Rating: 
Summary: A Book for Your Personal Library
Review: Not only does the book give an indepth view of John Adams' family life and ambitions, but also pulls you into the standard way of living in the 1800's. The interaction between Adams and his political friends/foes (Jefferson, Washington, & Franklin) was enlightening; I felt I understood these people, their views and insights.An excellent book and a 'MUST' read.
Rating:
Summary: A great read
Review: This is a fascinating book. John Adams is a much more interesting and complex character than I previously believed. The book also gives a good overview of the revolutionary period and the early years of the nation. I loved every minute of my time reading it.
Rating:
Summary: WONDERFUL VIEW OF JOHN ADAMS.....
Review: THIS IS A WONDERFUL VIEW OF JOHN ADAMS. I FEEL WE DO NOT GIVE MR. ADAMS ENOUGH CREDIT, (AS HE FELT WOULD BE THE CASE) FOR HIS
MASTERFUL WORK IN HELPING CREATE THIS NATION. THIS BOOK AS DOES "PASSIONATE SAGE" BY JOSEPH ELLIS (NO RELATION) GOES INTO THE TYPE OF INTERESTING DETAIL NOT ONLY ABOUT THIS GREAT MAN, BUT GIVES HIM THE CREDIT HE SO RICHLY DESERVES. THIS IS A MUST HAVE BOOK FOR THOSE OF US WHO LOVE HISTORY AND ESPECIALLY AMERICAN HISTORY.
Rating:
Summary: True Blue
Review: David McCullochs detailed biography of
John Adams is a pleasure to read. It not only
brings back the life of John Adams, it
also brings back the American revolution.
A revolution that happened because some,
like Adams, were dedicated to its ideals. When townspeople asked for a toast that
they might read out aload on the 4th of July, the 90
year old former president declared in true blue spirits
that it should be "Independence forever". No less,
no more. But David McCullochs story of John Adams is great,
because it is a story of a real
person. A mensch, as germans would put it.
Born into the times of the american revolution
he prized the Roman ideal of honor. He read
Cicero, Tacitus and others in Latin. Plato
in the original Greek. Indeed, something to consider
for your 2003 politician who considers CNN a source
of information.
He was not a man of wealth - but he loved
the esteem of public life and his farm, family
and goose quill. And above all, it seems,
his wife.
Whom he married on october 1764 at the home of the
prides parents in Weymouth Massachusetts.
He was 28 and Abigail Smith was 19.
And through thick and thin we follow them
though these epic times of the American revolution.
As they cross the Atlantic and don't expect to survive
it - right till the end when Abigail dies in 1818.
A marriage that in itself would be worthy of a book -
in all its trials, love, wisdom and humanity.
Indeed, Abigail surely deserves a biography
dedicated solely to her. At times Adams would wrestle with fellow
founders.
Benjamin Franklin called him: Sometimes out
of his senses. And Thomas Jefferson was both a
lifelong friend and a bitter political opponent,
who accused him of monarchistic tendencies
in the hard fought election of 1800. And it was not "just" politics to Adams. Indeed,
Whereas God, according to Jefferson, created the
universe and then withdrem from mundane affairs,
Adams believed in continous divine intervention.
So to John Adams it was never just a puppet game
- it was a question of giving providence
a helping hand.
And providence certainly had a helping hand in securing
that the two surviving heroes of the 1776
revolution both died on the 4th of July.
July 4th 1826 -
Jefferson a few hours before Adams. A wonderful story. A wonderful book. -Simon
Rating:
Summary: Insightful Biograhpy by One of America's Premiere Authors
Review: I have to admit that this is the first book by David McCullough that I have read. I am certainly glad that I did. Although reading the book may seem like a daunting task- it is over 600 pages long, it is well worth the time and effort. John Adams is a magnificent tale about one of the true hero's of the American Revolution. Written in a smooth flowing style, this book provides the reader with insight into early American history. John Adams lives the American dream, by rising from obscurity to become the second President of the United States. The best part of the book are the letters that the author uses to give a glimpse of early America. Written mainly by John and Abigail Adams these letters give you a sense of the thoughts, feeling, motivations, and beliefs of those involved with the creation of America. The other interesting facet of the book is the contrast McCullough draws between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. Although, Jefferson is remembered as a more important man, and better President, the books indicates that John Adams may in fact have been the better of the two. While others seem willing to achieve their political ends by whatever means necessary, Adams remains true to his values, and sincere in his dealings. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in early American history. It has already won the Pulitzer Prize, and will remain a classic for years to come.
