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lazy_raven's review against another edition
4.0
A lot of information and not boring (for the most part).
sarahanne8382's review against another edition
4.0
4.5
Thankfully this biography did not focus on John Quincy Adams's presidency, which was a rough period in an otherwise fascinating life and distinguished career in the service of the United States. As a lover of all things presidential, I had no idea how cool John Quincy Adams was. As a teenager he taught English to French diplomats during an Atlantic crossing. He was then sent to Russia as a secretary to the U.S. ambassador there as the start of a stunning diplomatic career. After his presidency, he served in the House of Representatives as a crusading abolitionist, paving the way for Abraham Lincoln and the Republican Party, and died on the floor of the House shortly after a crucial vote.
This was my first book by Harlow Giles Unger. He's certainly entertaining, maybe not the most historically rigorous, but he definitely piqued my interest in John Quincy Adams. I may let him give an engaging history of other Founding Fathers
Thankfully this biography did not focus on John Quincy Adams's presidency, which was a rough period in an otherwise fascinating life and distinguished career in the service of the United States. As a lover of all things presidential, I had no idea how cool John Quincy Adams was. As a teenager he taught English to French diplomats during an Atlantic crossing. He was then sent to Russia as a secretary to the U.S. ambassador there as the start of a stunning diplomatic career. After his presidency, he served in the House of Representatives as a crusading abolitionist, paving the way for Abraham Lincoln and the Republican Party, and died on the floor of the House shortly after a crucial vote.
This was my first book by Harlow Giles Unger. He's certainly entertaining, maybe not the most historically rigorous, but he definitely piqued my interest in John Quincy Adams. I may let him give an engaging history of other Founding Fathers
rexsavior's review against another edition
5.0
In reading through the Presidents, I wonder if I've perhaps been introduced to the best of them in this book. I turn with despair to those next in line: Jackson, Van Buren, Harrison, Tyler.
jimmacsyr's review against another edition
4.0
Very enjoyable. The description of party intrigues duringthe Madison and second Adams administrations reminded me of many current campaign arguments. It was also instructive to read about how Adams perceived pursuing office vs Andrew Jackson. It is also consoling to see how his poor presidency is just a prelude to an effective congressional career. His career as a lawyer, statesman, president, and congressman is truly impressive.
wescovington's review against another edition
4.0
I was pleasantly surprised by this bio of the 6th President. Mostly because, it really isn't all that much about his Presidency, but more about the very rich life of a Founding Son (as it were) of the country.
Born into what would become the powerful Adams political family, John Quincy Adams (it's pronounced QUINZEE), got started very early in the world of international diplomacy serving as a secretary to the American minister to Russia during the Revolution while a teenager. He got the job because he spoke French, the language of the Russian court.
Then it was on to Harvard (who wouldn't accept him at first because they didn't think he knew enough Greek and also because the president of Harvard at the time was an idiot), then varying attempts at a law practice. He had a short term in the Senate but ran afoul of the Federalists and lost his seat.
Back to diplomacy, where Adams eventually landed the prized spot, minister to Britain. This led to him later becoming Secretary of State under James Monroe, where he helped formulate the Monroe Doctrine.
Then, Adams, because people thought he should President, became President in 1824, even though he finished second in BOTH the popular and electoral votes that year. But the election was a deadlock and he won in the House.
As President, NOBODY liked him. And he wasn't all that likable. His four years were dismal and Andrew Jackson soundly beat him in 1828.
Then, Adams hit his stride when he was elected to the House. He became one of the greatest Representatives in history. His politics became stridently abolitionist, in a time when Congress had formal rules to prevent even the mention of the word slavery. He defended the Africans who had mutinied against the crew of the slave ship Amistad. He became the conscience of the House. And he died in the Capitol.
America is unlikely to ever have another John Quincy Adams. And perhaps the lesson from this book is that if you think someone should be President because "it's their time" maybe that's not the case. Some people are not Presidential material, but can help the country in other ways. John Quincy Adams gets an A for diplomacy, A for legislating, and probably a C as a President. So, a 3.33 lifetime GPA isn't bad.
Born into what would become the powerful Adams political family, John Quincy Adams (it's pronounced QUINZEE), got started very early in the world of international diplomacy serving as a secretary to the American minister to Russia during the Revolution while a teenager. He got the job because he spoke French, the language of the Russian court.
Then it was on to Harvard (who wouldn't accept him at first because they didn't think he knew enough Greek and also because the president of Harvard at the time was an idiot), then varying attempts at a law practice. He had a short term in the Senate but ran afoul of the Federalists and lost his seat.
Back to diplomacy, where Adams eventually landed the prized spot, minister to Britain. This led to him later becoming Secretary of State under James Monroe, where he helped formulate the Monroe Doctrine.
Then, Adams, because people thought he should President, became President in 1824, even though he finished second in BOTH the popular and electoral votes that year. But the election was a deadlock and he won in the House.
As President, NOBODY liked him. And he wasn't all that likable. His four years were dismal and Andrew Jackson soundly beat him in 1828.
Then, Adams hit his stride when he was elected to the House. He became one of the greatest Representatives in history. His politics became stridently abolitionist, in a time when Congress had formal rules to prevent even the mention of the word slavery. He defended the Africans who had mutinied against the crew of the slave ship Amistad. He became the conscience of the House. And he died in the Capitol.
America is unlikely to ever have another John Quincy Adams. And perhaps the lesson from this book is that if you think someone should be President because "it's their time" maybe that's not the case. Some people are not Presidential material, but can help the country in other ways. John Quincy Adams gets an A for diplomacy, A for legislating, and probably a C as a President. So, a 3.33 lifetime GPA isn't bad.
adamrshields's review against another edition
5.0
Short Review: This is an excellent short biography of John Quincy Adams. Adams was not particularly lucky in life, but he did accomplish much in spite of having really bad timing. The section on the presidency is probably a bit too short, but that was not the most interesting part of Adams' life, so the shortness makes sense.
There are all kind of parallels between JQA's time and our own that may or may have any validity. But over and over again I kept thinking 'that its just like xxx (modern political person or problem).' I did not have a great historical background on this time period so I learned quite a bit.
My full review (over 1000 words) is on my blog at http://bookwi.se/john-quincy-adam/
There are all kind of parallels between JQA's time and our own that may or may have any validity. But over and over again I kept thinking 'that its just like xxx (modern political person or problem).' I did not have a great historical background on this time period so I learned quite a bit.
My full review (over 1000 words) is on my blog at http://bookwi.se/john-quincy-adam/
ecs_etera's review against another edition
4.0
Head and shoulders better than the one he wrote on James Monroe, but Unger still takes unpardonable liberties with objective facts.
momlovesbooks17's review against another edition
4.0
I didn't know much about John Quincy Adams before listening to this book. It was informative and I enjoyed the narrator's voice. It sounds like John Quincy didn't accomplish much as President. People believed he had stolen the presidency through a backroom deal with Henry Clay. It seems like he accomplished more in the House of Representatives after he was President. He was staunchly anti-slavery. Will have to read some other books by Unger.