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Summary: Truly a heroic figure.
Review: One of the most important and fascinating Americans who ever lived and one of the most distinguished of a generation of revolutionary leaders. Much of the book is examining the troubled friendship between Adams and Jefferson during powerhouse conflicts with France and England. Adams emerges, as a truly heroic figure as Adams' greatest accomplishment as president, was the peace his administration brought to the land. This book is a one of the most moving love stories in American history and a biography that deserves its place on every Americans bookshelf. FinancialNeeds.com
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Summary: Another Pulitzer?
Review: A new biography by David McCullough is always an event worth anticipating. With 'John Adams' McCullough has, however, given us his masterpiece. In this book he opens a door which we step through and are transported to the world and characters that made the American Revolution. McCullough maintains a level of interest, detail and characterization that I cannot recall in any other biography. John and Abigail Adams lived long and eventful lives and their candid letters and other writings have been largely preserved. This provides a great canvas for the author to work upon, and he makes the most of it. Of all the fascinating themes in this work, Adams' long and changing relationship with Thomas Jefferson is perhaps one of the best. Jefferson's character is used as something of a foil to that of Adams, and Jefferson comes off second best. I cannot recommend this book too highly...a terrific read!
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Summary: Biographers Should keep their distance
Review: I usually like McCullough's work, but am disappointed in this one. McCullough seems to have become infatuated with Adams, therefore he highlights his good points (admittedly there are many) and so minimizes his errors that the result is historical distortion and misrepresentation. McCullough completely fails his job as biographer in minimizing the dangerous Alien and Sedition Acts. Adams signed this anti-democratic tyrannical bills and must be held accountable. McCullough sloughs them off as though they are piffle. Clearly, he is not thinking as clearly as he usually does.
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Summary: An inspiring and entertaining read.
Review: David McCullough biography of John Adams is extremely entertaining and easy to read. He superbly weaves the story of Adams' life and family with the founding of the United States. He leaves you with an excellent view of the man and his times. This book reads much more like a novel than a history and kept me entertained and interested throughout it's 600+ pages. I would highly recomend this to anyone who has an interest in learning of the intentions of the founding fathers and the sacrifices they endured to see them through.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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