John Adams

Rating:
Summary: Moving history at it's best!
Review: I was thoroughly enjoying this read (although I admit to getting bogged down in a couple of places), and was very impressed with some of the insight Adams had regarding a two-party system, slavery, the future of America, observations about Europe, and many other thoughtful comments and opinions. For me the book really took flight after Adams' presidency. It was an amazing life that Adams lived, but it was not one without many trials and tragedies. McCullough captures the emotion and intimacy of friendship with Jefferson and Rush; the lifelong partnership with a noble wife, Abigail; the frustrations, failures, and concerns for children and grand-children, and much more I had not anticipated. This book has given me greater appreciation and insight into what the founding fathers accomplished in the 'birthing' of the United States. It was a birth we seem to take for granted, but clearly there were many tenuous moments early on, which Adams helped trememndously to overcome. I love reading history books, but this one has moved me, challenged me, and enlightened me more than most of the books I have read.

Rating:
Summary: Amazing, even under pressure of school
Review: I read McCulloch's book as the topic for an high school English term paper after seeing it atop New York Times Bestseller lists for a while and all I can say is wow! What an amazing book, definitely one of my favorites. The truth is, and one will realize after reading this book, that the majority of Jefferson's accomplishments were built upon the foundation of Adams' presidency. Adams was obstinately stubborn and moralistic and even opposed his own cabinet in favor of the greater good of the country. McCulloch is an extremely gifted writer, and while the book is very long and at sometimes slow, if you are interested in our founding fathers, American history, or anything even remotely related to this period in time, you will love this book. I know I did, and I had deadlines to meet, something which often makes a book less enjoyable. Its no wonder McCulloch won the Pulitzer Prize for this masterpiece (As well as 1993's Truman).

Rating:
Summary: Great Biography!
Review: John Adams is a great biography of our second president and first Vice-President. Author David MacCullough portrays John Adams as a family man. He illustrates the fact that Adam's true ambition was to lead a good and honest life. There disappointments for Adams, the early deaths of at least two children,one still born, and a poor term as president. The thing that John Adams most regretted is that he could not spend much time with his family during the years of service to his country. David MacCullough explains the trials and joys of an American leader. Edward Herrmann's great reading voice adds much to this book. This would be great for someone who wants to learn more about John Adams.

Rating:
Summary: A fascinating history
Review: I had thought of John Adams as the cranky old man stuck between two "star" presidents. This book gave me deep inside to this man, and I was quite impressed. Now I know there were three "stars" in a row.

Rating:
Summary: A great contribution to history
Review: Dr. McCullough has continued his roll. ADAMS is another effort which, though scholarly, is prosaic enough to rivet almost any undergraduate to a library chair on drown night. The Professor emphasizes that Adams was honest almost to a fault. McCullough also debunks some of the idolatry surround Adams's colleagues, namely Jefferson. He also includes just the right amount of gossip: Franklin's chess playing with bathing françaises, and the President's response to his son's drunkeness (Adams eighty-sixed him) were particularly well placed. A splendid mixture overall.

Rating:
Summary: Incredible insight into the life of a founding father
Review: David McCullough did a wonderful job of giving the reader insight into the life and experiences of an American hero. The story is told with great objectivity and candor into what made John Adams tick. Some of Adams' biggest short-comings became his greatest assets. This man gave 45 years of public service to the country he and others created. With his New England work ethic and a voracious appetite of knowledge, Adams helped form a government that has become the envy of the world. I thouroughly enjoyed this book. McCullough has put John Adams on my hero list.

Rating:
Summary: Another Masterpiece for McCullough
Review: Another Masterpiece for McCullough
David McCullough is America's greatest historical writer and this holds up to the traditional he set with Truman and Path Between the Seas. A Masterpiece. For those of us who never spent a lot of time studying John Adams and bought into the myth that he was arrogant , it was really a revelation.

Don McNay ...

Rating:
Summary: The very best book I have ever read.
Review: My admiration for John Adams grew after reading the book.
Much credit is due him for the freedoms we enjoy today.
Sorry to say, my admiration for Jefferson diminished. Adams was a "down to earth" person, while Jefferson was lofty and during Adams bid for a second term, rather deceitful using others to help him win the election who "crucified" an honorable man. This a must read for all senior high school students. I read this book in one week-just couldn't put it down.

Rating:
Summary: John Adams by David McCullough
Review: Being the grandson of a Prime Minister, and the son of an Ambassador, I can relate to many of the trials and tribulations great men like President John Adams and his family experienced.

Much praise has been given to Mr. McCullough for his literary masterpiece already, and any additional encomiums would be but superfluous.

A must read for all those interested in Politics and History especially today's world leaders. "If we don't learn from history, we are bound to repeat it's mistakes."

Rating:
Summary: A Great Read, but ...
Review: What a wonderful read! McCullough presents John Adams an authentic human being and at the same time attempts to let us know why he was so: his partnership with his wife, his love for his children, his authentically Christian background, his honesty, his perseverance in the face of nearly insurmountable opposition, his sense of humor, his compassion, etc.
To some it may seem mean-spirited to find fault with this magnificent biography of one of the more important of the founding fathers of the United States of America. Still there is one incident McCullough misrepresents: I refer to the embassy sent to "Canada" (the mission was actually to Quebec, known to have little love for England) to secure support for the Revolution. Although he writes of the failure of this attempt, McCullough neglects to say why it had no success, and the answer is clear: Quebec feared that an American victory would involve the loss of its freedom to practice its Catholic religion!
Unfortunately it is not well known, and certainly not taught in most history courses, that freedom of religion was not practiced in the Thirteen Colonies; even after the revolution, religious freedom was by no means universal.
As far as this biography is concerned, this is certainly a minor point; but it is not something Americans should ever forget.