John Adams
by: David McCullough
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Amazon.com Review:
Left to his own devices, John Adams might have lived out his days as a Massachusetts country lawyer, devoted to his family and friends. As it was, events swiftly overtook him, and Adams--who, David McCullough writes, was "not a man of the world" and not fond of politics--came to greatness as the second president of the United States, and one of the most distinguished of a generation of revolutionary leaders. He found reason to dislike sectarian wrangling even more in the aftermath of war, when Federalist and anti-Federalist factions vied bitterly for power, introducing scandal into an administration beset by other difficulties--including pirates on the high seas, conflict with France and England, and all the public controversy attendant in building a nation.
Overshadowed by the lustrous presidents Washington and Jefferson, whobracketed his tenure in office, Adams emerges from McCullough'sbrilliant biography as a truly heroic figure--not only for hissignificant role in the American Revolution but also for maintaininghis personal integrity in its strife-filled aftermath. McCulloughspends much of his narrative examining the troubled friendship betweenAdams and Jefferson, who had in common a love for books and ideas butdiffered on almost every other imaginable point. Reading his pages, itis easy to imagine the two as alter egos. (Strangely, both died on thesame day, the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.)But McCullough also considers Adams in his own light, and the portraitthat emerges is altogether fascinating. --Gregory McNamee
Product Description:
In this powerful, epic biography, David McCullough unfolds the adventurous life journey of John Adams, the brilliant, fiercely independent, often irascible, always honest Yankee patriot who spared nothing in his zeal for the American Revolution; who rose to become the second president of the United States and saved the country from blundering into an unnecessary war; who was learned beyond all but a few and regarded by some as "out of his senses"; and whose marriage to the wise and valiant Abigail Adams is one of the most moving love stories in American history.
This is history on a grand scale -- a book about politics and war and social issues, but also about human nature, love, religious faith, virtue, ambition, friendship, and betrayal, and the far-reaching consequences of noble ideas. Above all, John Adams is an enthralling, often surprising story of one of the most important and fascinating Americans who ever lived.
Left to his own devices, John Adams might have lived out his days as a Massachusetts country lawyer, devoted to his family and friends. As it was, events swiftly overtook him, and Adams--who, David McCullough writes, was "not a man of the world" and not fond of politics--came to greatness as the second president of the United States, and one of the most distinguished of a generation of revolutionary leaders. He found reason to dislike sectarian wrangling even more in the aftermath of war, when Federalist and anti-Federalist factions vied bitterly for power, introducing scandal into an administration beset by other difficulties--including pirates on the high seas, conflict with France and England, and all the public controversy attendant in building a nation.
Overshadowed by the lustrous presidents Washington and Jefferson, whobracketed his tenure in office, Adams emerges from McCullough'sbrilliant biography as a truly heroic figure--not only for hissignificant role in the American Revolution but also for maintaininghis personal integrity in its strife-filled aftermath. McCulloughspends much of his narrative examining the troubled friendship betweenAdams and Jefferson, who had in common a love for books and ideas butdiffered on almost every other imaginable point. Reading his pages, itis easy to imagine the two as alter egos. (Strangely, both died on thesame day, the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.)But McCullough also considers Adams in his own light, and the portraitthat emerges is altogether fascinating. --Gregory McNamee
Product Description:
In this powerful, epic biography, David McCullough unfolds the adventurous life journey of John Adams, the brilliant, fiercely independent, often irascible, always honest Yankee patriot who spared nothing in his zeal for the American Revolution; who rose to become the second president of the United States and saved the country from blundering into an unnecessary war; who was learned beyond all but a few and regarded by some as "out of his senses"; and whose marriage to the wise and valiant Abigail Adams is one of the most moving love stories in American history.
This is history on a grand scale -- a book about politics and war and social issues, but also about human nature, love, religious faith, virtue, ambition, friendship, and betrayal, and the far-reaching consequences of noble ideas. Above all, John Adams is an enthralling, often surprising story of one of the most important and fascinating Americans who ever lived.
