John Adams by David McCullough Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of John Adams
Book Review: An excellent account of an important historic figure .
Summary: 5 Stars
David McCullough has written a highly elegant and descriptive book about a man whose name , John Adams , should be as well known as some of his contemporaries such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson . If only more historians wrote with the same highly readable prose as McCullough then I feel that many more people would have studied history at school . The book uses much source material by way of Adams' and his wife's letters and is incorporated into the text in a natural way by the author . Many historical events that were influenced by Adams are described in interesting detail , such as the negiotiations with the European powers during the United States' struggle for independance . The book is so sympathetic to both Adams and also to his very notable wife that one can be forgiven for wondering whether the individuals described were really so special . It seems again however that there is ample evidence for this . One confusing element remains Jefferson , who does come over as being a much lesser character than his reputation might suggest . In conclusion I enjoyed the book for its history and read it like a novel .Book Review: Duty, Honor, and Action!
Summary: 5 Stars
John Adams as a subject and David McCullough as a biographer were made for one another. Adams was a prolific letter writer and essayist whose wife, family, and friends also wrote a great deal. With so much raw material from and about Adams to choose from, McCullough could emphasize his obvious talent for creating a smooth narration through simply connecting the most pertinent written materials authored by the key figures. Most people who read this book will gain three important lessons:
(1) even the most successful people look to their personal lives for their real satisfaction;
(2) exploring deep relationships with remarkable people is far more rewarding than knowing lots of people; and
(3) serious mistakes and antagonisms will dog even the most successful person, so you have to take yourself with a large grain of salt.
John Adams is eclipsed in most histories of the Revolutionary period by the story line of building the new republic, and the lives of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. As a result, your perception of John Adams probably is limited to his role in defending the British soldiers after the Boston Massacre, encouraging the break with Britain, his ambassadorships, and the passage of the Alien and Sedition Acts during his presidency. From that, you will have a perception of a man who saw his best days in 1776 and may wonder vaguely how his son became the 6th president.
If you are like me, this book will totally change that perspective. His best days were clearly those after he left the presidency when he could enjoy private life as a farmer. His son was raised from a small boy for public life, accompanying his father to France for diplomatic service during the Revolution. John Adams also had a talent for making tough decisions that showed up well in his encouragement of George Washington to become commander-in-chief, his advocacy for the Revolution, selecting Thomas Jefferson to draft the Declaration of Independence, his steadfastness in finding allies in Europe regardless of protocol, his steady focus on getting sea power for the United States, and his attempts to avoid war with France while president.
On the other hand, his style made him frequently misunderstood. He believed so passionately in his ideas that he often offended people by the vigor of his pursuit of them. From those extreme actions, people assumed that he had secret, extreme views in favor of authority and monarchy . . . which was probably not the case. Mr. McCullough is probably a little too gentle in forgiving Adams for his sometimes offensive ways because of the purity of his intentions.
His life also helps anyone better understand American history because he was bedeviled by communications and travels delays more than any other American of his day. Decisions about politics normally had to be made in light of limited and out-of-date information. So the man on the spot had to use his best judgment. Many interesting examples of this are well covered in the book.
In many ways, this book is almost a triple biography of Adams, his wife Abigail, and Thomas Jefferson. The interactions of the three are the most interesting parts of the book. Clearly they were among the very most talented of their age, and you get to see how the relationships formed, were put under pressure by public life and politics, and reasserted themselves with leisure and retirement.
My main complaint about the book is that Mr. McCullough could have included a lot more about the implications of what Adams believed and did. For example, although Adams was like Washington and wanted there to be no political parties, his presidency saw that unhappy event occur. How could Adams have helped maintain the consensus that there should be no parties? Clearly, he would have had to have been more active in cleansing his own Federalist supporters . . . which would have required a break with Washington's choices. Adams also kept us out of a war with France. However, would such a war have likely been very serious for the United States? France was well occupied at the time fending off every monarchy in Europe. So, although the book raises many delicious subjects like that, you will have to think them through on your own. That's a good way to learn to think independently, so this is a blessing in disguise.
