John Adams

McCullough has a clear interest in bringing the historical reputation of John Adams in line with the more glamorous founding fathers, namely George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. I don't think this gets in the way of his objectivity though. Adam's faults and mistakes are discussed, but not dwelt upon.As many reviewers have said, this book should do for Adams what McCullough did for Harry Truman several years ago.

I loved this book for many reasons. The life and character of Abigail Adams was fascinating. The fragility of life in the 18th century is a common theme, as Adams experiences the death of friends, children, and grandchildren. The Adams-Jefferson relationship and all its complexity is explored thouroughly and makes for very satisfying reading.

If you like biography that celebrates great American lives such as Edmund Morris on Theodore Roosevelt, or Doris Kearns Goodwin on FDR, then you will like this book. McCullough has done a great service in helping to revive the reputation of the founding father who was perhaps second only to Washington in the success of the American Revolution and in the survival of the early republic.


Interesting tidbits, but too long   June 25, 2001
 24 out of 40 found this review helpful

This book develops the characters of the important people that founded our contry fleshing out Adams, Jefferson, Rush and others. I am not sorry I read it.

I can't imagine what the book's editors were thinking. There is one point where for no obvious reason McCullough tells us that the people ice skating on the pond were doing a complex figures and then that Adams and his family climbed a bell tower and looked at the town. I had to go back an reread that part to seem if I was missing some connection to the narrative but as far as I could see there was no reason for it to be there. Throughout the book he goes into great detail about what they had for dinner and things that.

That being said, I am glad that I read it. Though probably 25% of the book could have been left out with no loss, the remaining 75% is worth reading. Since reading Albion's Seed I have been comparing the people with the culture from which they came. It is ineresting to see Adams as a product of his culture and his own nature and the book enough detail to make it interesting.

Be patient. The first 100 pages or so are pretty slow going with tons of irrelavant or marginally relevant characters and detail whose only purpose seems to be ambiance, but after that the revolution itself is such an exciting event that the pace picks up.


The best history lesson I have had   June 23, 2001
 1 out of 2 found this review helpful

As usual, David McCullough brings history alive in John Adams. There are not many history books you can call a page turner. This one was. I felt as if I was living in the period of becoming an independent nation. It also helped me understand that in politics as in life, no one is perfect. Everyone makes bad decisions but John Adams never lost his honor. His worst faults were minor compared to the contribution he made to assure a free America. Thanks Mr. McCullough.