HomeGroupsTalkMoreZeitgeist
Search Site
This site uses cookies to deliver our services, improve performance, for analytics, and (if not signed in) for advertising. By using LibraryThing you acknowledge that you have read and understand our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Your use of the site and services is subject to these policies and terms.

Results from Google Books

Click on a thumbnail to go to Google Books.

John Adams by David McCullough
Loading...

John Adams (edition 2002)

by David McCullough (Author)

MembersReviewsPopularityAverage ratingMentions
13,638198430 (4.32)488
Although the Presidency of John Adams ended as the result of the moral and practical mistake of
sponsoring, with the support of Congress and Abigail,
the indefensible Alien and Sedition Act, at least he acted out in the open,
unlike leaders, from George Washington to Churchill and U.S. Presidents all the way through to Obama,

Until recent years, Adams was the easiest target.

Now, with journalists, politicians, Democrats, World Leaders, Native Americans, Veterans,
People of All Colors, Generals, Climate and Environmental activists, Women, People with Autism >
Rightly, Anyone who does not agree with the cruelty and greed demonstrated by
the racist monster is openly reviled and attacked, then subjected to loss of job,
career, money, reputation, and more....

...until the jail sentence and fine offered by John Adams, and that only after valid proof of sinister intent,
may seem like a fair deal.

John Adams' heroic legacy continued on to his son, John Quincy Adams,
who defended Cinque and his men, allowing The Amistad to take them back to Africa as free men.

And, it extended on to his grandson, Charles Frances Adams.
As the American Ambassador to London during The Civil War,
he convinced the British government to stay neutral and so prevented The South
from gaining desperately needed support.

Why John Adams relished renewing his betrayed friendship with the deceitful
adulterous slave master Thomas Jefferson is still a great mystery. Jefferson was definitely,
despite the final extension of friendship, a lying sneaky villain.

Jefferson, owing a lot to George Mason and his Virginia Declaration of Rights,
went astronomically, exponentially, beyond the other presidential slaveowners.

He seduced Sally Hemmings, a slave child who was his wife's relative,
fathered six children with her (Keeping her place hidden at Monticello)
then, in his will, Jefferson freed only their children and not his mistress.
He also refused to free the possibly hundreds of slaves on his plantations.

ALL THE TIME, in public, he strongly claimed to be against slavery.

Related to Adams and his Family, he was a hypocrite, a false friend, adulterer,
and a liar who sneaked behind the President to betray him.

As an American Hero, John Adams and his son were the only ones of the first Presidents:

Washington
Jefferson
Madison
Monroe
Andrew Jackson
Van Buren (the slave he owned escaped)
Harrison
Tyler
Polk
Taylor
Andrew Johnson
Ulysses S. Grant (freed his only slave) ( )
  m.belljackson | Mar 8, 2020 |
English (194)  Spanish (1)  Dutch (1)  Romanian (1)  All languages (197)
Showing 1-25 of 194 (next | show all)
One of the best biographies I have ever read. Learned so much about the Founding Fathers and have a great deal of respect for John Adams. ( )
  corliss12000 | Mar 16, 2024 |
I found this biography at a thrift store, and thought, oh, I really should know more about this time in our history. I didn't know very much about John Adams -- he is overshadowed by Washington and Jefferson in classroom history. I had some notion that he and his wife Abigail were influential, but that was about it. Well, after reading this book, I now say that John Adams is my new favorite president. Not only was he supremely intelligent, he was courageous and had a towering integrity. He was one of the few of those early founding fathers who was unabashedly opposed to slavery, an attitude he held throughout his life.

His relationship to his wife was a love story for the ages. He held her in the highest esteem, and consulted her on all things. They never failed in their love and respect for each other. She was his match in intelligence and fortitude, and their letters to each other are a treasure. Indeed, all the Adams family letters are amazing. McCullough quotes from them liberally, and it was interesting and touching to learn about their daily cares and griefs, the friendship he held with other people, and the care he lavished on his children and grandchildren. This biography makes him human, flawed and obstinate and sometimes pompous, but also a bulldog for democracy and a patriot in the true sense of the word.

I also enjoyed learning more about the other founding fathers, especially Jefferson. I was already aware of his long-standing and controversial relationship with his slave Sally Hemings, but I didn't know she was only fourteen when she joined him in Paris (shepherding his young daughter from Monticello, across the Atlantic and Europe). Fourteen! And pregnant two years later. This actually made me ill. Jefferson was a brilliant man in many ways, but his character flaws were deep, whereas Adams' flaws were mostly those of temperament and personality.

