Rating: 
Summary: A Very Enjoyable Read
Review: The book might more aptly be titled, Adams In His Own Words. McCullouch does a fine job in presenting Adams as one of the more underrated of our founding fathers. His influence in declaring independence and designing our current system of government is a tribute to his historical importance. There is indeed something missing between the Washington Monument and the Jefferson Memorial.The only problem I had with the biography was the manner in which it glossed over Adams' use of the Alien and Sedition Act, probably the most infamous action of Adams otherwise stellar life. The book also gave me pause in my appreciation of Jefferson, who now seems more like the petty, pretentious, slave owner I have long ignored.
Rating: 
Summary: Autobiography lovers...
Review: take note of this book. If you are the type of person to really get into the life of another person, then this is for you. Forget all the writings and reviews wanting to delve into the treatment of certain historical aspects of the story. Just enjoy the story for what it is. McCollough has written a very readable, user-friendly saga of one the most important men in the history of our early country. The Revolutionary War period and the creation of this country and government is fascinating stuff. This is an outstanding book that can be enjoyed by many people and not just for scholars or history buffs. Readers will enjoy this very much. It is a good edition to any collection for history or just for pleasure.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent John Adams Biography
Review: The John Adams biography by David McCullough has to be one of the best biography's written. So easy to read and well written, it took no time at all to get through. I couldn't put the book down. As a secondary teacher of American History, I'm always looking for new texts and sources that provide accurate information on the revolutionary time period. This biography portrays Adams in a way that is never discussed in high hchool textbooks. McCullough breaks down a lot of myths about Adams that are often taught. I have a new perspective on Adams that I never would have gotten from ordinary texts and sources. This is as comprehensive a biography as I've ever read. There isn't much missing. The book goes through Adams' entire life and focuses a lot of attention on the critical years of the Revolution and Adams' Presidency. I will be using this text to help teach my students about the revolutionary time period and to accurately portray Adams to my students. I highly recommend this book. You won't be sorry!
Rating:
Summary: Reconstituting Adams
Review: In this fascinating biography David McCullough has carefully placed before us a wonderful narrative of the life and times of John Adams, warts and all. I purchased this book after listening to an interview of the author by Terry Gross on her NPR radio program, Fresh Air. While in the interview McCullough made clear his admiration and respect for Adams, the book takes special care not to whitewash its subject in any way. Bravo to McCullough for exposing the bad with the good: Adams' tendency to vanity; his diplomatic and political foibles; and his lack of self control, most noticeable in his habit of speaking his mind in circumstances that required a level of personal diplomacy that Adams' did not possess. For me as a reader John Adams was brought to life in the pages of this book, which is chock full of excerts from letters between Adams and his wife Abigail, Adams and Jefferson, and Adams and his sons, as well as correspondence between other principals, which did much to make clear how other politicians of Adams' era came to view him. Being allowed, through the diligence of McCullough's scholarship, to be privy to this correspondence makes me very sad indeed about the transient nature of modern communication, (i.e., telegram, telephone, and email in particular). McCullough has done much to bring the story of Adams out in the light after it having languished for far too long in the basement of history. A hefty five stars for this stupendous book.
Rating:
Summary: McCullough's rendering of Adams's character is amazing
Review: McCullough presents a rounded, realistic glimpse of John Adams, and succeeds in bringing him to life throughout the book. By an abundant use of primary material - such as Adams' letters, writings, and diary entries - McCullough not only gives credence to his thoughts on Adams, but allows the reader to form his own impression of the man. In part because Adams's character is brought to life to masterfully, this book reads quickly and easily, and maintains a steady pace throughout its 600 pages. McCullough presents a masterful rendering of Adams's personality: his vanity, sensitivity, fits of depression, sense of duty, and joy in life all come across to the reader from this book, and Adams becomes to real that he begins to feel like an old friend. Another wonderful part of this book is the amount of attention McCullough focuses on Adams's personal life, especially his relationship with his wife, Abigail. Through the inclusion of several of their letters, and the large portion of the book devoted to Abigail, one begins to see that the legendary love between the two is infact truth, not romantic overexageration.
Rating:
Summary: A Great American
Review: I had the pleasure of seeing David McCullough speak at Drew University in NJ in Feb 01. He spoke about John Adams & the Founding Fathers. He made John Adams such a interesting figure. I'm glad to see that John Adams finally getting his dues. He has always been overshowed by George Washington & Thomas Jefferson.
Rating:
Summary: Superb biography
Review: This is one of the finest biographic books I've read. I've never felt as close to the subject than through Mr. McCullough's deft research and writing skills. Regretably, the correspondence between Abigail and John Adams is an art that has been forever lost. I heartly recommend the book to anyone who wants a flavor of the early years of our government and its founders. Of particular interest is the surprisingly, at least to this reader, alternative and humanly characteristic view of Jefferson.
Rating:
Summary: It is about time...
Review: David McCullough did a superb job in showing the importance, of the often neglected John Adams, to the American Experience. It is high time that America honor this great man with a memorial in our Nations capital. He was instrumental in securing American Independence. Let us all write our representatives for a monument to this great patriot.
Rating:
Summary: One of the very best biographies I have ever read.
Review: A superb book which taught me so much American history that I never was taught at school . I knew so much about Jefferson and Washington but nothing about John Adams. It should be MUST reading for everyone. It is not only beautifully written but so informative about the forming of our country, about life in that period and about a fascinating family. Mr. McCullough is owed so many grateful thanks from us all for a book I couldn't put down.
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Summary: America the Beautiful!
Review: What a guy! John Adams it turns out is a hero of the revolutionary war, a book lover and a man with integrity. So, where is he when we really need him, huh? Integrity, what a concept! This should be required reading for all Americans. I really loved this book. It shows what courage and moral convictions can do...and did, We're a better nation because of him.
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