John Adams by David McCullough Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of John Adams
Book Review: the best biography I've ever read
Summary: 5 Stars
So I'm sitting here bawling because John Adams just died. It doesn't seem to matter that it happened 182 years ago.
The best biographers understand that a biography is not only a history of the title subject but a time machine to the time in which he or she lived. Having read this book I feel like I was in the room when John (look at that, we're on a first-name basis) rose in Congress to speak in support of the Declaration of Independence, like I was sitting at Abigail's elbow when she wrote to him wherever he was, Philadelphia, Paris, Amsterdam, London. There are so many great word pictures, like the one of John helping to repel boarders when his ship came under attack crossing the Atlantic, told this time in the words of the ship's captain.
And Abigail. Has there ever been such a woman? Has there ever been such a partnership? It's almost enough to make me believe in marriage.
Of course it helps that John and Abigail both were such indefatigable correspondents (they weren't happy that they were so many times separated but we sure lucked out) and such amazingly good writers. The quality of their writing, as well as that of their multitude of other correspondents is certain to leave you wondering where the hell that ability went.
McCullough's organizational skills in plucking just the right phrase from just the right letter are astonishing, and his own prose doesn't suffer by comparison, either. A glorious, you-are-there book.
Book Review: John Adams
Summary: 5 Stars
As always, David McCullough has written a great read of the founding of our nation.Book Review: Heavy, unwieldy book makes reading difficult
Summary: 3 Stars
This review is not about the writing itself; there's been enough said on that. I just wanted to point out that this book--all 768 pages of it--is large, heavy, and unwieldy. I love to read in bed, but it's nearly impossible for me to do so with this book, especially considering that it's paperback and not hardcover. The only way I can comfortably read this book is at my desk--not my first choice of locales for pleasure-reading!
I doubt this is helpful to most people considering buying this book, and I'm not trying to deter anyone from doing so. It's just not the ideal beach-read, IMHO.
Book Review: Great for fans of history and the HBO miniseries
Summary: 5 Stars
"John Adams" fills in so many of the blanks that leave viewers of the miniseries wondering, and leave history buffs yearning for more. Those who want insight into the inner workings of a man who seemed to have been somewhat overlooked in common history texts will love the facts that the author has culled and provided for us. "Huzzah" for a book that gives readers a story they won't want to put down about a man who deserved much more praise and notice than he received.Book Review: Should be mandatory High School reading
Summary: 5 Stars
I don't like to just run with the crowd, but for this book I have to agree with all the 5 stars. I'm a slow reader, and it took me all last summer to finish it, but picking up that book for a few hours everyday was the sweetest part of my day. I hated for it to end! All the real sacrifice and hard work to cobble together a new country and government, all the blood, sweat, tears, terror, joys, and hopes for the future just drench every page. When I went to see the Portrait Gallery in Philadelphia and stood in the room where all the real live characters in the book argued and debated as to how to make it all work as best as humans could make a government, I nearly wept. John Adams and the rest of the country worried about almost exactly the same things as we do today...terrorists, free trade, federal debt, race relations, etc, etc. They worried about future generations...yes, they worried about us! David Mccullough and his staff bring everything together so beautifully. And, by the way, the HBO series is also absolutely suberb!!