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Binding: PaperbackDewey Decimal Number: 973.44092 EAN: 9781416575887 ISBN: 141657588X Label: Simon & Schuster Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster Number Of Items: 1 Number Of Pages: 768 Publication Date: January 29, 2008 Publisher: Simon & Schuster Studio: Simon & Schuster Editorial Review: Amazon.com's Best of 2001: Left to his own devices, John Adams might have lived out his days as a Massachusetts country lawyer, devoted to his family and friends. As it was, events swiftly overtook him, and Adams--who, David McCullough writes, was "not a man of the world" and not fond of politics--came to greatness as the second president of the United States, and one of the most distinguished of a generation of revolutionary leaders. He found reason to dislike sectarian wrangling even more in the aftermath of war, when Federalist and anti-Federalist factions vied bitterly for power, introducing scandal into an administration beset by other difficulties--including pirates on the high seas, conflict with France and England, and all the public controversy attendant in building a nation. Overshadowed by the lustrous presidents Washington and Jefferson, who bracketed his tenure in office, Adams emerges from McCullough's brilliant biography as a truly heroic figure--not only for his significant role in the American Revolution but also for maintaining his personal integrity in its strife-filled aftermath. McCullough spends much of his narrative examining the troubled friendship between Adams and Jefferson, who had in common a love for books and ideas but differed on almost every other imaginable point. Reading his pages, it is easy to imagine the two as alter egos. (Strangely, both died on the same day, the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.) But McCullough also considers Adams in his own light, and the portrait that emerges is altogether fascinating. --Gregory McNamee Product Description: In this powerful, epic biography, David McCullough unfolds the adventurous life journey of John Adams, the brilliant, fiercely independent, often irascible, always honest Yankee patriot who spared nothing in his zeal for the American Revolution; who rose to become the second president of the United States and saved the country from blundering into an unnecessary war; who was learned beyond all but a few and regarded by some as "out of his senses"; and whose marriage to the wise and valiant Abigail Adams is one of the most moving love stories in American history. This is history on a grand scale -- a book about politics and war and social issues, but also about human nature, love, religious faith, virtue, ambition, friendship, and betrayal, and the far-reaching consequences of noble ideas. Above all, John Adams is an enthralling, often surprising story of one of the most important and fascinating Americans who ever lived. Average Rating:
 Rating:  - So much fun to read!Having grown up in Quincy, Mass., I learned about John Adams at a young age (the birth places, the church, "Peacefield" -were everyone's first school field trip). It was probably that that made me love history. Very young I then read everything I could about John Adams, Abigail, John Quincy. As an adult, this was a perfect continuation of that education. I LOVED reading this book. It was so full of information, but read like the best written novel. It was so much fun to read! Rating: - John Adams book reviewJohn Adams was one of the most pivotal characters and longest lived of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. But what makes this book possible is the immense volume of letters he wrote though out his life time... letters to friends, family, co-conspirators, rivals, foreign powers, enemies, politicians, soldiers, and scholars. He may be the most prolific writer of the period, possibly any period. David McCullough uses this mass of writing to bring insight into the formation of ... Read More Rating: - very good readable bookThis book has a lot of history that you don't hear about that make this book more enjoyable to read. Rating: - Gave me tremendous appreciation for John & AbigailI've never enjoyed a biography more than this one. The portrait that McCullough paints of John and Abigail Adams left a great impression on me and an appreciation for the sacrifices that they and others made to give birth to our nation. Rating:  - Pure JoyI was really impressed with the way that McCullough let John, Abagail, Jefferson and others speak for themselves. The amount of primary sources quoted at length is massive but never daunting, and McCollough is helpful in getting past the colloqualisms of the time (I had no idea a "pip" was a sore throat). Abagail impressed me more than John through her own words. The only drawback was that the narrative style at times was more anecdotal and less analytical. But eggheadism aside this book is truly ... Read More |