The actual reading experience of this book was a little slow, because there is so much packed into this 700 page volume. I put it down several times but always picked it up again. This book is not only the story of one man, but also of the birth of a nation and the many complex individuals that were present at the time. It is utterly deserving of the Pulitzer it won. ( )
1 vote TheGalaxyGirl | Jan 31, 2024 |
Very good bio on 2nd President, readable.
  derailer | Jan 25, 2024 |
A first rate biography, engagingly written and compelling.
  Mark_Feltskog | Dec 23, 2023 |
McCullough is my favorite biographer, and this book just reinforced that. It's comprehensive and intimate and captures the titular man well. Easy to overlook among the giants Washington, Jefferson, and others, Adams maintains a firm grasp on his place in history and the founding of our country. My one complaint is that Abigail Adams sounded even more fascinating and I found myself wishing the book was about her more than once. ( )
  KallieGrace | Dec 18, 2023 |
If you are looking for a one volume biography of one of the most important and influential of our founding fathers, you will be hard pressed to find one better than this. David McCullough not only makes John Adams approachable but he makes those that were intimate family and friends approachable as well. ( )
  everettroberts | Oct 20, 2023 |
~2.5 stars. This was recommended for my via Goodreads algorithm because of another book I put on my TBR shelf. The description called it "enthralling" and so many of the top reviews just gushed over it and I really should read/know more history. But history just isn't my thing. There were plenty of places that I realized my mind was wandering when I was listening to it and I didn't rewind because I didn't really care. History is important but I'm not overly drawn to it. Overall I'm glad I listened to it so I have a little more background of this time frame but I wasn't excited to listen to it at any point. ( )
  Fatula | Oct 3, 2023 |
When I received this book, it had three things against it.
1-It was over 700 pages.
2- It was a gift book. (Generally, they seldom do much for me)
3- I wasn't interested in John Adams.

Turns out to be the best biography I've ever read. The writing is superb. I learned so much, not only about Adams, but about those he knew. The book gave me a much deeper appreciation for our founding fathers and the people of that time. I'm sure I will read it again.

Thanks to Woods Pierce for giving me this book. ( )
  MickeyMole | Oct 2, 2023 |
An abbreviated audio version of McCullough’s best selling book. McCullough doesn’t narrate (unfortunately), but Nelson Runger does a good job. Having seen the HBO mini-series from a few years ago, this book piqued my interest. Like all of McCullough’s books, this was both educational, informative, and entertaining. I highly recommend. ( )
  FormerEnglishTeacher | May 9, 2023 |
Brilliant and lucid, this is another fine biogrpahy from the pen of David McCullogh. The life and mind of John Adams is presented with the resulting demonstration of his importance to the founding of the United States of America. ( )
  jwhenderson | Apr 7, 2023 |
I'm not really giving this book five stars because I enjoyed it so terribly much, but it DESERVES five stars - - of that I have no doubt. It's truly impressive. McCullough draws a compelling portrait of our second president, and I really find it amazing how much research must have gone into this book and how McCullough manages to work it all into a cohesive and compelling narrative.

For me, the most fascinating parts really revolved around the political battles between the Federalists and the Republicans. But the plot line that really connected the book and kept me reading was the "friendship" between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson which ebbed and flowed with their changing roles and over the course of history - - and I don't want to spoil it, but their ending couldn't really be better written than if a novelist concocted it. In fact, if a novelist thought up the end of this book, people would describe it as unbelievable.

McCullough drew on many primary sources and the book includes actual quotes from Adams' many letters - - to his wife, to Jefferson, to his physician friend . . .I think that made the book more personal and rounded out the portrait of Adams more than most presidential biographies. Also, much to my surprise, Adams' children weren't all angels, and it is fascinating how even long ago, tremendous and important men still struggled with the same every day issues and stresses that we all face.

If you like history or politics, I'd say this is a book that probably would fall into the "don't miss it category". If you don't, I think this book is a little too lengthy to recommend as a first foray into the genre. ( )
  Anita_Pomerantz | Mar 23, 2023 |
I really enjoyed this biography of the second President of the United States. It made John Adams into a real person, not just a long-dead Founding Father myth. He was a hard-working, dedicated patriot. He went wherever his country needed him. In addition, he was ethical, principled, faithful, and devoted to his family. I want him to be my neighbor. ( )
  Pferdina | Feb 12, 2023 |
Biographies written in third person have always been boring to me, but this one was an exception. The author´s good prose makes it a pleasant read, presenting John Adams´s character with the utmost detail. The problem is that most Americans simply remember him as founding father who was the President between Washington and Jefferson. Indeed, Adams didn't achieve something capable of captivating people's imagination, like writing the Declaration of Independence or leading an army through the Revolutionary War. But he did important things that affected the history of the United States in many ways:

1. Appointed George Washington as General Commander of the Continental Army.
2. Urged to Congress to declare independence as soon as possible, otherwise it would be late.
3. Acting on his own, he secured loans from Dutch bankers to the Americans in a moment of need.
4. He cast tie-breaking votes in the Senate of historic importance like protecting the President's sole authority over the removal of appointees.
5. Made peace with France despite the disapproval of everybody, costing him his office.