Another limitation of the book is that Adams is forgiven too easily for the Federalists passage of the Alien and Sedition Acts, which clearly could have destroyed our civil liberties. How could someone who had fought for liberty do anything other than oppose such legislation with every ounce of his strength?
After you finish reading this fine history, I suggest that you think about how you could learn from the example of John Adams. What did he do well that you need to do better? What virtues do you have that he lacked?
Even in the midst of crisis, be sure to notice and enjoy the wonder of life all around you!
Book Review: A classic!
Summary: 5 Stars
There are so many great things about Mr. McCullough's latest work that it would be hard to list them all. The very best thing about this book is Mr. McCullough's writing style. He has, I understand, received some bad reviews from some so called "professional" historians. I have an advanced degree in history and have read some of these "professional" works. Even I find these books and articles are often dry and hard to read. Most readers simply don't even try to read these works. What good does a well researched work do if it lays on the shelf and gathers dust? Mr. McCullough does the research and then writes in a way that often makes it very hard to put the book down.Another fine point about this book is that one almost gets four stories for the price of one. Not only does one get the story of John Adams but also his wonderful wife. A remarkable person in her own right. The reader also gets a great deal of information about Thomas Jefferson and the early life of John Q. Adams.
In my opinion there are two real tests of a biography beyond the obvious need for facts. First; does the book shed new light on its subject? This book rises to that test with flying colors. When I read Mr. McCullough's "Truman" I started out with a very positive impression of its subject. I had rather negative feelings for Adams before reading this book. I now find that John Adams has often been faulted for many things beyond his control. I also find that my feelings about Adams have changed a great deal.
The second test is a more personal one. If the book has made me feel like I really know someone, like a close neighbor or friend I will feel a sense of loss when I read of the subject's death. At the end of this book I felt the loss deeply. It was as if I had known John Adams for years. Thank you David McCullough. You have given me a new friend.
Book Review: Excellent work
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is an astounding piece of non-fiction that should be read by anyone with even a passing interest in revolutionary America. The details included by the author are superb including the very close relationship with Jefferson and the subsequent falling out, the love of his small home town and the simple life of farming and reading and the brilliance of his wife, perhaps the most underrated First Lady of all time.
Besides this, you also get a front row seat from Adams' extensive correspondence for some of the most important moments in American history from the Declaration of Independence, through the War and the succession to the presidency after Washington.
I cannot recommend this book more highly.
Book Review: A Biography Worthy Of Its Subject!
Summary: 5 Stars
"John Adams" by David McCullough is talented rendition of a unique story. Despite being remembered as the pigmy sandwiched between two giants, Washington and Jefferson, McCullough portrays Adams as an immensely important and interesting character in his own right. Adams is shown as being at the heart of many crucial events of our revolutionary and early national history. It was Adams of the Continental Congress who was the prime promoter of Independence and the nominator of George Washington for the post of commander of the Continental Army. He then carried out a series of diplomatic assignments in Europe, in which he was the intimate collaborator with Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. Among his unique diplomatic accomplishments were the negotiation of a Dutch loan at a crucial stage of the Revolution and participation in the negotiation of the peace treaty ending the Revolution. Upon his return to America he wrote the constitution of Massachusetts before serving eight years as Washington's loyal vice-president.
Adams was one of those rare figures whose greatest for whom the presidency was not the office in which he rendered his greatest service. His mistake of retaining Washington's cabinet compounded his misfortune of having his prime political rival as vice-president and a deadly enemy, Alexander Hamilton as a leader of his won party. This left him leading an administration rife with sabotage. These factors handicapped him as he confronted issues of peace or war abroad and subversion at home. Having to function more as a sole actor than a leader of men, his administration is generally regarded as a failure. His term was influential, largely in the maintenance of peace and appointment of John Marshall to the Supreme Court.
Through much of this book the reader is treated to an interwoven mini-biography of Thomas Jefferson. Through this dual biography the reader comes to understand the dichotomy of these two friends, but rivals, collaborators and opponents and, ultimately, correspondents. Their timely demises on the Fiftieth Independence Day are seen as nothing less than providential.
As the readers of my reviews are aware, I have read very many biographies. Few match "John Adams" for quality.