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- oustanding account of Adams
This is the third book I have read dealing with the Revolution in recent months. I have to say this book is a must.Not only does it give a year by year month by month account of John Adams' public life but it does a good job of showing you the context in which it occurred in the newly forming country.
Besides Adams you also get a different look at Thomas Jefferson, who went from close friend to bitter rival back to friend, Benjamin Franklin in his later years, Alexander Hamilton and ... Read More
Rating: 
- Great book on a fascinating man
The American Revolution was a unique experiment conducted by a band of
colorful, courageous, and dedicated individuals.Primary among the founding
fathers was John Adams, although it appears sometimes that history has
passed him by.He was not as flamboyant as Benjamin Franklin; he did not
command armies and won battles as did George Washington; and he was not, as
some might say, as refined as Thomas Jefferson.But regardless, Adams left a
unique ... Read More
Rating: - A fascinating and entertaining bio of our second President
Most school children probably know John Adams was the second President of the United States, in between the more lauded George Washington and Thomas Jefferson; they probably also know that he was married to Abigail Adams, was the father of John Quincy Adams, the sixth President and that he signed The Declaration of Independence. For most of us that would be the sum total of our knowledge of one of our Founding Fathers. David McCullough has stepped in to reacquaint us with this fascinating portrait of Adams ... Read More
Rating: - Engaging
From start to finish this book was engaging. If you find yourself wondering about America's second president - who he was, how he got there, what his family life was like - I would recommend picking up this book. The writing is highly accessible, and at no point did I feel like the author was just filling pages with historical details. So many books become info dumps, but this wasn't one of them. Of all the founding fathers, Adams is now one of my favorites.
Rating: - Interesting Book
I recently finished this book. As a college graduate, I'm struck by my ignorance concerning our second President. Reading David McCullough's biography makes me feel like my history classes must have missed something, and I tend to agree with the author. Although he certainly takes a positive approach to Adams, I find little that he could have found serious fault with. His conduct during the revolution, both in Congress and Europe, was of extreme importance, and his service to his country (both the commonwealth ... Read More
- oustanding account of AdamsThis is the third book I have read dealing with the Revolution in recent months. I have to say this book is a must.Not only does it give a year by year month by month account of John Adams' public life but it does a good job of showing you the context in which it occurred in the newly forming country.
Besides Adams you also get a different look at Thomas Jefferson, who went from close friend to bitter rival back to friend, Benjamin Franklin in his later years, Alexander Hamilton and ... Read More
- Great book on a fascinating manThe American Revolution was a unique experiment conducted by a band of
colorful, courageous, and dedicated individuals.Primary among the founding
fathers was John Adams, although it appears sometimes that history has
passed him by.He was not as flamboyant as Benjamin Franklin; he did not
command armies and won battles as did George Washington; and he was not, as
some might say, as refined as Thomas Jefferson.But regardless, Adams left a
unique ... Read More
- A fascinating and entertaining bio of our second PresidentMost school children probably know John Adams was the second President of the United States, in between the more lauded George Washington and Thomas Jefferson; they probably also know that he was married to Abigail Adams, was the father of John Quincy Adams, the sixth President and that he signed The Declaration of Independence. For most of us that would be the sum total of our knowledge of one of our Founding Fathers. David McCullough has stepped in to reacquaint us with this fascinating portrait of Adams ... Read More
- EngagingFrom start to finish this book was engaging. If you find yourself wondering about America's second president - who he was, how he got there, what his family life was like - I would recommend picking up this book. The writing is highly accessible, and at no point did I feel like the author was just filling pages with historical details. So many books become info dumps, but this wasn't one of them. Of all the founding fathers, Adams is now one of my favorites.
- Interesting BookI recently finished this book. As a college graduate, I'm struck by my ignorance concerning our second President. Reading David McCullough's biography makes me feel like my history classes must have missed something, and I tend to agree with the author. Although he certainly takes a positive approach to Adams, I find little that he could have found serious fault with. His conduct during the revolution, both in Congress and Europe, was of extreme importance, and his service to his country (both the commonwealth ... Read More
