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Summary: As someone who knew very little about John Adams...
Review: ...I found this book extremely informative and, in a word, fascinating. I now want to learn more about him. The depth and breath is astounding. It's not exactly a page turner but learning of Adams' place in the history of America is interesting enough!
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Summary: (...) Great Job -- BUT -- Has A Thesis
Review: So sorry to cause a blip in this "lovefest", folks. But, although David McCullough did a wonderful job of digging into the archives, I think he came up with a dry hole as far as new, groundbreaking history is concerned. To compensate, he resorted to the age old tools of the historian --- opinion, speculation, interpretation. And he does a fascinating job with them. He sells the reader on believing he has not hit a dry hole, but has come up with a new, historical revelation that John Adams is number one amongst the founders. That seems to be the agenda of his book. Agendas are not supposed to be the stuff of historians, however. He might very well be producing an illusion in history by "raising John Adams", relatively, by "lowering" Thomas Jefferson and George Washington. What gives me the credibility to say that? I read most of the thousands of Adams, Jefferson, and Washington letters that he read. (...). After reading "John Adams", I find that it does not change my views on the relative importance of those three founding fathers. Though McCullough did a wonderful job, a five star job in Amazon.com parlance, I wish he would have proved his thesis rather than assumed everyone would believe him because he's him.
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Summary: Dear David McCullough
Review: Why on earth would you record an abridged edition? How can you abridge such a life? The book is marvelous. How unfortunate.
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Summary: A Lost Friend
Review: There is not much I can say about this book. The book speaks far better for itself than ever I could hope to. I congratulate the author on exhaustive research, and brilliant compilation.John and Abigail Adams came alive for me in reading this book. The author's love and admiration for them, and what they did for all of us, comes through on every page. At the end of the book, with cannons firing on the Fourth of July, 1826, I felt I lost a good friend and a companion over a difficult and fascinating journey. This book is a must read, especially for those who, in our present moment of national stress, might wish to cast aside some of the civil liberties and freedoms that John Adams and his generation risked so much to leave us. The courageous stand of President Adams against rushing into war against the French sets an example for all presidents to emulate. (I am not against fighting a war when we have to, but it is wise to pick your fights carefully.)
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Summary: A fascinating, complicated and honest look at John Adams...
Review: While I'd heard lots of wonderful things about McCullough's book, I must admit that I did not know much about John Adams. Most of what I knew stemmed from American history classes or, more recently, studying Abigail in the light of feminist theory. I was truly impressed by McCullough's astounding accomplishment - a thorough portrait of a complicated, interesting, flawed individual who played a pivotal - and under-appreciated - role in the history he witnessed and shaped. With Adams' own diary as a resource - along with the vast amount of correspondence to which he had access - McCullough ventures behind the history and politics to talk about John Adams as a person. He clearly conveys the passion Adams had for his country, friends and family as well as his frustration at often being misunderstood. While the Adams that is revealed is perfectly human - flaws and all - the fact remains that he saw events and lived a life that few, if any, others of the time did, and McCullough is able to both describe how Adams viewed his experiences as well as, with the hindsight of a couple of hundred years, the long-lasting significance of his actions, significance that Adams probably never even imagined. The result is an impressively vivid and relevant portrait of a man who lived during an amazing period of history. There's no need to belabor the minor details of the book except to note that it covers an extensive period of Adams' life, one that sees his achievements, struggles and so on. One of the central underlying themes is both the lack of appreciation that Adams experienced and that the the author clearly feels Adams has suffered from. It is this obvious subtext that provides my only point of criticism. While Adams certainly was an extraodinary individual who did not always receive the recognition he deserved, I did feel that others - most notably Jefferson - were treated less than favorably given the application of that particular perspective. While Jefferson is perhaps remembered in a better light than that in which he lived, I did feel some bias in the comparisons between the two, particularly given that Jefferson, whose motives often appear less honorable and more devious than Adams, nevertheless did not experience as much harsh treatment as did the more controversial bu no less worthy Adams. Still, despite this criticism, I found the book immensely valuable and endlessly fascinating. I am an avid reader of biographies of all sorts, and I seldom have encountered one that renders such a comprehensive and candid appraisal of its subject nor one that brings the individual so much to life - and this includes books about those still living. I could not recommend this book more highly. Perhaps a caveat to consider some of the interpretation carefully is in order, but my concerns over a slight bias have only encouraged me to read - and learn - more. I await Mr. McCullough's next endeavor with a great deal of anticipation and excitement.
