John Adams

A David McCullough essential.

Read this book when it first came out. If you like history this is a good one.

Interesting to read about a neglected American hero.

Informative!

Thoroughly enjoyed this book, David McCullough makes the characters come alive as he presents their lives based on documented facts. His research is amazing.

The Pulitzer says it all. This is McCullough at his very best. It is clear that he is a John Adams fan, as I have become, but he presents Adams with all his “warts” as well as his remarkable character and talents (and Adams had his share of both). An informative and inspiring telling of the colonial period through the founding of the Republic and of the men and women to whom we owe so much – like Abigail, the love of his life (and most trusted advisor) and the “love-hate” relationship with Jefferson over the course of their public and private lives. Even if you are not a history enthusiast, you will find this an enjoyable read.

Provides indepth glimpse into history of our founding fathers, with a very
different perspective than books on Jefferson and Washington. Adams
book is inspiring, as is Adams later friendship with Jefferson. McCullough is a master at highlighting the threads of character and between individuals and
their impact on history. A book I’ve read more than once.

The intimate nature in which McCullough investigates the second president makes him feel every bit like the heroic character that he was during his time. Adams is portrayed as plucky, steadfast, ardent, loyal, honorable, and driven—all important traits that made him one of the most powerful figures in the founding and shaping of America. He was also a man fueled with energy and vigor, sage-like in his wisdom, and voracious in his pursuit of knowledge. With Washington and Jefferson mythically secured at the forefront of American history as the chief patriots of the Revolutionary period, McCullough reestablishes Adams’s instrumentality in every major event that led to the eventual independence of the colonies.

Adams proves to be no side-show influence. From his youth, he had a drive to succeed. He started his professional career as a lawyer, and when the war commenced, he became a polarizing figure with his decision to serve as the defense attorney for the British soldiers accused of the Boston Massacre. Soon thereafter, he found himself involved in the turmoil of politics and became a leader of the independence movement. He played an integral role in the Continental Congress and met face-to-face with General Howe to deliver the states’ refusal to compromise or capitulate to British sovereignty. When the war entered its darkest days, he was one of the few who stood confidently in his belief that independence would prevail. His often overlooked importance to the country was as an envoy to Europe during the great conflict. He helped influence treaties with the French and secure loans from the Dutch. These efforts helped ensure that the war was won.

Indeed, McCullough makes clear how vital his overseas missions were and how he worked tirelessly to establish relations with different allies. McCullough also points out how Adams was prescient about the need for a strong navy as a key tool of protection for the defense of the new republic. In drafting the Massachusetts state constitution, Adams had, in effect, set up the framework for the nation’s Constitution. And later as president, it was Adams who stood disciplined against France’s reign of terror and their pugnacity on the seas. As a political genius, Adams balanced the forces of the Federalists (who wanted war) against the Republicans (who wanted peace) when it came to a near outbreak of violence with France. Never one to waver, Adams always believed in peace foremost, and he aligned himself with the tools of compromise and negotiation. However, his politics led to one of the great schisms in American history: that of his fractured relationship with his good friend Thomas Jefferson.

McCullough handles this friendship with studious grace. One of the great pleasures of this biography is the recounting of that remarkable correspondence, which developed between Adams and Jefferson in their twilight years. McCullough is astute at chronicling their letter-sharing as one of the great instances of reconciliation and forgiveness in our nation’s early history. Adams was a man of gifted intelligence and understanding. He was tolerant, open to ideas, but nonetheless unbreakable in his vision of righteousness. He always set out to do what he thought was best for his country, and he never betrayed the cause of independence, freedom, and liberty. He stood for everything that has become the bedrock of American idealism: hard work, perseverance, and a determination to succeed.

McCullough’s biography must also be commended for its brilliance at investigating the extraordinary relationship of Adams with his beloved Abigail. McCullough quotes widely from their letters to show how she was a tireless supporter of her husband. It is touching to see how this relationship ranks as one of the most endearing in the history of our country. McCullough makes certain to include how Abigail’s wisdom, fortitude, and unstinting loyalty to Adams were unparalleled, not only for that era but for the sake of providing her husband with the confidence he needed to carry out his work as a founding father.

I’m only half-way through the book. It’s a long read, but so far, well worth spending the time. David McCullough, as all of the books of his that I have read, has done tremendous research to paint an entire picture of America in its infancy.
I don’t think that I will be disappointed reading the remaining half.

Excellent , detailed book about John Adams.