So this book made me see how important John Adams was for the formation of the United States, his contributions propelled by his burning patriotism. Similar to Jefferson, he was an advocate of civil liberties as expressed here:

"Government is nothing more than the combined force of society, or the united power of the multitude, for the peace, order, safety, good and happiness of the people.... There is no king or queen bee distinguished from all others, by size or figure or beauty and variety of colors, in the human hive. No man has yet produced any revelation from heaven in his favor, any divine communication to govern his fellow men. Nature throws us all into the world equal and alike...."

Another point to remember is his ever lasting presence as father. Together with his wife Abigail, he deserves the credit for raising an equally brilliant son, John Quincy, who later would also make groundbreaking contributions to his country. His parenting was described by Abigail while in Netherlands:

“The table is covered with mathematical instruments and books, and you hear nothing 'til nine o'clock but of theorem and problems bisecting and dissecting tangents and sequents"

I also admire his determination for understanding human nature (“Let me search for the clue which led great Shakespeare into the labyrinth of human nature. Let me examine how men think"). Maybe that´s why he had talent for friendship, and possessed a great power of expression.

In conclusion, if you´re looking to learn about the history of the United States, this is the place to start. It´s an excellent biography and excellent history book. ( )
1 vote Rodrigo-Ruscheinski | Jan 26, 2023 |
Here's what I wrote in 2008 about this read: "WOW! Aided by the diaries of John and Abigail Adams, and their compatriots (James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, etc.) one is blessed to read a history of our countries early years as if it were a novel. Excellent work by David McCullough. Strongly encourage DMJK to read this some day." ( )
  MGADMJK | Nov 6, 2022 |
Biography of John Adams told in the style of narrative history. Fortunately, Adams left lots of correspondences, which McCullough has used to bring him to life for the reader. We learn about his early life in Braintree, Massachusetts, education at Harvard, marriage to Abigail Smith, involvement in the independence movement, involvement in Continental Congress, visits to France and Holland, vice presidency, presidency, and later years. A good portion of the narrative focuses on his friendship with Thomas Jefferson, their falling out, and reconnection later in life. We learn about his accomplishments and a few blunders. He comes across as a person of integrity, character, and statesmanship.

McCullough paints his scenes in vivid detail. Adams apparently suffered from malaria, which he initially contracted in his travels. He had a bit of a temper, but never let it get out of control. He suffered from bouts of melancholy, which we might call depression. While President, he pitched in to help in a bucket brigade. I was hoping for more on Adams’ time as President, but this part of the book is fairly sparse and does not appear until the last quarter of this rather lengthy book.

Nevertheless, it is easy to recommend McCullough’s vivid portrayal of John Adams, a founding father who gets less attention than some of the other notables such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. He comes across as a devoted husband and someone who cared passionately about doing what was best for his country. Fans of American history will enjoy this one.
( )
  Castlelass | Oct 30, 2022 |
Wonderful history but very very dense. Be prepared for a slog, but also to learn things you never knew our imagined about the second president. ( )
  dhaxton | Aug 27, 2022 |
Why don't we learn more of the founder's personality & its affects in the debate over key Constitutional issues? ( )
  Huba.Library | Jul 30, 2022 |
  ednelson | May 9, 2022 |
I enjoyed reading this book and it took me some to return to it and complete the tome. I would advise readers to complete the task after a break, to another book if required, and then march on again. This book was highly enjoyable, readable and portrayed an interesting picture of Adams. I was quite interested in how the other Cabinet Ministers would be portrayed in their roles against Adams. ( )
  thegeneral | Jan 12, 2022 |
History has been unkind and unfair to John Adams for the most part. I mentioned to one of my sons that I was reading this book, and I got this feedback: "He was all about making the president the most powerful part of the government and wanted the president to be addressed as "Your Excellency" (okay, that part is true), and he pretty much wanted to have an American monarchy."

His comment was a sandwich, one bit of fact sandwiched between two slanderous lies. But this was what my son had been taught. Oddly enough, I remember learning absolutely nothing about John Adams other than that he was our nation's second president and people didn't like him. Once again, this was a mixture of fact and myth.

