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4.28 AVERAGE
4.28 AVERAGE
Wow! A fabulous book, and a stupendous accomplishment to document in such detail yet still in such readable prose the life and times of John Adams. The times, too, were interesting not so different from today although clearly Adams was a rare breed of brilliance and honesty that we could use more of these days.
This Pulitzer Prize winning biography by David McCullough has become a classic work. John Adams is one of the most interesting and, before this book was published, one of the least known of the Founding Fathers. Born to a farmer in Braintree, Massachusetts Adams went to Harvard and then studied law. He became a respected attorney in the Boston area. He met and married the brilliant Abigail Smith he proceeded to and they produced four children who lived to maturity. From there his career took off. He defended the British soldiers who fired on a mob. He served in both Continental Congresses. He served on the diplomatic mission to France. While in Europe he helped to secure loans from Dutch bankers to keep the American Revolution going. He served on the peace commission. He was named the first ambassador to Great Britain. Returning home he become the first Vice-President and the second President of the United States.
McCullough bring out the brilliant and irascible character of Adams. Adams was brilliant. In fact he was one of the most brilliant men of his age. A man of passionate and fiery temper he often rubbed people the wrong way. He was well known as one of the great orators of his time. His speeches on behalf of Independence helped to lead the way to the Declaration of Independence. As brilliant as he was as a thinker and a speaker he always seemed to have a hard time getting his thoughts on to paper. He tended to write material that was long and rambling. He also never seemed to grasp that other people were not as well read as himself, nor were they capable of understanding some of the subtleties of his thought. A thoroughly practical man he seemed to not understand that he lived in a day of rhetoric and idealism.
The period that Adams lived in and helped to define was a complex period. New ideas were coming together that would change the world forever. So many things that we take for granted, the idea of individual rights, freedom of speech, even freedom of thought, were not accepted as the norm. In fact many believed that a society founded on such ideas was considered dangerous and unlikely to succeed.
As alway, McCullough's prose is masterful. He has the writer's gift of making complex issues come alive and seem easy to understand. So many scenes remain with you. You can see the rage of the mob and the fear of the British soldiers as they fire on the crowd at the Boston Massacre. You feel the cramped and stuffy conditions of the Congress as it debates the idea of independence. Most of all you get to know the characters. You get to know, and love the irascible Adams. You get to know his brilliant wife, Abigail, who was the great love of his life. So many other people come out. You feel the friendship that he had with Thomas Jefferson. You feel the pain that he felt when Jefferson chose party ideology over friendship. The pain that his children, except for his oldest son John Quincy, brought to him is heartbreaking. If you have never read this book you should do so. It is a brilliant work of history, and a wonderful work of literature.
McCullough bring out the brilliant and irascible character of Adams. Adams was brilliant. In fact he was one of the most brilliant men of his age. A man of passionate and fiery temper he often rubbed people the wrong way. He was well known as one of the great orators of his time. His speeches on behalf of Independence helped to lead the way to the Declaration of Independence. As brilliant as he was as a thinker and a speaker he always seemed to have a hard time getting his thoughts on to paper. He tended to write material that was long and rambling. He also never seemed to grasp that other people were not as well read as himself, nor were they capable of understanding some of the subtleties of his thought. A thoroughly practical man he seemed to not understand that he lived in a day of rhetoric and idealism.
The period that Adams lived in and helped to define was a complex period. New ideas were coming together that would change the world forever. So many things that we take for granted, the idea of individual rights, freedom of speech, even freedom of thought, were not accepted as the norm. In fact many believed that a society founded on such ideas was considered dangerous and unlikely to succeed.
As alway, McCullough's prose is masterful. He has the writer's gift of making complex issues come alive and seem easy to understand. So many scenes remain with you. You can see the rage of the mob and the fear of the British soldiers as they fire on the crowd at the Boston Massacre. You feel the cramped and stuffy conditions of the Congress as it debates the idea of independence. Most of all you get to know the characters. You get to know, and love the irascible Adams. You get to know his brilliant wife, Abigail, who was the great love of his life. So many other people come out. You feel the friendship that he had with Thomas Jefferson. You feel the pain that he felt when Jefferson chose party ideology over friendship. The pain that his children, except for his oldest son John Quincy, brought to him is heartbreaking. If you have never read this book you should do so. It is a brilliant work of history, and a wonderful work of literature.
History is a passion of mine, so I’m sad to report that I left this fine volume on my shelf for years after my father gave it to me for Christmas. I was completely blown away by Adams resolute character and McCullough’s masterful storytelling.
The story of America through Adams’ eyes rekindled my absolute appreciation for this land, whatever troubles befall us today.
Also, biography is a mirror of the soul, and I feel like I know myself and my motivations better for having encountered Adams. This book set the standard for popular history.
The story of America through Adams’ eyes rekindled my absolute appreciation for this land, whatever troubles befall us today.
Also, biography is a mirror of the soul, and I feel like I know myself and my motivations better for having encountered Adams. This book set the standard for popular history.
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Very interesting book about one of the greats of American history. I learned a lot about just how tenuous the country and government was during the early years and how men like Adams, Jefferson, and Washington held it together.
The letters written between John Adams and his wife Abigail during there times apart are some of the most amazing ever written. Did people really speak like that back then?
The letters written between John Adams and his wife Abigail during there times apart are some of the most amazing ever written. Did people really speak like that back then?
Poor guy just wanted to tend to his farm and instead became the most berated and disrespected Founding Father despite being the most committed to America's success.
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
adventurous
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
John Adams is one of if not the most underrated figures in American history. He is constantly overshadowed by others from his time like Washington, Jefferson, Franklin, and Hamilton despite playing just as crucial a role in the founding of the United States. He was at the forefront of events and at many times took the lead in advancing the cause of American independence at great personal cost. For this, he deserves to be celebrated just as much as any of the American founding fathers, and this biography does a great job in giving him his due. It’s an extremely well written book that brings the story of Adams and his family to life, and is in my opinion one of the best works to read for anyone interested in the American Revolution and early U.S. history. It also does a great job of detailing the lives of Abigail Adams and John Quincy, both of whom also played monumental roles during this time period.
Extremely interesting and David McCullough writes a biography like a novel so it keeps your interest (even though it's a hefty read). I really learned so much that I never knew about how important John Adams was - and all of the relationships between those names that we all know but might not know much about (George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, etc.). Plus, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both died on July 4, 1826 (50th anniversary) - how did they never throw that fun fact at us when we were in junior high?!