David McCullough

John Adams

The Pulitzer Prize–winning, bestselling biography of America’s founding father and second president that was the basis for the acclaimed HBO series, brilliantly told by master historian David McCullough. 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 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.

Francine Corry

While I am always interested in learning about the founding fathers, I have to confess that John Adams has never been especially high on my list. I have been more interested in the fiery figures of Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson and the like. David McCullough with his tome of John Adams has brought him up greatly in my esteem.

It became clear to me how much John Adams was an influence to the philosophy and formation of this nation. Adams was indeed a learned man and patriot. He served the nation for most of his life.

I can say that I learned so much from this book. My one complaint is that I did not really need to know every detail of Adams' life. I would have appreciated a more concise and better flowing narrative, but cannot fault McCullough for his research.

Hannah Wall

It was another amazing painfully slow read! I hated the process, but I loved knowing the story. 
John Adams was one of the best men to date. America would not be standing if it weren’t for him. He was kind, and compassionate, and fully human. He has so may hard decision, but with Abigail by his side, he did amazing thing.
After reading this book and getting to know him, John Adams was the best President we have ever had and the man is truly one of the greats. I had my full respect and I strive to be more like him. 
David McCullough pulls off another amazing story that is a blend of history, fiction, and joy!

Jeni Enjaian

I knew when I picked up this book that it would be a good read. Having learned about the author and already read a highly popular recent publication (1776) I hoped I would find this biography as enjoyable.

I was not disappointed.

In my senior year of college as a history major I took a class on Historical Writing...the things to do and not to do. David McCullough manages to write an enjoyable read while being historically accurate and delicately weaving in primary sources (things written at the time) without boring the reader.

Since I was a child I knew that John Adams was the second president of the US, kind of chubby, served only one term and had a son that did the same. To be honest, Adams' physical appearance was sort of a turn off to learning any more about him. How foolish I was.

McCullough paints a realistic picture. Emerging from this book I feel like I know John Adams as a person. To be perfectly honest I have even more admiration for him now than his contemporary Thomas Jefferson. I learned about Adams and his wife along with his entire family without being concerned about the fact that this man (and his wife) was rather stout. That's the amazing thing about words.

I digress.

The one thing I wish that McCullough would have elaborated on is John Adams' flurry of appointees during the lame duck period of his presidency. McCullough mentions that Adams' prudence of the beginning of his term contrasted with these appointments but doesn't attempt to explain them or mention that there is no primary information on Adams' reasoning behind this.

John Adams

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