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Summary: Spectacular History
Review: With John Adams, his latest presidential biography, historian David McCullough has provided a remarkable gift to anyone with an interest in American history. McCullough doesn't merely trace the life and accomplishments of Mr. Adams - one of America's most important, least understood, and most under appreciated historical figures; he provides us with nothing short of a crystal clear window through which to observe and get to know the man himself. The degree to which McCullough succeeds at bringing John Adams to life is astonishing given the relative obscurity that has befallen our second President in the collective American memory. Adams has no giant obelisk rising to the sky and no shining marble monuments on the Potomac in his honor; however, his contributions to the American nation were as numerous, and in many cases more momentous, than those of the more popular American heroes like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. McCullough's task of creating a window to Adams' world was made possible, however, thanks to Adams' own writing talents. Probably one of the most prolific letter writers in American presidential history, Adams provided that window through hundreds of personal writings, primarily letters to his wife, Abigail, and other family members. Those insights directly from Adams himself form the basis of the book; McCullough's strong writing serves to bind all of those insights into a consistent and strong story that is hard to forget. One of the most striking things to emerge from the letters of both John and Abigail Adams is the sense of humor each possessed. Although they wrote in a formal style consistent with the times, both John and Abigail were expertly capable of making their writing intimate and personal. Their sense of humor shines through their writing and serves to make them seem much more human and accessible than most of the icons of the 18th century. McCullough leaves no doubt that he admires Mr. Adams, although he fairly criticizes Adams for mistakes like signing the Alien & Sedition Acts. There can be no argument that such admiration is undeserved, however, especially after reading McCullough's accounts of the incredible hardships that Adams endured in service to his country - the many years of living separated from his wife, who was his best friend and true partner in life; his multiple hazardous crossings of the North Atlantic on diplomatic missions to Europe; the political treachery he experienced at the hands of his enemies; and the devastating personal attacks by those he believed to be his closest friends. That he managed any accomplishments at all in the face of such difficulty is amazing. That those accomplishments - convincing the Continental Congress to vote for independence from Britain and managing to avoid war with France during his presidency to name a few - were monumental and so critical to America's future is truly remarkable. Thank you, David McCullough, for a spectacular work.
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Summary: A Human perspective
Review: Without delving into extremely personal situations encountered by John Adams and his journey through life, Mr. McCullough has succeeded in showing John Adams in an extremely human form, which puts an entirely new light on his accomplishments and relationships with other "Founding Brothers" and his family. A wonderful work to be read more than once.
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Summary: Overlooked President gets his due.
Review: Although I wasn't biding my time waiting for a biography of John Adams, this book made me realize that I should have been. Author David McCullough does a great job of bringing to life our second President and his stalwart character which helped create our new country. Through this book, I learned a great deal about Adams that has for too long been overshadowed by the Washington and Jefferson. You learn of the long years spent by Adams away from his beloved family and the many letters sent back and forth between him and his wife Abigail (more even than she sang about in the musical 1776). You learn of the conflicts between Adams and other members of the Continental Congress. And, for once, you see the Jefferson - Adams feud and subsequent reestablishment of the relationship from the non-Jeffersonian side. All in all, it is a marvelous book that explores the character of one of our greatest patriots. One can only hope that McCullough will continue with the family and write his next book about John Quincy Adams who is tantalizing mentioned throughout the story, but could obviously be the subject of his own in-depth look.
