John Adams

Product Details

• ISBN13: 9781416575887
• Notes: BUY WITH Trust, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and aid to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
• Prepare: New

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.

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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

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Customer Reviews

Adam's life shines through in this personal story
One of America's best loved biographers, David McCullough, gives us an intimate picture of one of America's overshadowed presidents. Adams' life of integrity, heroism, and warmth shine through in this personal story.

2010-08-28 | ippl.info (Darien, IL) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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Impossible to put down
Just finished it and am downloading the mini-series now. I can't decide if I like his Truman or Adams biography better. They were both impossible to put down. This should be required reading in history class.

McCullough, through his choice of biographical subjects, seems to champion the underdog; the plain, unpretentious common man who was thrust into greatness by forces beyond his control. Both Truman and Adams are overshadowed by their flamboyant, aristocratic predecessors. Yet Truman and Adams' impact on U.S. history was arguably as great as - and maybe even greater- than that of Washington or FDR. McCullough is righting these wrongs by shedding light on these two unfairly overlooked presidents.

2010-08-09 | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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John Adams
i love this book. Adams diary and his wife's writings make the book come alive. Very much enjoying what i have learned about our second President of the US. I never knew how influential he was or how much he sacrificed for for the US independence.

2010-08-06 (Southeast, US) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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Mary's review
I believe I already did this but once again, I loved the book and so appreciate all the hard work David McCullough went to to put it together to bring us a marvelous historical novel. I'd never have learned all I learned without this book. And a quick trip to Boston too! We have a country to be proud of if we can keep it.

2010-08-05 | Mary's books (Laguna Woods, CA, US) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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John Adams
Well written and deeply researched This book is all a biography can be.
McCoullough is our best historian and he brings not only Adams and Jefferson and others to light but also the entire 50 years of our nations history.

2010-08-02 | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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The Letters of John and Abigail Adams

Description

The Letters of John and Abigail Adams provides an insightful record of American life before, during, and after the Revolution; the letters also reveal the intellectually and emotionally fulfilling relationship between John and Abigail that lasted fifty-four years and withstood historical upheavals, long periods apart, and personal tragedies. Covering key moments in American history-the Continental Congress, the drafting of the Declaration of Independence, the Revolutionary War, and John Adams's diplomatic missions to Europe-the letters reveal the concerns of a couple living during a period of explosive change, from smallpox and British warships to raising children, paying taxes, the state of women, and the emerging concepts of American democracy.

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Customer Reviews

Wonderful read
I really loved being able to see into the lives of these great founders. It's great to see even during those times, a man respect the woman he loves and her opinion. I highly recomend this especially for those just begining intrest in the founding of our nation.

2008-09-01 | Gwenedd (USA) | Helpful Votes: 2 | Rating: 5

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Great historical record
Great book. You need to put yourself in the mindset of 1775. Great historical record of the Adams' early life separated.

2008-05-27 | kathywrenbeck (Belleville, MI United States) | Helpful Votes: 2 | Rating: 4

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Go for it!
If you're at all interested in American history, I HIGHLY recommend this book. I though it was going to be dry and tough to read with a lot of thees and thous etc., but it's surprisingly warm, easy to follow and gripping story told in the very words of one of our greatest Americans and his wife.

2007-10-24 | aikodude (Moscow, PA USA) | Helpful Votes: 15 | Rating: 5

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The loving letters of our second president and his wife abigail: brilliance in Braintree!
John Adams was the first Vice-President and second chief
executive of the United States of America. He was also a brilliant lawyer, legislator, writer and diplomat for the fledging American nation in France and the Netherlands during
the Revolutionary War.
In this excellent collection of personal letters John and
Abigail share their thoughts on a wide variety of topics chiefly the struggle for our nation's independence. The letters in this
copious collection cover the years from 1774 to 1783 (the years
of the American Revolution).
These are two extremely intelligent persons! John's letters
let the reader look through the keyhole in Philadelphia as the
Declaration of Independence is approved; throughout the war
Adams was away from his Braintree farm for long stretches of
time. His life was in danger and he was worried about Abigail and
their young children. A few of the letters in this collection
were written by his parents to the young John Quincy Adams who
served as the sixth President of the United States.
Abigail lived long before the womens liberation movement but
she was the intellectual equal of her husband. Abigail kept the
farm going staying abreast of political affairs and raising a
great American family.
The patriotism and self-sacrifice of the Adams family is an
inspiration to all Americans. This is a wonderful collection
for anyone wishing to know these two American patriots on a more
intimate basis. Excellent resource for history classes and anyone wishing to know more about our history.

