts on government and it's a kind of proto Constitution and it it was in many ways other than Tom Paine's Common Sense it was the most influential pamphlet written during I think the Revolutionary period”
Where to get it
-
Tom Paine
Discussed“other than Tom Paine's Common Sense it was the most influential pamphlet written during I think the Revolutionary period”
Where to get it
-
Xenophon̓s Memorabilia of Socrates
Discussed“Adams was a young Adams again 21 22 year old Adams is he was always fascinated with this ancient fable called the choice of Hercules which was first told in Xenophon's memorabilia”
Where to get it
Books C. Bradley Thompson wrote
Appearances
Other mentions (2: passing, ad reads, own books)
“Francis Bacon in his Novum Organum. And Sir Isaac Newton in his Principia Mathematica, and John Locke, in his Essay Concerning Human Understanding,”
“And Sir Isaac Newton in his Principia Mathematica, and John Locke, in his Essay Concerning Human Understanding, And they took the enlightenments ideas of the laws of nature,”