Rating:
Summary: A Fascinating Portrait
Review: Biographies are not my favorite form of literature, especially lenghthy ones such as this. But the author did a fantastic job, and I thoroughly enjoyed this book from cover to cover. We often see the Founding Fathers of this nation as legendary, almost mythical figures. McCullough brings out the humanity in them, especially Adams and Thomas Jefferson, a lifelong acquaintance and sometimes rival. John Adams, the second President of the United States, was one of the most influential persons in the formation of this country, from the passing of the Declaration of Independence, through his presidency almost three decades later. His refusal to enter into a war with France probably insured the survival of this nation during a very precarious time in our history. Much of the material for this book was drawn from Adams' many letters, to and from Abigail, for instance (they were separated for many years due to his assignments overseas and in the Nation's Capitol), and to and from Jefferson and others. Historians and biographers of Adams' are blessed in that probably no other figure in history left such a personal record behind as did Adams; his letters, many of a personal nature, numbered in the thousands and thousands of pages. I'd highly recommend this book for anyone with an interest in our nations's founding. It's well worth the time spent reading it. As I read the final pages recording Adams' death on July 4, 1826, I felt a little sadness, realizing that the world on that date lost a man who paid a monumentous service to our country, and whose stature few men have since achieved.
Rating:
Summary: A great introduction to American History
Review: Go ahead, read this book. You might think you'll only get through a chapter or two before tossing it aside, but you'll be mistaken. It's a totally different way of looking at American history, as the book relies on notes, letters, and diaries of Adams, his family, and friends. It's true that the perspective become sympathetic to Adams, but that most likely is because of the point of view of the sources (which are largely John or Abigail themselves). If you like dry history books, you might not like this one. If you want to live the life and times of John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin and others through words, as well as can be done, then give this a try. This book is not meant to be a critical analysis of John Adams, rather it reads more like a novel fit for a television mini-series. You learn so much about the nature of John Adams, that you will find yourself sad when he dies. The book is full of details that brings him to life, such as his habit of writing questions, comments, and opinions in the margins of the books that were in his library, which was quite large. If you like small details that brings the characters to life, then you won't be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent treatment of potentially dry material
Review: John Adams is the most impressive work of American revolutionary history/biography I have ever had the pleasure to read. There is so much information contained in this volume, that I won't bother to list it all. The author takes the facts of John Adam's life, blends it with his voluminous correspondence between himself, his wife Abigail, and many other figures of the revolution, and sets it against the events of the time. The result is not only an intimate knowledge of the John Adams, but also a surprisingly broad view of the revolution and early American history. There is so much to be impressed with this book, that I am not sure what I liked the best. Reading the letters of John Adams, Abigail Adams, and Thomas Jefferson (among others) was a pleasure that alone made this book well worth its time and money. What the author reveals about European history of the time and how it affected the new United States is also extremely interesting and may provide a point of view that many readers, myself included, had not considered beforehand. There are many more things to like about this book, but I think the best element of all was the author's style of writing. This book is so logically organized and well written, that it was nearly like reading a novel. I have never completed 700 non-fiction pages so quickly. I highly recommend this book not only to buffs of American history but also to those who are looking to cultivate an interest. The reading is so pleasant and the information so dense that this book cannot fail to fascinate.
Rating: 
Summary: Sympathetic biography, some 'warts' not fully exposed
Review: I read and liked McCullough's biography of Truman, so when John Adams came out I wanted to read it, even though I knew very little about the 2nd President. Like Truman, McCullogh;s biography of Adams is very detailed and quite sympathetic. He gives us a good view of the small, energetic, persuasive lawyer from simple New England roots, who took on an empire. He conveys some of the passion that drove Adams to convince the Continental Congress to take on an Empire, and declare Independance. He makes it clear that this, not the Presidency, was the achievement of which Adams felt most proud. Like Truman, Adams felt very isolated and lonely in office and longed for New England throughout.
The correspondance between Adams and his wife is a main source for this book, however at key points in his life - particularly during his Presidency - seems to have been too busy to write and at these points the narrative, in my opinion, goes flat.
Just before this book I read 'Founding Brothers' by Joseph Ellis. It gives brief, yet telling, outlines of the main characters in the US war for Independance. Adams in portrayed as a man who in life was quite impetuous and sharp-tongued, who, towards the end of his days, felt slighted by the common perception of his role in the run-up to the Declaration of Independance. In particular he is portrayed as feeling jealous of the role that was ascribed to Thomas Jefferson - who Ellis portrays in all his complexity. Ellis views Adams vanity and need for vindication by history as the reason for Adams' reconciliation with Jefferson in the last years of their lives. McCulloghs portrays Adams as a kindly retiree, reaching out a hand of friendship to Jefferson many years after major conflicts between them. I find Ellis description more convincing.
Overall McCullogh has written an accessible and sympathetic portrait of Adams and his contemporaries, a good primer. However if you want to dig a little deeper I would recommend Ellis' book.
Rating:
Summary: A look at an "unknown" man
Review: Of course I had heard of John Adams from the time I was in elementary school and learned that he was the second president of the United States. I don't think that his real place in the history of the development of our country was ever explained as well as it has been told in McCulloug's book. Adams has been transformed into a living and vital part of our early national history. The book is extremely informative, and better than that is extremely entertaining and exceptionally readable for a history book. I recommend it to anyone who is interested in learning about how our government was formed, and even to those (like me when I started) who had little regard for John Adams.
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