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3.51 AVERAGE
3.51 AVERAGE
A good look at Sam Adams life. He was a revolutionary but forgotten because he didn't know how to form government. The author glosses over the major events and looks more at the man and his actions.
As Americans, just about all of us grow up learning about the Boston massacre, the Boston tea party, and Paul Revere's famous ride. We also learn about famous revolutionary figures such as Washington and John Adams. John's older cousin is slightly less remembered.
Stacy Schiff's new biography of the man is meticulously researched. The typical US History textbooks only quickly touch on subjects such as the Stamp Act and the aforementioned Boston massacre and Boston tea party. This is the first time I have read about the early rebellion years that pre-dated the actual revolution. And this is the first time I have read any detail about Samuel Adams role during those years.
Adams was a bit of a muckraker and was a pro at utilizing misinformation to stir the public. His tactics would rub most of us the wrong way today. In fact he would fit in nicely with the so called newsman and journalists that we see today on CNN or FoxNews. But he was also a man of principle, a firebrand, and a man who was ahead of his time in policy (see his proposal of a Bill of Rights in the constitution and his insistence on ending the slave trade). Schiff was correct to think that we were in need of a new biography of the man.
What stood out to me the most was the mob approach used by Bostonians during the rebellion years. Today we talk about the need to quell the mob mentality that leads to destruction of property, but Bostonians destroyed Thomas Hutchinson's home entirely because of his loyalty to the crown. No wonder US textbooks largely gloss over those years.
Schiff also gives us a lively account of other key contributors during the rebellion years such as John Hancock (bit of a dandy) and Thomas Hutchinson. An impressive work by Schiff. Low four stars.
Stacy Schiff's new biography of the man is meticulously researched. The typical US History textbooks only quickly touch on subjects such as the Stamp Act and the aforementioned Boston massacre and Boston tea party. This is the first time I have read about the early rebellion years that pre-dated the actual revolution. And this is the first time I have read any detail about Samuel Adams role during those years.
Adams was a bit of a muckraker and was a pro at utilizing misinformation to stir the public. His tactics would rub most of us the wrong way today. In fact he would fit in nicely with the so called newsman and journalists that we see today on CNN or FoxNews. But he was also a man of principle, a firebrand, and a man who was ahead of his time in policy (see his proposal of a Bill of Rights in the constitution and his insistence on ending the slave trade). Schiff was correct to think that we were in need of a new biography of the man.
What stood out to me the most was the mob approach used by Bostonians during the rebellion years. Today we talk about the need to quell the mob mentality that leads to destruction of property, but Bostonians destroyed Thomas Hutchinson's home entirely because of his loyalty to the crown. No wonder US textbooks largely gloss over those years.
Schiff also gives us a lively account of other key contributors during the rebellion years such as John Hancock (bit of a dandy) and Thomas Hutchinson. An impressive work by Schiff. Low four stars.
Schiff states at the beginning that S. Adams was rather determined not to be remembered and left many, many archival gaps. The momentous effort to fill those gaps and speak about what we do know in order to shine a light on the life and work of someone that even I (a history buff who went through a very lengthy period of obsession with colonial America) know best as beer is worth the five stars alone, but this book is also gripping and thoughtfully composed. It only took me as long as it did to finish it because I had to briefly return it to the library.
I absolutely loved this book. With that being said, it was so hard to read! The style of writing made it, for me, hard to read but, worth the struggle! I am so glad I did not give up on it (I almost did). Now I just want to read more about Samuel Adams and more from this author.
I confess I knew little to nothing abut Samuel Adams (besides the beer) until I began a long (and at times arduous) journey to get to know more about him. First... this book is long and it has so much information that it feels even longer! Like most history, it is not all tied up neatly with a bow at the end, but ... imo... that is a good thing.
If you don't know much about the role that Massachusetts (and specifically Boston) played in the founding/early days/years of our country - this is a good place to start! And yet, while this book is no doubt a very good unveiling of Samuel Adams, it at times dragged on. It is not a "light listen"... if I had been reading with my eyes though, I doubt I would have finished it. And as history does repeat itself, there is a clear outline for what we have been experiencing today.
It does not take a majority to prevail ... but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men.
Very much recommended for lovers of history.
If you don't know much about the role that Massachusetts (and specifically Boston) played in the founding/early days/years of our country - this is a good place to start! And yet, while this book is no doubt a very good unveiling of Samuel Adams, it at times dragged on. It is not a "light listen"... if I had been reading with my eyes though, I doubt I would have finished it. And as history does repeat itself, there is a clear outline for what we have been experiencing today.
It does not take a majority to prevail ... but rather an irate, tireless minority, keen on setting brushfires of freedom in the minds of men.
Very much recommended for lovers of history.
challenging
informative
slow-paced
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
informative
medium-paced
adventurous
informative
inspiring
fast-paced