John Adams

Additional John Adams Information

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 -- "the colossus of independence," as Thomas Jefferson called him -- 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.

Like his masterly, Pulitzer Prize-winning biography Truman, David McCullough's John Adams has the sweep and vitality of a great novel. It is both a riveting portrait of an abundantly human man and a vivid evocation of his time, much of it drawn from an outstanding collection of Adams family letters and diaries. In particular, the more than one thousand surviving letters between John and Abigail Adams, nearly half of which have never been published, provide extraordinary access to their private lives and make it possible to know John Adams as no other major American of his founding era.

As he has with stunning effect in his previous books, McCullough tells the story from within -- from the point of view of the amazing eighteenth century and of those who, caught up in events, had no sure way of knowing how things would turn out. George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, John Jay, the British spy Edward Bancroft, Madame Lafayette and Jefferson's Paris "interest" Maria Cosway, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, the scandalmonger James Callender, Sally Hemings, John Marshall, Talleyrand, and Aaron Burr all figure in this panoramic chronicle, as does, importantly, John Quincy Adams, the adored son whom Adams would live to see become President.

Crucial to the story, as it was to history, is the relationship between Adams and Jefferson, born opposites -- one a Massachusetts farmer's son, the other a Virginia aristocrat and slaveholder, one short and stout, the other tall and spare. Adams embraced conflict; Jefferson avoided it. Adams had great humor; Jefferson, very little. But they were alike in their devotion to their country.

At first they were ardent co-revolutionaries, then fellow diplomats and close friends. With the advent of the two political parties, they became archrivals, even enemies, in the intense struggle for the presidency in 1800, perhaps the most vicious election in history. Then, amazingly, they became friends again, and ultimately, incredibly, they died on the same day -- their day of days -- July 4, in the year 1826.

Much about John Adams's life will come as a surprise to many readers. His courageous voyage on the frigate Boston in the winter of 1778 and his later trek over the Pyrenees are exploits that few would have dared and that few readers will ever forget.

It is a life encompassing a huge arc -- Adams lived longer than any president. The story ranges from the Boston Massacre to Philadelphia in 1776 to the Versailles of Louis XVI, from Spain to Amsterdam, from the Court of St. James's, where Adams was the first American to stand before King George III as a representative of the new nation, to the raw, half-finished Capital by the Potomac, where Adams was the first President to occupy the White House.

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.

What Customers Say About John Adams:

well written.covering a facinating era of american history.i could not put the book down. highly recommended.

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You will find yourself astonished at the accomplishments of John Adams as you read this wonderful work and will come to the logical conclusion that without John Adams there would be no USA. The sound of cannons will be ringing in your ears as you read of the intracasies of the Revolutionary War. If you have ever wondered what it takes to win a Pulitzer Prize, then look no further. You'll read her letters and understand why John Adams relied so heavily upon her advice and wisdom. And then you'll be back on Amazon looking for another work by David McCullough. You will see sides of Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and John Quincy Adams that you have never heard of and will look at them in new light. Your jaw will drop as you read of ventures on the high seas, life in Paris, England, Holland, and within Congress in the 18th century.

You will find yourself wishing you were alive during the Revolutionary War. McCullough gives an astonishing picture of the life of the most underrated Founding Father, John Adams. You'll love the French one moment and then you'll despise the French the next moment. Moreover, you will come to know and love Abigail Adams. You'll see the beauty of their marriage. And when you are done with the book, you will thank the Almighty that he allowed John Adams to be born in America at that time. Enjoy.

An interesting read for anyone desiring insights into the creation of our country. David McCullough has written an excellent history of the well recognized leader and spokesperson for the Revolution that created the United States of America. The book reads like a novel and makes the history of the period come alive. I was encouraged to purchase McCullough's recent book "1776" for another perspective on these events and the personalities involved. I am also reading a 1947 edition of a book entitled "Abigail Adams".another fine piece of writing.

David McCullough's "John Adams" is a readable story of America's greatest patriot, John Adams. But that has to do with the tendency on the part of most textbook authors to include a ton of dates and events with no effort to tell a story that makes sense. They were definitely rivals, but they never both were motivated by the patriotic desire to preserve liberty and advance America's interests. delegate to the continental Congress, Ambassador to Great Britain, drafter of the MA Constitution, philosopher, Vice President, and President. " "Posterity: you will never know how much it has cost my generation to preserve your freedom. He also was an incredible family man, with one of the most celebrated public marriages of all time. John Adams served many roles for America--from attorney, Mass. What I liked a great deal about this book is the discussion of the friendship and even hostility that existed between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson with time.

His son became president in his own right. I must confess that in high school, I really did not like history. Interestingly, John Adams believed that people would not appreciate how hard he toiled for America's Independence. I hope you will make good use of it." I certainly hope that we do make good use of it, and preserve it in our own generation.