Rating: 
Summary: Hagiography of a Tyrant
Review: As depicted in 'Adams,' John Adams was a simple farmer, honest and dependable, swept into politics by chance, and landing in the Presidency through the back door ' the office of Vice President. In other words ' he's just like Truman!Despite McCullough's best efforts in this easy-to-read hagiography to depict him as such, Adams was neither simple nor honest, and 'Adams' robs its namesake of his complexities and ultimately his character. Some interesting points about the book: Despite McCullough's repeated assurances that Adams was not vain, pretentious, and hysterical, the letters and writings of Adams and his wife (though heavily edited and taken from questionable sources) drip with prudery and vanity. I found the couple to be extremely unlovable, what with all the moralizing they did about their neighbors, follow revolutionaries, and politicians. There's a lot of stuff taking place outside the scope of McCullough's book, and it has only made me want to find a more thorough and merciless account of the two. McCullough's justification of our nation's most shameful piece of legislation ' the Alien and Sedition Acts ' sounds eerily like the Bush administration's rhetoric supporting its own repressive legislation cracking down on the rights of immigrants in the wake of the September 11th attack on the World Trade Center. Surely the current tribunals and seizing of foreign nationals will be as vilified as the Alien and Sedition Acts. Also, McCullough glosses over Adams role in executing these reprehensible Acts. In 'Adams,' the President was only a reluctant participant in the repression that occurred as a result. In reality, he seems to have enjoyed using the Acts to crack down on any public criticism of his own administration ' which seems to fit with his over-sensitive and vindictive nature. Lastly, McCullough uses much of 'Adams' to vilify Thomas Jefferson. Although the rumors of Jefferson's affairs with his slave, Sally Hemming, are generally discounted by serious scholars, McCullough drags Hemming back onto center stage to smear Jefferson. McCullough also has a bizarre fascination with the state of Jefferson's finances and repeatedly makes reference to his debts, though they have little or no relevance to the life of John Adams. These and other things make 'Adams' a strange book. It almost feels as if McCullough purposefully and knowingly omitted information and distorted facts to make his subject shine. I can't think why.
Rating: 
Summary: Best Book Read in 25 Years
Review: This is certainly one of the 10 best books I've ever read. I have recommended it to several friends and they unanimously concur. It magnificantly presents how a marriage can endure great adversity and hardship when the partners are both so dedicated to the same cause. I fell in love with Abigail!
Rating:
Summary: A great biography for a truly remarkable individual...
Review: I agree with the review by "jraussen". We never learned much about Adams in American history in gradeschool and highschool, which was a total shame. This man was truly a visionary, and both honest and incorruptable. If you're a fan of American history, even world history, this is a truly great read. I felt as if I knew John and Abigail after I got done reading it!
Rating: 
Summary: More Adams
Review: I am quite impressed with this work. So impressed that I would like to see more work of this high calibre about the other Adams since John. It was a comparatively easy read although not as gripping as the recent "Theodore Rex". Roosevelt seemed a "real" person whereas John Adams seems "other worldly". "John Adams" is a good read anyway.
Rating:
Summary: Fitting tribute to a man who left his imprint on our nation
Review: Though daunting in size (600+ pages) David McCullough's Adams has proved to be most enjoyable. If you are able to work past the first few pages where, for completeness, the author recounts the details of young John Adams's boyhood, you will be rewarded with an excellent read. Like all good history writers, McCollough is able to get in all of the facts and figures while not losing track of the story. And what a story he has to tell.
From his work in cobbling together the political unity and resolve needed to unify the colonies behind the quest for Independence through his work in Europe securing a place for the newborn country and then his terms as Vice President and President, Adams continuously shows himself to be a man of character. A bit vain, perhaps, but aware of that vanity nonetheless.
As the second President of the United States, John Adams was the first to take up the role after the universally esteemed George Washington. While Washington was in many ways untouchable in the political arena, Adams was the first President to be considered fair game. Adams does not prove to be much of a politician but what he lacked in political skills he more than compensated for with his wisdom and clarity of thought, especially in dealing with such matters as negotiations with a bellicose France.
