Scan barcode
treylusk's review
5.0
This is exactly what i want to see from an historical writing. What this book did is through the lives of the two first northern presidents the author represented their unique believes and then applied them to ourselves. Used the lost knowledge of the less popular founders that has been a side show of the American story from the beginning without depicting them as the caricatures that most know them asa.
jimmacsyr's review
5.0
Excellent book. Enlightening and discouraging to see the party systems and thinking developed so quickly. Well written and read (audio book).
sophronisba's review against another edition
4.0
Really 3 1/2 stars, but my love of Abigail Adams compels me to round up. (Yes, I realize she was problematic. I love her anyway.) The thesis of this book is that the early colonists' failure to appreciate the Adamses reveals a flaw in the American political system--specifically, that presidential elections tend to overemphasize the "common touch" at the expense of education and experience. Given the extensive research I tend to think this book had to have been in the works pre-Trump, but certainly the argument gained an added resonance when he was elected president.
I am sympathetic to this premise. Nonetheless, I am not totally sold. The elder Adams had a number of flaws; one could argue that his famously thin skin and short fuse made him temperamentally unsuited to the presidency, "common touch" or no. Similarly, the younger Adams could be grumpy and high-handed. Was he preferable to Andrew Jackson? Almost certainly. But I couldn't help but feel there was probably a third alternative in 1824 who would have been preferable to both, but possessed neither a gift for populist rabble-rousing nor a famous name and highbrow education.
In short, although I agree that the United States overrewards folksy, "tell'em like it is" rhetoric, it's hard for me to view the aristocratic, privileged Adamses--who, after all, both got to be president--as victims.
I am sympathetic to this premise. Nonetheless, I am not totally sold. The elder Adams had a number of flaws; one could argue that his famously thin skin and short fuse made him temperamentally unsuited to the presidency, "common touch" or no. Similarly, the younger Adams could be grumpy and high-handed. Was he preferable to Andrew Jackson? Almost certainly. But I couldn't help but feel there was probably a third alternative in 1824 who would have been preferable to both, but possessed neither a gift for populist rabble-rousing nor a famous name and highbrow education.
In short, although I agree that the United States overrewards folksy, "tell'em like it is" rhetoric, it's hard for me to view the aristocratic, privileged Adamses--who, after all, both got to be president--as victims.
rox74's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
4.0
If you are interested in early American history, in particular their early presidents, you'd find this book interesting. Initially I was drawn to the book because I was intrigued by the notion of 'the problem of democracy' and 'the cult of personality', but the book is mostly about the two Adams presidents. These two men are usually depicted quite negatively, however, this book gives you a more accurate picture of the Adams presidents - their personal life, their work and influence, and their key concerns for the republic. Amongst these concerns was the dangerous political slide towards demoagoguery. At 500+ pages, this book takes commitment and interest, but it's well worth the read.
wesley070's review against another edition
5.0
This was a fairly dense examination of the Presidents Adams. If you're a total U.S. [political] history nerd and JQA fanatic like me, you'll love it. Though I do have to critique - it drags often at times. What is redeeming to me (and gave this book a five-star rating from me) is the final chapter which summarizes and synthesizes the many ideas presented throughout the book. It offers a stunning message and captures both the political dynamism of the new Republic as well as an examination of what this means for contemporary America. If you're looking for biography, this is not your book. But if you're looking for a sweeping examination of America's legacy from the Presidents Adams you are certain to find it here.
More...