John Adams by David McCullough Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of John Adams
Book Review: A Well Weaved Biography
Summary: 5 Stars
I am a huge biography fan, and this is one of the best I have read. McCullough brings out the excitement, intrigue, and interest that renowned but sadly overshadowed founding father Adams deserves. McCullough chiefly takes on the role of story teller rather than critical analyzer and it fits the flow of the 700 page read well. Lucky for McCullough Adams provides more than enough stories to work with. The first 200 pages although not boring are comparatively slow to the constant action throughout the latter 500. By mid way through however, it becomes hard to put this book down.
A basic but not necesarily detailed background in American History is advisable but not required. The one gripe may be the feeling that too many of the opinions shared about Adams's openents comes from McCullough rather than Adams. This is forgiveable in the context of McCullough often providing outside information unbeknowest to Adams about the many conundrums that he faced.
Adams although not a general, two term president, radical, or even veteran lived a life more exciting than most who have any of those traits. And, McCullough brings his enthralling story into a single volume that is fun, suspenseful, and more than worthy of all 700 pages.
Book Review: A Wonderful Book
Summary: 5 Stars
It has been said that "ignorance is bliss", and in my case it must be true. Considering some of the critical diatribes that have preceded my review I am gratefully unenlightened as regards the fineries of writing biographical history. I love this book precisely for some of the reasons previously stated by it's critics. McCullough takes me into the "the physical feel of Adams's life and times -- how it must have felt to ride horseback from Braintree, Massachusetts, to Philadelphia in January of 1776, for example" or enduring the insufferable heat, black flies and the deaths of thousands annually from smallpox epidemics. Mr. McCullough is indeed a great story teller and the context he provides in telling Adams story was/is fascinating to me. I could say much more on a positive note about the book but I will close by simply stating that I can open this book at any time to any page and have an enjoyable reading experience. Thank you for this wonderful book Mr. McCullough.Book Review: A bit thick
Summary: 2 Stars
Overrated.Boring. While 'Truman' was a masterpiece, this book does not represent McCulloughs finest hour.Book Review: A delight to read!
Summary: 5 Stars
I can't say enough good things about this book. David McCullough is truly an outstanding writer. This book was difficult to put down, which is saying a lot. I am currently reading Walter Isaacson's "Benjamin Franklin" and the two do not even begin to compare. This is an amazing account about a truly amazing American. Why can't today's politicians be more like John Adams? There is a lesson to be learned here--not just historical. We can all take something away from Adams' intellect, moral character, and commitment to family and country.Book Review: A fascinating character, but was he a great President?
Summary: 4 Stars
This book - one of many that came out in a recent flurry of books about the founders of the United States of America - paints Adams as the misunderstood giant among the American revolutionaries, and a greatly underestimated President. It is tempting, after reading this engaging and informative book, to buy into that conceit. But McCullough's book fails in the end, I think, to make the sale.
Not that McCullough fails to show that Adams was one of the three great revolutionaries of the period (Washington and Jefferson being the other two). McCullough admirably shows the reader Adams' central role in the American cause, and his efforts to keep the struggle alive by obtaining financing and support in foreign courts while Washington did his part by keeping the British army occupied in North America. Nor can one fault McCullough's efforts to bring an irascible and sometimes all-too-human and irritating character to life. The problem is that Adams clearly did his "best work" before and during the revolution, and his post-revolution career had little direct and lasting influence on the young nation. He was clearly out of his depth as President, adrift and ineffective in his one term, and after his wretched experience and bruising re-election defeat he essentially fled public life.
It is in his descriptions of Adams the private man that McCullough's book excels. Adams' self doubt and consciousness of his own foibles go a long way toward endearing him to us, and making the long tale of his post-Presidential exile (essentially a litany of health problems and private correspondence) hold our interest in McCullough's capable narrative. In the end, though, McCullough could not improve on Benjamin Franklin's one-sentence summation of Adams: "He means well for his country, is always an honest man, often a wise one, but sometimes and in some things, absolutely out of his senses."