Rating: 
Summary: Historical and Great!
Review: This book is a welcome surprise to the often-dry genre of "historical biography." McCullough's historical prowess is evident throughout, employing a wide variety of primary sources. That is, John Adams's own attention to correspondence and loyalty to journaling help the reader achieve a greater intimacy with characters. The entire book revels in emotional details, connecting the generations of McCullough and Adams.The book is filled with facts. Unfortunately, Adams's contribution to American foreign and domestic policy is often overshadowed by the popularity of men like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson; McCullough is successful in proving otherwise, despite a wanning of details in Adams's political carrerr, in comparison to the overwhelming personal connections in the book. Nevertheless, perfect for historians, students, and casual readers alike, the book is an excellent read I would highly recommend to any person of the globe wanting insight into John Adams, his time, or the founding of America.
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Summary: Excellent Story About A Misunderstood and Underrated Pres.
Review: Before reading this book, I had a rather low opinion of President John Adams. In school, we learned that Adams, as Washington's Vice President, was preoccupied with establishing a high-sounding title for the President. As President, he signed the infamous Alien and Sedition laws, served only one term, and was defeated for re-election. In general, he is portrayed as a vain, pompous, monarchy-sympathizing person. David McCullough disabuses the reader of those notions very quickly. Adams' integrity, honesty, and passion for American independence and democracy comes through loud and clear. McCullough does not avoid the hard issues: he deals with Adams' role in attempting to craft a title for President Washington and frankly admits that the Alien and Sedition laws were a mistake. By reading this biography, however, one understands what may have motivated the Congress to enact the legislation and the President to sign it. The roles of Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, and others are briefly explored, and one's view of them may change a bit after reading the book. I heartily recommend the book to any serious student of U.S. history. Others will find it enjoyable as well.
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Summary: An Overdue Tribute
Review: Undeservedly, John Adams has not been given his own spotlight on history's stage. Perhaps he is overshadowed by the presidents who came immediately before and after his presidency (i.e., Washington and Jefferson). After all, Washington was an unwilling demigod in his time, and Jefferson was so intent and so good at building his own legacy while building his beloved Monticello that no one could compete. Adams' signing of the disastrous Alien and Sedition Acts has outweighed his many positive achievements, and this, too, further pushed him into the recesses. Even though Adams was aware that he possessed a great intellect and a strong will, he was resistant to vanity. Compare this to the glory/publicity seekers, like Hamilton, Franklin, Burr, and others, it becomes obvious that Adams was more focused on other, more important matters. He didn't even write his memoirs, as was customary back then. But thank God that he and his beloved wife, Abigail, wrote each other so often. These letters are some of the linchpins of David McCullough's brilliant biography which finally brings to light the great man who served as the young nation's second president. I won't attempt to summarize the book or go over the details of Adams' life and politics. What I think is important to know is that this is a biography of intelligence and passion. We get alternating glimpses of John Adams the statesman, John Adams the loving parent and husband, and John Adams the melancholy loner. McCullough brings all this to life. The generous amount of illustrations served its purpose of making me see the human beings behind the words and documents. I can't say enough about this book except it deserves to be read, and that John Adams didn't deserve to wait so long to have such a tribute paid to him. Now, when I teach this part of American history to my classes, I always make sure to give John Adams equal time with Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, and Hamilton. Rocco Dormarunno, author The Five Points and The Five Points Concluded
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Summary: Insightful and very agreeable!
Review: All the history classes combined never gave quite such an intesting look at this part of time or those who lived and changed it. I'm on cassettee 17 of the audio version -- and it is awesome. I love it. In fact, I sit in my car trying to listen to just a few more minutes every chance I get. I am dreading the last tape. You should definately try this one out. I had no idea of some of interesting facts I would learn about the time and our fouders. The insight of his wife and reference to letters and others of time also make it VERY interesting.
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Summary: Without a doubt, the most superb biography ever written...
Review: There is little need for me to go on and on about David McCullough's ability to write history and biographies. It is obvious from the other reviewers and how long this book has been at the top of the top 50 books, that McCullough has surpassed himself with this book. The sheer amount of staggering letters that went between Adams and his beloved wife, Abigail, as well as to his friends, to those he worked with for American Indepedence, to his children left an incredible amount of information on this very great man. If this book had been written by anyone else...it would never have been done with the utmost respect, awe, and yes, love that McCullough treated this ultimate story with. I had always known about the relationship between John and Abigail Adams as being one of the most steadfast and supportive marriages that has ever been told. I knew she was an incredible woman for her century, and she supported her husband in every way; and he supported her equally in every way...recognizing that she was worthy of the same respect as his peers in Congress. It was to her he turned for support, and she gave him valuable advice, because her education was a life-long continuing education, very rare for that time period. Truly one of the first women suffragettes who reminded her husband to remember the women always... John Adams is the type of man we very rarely see anymore. How empty our country seems of men of his ilk, of his integrity, of his ability to do the right thing even when it is unpopular. He gave our country a much needed grace period to grow up, when the war-mongers such as Alexander Hamilton, were seeking war with France for their own glorifications. Adams stayed silent when abuse was heaped upon his head, unfairly. He forgave the many who hurt his feelings, including Jefferson. I had always admired Jefferson as being a genius like De Vinci, but having read this book it is clear that Adams was the stronger and more sane voice...willing to risk all (as his wife was). If social study teachers have their students read one major book in American history, it should be this one. Maybe with the influence of David McCullough and his previous works with Truman, we will once again have giants of reason walk among us. The book and the man are truly inspirational. Karen Sadler,
Science Education,
University of Pittsburgh
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Summary: Excellent biography
Review: David McCullough once again proves his ability as a biographer with this meticulously resarched and unflinching protrait of John Adams. Long dismissed as the president between Washington and Adams, McCullough puts Adams in the context of his times and illuminates his invaluable contributions to birth and infancy of the United States. In addition to describing Adams' achievements, McCullough also paints him as a realistic yet principled professional politician who intrinsically understood what path was best for the United State while being aware of his own limits at the same time. Adams made mistakes in both his personal and professional lives, but this biography corrects a longstanding misconception about his importance to America's development. Highly recommended.
