Rating: 
Summary: Detailed look at the life of John Adams, but a Page Turner!
Review: This book is HUGE! This is partially because of Adam's long life but it is also because of the detail that McCullough pursues his subject. While many books that go into detail can drag this book is a page turner. Partial responsibility for this must go to Adams for having lived an interesting life but we must also give credit to the author. My only other exposure to McCullough was a biography on early Teddy Roosevelt. It was also an easy read.I have recently read books on Jefferson and Franklin. This was far more interesting than the Jefferson book and equal to Franklin. If you find the founding fathers interesting you will love this book!
Rating: 
Summary: The John Adams You Never Knew
Review: John Adams by David McCullough is an erudite and eminently satisfying biography of America's most passionate sage. From the very first paragraph, John Adam's dignity, intelect, steadfast character and of course boudless passion spring off the page and into your soul. In reading about Mr. Adam's you truly get the feeling that we Americans are standing on the shoulders of giants. Yet the true fascination of the book lies in the telling of the great feats of Mr. Adam's life; representing the British solderis after the "Boston Massacre" (political suicide at the time), being, without arguement, the foremost leader of the American Revolution despite all the danger that accompanied this position, hand picking George Washington to lead the continental army, Co-authoring the Declaration of Independance and US Constitution, fathering the US Navy (America's Wooden Walls), serving as our second president and avoiding a catastrophic war with France, and of course, as providence would have it, dying on July 4th, exactly 50 years after 1776! All this by the son of a New England Farmer and Shoe Maker! After reading this book one can only wonder why John Adams, our greatest revolutionary hero, has been all but forgotten by generations of Americans. Do not fret though, for Mr. McCoullough has resurrected John Adams who's boundless courage and passion will live forever more in the hearts and souls of all Americans.
Rating:
Summary: Character Counts!!!
Review: This is a brilliant and compelling biography of the second President of the United States. The author's sympathetic portrait of Adams has now sold more than 1.5 million copies, and "Publishers Weekly" calls that figure the highest for any hardback historical biography ever. One of Bill Clinton's legacies may be that Johyn Adams, the faithful husband and honorable man, is gaining in reputation as historians appreciate the place character plays in public life. For even more information, I would personally recommend "Vision Forum," where the life of Adams is uniquely presented in other character building ways. Highly recommend, this book about Adams. What a legacy he has left us!!!
Rating:
Summary: An excellent re-introduction
Review: McCullough's "John Adams" is a smart, well-researched and engrossing biography of America's second president. This is a warts-and-all look, written in an engaging style that gets under the skin of Adams and his partner-in-life Abigail. McCullough's use of Adams's papers (including letters and diaries) is a major plus, using these primary sources to tell the story. Much can be said of how the book portrays Adams and his part in American politics, in the creation of the American Declaration of Independence, and his engaging love/hate relationship with Thomas Jefferson. What I like here is McCullough's detailing of events Adams participated in during the country's early days that ultimately set the stage for the Civil War. Well worth reading!
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful !!
Review: It's was easy to understand why this book was on the best seller list for so long- it's very, very good. McCullough's style is so engaging that the book reads like a novel. It was difficult to put down and wonderfully informative. I came away feeling that Adams was shortchanged on credit.
The other founding fathers seemed to be remembered much better in our monuments and sentiments, yet I feel that Adams' part was truly essential. What an extraordinary individual! He was extremely industrious, very well-read, solid in principles and character, a loving husband and father (he had a very smart wife), and unlike some of the other founding fathers, he practiced what he preached in that he never owned a slave. He could also be a stubborn New England Yankee and had a temper when dealing with others; yet he was warm and witty once people got to know him. He worked and labored at the books and documents and committees and the business of starting this nation much more than any other of his time. In the middle of the war he traveled half way around the globe, across the Atlantic, in winter, while being chased by British frigates. The ship he was on nearly sank in the ordeal. He also had to trek through Spain, climbing mountains, and onto France and Holland all for the new American cause. McCullough relays the sheer hard work and determination, pen to paper, get it done kind of stuff that Adams tackled and sacrificed in building this nation. While at the same time demonstrates how Adams was on par, if not better, in intellect than many of his peers. I sincerely believe if he wasn't there, it would not have gotten done. There would be no American experiment.
While others at the Paris peace talks to end the war leaned heavily towards the French views and suggestions, Adams smartly knew not to trust anyone, friend and foe alike, with what was good for America
During his presidency, Adams steered away from party politics and found his own ground in keeping peace with both France and Britain. And as a result gave the United States time to build it's foundation and also, though not realized at the time, set the precursor for the Louisiana Purchase under Jefferson's presidency.
