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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.
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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.
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Summary: YAAAAAAAAAAAAAWWWN Don't believe the hype.
Review: I can't believe I was reading the same books as those giving this droning tome 4-5 stars. This read like a dry text book from my high school years. There was no "transport to another time," or insight into Adams. I never forgot that I was reading a history book.
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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.
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Summary: Adams is highly underated as I have learned!
Review: This book has changed my view of John Adams, simply put. Adams has always come off to me as either insane, jealous, or annoying. After reading McCullough's take on Adams, I am convinced that Adams hasn't been treated kindly by previous historians/authors. Adams is a thourghly interesting and complicated person, and the trials he went through, as well as his accomplishements during his life, are astounding. His contributions in the American Revolution are also just as amazing. This book is also very well written, never tiresome or bland. I found it interesting, entertaining, and very easy to read. I look foward to reading other biographies by McCullough as well! :)
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Summary: Excellent Work
Review: This book provides great reminder in the aftermath of September 11, 2001 of the dedication and sacrifices of this Founding Father to the cause of freedom. The book is easy to read and provides new appreciation for the contributions of John Adams and the key role he played in the founding of our Nation. I thoroughly enjoyed it and was inspired to reread Jefferson's "intimate" biography as well as several other biographical works.
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Summary: Best Biography I have read
Review: I couldn't put this one down. I have read many biographies, but McCullough does this work elegantly, interesting and beautifully detailed.One of my favorites ever!
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Summary: Adams, the forgotton patriot
Review: McCullough exposes the American Revolution like never before in this inside look at the life of John Adams. Adams had his faults, but, according to McCullough, was the real fire behind Jefferson's move toward independence. The relationship between Abigail, John and Thomas Jefferson, highlighted throughtout this book, was well done and is an excellent way to review the American Revolution. For as much as Adams is "black and white," according to historical materials reviewed by McCullough, Jefferson was more in the "grey" area. The American Revolution, however, could not have been successful without Adams, and, of course, Jefferson, but the true unknown story of Adams comes out in this book. Jefferson has received a lot of praise, as he should, but this book finally gives Adams his due. A good example of how Adams was a true patriot was one of his several trips to France to obtain financial assistance for the colonists' war effort. To start, a trip across the Atlantic in the 1700's was, without elaboration, a difficult journey. On this particular trip, the ship Adams and his sons, Thomas and Charles, were traveling in sprung a leak. At his command, Adams and his boys bailed the water in their trek across the Atlantic. As they neared their destination, the ship sprung another leak which proved to be too dificult to overcome, requiring the ship to land in Spain. Here, Adams was presented with two choices: go over the mountains of Spain to get to France or wait for the ship to be fixed and sail up to France (as a side note, the dignitaries of France disliked Adams, making the trek, I am sure, distasteful). Time wise, Adams determined that walking over the mountains of Spain with his two sons would be the quicker and more effective route to reach France in a timely fashion to further the war effort. This choice shows Adams' character and resolve when he put his mind on something. Jefferson would never have made this decsion nor would he have traveled across the Atlantic in the first place. However, the story is that Adams and Jefferson were different which made the Revolution possible. Without either of them, it is hard to imagine that the the Revolution would have been successful. But, finally, in this book, Adams gets significant credit for his amazing efforts to bring independence to America. This book is a great work and, read with Joseph Ellis' Founding Brothers, is an excellent way to enjoy the amazing work of our founding fathers.
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Summary: Great book for Revolutionary novices.
Review: I was looking for an accessible introduction to the American Revolution, and this book didn't disappoint.
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Summary: Clear Focus?
Review: This is excellent writing. This is agenda-driven. This brings John Adams into clear focus? This hollers out to be fair by bringing Thomas Jefferson into clear focus. This means also reading the Remick book drawn from Jefferson's own readings and writings, "West Point: Character Leadership Education... Thomas Jefferson". This is for history buffs? This is a book for all Americans. This is David McCullough's, "John Adams".
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