I am so happy I took the time to read all 651 pages of this marvelous book. Adams, like all human beings, was imperfect. That's no surprise. What was a surprise is how honest, sincere, persistent, and intelligent he was. He was decidedly NOT a monarchist, nor was he universally disliked. He was a victim, starting with his vice-presidency under George Washington, of party politics. It was enlightening to discover that our current polarization is nothing new. It has been with us from the beginning. Adams was not a willing participant and his reputation has been wounded to this day because of it.

But I found so much to admire about him in this biography. He was a stout and loyal friend for life to many; he was a devoted and truly loving husband to Abigail and father to his children. But most important to us, he was devoted to the welfare of the fledgling democracy that he had been indispensable in founding.

McCullough also gives us a rare peek at what life was like in those times, as well as into character traits of such American mythological beings as Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington. It was an easy, put-your-feet-up-and-savor-every-word kind of book for me. I highly recommend it. ( )
  Library_Lin | Oct 4, 2021 |
I had forgotten how much of a storyteller McCullough is. He really knows how to make history walk off the pages. Unfortunately, I didn't have the rooms to finish it in the time alloted by my local library (as wonderful as it is). But I will come back to this one. ( )
  OutOfTheBestBooks | Sep 24, 2021 |
If you love the Revolutionary Era like I do, read this book. It's an appropriate testament to the epic life of a titan of American history, a gripping narrative that encompasses so many other legendary characters, and just an all-around awesome tome.

So many incredible people gathered in 1776 and the decisive decades that followed in order to produce this country: Adams, Jefferson, Washington, Hamilton--and Abigail, whom I have to count in this list as one of the most lovable characters in American history. She's so awesome and good and just tells it like it is. And her husband totally knew what a catch he'd found.

I think what makes Adams himself so relatable is that he left so much of his mind out in the open to posterity through his letters. He also, as McCullough sometimes implies, just seems so much more honest than Jefferson, and so much less mysterious than Washington. His intentions were always good, whereas Jefferson comes off as sly and two-faced at many moments. He's a great character: Flecked with conspicuous flaws, gifted, ambitious, and genuine, John Adams would totally've been my BFF, and Abigail too. (He was also a skillful writer, one of the best of the founding generation, and for that, too, I would more than allow him to be friends with me.)

Another reason why I love this era of American history, and why it seems so epic, is that to us, the Revolution seemed inevitable, "Common Sense," and the assured duration of the country even more so--yet to the founders, the Revolution and the United States were anything but. I think Joseph J. Ellis in Founding Brothers, which I read almost three years ago to the day for APUSH and absolutely loved, articulates the evitable-ness of the era most beautifully. (That book is so awesome, btw. These two complement each other really well.)

Speaking of beautiful writing, David McCullough is the bomb. I was totally hooked on this book and on every turn and twist in Adams's path. (Not gonna lie, I cried when Abigail died.) Though Adams's life and personality just lends itself to a fascinating biography, and though one would think the job shouldn't be too hard with all the evidence to posterity that he left during his life, McCullough could not have done a more elegant job.


( )
  Gadi_Cohen | Sep 22, 2021 |
While I don't universally love every book written by McCullough, I do like most of them This, to me, is his greatest work! I absolutely loved this book and in reading it, I came to love Jon Adams. Oh that men would stand on principle like he did. He did it at the waste of his reputation and good character often as well. This book clearly teaches the sacrifice of Adams whole life to the cause of freedom, liberty and the creation of a nation that is self governed. I cannot recommend it highly enough! ( )
  WolverineTim | Oct 8, 2020 |
Quotable:

"There are persons whom in my heart I despise, others I abhor. Yet I am not obliged to inform the one of my contempt, nor the other of my detestation. This kind of dissimulation...is a necessary branch of wisdom, and so far from being immoral...that it is a duty and a virtue." ( )
  beautifulshell | Aug 27, 2020 |
This book was a bit of a slog in parts (hence how long it took me to finish) but in the end and overall a sympathetic, well-researched, well written biography of an often overlooked President. ( )
  ErinCSmith | Jul 24, 2020 |
Showing 1-25 of 194 (next | show all)

Current Discussions

None

Popular covers

Quick Links

Rating

Average: (4.32)
0.5
1 12
1.5
2 38
2.5 8
3 208
3.5 58
4 771
4.5 108
5 1030

Is this you?

Become a LibraryThing Author.

Recorded Books

An edition of this book was published by Recorded Books.

» Publisher information page

 

About | Contact | Privacy/Terms | Help/FAQs | Blog | Store | APIs | TinyCat | Legacy Libraries | Early Reviewers | Common Knowledge | 203,187,689 books! | Top bar: Always visible