Rating: 
Summary: A History Lovers Delight!
Review: Without a doubt, David McCullough's John Adams is one of the finest biographies of our time. We are, indeed, fortunate that the letters of Adams and his wife Abigail have been preserved thus enabling McCullough to draw from them a vivid portrait of these wonderful early Americans. The direct quotes from the letters give the account an intimate feel which really enables the reader to connect to the private as well as public life of these people. Additionally, McCullough's description of Adams encounters with Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, Hamilton and others offers great insight into early political relationships of our Founding Fathers. It was not all smooth going and the author is fair in relating the shortcomings as well as the successes of those who brought our country to birth. Adams role was extremely important, yet history has never given him the place he so richly deserves. Hopefully, this biography will make all Americans realize what a truly remarkable and gifted leader he was.
Rating: 
Summary: McCullough's John Adams Gives New Life to Old Patriot
Review: Historian David McCullough, author of several notable presidential biographies including "Mornings on Horseback" (Theodore Roosevelt) and "Truman," has breathed new life into the largely forgotten tale of an essential figure in American history. Unlike Thomas Jefferson, Samuel Adams, and other 18th century figures, John Adams frequently has been banished to the dustbin of American history by scholars, political junkies, and a fair share of 5th grade history students who regard the New Englander as uncommonly prudish and puritan. McCullough's biography takes this myth to task by examining Adams' character in depth. The historian concludes that, while Adams had personality flaws, the motivating factor behind his New England facade was strength, integrity, and an utmost concern and love for the well being of his young country.
The prose of McCullough's biography is swift, engaging, and balances the author's penchant for detail and an overall thematic approach. Unlike "Truman," in which the narrative is swamped at the start by too many unnecessary details about the subject's early life, "John Adams" gives important details of the Massachusetts man's formative years and then moves swiftly on to the first major test of his character--the pre-declaration deliberations of the continental congress in Philadelphia. McCullough's balance between the different stages of Adams' long life is excellent, allowing the reader to see the consistency of the New Englander's integrity and character through three decades of public service, as well as two subsequent decades of private life.
While tangents about the devotion and love of Abigail and the rising political career of John Quincy fit nicely within the book's framework, there is one notable flaw in McCullough's narrative. The historian virtually glosses over Adams' role in--as well as the national implications of--the Alien and Sedition Acts, considered by many scholars to be the darkest moment in John Adams' long public service career. McCullough does spend some time examining the Alien and Sedition Acts, but given the importance of the Acts in both the life of Adams and the life of our nation, the historian's discussion is extraordinarily brief, leaving an aftertaste of near flippancy in the reader's mouth.
The author's brief discussion of the Alien and Sedition Acts aside, the narrative is compelling and the scholarship lives up to the high standards McCullough has established in the past. "John Adams" is a must-read for the history buff, political junkie, and casual reader alike.
Rating:
Summary: Father of Independence
Review: This is good biography, good history and good writing. McCullough's unhurried narration takes the reader through as much of John Adams' life as he can weave without loose ends. The story is complete.Adams was a prolific writer of letters and a life-long keeper of journals. McCullough relies on these, plus the letters of others, journalism and other public records, and the notes, writings and published anecdotes from later Adamses, to cast his story. He also uses them as literary vehicles to give the reader an effective understanding and appreciation of the times and of Adams' character. That character was as simple and straightforward as it was complex. Adams was a vain, ambitious, stubborn and opinionated provincial on one hand; and a persevering and committed idealist of great integrity on the other. He was determined, energetic, insightful, decisive and consistent. Whereas he was able to see all issues writ large, his actions, in turn, were often viewed narrowly. Like George Washington, he gave no quarter to politics and, unable to play at them, was often their victim. But throughout, the causes of American independence and human liberty defined him, and he shared their integrity. McCullough does not present a high-handed criticism of Adams. But he is no apologist, either. He simply gives us the Adams of historical record. As Washington is termed the father of our country; Madison of the constitution; Hamilton, the U.S. Treasury; and so forth; McCullough leaves the reader to realize that John Adams, too often overlooked, was indeed the Father of our American Independence.
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Summary: More than a President
Review: Mr.McCullough write more. Give us more. Your work is complete, honorable and a must read for every American. The adventure starts from the very first word. A true treasure. Another patriot please, Mr.McCullough.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Biography
Review: David McCullough has done a tremoundous job researching the second President of the United States. There are so many references directly from the letters of John and Abigail Adams that one really gets a feel of authenticity. Mr. Adams was so candid in his correspondence and not afraid to express his feelings and innermost thoughts that it sheds alot of light on a much aligned figure. McCullough did an admirable job of pulling all this correspondence together in a biography. Mr. Adams is portrayed in many ways, not the least of which is a true patriot that always put the best interests of his country ahead of his own personal ambition. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in this era of United States history.
Rating:
Summary: John Adams brought to life
Review: This is a particularly vivid biography focusing not solely on the political achievements of another "founding father"/"dead white male", but rather on the quirks that made John Adams the person he was. McCollough pays attention to Adams' family life, his shortcomings, his talents, the things that made him human. With the Adams Papers at the Mass. Historical Archive as his main source, McCollough brings Adams to life, thoughtfully. I was thoroughly engrossed.
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Summary: Nobel Prize Winner
Review: David won the Pulitzer for "Truman" and he will win it for "John Adams" if not, the Nobel Prize. He is truly a gift to the literary world if not, the world as a whole. Would that were more David McCulloughs!!
Rating: 
Summary: John Adams
Review: John Adams has long been one of my favorite historical figures. His life is interesting, important, and well documented. The author of this book apparently chose to write this book without reference to most of the scholarship that is available about Adams. Adams's own letters consitute the vast bulk of the reference work for this book. The thing that troubles me most about this book is its utter lack of chronological coherency. Adams's youth and young adulthood are practically skipped. The first chapter is incomprehensible in terms of chronology. Some chapters devote 40 pages to one year while in others a decade is flittered through in two or three sentences. It is very, very difficult to know what time frame is being discussed in the early chapters of the book. This is a good book, but with a little effort at placing the chapters into a chronological sequence, it could have been much better.
Rating:
Summary: Another Pulitzer Winner!
Review: This book amazingly shows the many sides of John Adams and all of his very colorful friends. It leaves you with images of Philadelphia and shows in sequences the fueling of the Revolution. Wonderful Book!
Rating:
Summary: A Number One Book About American History's Number Two
Review: As an author with my debut novel in its initial release, I realize the importance of selecting subject matter that moves far beyond the limitations of a single volume. David McCullough achieves this goal brilliantly in JOHN ADAMS. McCullough's book is thoroughly researched, insightful, and finely written. It is also perfect for today. After all, John Adams was the first president from New England who became the father of a future president. JOHN ADAMS presents a John Adams who was not eager for a political life yet accepted the obligations that came with his time. His accomplishments are well known. He defended in court the unfortunate British troops who suppressed a Boston street riot that has gone down in history as the Boston Massacre. He became a leader in the revolutionary movement for freedom from Britain, though to some degree a number two player to a number of other more prominent individuals. He was one of the committee that drafted the Declaration of Independence, though he was clearly a number two to Jefferson. He became a diplomat and the first vice president--another number two. He served as the second president of the United States. In 1800, upon his electoral defeat, he created the key American political precedent of a peaceful transfer of power. John Admas may have been destined in life to play a number two part in many key events in U.S. history, but McCullough's JOHN ADAMS was a number-one quality individual. I recommend this book highly.
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