Adams saw the larger picture for the future once the country was established. He had the wonderful foresight to understand what would be needed for America to sustain. One particular quote McCullough shares from Adam's Thoughts on Government is: Laws for the liberal education of youth, especially for the lower classes of people, are so extremely wise and useful that to a humane and generous mind, no expense for this purpose would be thought extravagant. McCullough takes you on the journey with this book; he invites you back in time. I feel like I knew John and Abigail. It was very moving, very human. The book prompted me to go visit John Adams' homes in Quincy, Massachusetts. Although I was a little disappointed to see his farm land now gone, the houses still stand. It was very touching to read of Abigail's long struggle to maintain the farm and home during the war through many winters without John, and then to actually go stand in the same house over her fireplace. Also the same feelings came about to see the room in a later house (Peacefield) that John Adams passed away in.
The best biographers are terrific storytellers, and McCullough can tell the tale. He leads us down the epic path to learn how a simple, frugal farmer from Massachusetts went on to become a major force in creating a democracy "of the people," during a time when monarchs and titles held the day.
Rating:
Summary: No point in adding more praise but.....
Review: The torrent of praise lavished on Mr. McCullough's biography of John Adams (more than 400 Amazon reviews) is hardly encouraging to add one more voice to the chorus. Yet, one point dos not seem to have been made by other reviewers: besides being superbly written, thoroughly researched, etc., this is a biography featuring a new way for Europeans of discovering early American history. Sure, one knew of Washington's and Jefferson's ownership of slaves and even Franklin's pusillanimity was not unheard of although it provides a very interesting chapter of the book. But the relationship between Jefferson and Adams, Jefferson's duplicity and vanity, are fascinating insights. So is Adams' correspondence with his wife and the description of how people lived, the speed - or lack of it - at which news travelled and many other unexpected things. Also, the idea of a unanimous desire to get rid of Britain in the colonies is masterfully debunked. I haven't read Mr. McCullough's biography of Truman for lack of interest in the character but may be I will !!! Here is a fascinating glimpse into a time, which fashioned the world of today, and no European interested in American history should miss this book.
Rating:
Summary: Incredible
Review: John Adams died this morning. At least that's how if feels for me, having just completed this phenomenal book. The narrative is so compelling, so moving, tightly woven with the letters of the greatest minds in the history of this country (Abigail's among them), that it brings these characters back to life and invites the reader to take part as a silent observer of their lives. McCullough expertly crafted his text around the stories that were told through the primary source documents, creating the biography of the Adams family and the United States simultaneously.
The prose of John Adams is incredible. His mastery of the English language is breathtaking. The insight that the book delivers on every page about the framers of the nation is fascinating, intriguing, and at times infuriating.
Read this book. Read it slowly, and read it again. Keep a pencil handy to underline passages.
Adams and his story are a treasure.
Rating:
Summary: A Beautifully Written Biography
Review: John Adams is an historical footnote to most people - - the President who served between Washington and Jefferson. But Adams was far more than that. He was a highly principled and educated man who devoted his life to the service of his country. Adams was a prolific writer and David McCullough has mined Adams' writings and those of his wife, Abigail, to paint an enthralling picture of Adams, his family, the Revolution, and the early years of the United States. Unlike many histories, this one is very readable. The book received the Pulitzer Prize, and for good reaason - - it is a wonderful read.
Rating:
Summary: The Life of a Patriot and Statesman
Review: Mr. McCullough shows that John Adams was a complex man with many human frailties, inner conflicts and self-doubts - and a testy, hot temper. In spite of all this he was a dedicated patriot who put his country's interests even before his own and never failed to answer his country's call for help. After pushing the Declaration of Independence through the Continental Congress at just the right time by his inspired reasoning and oratory, he then became a delegate to France and later was responsible for obtaining a most important loan from the Dutch in order to help put the fledgling country on a better economic base. That loan was so important and so hard to get that according to McCullough, no one else could have done it. Adams then was a major contributor to the drafting of the United States Constitution. Always convinced of the importance of a strong naval force, Adams was almost single handedly responsible for obtaining the funding and for the building of the country's first navy ships. These ships did play a large part in the outcome of the War of 1812 and were available solely because of Adams' pushing for a strong navy. Jefferson and many others were against funding a navy and wanted to rely on ground forces and a strong assist from France. Adams always resisted the interfering hands of other countries in the running of the new United States. Adams was the main factor in keeping the U.S. out of a war with France and thereby laid the groundwork for Jefferson's later Louisiana Purchase, which doubled the size of the new country. Had the U.S. been at war with France, the Purchase could never have taken place. An emphasis is put on the difficult presidential race between Adams and Jefferson and the rift between the two men who had been strong friends. There is also emphasis on the later reconciliation between the two after both had retired from public life, and the many letters written between them. These letters apparently serve as great illuminators on the great events the two men had lived through. This book is a well-done work about an extraordinary man who was a true patriot and statesman, dedicated to the service of his country. He made mistakes but what would the country and the world have been like without him.
Rating:
Summary: Easily 4.5 Stars
Review: This is easily one of the best books ive ever read. McCullough expertly delievers this heartfelt bio on a gread and often underrated man. The 650 pages of this book will easily go by faster than you woud like the them to. This book is especially interesting when McCullough goes into Adams relationship with his wife, Abigail, and his friend/adversary Thomas Jefferson. A must for history buffs.
|
