A description of how Thomas Jefferson used his passion for numbers to try to persuade the French naturalist Buffon that his fanciful claims about America were false. Surprisingly, Buffon had never even visited America, yet he claimed that America’s animals were smaller, its birds did not know how to sing, and it was a cold, damp place. Jefferson tried to set him straight, but Buffon died before he could. Back matter gives more insight into Jefferson’s mania for math and tells more about some of the numbers he recorded. Illustrations by S.D Schindler bring the historical context to life. An interesting look at Jefferson’s keen interest in numbers and scientific knowledge and how he looked out for America’s reputation.