Kudos to McCullough in doing such a fine job of presenting a full portrait of a man who left an enduring imprint on our country.
On a personal note, while reading about all the hardships that had to be endured in Adam's life - from the ravages of disease to the risks inherent in traveling - it makes one wonder how he got anything accomplished. It also makes the reader feel somewhat guilty for having accomplished so little though able to benefit tremendously in this age of modern conveniences.
Rating:
Summary: Best Historical Book I have Read in a Long Time
Review: As a history teacher I appreciate a good book of facts and interest. This book has hit the mark. The author provides the reader with a realistic look at both John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. There are also interesting notes on Mr. Franklin. The author does not attempt to create heros of these great gentelmen of the past but rather to present them in all of their humanistic character, flaws and all. If you never had an interest in John Adams befor now, read this masterpeace and you discover a new found interest in history of a third kind. The book also caused me to have an interest in Abigail Adams as well and Iam awaiting my copy of Dearest friend to continue my introduction to these extrodinary people of days gone by.
Rating:
Summary: Wish history had been this interesting in school
Review: McCullough does a wonderful job of bringing personality to the name of John Adams. The description of historic moments such as the signing of the Treaty of Paris, brought chillbumps to my arms. Adams is shown as a man passionate about his country, as well as his wife and children. The excerpts from letters between John and Abigail Adams add to the reader's knowledge of this great man.
Rating:
Summary: A long deserved biography of a forgotten patriot
Review: This book pays tribute to an overlooked but important patriot of the American Revolution. Adams' contribution to the revolution was absolutely key for our success. McCullough does a great job in giving us background on Adams' development into the decisive leader he became. A minor drawback--McCullough does not cover adequately some of Adams' faults (such as his growing elitist views and the troubles with his children), and seems to have a particular dislike for Jefferson (the villian in his opinion). Overall, though, a great book.
Rating:
Summary: AS GOOD AN INTRODUCTION TO US HISTORY AS YOU WILL FIND
Review: Once you realize John Adams lived for 90 years and he and Thomas Jefferson died on the same day, July 4th, of the same year, you begin to appreciate the scope of the history involved, and the focus on politics which seems "the more things change, the more they remain the same." Because of his devotion to the life of John Adams Mr. McCollough allows the reader to read between the lines and confirm his suspicions by reading other histories that tie the whole together. Because so much of the material is primary source (mostly letters) our perception of the people involved is broadened to the point where we really get to know them. Adam's son, John Quincy, was the sixth president of the US, but did you know that Jefferson was the third and Madison and Monroe the 4th and 5th, and that John Quincy was followed by Jackson? Things begin to fall into place as one reads this book, and suspicions are aroused by what is learned. It is not the sort of book you read and forget, but the sort that leads you on toward a better understanding of why, for example, Burr killed Hamilton at the "INTERVIEW AT WEEHAWKEN." JOHN ADAMS is not a book with all the answers, but it surely points readers in the direction of them, by other authors. It is a book about a decent man married to a wonderful woman, Abagail, during difficult times. I would not hesistate to recommend it to all.
Rating: 
Summary: Very Interesting Biography...Overrated Account
Review: This biography of John Adams was certainly needed in that Adams has influenced America in a multitude of ways that many Americans today never knew. Certainly overshadowed by the more famous George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, I found the character profile of Adams as an ordinary, yet well educated citizen to be a reluctant politician. The author depicts Adams as a simple farmer and loving husband...yet he spends most of his life away from the farm and away from his wife. The love affair and marriage are built up in a way that is hard to imagine the couple maintaining while being generally years and oceans apart from each other. I was very impressed with Adams the man. He has been described here as a man of high integrity, moral principles, strong believer in God, a statesman, a patriot and a visionary in the formation of democracy and our education system. Certainly a man with a love for books, lots of books. He instilled that love for reading in his son, John Quincy which no doubt significantly influenced his educational and character development. With so few biographies on John Adams with adequate research and references, I would still highly recommend the book for all those interested in revolutionary era history and biography. However, I would not characterize the style and flow of the biography as a fast-paced, enjoyable book as the author has over used his research to make his points. Certainly David McCullough is a extremely talented author, but not a 5-star level here.
| 