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Summary: Extremely interesting topic considering today's world
Review: In a time when our perception of the world is changing and many are re-evaluating our nation's role in the world, visiting the birth of our country and the ideals under which it was formed can be a cathartic experience. McCullough's treatment of the life and times of John Adams provides a unique view into what is truely a unique and amazing time period, one which literally changed the world, and is still a major force in shaping today's world events. By focusing on John Adams, the often forgotten and least understood figure in revolutionary America, McCullough is able to present the genesis of the "American Experiment" from the eyes of a man with a true passion for liberty, who maintained his integrity and principles through what was probably the most turbulent and unstable political period the world had yet seen. Fortunately Adams, who describes himself as an average man caught up in extrordinary events, was perceptive enough to understand that he was living through great events and had enough foresight to preserve most of his writings. Along with writings from his wife Abigail, his friend and political rival Thomas Jefferson, and excerpts from a multitude of other sources from the time period, we are able to gain a better perspective on the origins of our nation. Along with other recent books covering the events and people of the American Revolution (including "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" (Joseph J. Ellis), "The First of Men: A Life of George Washington" (John E. Ferling), and "Patriots : The Men Who Started the American Revolution" (A. J. Langguth)) this book may help us better understand the role our country plays in today's global environment and how this role shapes the events of our times.
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Summary: An Excellent Portrait of an Under Appreciated Patriot
Review: John Adams is often thought of as a mere footnote in American History. The American education system seems to lose sight of Mr. Adams, letting him slip through the cracks, positioned as he is between the glory of George Washington, Father of his Country, and the brilliance of Thomas Jefferson, writer of the Declaration of Independence. But as David McCullough so splendidly points out, Adams was the man who nominated and orchestrated the selection of George Washington as Commander of the Contintental Army. And it was Adams who led the fight for the Declaration of Independence. It was Jefferson's pen which wrote the words, but Adams' was the voice which was foremost in favor of the Declaration and was paramount in obtaining passage of the Declaration, changing the world. "John Adams" by David McCullough is a favorable look at one of the most important men in attendance at the Continental Congress which gave birth to the United States of America. This book follows Adams' modest New England beginnings, to his crucial role defending the British soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre, his involvement as the leading proponent of American independence, his manuevering to have Washingotn appointed Commander-in-Chief, his role as a diplomat in France and Holland, resulting in Adams' key role in obtaining the Treaty of Ghent, establishing peace between the United States and Great Britain, his role as Ambassador to Britain, his role as the first Vice-President of the United States, his role as the secong President of the USA, his role in obtaining peace between the USA and France, and his role as a retired statesman, who would die on July 4th 1826, 50 years after the adoption of the Declaration of Independence. "John Adams" is not the most thouroughly detailed or unbiased of biographical histories. But it is intelligent and approachable. Further, we are blessed with the abundance of correspondence between Adams and the notables of his time, especially Thomas Jefferson. McCullough inevitably ends up comparing these 2 American giants who were so closely linked: Adams was crucial for bringing Jefferson on board the effort to write the Declaration, and Adams would be senior to Jefferson throughout much of their careers, until Jefferson would win the election of 1800, defeating Adams. Both men would die on the same day. Jefferson doesn't do well in McCullough's eye, coming across as a man who did not practice what he preached. Adams comes across quite well in this biography. But Adams own words, correspondence which he largely expected to be private, support McCullough's view of Adams as a man who was unappreciated by most of his contemporaries, and yet who was a true man of the people, a man who did practice what he preached. McCullough sheds light on the undeclared conflict with France, Adams role in the founding of the American Navy, and the truly vicious attacks of the press. The underhanded dealings and backstabbing that Adams sustained at the hands of Alexander Hamilton. This book drives home the living conditions of the age, and the sacrifices Adams made in the service of his country, acrifices which included years of seperation from his beloved wife, the remarkable Abigail. Yet we benefit from that separation by the correspondence between husband and wife. Although accused of being balanced in favor of Adams, there is nothing wrong with this affectionate yet acurate portrait of one of the most important of America's Founding Fathers. This is highly recommended reading, to be savored, not devoured.
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