Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.28 AVERAGE
4.28 AVERAGE
top likes: the love between Abigail and John; John's passion for his country, and his integrity in the face of political ingratitude; the successful portrayal of our founding fathers as real people with faults, squabbles, small successes, and ups and downs; the writing and speaking chops of both Adams and Jefferson.
dislikes: at first the many quotes seemed overkill. some of those could have been condensed and narrated; not that I know what they could have left out, it could have been edited down
I disliked the politicking in the vice presidency and presidency years, but it was useful to learn about: the more things change, the more they remain the same.
dislikes: at first the many quotes seemed overkill. some of those could have been condensed and narrated; not that I know what they could have left out, it could have been edited down
I disliked the politicking in the vice presidency and presidency years, but it was useful to learn about: the more things change, the more they remain the same.
Incredibly detailed but it made me really appreciate the man. He seems to me one of our last true public servants and quite a contrast to Thomas Jefferson. Unfortunately, his abrasive personality didn't help matters much. Time has vindicated many of his views and I'm sure he would have enjoyed a good "I told you so." McCullough was thorough as always.
Though I am no expert in the subject, this is easily the best biography I've read. It goes into such detail without ever losing its pace, and it flows better than fiction novels a third its length. John and Abigail Adams' relationship makes me as proud to live in a country to have arisen through their efforts as nearly anything Adams and his frenemy Jefferson put in our founding documents.
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
John Adams was a fascinating man. Like most people he had personality flaws, but he seems to have had such amazing foresight and understanding. David McCullough makes Adams and his associates accessible. I feel as though I know them. After reading the book, I am struck by the discrepencies of the film. I think the film is true to the spirit of John Adams if many of the facts are incorrect. I think the film probably makes him more annoying than he was in real life, but HBO only had seven episodes, not 90 years to tell the story. Adams relationship with his wife is what impresses me most. After watching the miniseries, I was shocked at how little time they spent together, but when I read the book and realized it was even less time, I was amazed. I'm glad he has been brought back to our attention even if only for a little while. Adams sacrificed nearly everything for the creation of this country, and he deserves our respect. He, and Mr. McCullough, have mine!
informative
slow-paced
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
challenging
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
I have a goal to read a biography on every President. I've read a couple out of order, but I'm determined to read the rest in order. Obviously this is the second in the series.
Excellent! Amazing biography of an often skipped over founding father. McCullough keeps the book moving at a good pace and doesn't get nearly as fawning over his subject as some biographers do. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in this time period or in John Adams himself.
Excellent! Amazing biography of an often skipped over founding father. McCullough keeps the book moving at a good pace and doesn't get nearly as fawning over his subject as some biographers do. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in this time period or in John Adams himself.
This one is an uphill climb at times. John Adams left a lot of original material for biographers to work with, and I sometimes felt like McCullough would have been better off if he hadn't felt it necessary to include quite so much of Adams' own writings. Still, it's a worthwhile read, considering the detail it offers of Adams' substantial role, his unique perspective on the revolution, and the mark his intellect and character made on the early decades of the U.S.