2006-08-24 | Michael Mills (Knoxville Tennessee) | Helpful Votes: 23 | Rating: 5

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John Quincy Adams (The American Presidents Series)

Product Details

• Notes: BUY WITH Self-assurance, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and serving to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
• ISBN13: 9780805069396
• Condition: New

Description

A vivid portrait of a man whose pre- and post-presidential careers overshadowed his presidency.

Chosen by the House of Representatives after an inconclusive election against Andrew Jackson, John Quincy Adams often failed to mesh with the ethos of his era, pushing unsuccessfully for a strong, consolidated national government. Historian Robert V. Remini recounts how in the years before his presidency Adams was a shrewd, influential diplomat, and later, as a dynamic secretary of state under President James Monroe, he solidified many basic aspects of American foreign policy, including the Monroe Doctrine. Undoubtedly his greatest triumph was the negotiation of the Transcontinental Treaty, through which Spain acknowledged Florida to be part of the United States. After his term in office, he earned the nickname "Old Man Eloquent" for his passionate antislavery speeches.

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Customer Reviews

A good overview of JQA...
The Schlesinger series has its ups and downs, but this is a bright spot. Remini examines the man's strengths and weaknesses, and gives you a great idea about why JQA was only a one termer. He delves into the frayed marriage of JQA and Louisa, and his struggle as a parent. But, contrary to what another reviewer says, it does give him great credit for his successes as Secretary of State and as a Congressman, as well as his private citizen foray into the Amistad matter. A good primer on the man, which is the purpose of the short books of the Schlesinger series.

2010-04-06 (Flossmoor, IL, US) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

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Will Make You WANT To Keep Turning The Pages
To be honest, the first five books of the "American Presidents" series (excluding, ironically enough, the John Adams installment) were somewhat of a chore for me to get through. Unless you are obsessed with that time period, and not just fascinated by the Presidential Office and looking to gain a bit more history like myself, at times the series can get a bit bogged down in details and philosophy. This "chapter", however, has been the easiest to get through to this point, as author Robert Remini keeps the narrative moving forward and doesn't get lost in the fine details.

Basically, Remini paints a fascinating portrait of our nation's sixth president, a man whose entire administration was steeped in controversy from the very beginning, and whose impeccable honor did not permit him to stoop to the level of his aggravators. While reading, I began to see both sides of "JQA"...the man of great principle who so desperately wanted (much like his father) to be "above" the realm of politics; as well as the shrewd orator with the fiery temper who could argue a case like no other.

Perhaps what really made me admire this, installment, though, was the focus on JQA himself, not the current world events. Sure, the events taking place during Adams' administration are going to play a large role in the book, but they are tempered (unlike the earlier works) to be viewed through the prism of Adams, not explained in every minute detail.

Thus, I considered this to be the best effort of the series up to this point. For whatever reason, the stories of both "Adams Presidents" have been the most compelling and well-written.

2010-02-04 | K-Dawg (Fergus Falls, MN) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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A good starting place
Remini's book on John Quincy Adams is as good a starting place as any. What was odd about the book is that it spent so much time on his younger days and seemingly less time on the period of his life where he was the most influential. While JQA's early life and time in Europe was certainly interesting, I would have preferred a more in depth look at his thinking during his days in Congress. The book is brief and so it there is little room to quote extensively from Adam's or his contemporaries, and while source material does appear, it isn't enough to give the reader the sense that Remini's interpretations of JQA and his motives are conclusive. In fact, the book leaves you with more questions than it answers. If you are looking for a basic introduction to the subject area, then this is an excellent choice. If your preference is for deeper, scholarly material...look elsewhere.

2010-01-13 (Shanghai, China) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 3

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A President with ideals.
JQA reminds me of Jimmy Carter. Here was a man with ideals who wished to point the country in a direction and failed miserably. Much of what is said about JQA was mudslinging by his political opponents like Calhoun or Jackson. He was against slavery, wanted progress for the nation in scienitific and exploration projects, and development. The opposition effectively shut him down by attacking his character and intelligence. JQA tried his best, but failed to lead. His personal demeanor was not political, and this also cost him support.

JQA ultimately failed to lead. However his career after the Presidency resulted in him being elected to Congress for nine terms. His oratory made its point in Congress. His ideals shown through. Ultimately he was a patriotic idealist.

2009-06-06 (Carol Stream, Illinois United States) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

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JQA
Great, concise biography. You will want to read another in-depth bio after this one. You can't read enough about these great ones.