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Summary: Adams was certainly not Bush league!
Review: At 656 pages, plus another hundred pages of source notes and bibliography, this volume comprises an extremely thorough and well-documented study of John Adams. Much of it is derived from correspondence with his highly literate and intelligent "best friend" Abigail who remained a total of six years apart from her husband, running the farm at Braintree while her husband helped create a new nation and then helped conduct its business in Philadelphia, Paris, the Hague, London, and Washington. The reader cannot but come away impressed by Adams's courage and steadfastness of purpose. As he himself recognized, he was but one of many, and perhaps less extraordinary than Jefferson or Hamilton. Yet Adams seems the most virtuous and wise. A learned farmer of absolute honesty and great self-discipline and devotion, he suggests by way of contrast to Reagan--the TV actor--and George W. Bush--the cheerleading Daddy's boy weaned on oil field speculation and a baseball franchise--why we are in such a fix today, and why the world holds us in such low esteem!
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Summary: A Must Read For Patriots Everywhere
Review: To many, John Adams was a fat old guy who signed the Declaration of Independence, took part in the American Revolution, served as the 2nd President of the United States, and was the father of future president John Quincy Adams. Quite an impressive life right there, but compared to the likes of George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Alexander Hamilton, and others he's always been overshadowed and ignored. Until now. Just like he resuscitated the image of Harry Truman, America's premier historian David McCullough has finally given John Adams the rightful recognition he deserves. McCullough shoots down all the myths that surround Adams. That he was lazy, opportunistic, vain, prudish, a backstabber who secretly held monarchist views and despised democracy. Through letters and diaries we learn that Adams was not lazy. He was a hard-working puritan New England farmer. He may have been a smooth political operator, but he always served his country, often at great risk to the health and well-being of himself and his family. He was an old workhouse, not a showpony out for glory. He was not ignorant, in fact he was probably one of our most well-read and intelligent Founding Fathers. He was always loyal, rarely holding grudges even against people who seriously hurt and betrayed him. And a conservative monarchist prude? Never. He hated tyranny. Whether it was from "mad" King George or the mob democracy of the French Revolution. He was not close-minded. He was open to anything, and actually was quite progressive when it came to abolishing slavery. As for the controversial Alien and Sedition Acts. They only came after one of the nastiest, partisan periods in American history and at a time when many feared that European powers would use large immigrant communities to subvert America from within. In the end, mostly through his own very words, we come to love and respect John Adams. We see him grow up and mature. We see that he truly was a good man who even his die-hard enemies admitted could never be bought off. We see his deep love for his soulmate Abigail, his deep pride in sons such as John Quincy, and his complex relationships with Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and others. All in all, we gain a greater respect of an American hero and a better understanding of the founding and formation of these wonderful United States of America.
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Summary: Very interesting person, very well told story
Review: I was given this book by a very dear friend of mine who thought I had to learn some more about the USA. She has the book herself as well, but I already finished reading this one before she could start reading her own copy. The story is told in much detail, which is why it has over 600 pages. The carreer of John Adams is already interesting by itself but the writing style of mister McCullough has given it an extra value for me. The political powerplay that existed alreday in his times must have been a disturbing fact to mr. Adams considering the way he is described by mr. McCullough. It's a story full of successes and dissappointments. Hardship, and some glory. It is very interesting to see how pivotal the role was that he played in the construction of the united states and it made me think whether mr. Bush still values the basis on which it's country was constructed. This is however a different discussion. I thank Heather, my friend, a lot for giving me this book.
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Summary: John Adams
Review: This book is by far then best biography I have ever read. You may not think this is a good book at first glance but it truly is. The book starts out talking about John ADams life in New England and about when he went to college and got into being a lawyer.Then adams gets involed with the revolution and the book just gets better and better.You follow adams to Philidalpeia where he has meetings with the most important people in the founding of our nation. The declaration of independence is written and eventually Adams is sent to France to negotiate help with the war. You follow all of his hardships like haveing to go from Spain, cross to mountains to get to France. And all the excitment of him being the president. One big topic in the book is the War that was almost fought with France and England because they kept hurting American ships and how Adams saved the country from this wars during the XYZ affair. When Adams was told to give money to France to stop the troubles at sea Adams refused to give France the money and instead built a Navy to protect the ships and cargo. Altogether this book is very interesting following Adams political career and also his family life with his wife Abigail Adams. This is a must read book for anyone and everyone.
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