John Adams

Rating:
Summary: Undisciplined and Tedious in the Extreme
Review: A prime example of why I generally can't stand biographies of "great men." Dry as bones writing utterly lacking any spark of life, endless summarizations and overreliance on the subject's personal diaries and correspondence, and no detail too trivial to omit. There's certainly tidbits here and there for historians to argue over, notably McCullough's position that Adams deserves more credit for the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution than he is generally given, and should take less blame for the Alien and Sedition Acts than he is generally accorded. But this is likely to only be of interest to armchair historians. What's really disappointing is that despite McCullough's best efforts, Adams never ever comes alive over the 750 pages! Indeed, what little sense one gets of Adams is that he was a highly intelligent, energetic, honest, and somewhat vain and prudish civil servant. Ultimately, the book's main undoing is its endless digressions. Is it really necessary to know, for example, the exact (and I do mean exact) provisions carried on the ship that bore Adams on his first trip to France. Or the exact lineage and familial possessions of Adams' daughter's best friend in Paris? Many biographers and historians seem to be lacking the self-edit brain cells, and feel compelled to include every tidbit of information they come across in their research, irrespective of its actual relevance to their subject. I don't care if it did win the Pulitzer Prize, the book is undisciplined and tedious in the extreme.

Rating:
Summary: Extraordinary book
Review: For many readers, John Adams would not seem to be an entertaining book. At 751 pages long, David McCullough's treatment of the life of the second president seems at first glance to be longer than the life of the man himself. However, John Adams is a fine read, striking the balance between education and good old-fashioned storytelling, making this book one of the preeminent high water marks of American nonfiction. In John Adams, David McCullough has written a masterpiece worthy of Adams's legacy.
In a captivating voice, McCullough tells the story of Adams: the short, stocky New England farmer who went on to mould a new nation. McCullough's prose is reminiscent of Adams's lifestyle: simple and direct. Even the title itself is as straightforward as can be. Adams, long known the bitter, high strung, dour man who served the four years between the terms of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, is portrayed as the ultimate American hero who brokered key treaties and financial deals between the young United States and her European allies without sacrificing wit, patriotism, or intelligence.
This book traces John Adams from his ancestral background to his childhood to his Harvard years, to his time as a revolutionary firebrand and expatriate, all the way to his days as president and finally, his death. It also outlines his extraordinary relationships with his wife, his son John Quincy and with Thomas Jefferson.
John Adams had close ties with his family throughout his life, particularly in his relations with his wife Abigail and son John Quincy. He was a loving family man, who adored his wife and remained faithful to her throughout their long marriage. McCullough, unlike many other historians, does not fail his readers by glossing over Abigail's life: he gives her life a prominent portion of the book and covers her life in much the same loving fashion as John's, only in less detail. As a proud father, John would write John Quincy letters of advice and support until John's death.
As outlined by McCullough, John Adams's relationship with Thomas Jefferson was a study in contrasts: Jefferson a lanky Southern aristocrat, shy and demur, Adams a feisty, boisterous New Englander. The author takes his readers from the pair's early days of friendship, through their nasty breakup over ideology and to their reconciliation. While John Adams has often been cast aside in other portrayals of this nation's birth, McCullough's portrait eyes Adams as a foil to Jefferson's ever-changing opinions, plethora of debts, and supposed moral misconduct.
This vividly compelling work showcases the masterful writing of David McCullough, and the life of John Adams, a patriot whose image has been tarnished through misunderstanding and has languished in the deep recesses of history books. As this new millennium continues, readers will reach out into the past and find lessons from values of old, such as honesty, tenacity, loyalty, and thriftiness from the second president. The time is overdue for the truth to be set straight, and McCullough's book does nothing less than to recast the image of John Adams. Though Adams died whispering "Help me, child! Help me!" to granddaughter Susanna, it is clear that John Adams needs no help holding his own among the other heavyweights of American history.

Rating:
Summary: "Took a piece of history and weaved a literary masterpiece"
Review: I was quite impressed by the book. David McCollough took a piece of history and weaved a literary masterpiece. While reading the whole book, I was feeling the emotion of John Adams and the world around him. I can now somehow relate to the Fore fathers of our nation. Great Book!

Rating:
Summary: A Review of the Abridged Audio Version
Review: I very much enjoyed listening to David McCullough biography of John Adams and highly recommend it to anyone interested in the history of early America. The reader does indeed come away with a better appreciation for Adams as perhaps the most under-rated member of the founding fathers.

The strengths are in the material itself, especially the skillful use of excerpts from many letters of Adams, his wife, Jefferson and others. Also, the narrator, Edward Herrmann has a special gift for reading audiobooks that adds to the quality of the material.

There were a few weaknesses, though they didn't really detract from my enjoyment of the audiobook. First, I didn't like the way that the abridgement was done. It wasn't smooth and seemed almost amateurish. In hindsight, I would have listened to the unabridged version. Second, McCullough seems to see Adams through rose colored glasses. Other authors (see for example Paul Johnson's History of the American People) portray Adams' personality much more negatively using terms such as "arrogant", "disloyal", "cantankerous", etc. McCullough's more likely to call this part of Adams as simply "outspoken" for example.

In any event, highly recommended listening even if tilted a little towards the good side of Adams.

Rating:
Summary: As entertaining as any novel
Review: I've always admired John Adams for being the driving force behind the Declaration of Independence and doing what he though was right regardless of the personal cost involved. But having read David McCullough's engross biography of Adams, I clearly didn't know nearly enough about the man. I will not here disclose any of the details of Adams' life but refer you McCullough's book, which is quite thorough. The book appropriately focuses on Adams himself, but readers will learn a great deal about certain of his compatriots. The book is NOT a history of the Revolutionary War nor is it meant to be, but in that regard covers Adams' activities during this period.

The length of the book is no issue, because it's an engrossing read and I hated to put it down to sleep at night. I've read many a novel of the same length that kept me turning the pages to find out what happened next -- and this biography is just like such a novel.

Of particular interest is the ongoing love affair John Adams had with his stouthearted and supportive wife Abigail. John and Abigail Adams wrote voluminous amounts of letters during the long periods when they were separated while Adams served his new country and McCullough draws from that correspondence.

My only quibbles with McCullough -- and they are minor quibbles indeed -- occur when I find myself irritated with such usages as "In the meanwhile." Surely an author of his accomplishment should have learned by now that it's either "Meanwhile" or "In the meantime." And I have no idea where he came up with the title of the marching song of the French Revolution as "Ciera." "Ciera" is, I believe, a certain model of Oldsmobile -- the song would in fact be "Ça ira", which is French for "It shall be."

I walked away from this biography fully aware of Adams' amazing journeys, accomplishments and fortitude, and a great deal about his contemporaries such as Jefferson, Hamilton, Franklin and Burr, among many others. I have to confess that my opinion of Adams went up and my opinion of other patriots diminished as a result of learning what transpired more than 200 years ago.

John Adams, the second president of the United States, deserves greater recognition than generally afforded him. Had it not been for Adams, we Americans wouldn't have a country. I salute David McCullough for doing the memory of John Adams a good turn in writing this book, which every American ought to read.

Rating:
Summary: So, Who Was This John Adams Guy Anyway?
Review: If you wish to pierce the mythology of America's "Founding Fathers" and gain a real-world understanding of who they were and what motivated them, David McCullough's biography of John Adams is an excellent place to begin. McCullough has masterfully assembled the existing accounts and correspondence regarding Adam's life into a seamless work which has the readability of good fiction without sacrificing the credibility of solid scholarship. Beyond giving his readers a satisfying, comprehensive look at Adams, McCullough also presents insightful snapshots of Washington, Franklin, Jefferson, Hamilton, and the many others who populated the landscape of Adams' life.

As is always the case in a work of history, some issues could have been explored more thoroughly; but at 750 pages (including notes and index), the volume provides ample detail without ever being tedious or myopic. As a reader I've gained both an enhanced appreciation for Adams' achievements, and a much improved understanding of the founding of the United States. As for Adams: It appears his commitment to the enlightenment ideals of the American Revolution was as sincere as anyone's. Unlike Jefferson, Adams expressed his beliefs in action as well as words. McCullough has shown us a man of impressive ideals and integrity who, in every way, was the archetypal American patriot. In sum, an excellent book.

Rating:
Summary: I am compelled to praise
Review: Realizing that this is yet one more review in a sea of 400+ I am at a loss as to what I might say that hasn't yet been said. But I could not end this book without praising it to the highest degree. It is a fascinating, lyrical and amazing read. I am stunned at the profound thoughts and writings of John and Abigail Adams. This book reads like a novel as opposed to a school history book of dates and names. People and events of America's history come alive and you are placed within the time and seasons of such a great period in history. I was inspired by President Adams perspective right through the last page. Time has a way of playing favorites and making gods out of the men and women who formed and molded America. Gods they were not, flawed and troubled they were indeed, yet we owe them more than words can express. Thank you Mr. McCollough for bringing such justice and understanding to John and Abigail Adams, whose sacrifice may never be fully acknowledged nor appreciated.

Rating:
Summary: Great Book About a Stodgy, Grumpy Old Man
Review: If you love America and are interested in learning a good bit about each of our Founding Fathers through the eyes of a grumpy old man (Adams), than this book is for you. Wonderfully written, you actually feel as if you're a sort of aide to John Adams throughout his entire life... and obviously this becomes your pasport to some of the most important moments in our history. Although I personally think Adams was a blowhard, personally responsible for the worst decision in US Presidential history (the Sedition act), McCullough's skills as a writer cannot help but win you over. One of the 10 best books I've ever read.

Rating:
Summary: Oh so long.
Review: A wonderful insight to an unknown president. Its length is daunting and its coverage of the Revolutionary War only cursory, but extremely perceptive.

Rating:
Summary: What a treat
Review: John Adams is the first biography I've read in years. I haven't recounted American history since highschool and I felt like it was time. I had no idea a biography could be so interesting and entertaining. I expected to skim parts and get to the "action" but every paragraph contributes to the facisinating story of John Adams and the struggels of America in its infancy.