2008-12-02 (Gurnee, IL USA) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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John Adams: The American Presidents Series: The 2nd President, 1797-1801

Description

Until recently rescued by David McCullough, John Adams has always been overshadowed by Washington and Jefferson. Volatile, impulsive, irritable, and self-pitying, Adams seemed temperamentally unsuited for the presidency. Yet in many ways he was the perfect successor to Washington in terms of ability, experience, and popularity. Possessed of a far-ranging intelligence, Adams took office amid the birth of the government and multiple crises. Besides maintaining neutrality and regaining peace, his administration created the Department of the Navy, put the army on a surer footing, and left a solvent treasury. One of his shrewdest acts was surely the appointment of moderate Federalist John Marshall as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Though he was a Federalist, he sought to work outside the still-forming party system. In the end, this would be Adams's greatest failing and most useful lesson to later leaders.

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Customer Reviews

Great, brief intro to John Adams
All other reviews on Amazon at the time of my writing this review are for a completely different book in a different series, The American Presidents, and erroneously placed under this book. This is a review of the John Adams book for the Childhoods of the Presidents series.

This book is a simple, short (40 easy pages, including many pictures) telling of Adams's life, with an emphasis on his childhood. It would be appropriate for children from 3rd-6th grade, although all ages would enjoy reading it. Far from being a dry textbook, it's written in an engaging, easy-to-read style, with a short glossary in the back for words a child might not be familiar with (such as "diplomat" and "pulpit"). My 11 year old homeschooled daughter and I love this series of books. In less than one enjoyable hour, you get an accurate (if brief) biography of the president, with a focus on the influences and circumstances that led him to become the man he did. If we didn't get to read it for school, we'd read it for pleasure. It should be noted that there are only a few pages dedicated to his actual presidency, and no mention of his affiliation with the doomed Federalist political party, so any student doing a book report on Adams would certainly need other sources. But for a basic, interesting introduction to United States history and our presidents, this series can't be beat.

2010-04-29 (Fort Worth, TX) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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A Complex Take On A Complex Man
Over the past few years, thanks to a TV docu-drama bearing his name, our nation's second President, John Adams, has gotten quite a bit of press after years of playing second-fiddle (at least in public perception) to names like Washington, Jefferson, and Franklin. This book only adds to that new-found sense of legacy for Mr. Adams by giving a very clear and concise picture/assessment of his time in office.

The author mostly focuses on how Adam's political philosophy differed so radically from his contemporaries. Whereas George Washington thought himself above politics and government, and Thomas Jefferson thought that "the people" should completely control the government, Adams instead championed the notion that a strong government and executive office is actually NEEDED in order to provide for the masses. Though this idea was ultimately what led to the general sullying of Adams' reputation, as he was labeled a monarchist by a young country fresh off a revolution, Adams was remarkable adept at turning his ideas into practices, some of which still thrive to this day.

Basically, this is the summary of Adams that you want to read if you would like to get to know both the man and his times without poring over volumes of literature. I am currently in the process of working my way through this American Presidents series, and this volume surely did not disappoint.

2009-10-16 | K-Dawg (Fergus Falls, MN) | Helpful Votes: 1 | Rating: 5

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Good short bio of John Adams
Personally, I prefer more detailed biographies of historical figures as opposed to briefer ones. Hence, I really appreciated McCullough's detailed work on John Adams. Nonetheless, Diggins' book is a worthwhile addition to one's library. Especially for those who want a briefer, accessible biography, the Diggins' book would be a good investment.

First, unlike most books in The American Presidents series, there is considerable emphasis on the ideas of John Adams. This is most important, given that he had a more philosophical bent than most American presidents, and his writings are, in themselves, contributions to our understanding of American political thought. This alone makes this book most useful to those who are interested in the impact of presidents. In this case, his ideas are important to be aware of.

Second, it is a decent biography in its own right, given its brevity (a hallmark of this series). The book traces the arc of Adams' life from birth to death--a rich, long, full life. We see his friendship with Thomas Jefferson disintegrate and become enmity--only to have the friendship rekindled after the termination of Jefferson's political career. Their letters back and forth are intriguing, in exposing the very different political perspectives at stake in the early 19th century.

We get a sense of the special relationship between Adams and his wife, Abigail. We see his unique, and sometimes problematic, personality at work--desperate for respect and prickly enough. His role as diplomat in Europe. His service as Vice President under George Washington (describing the office as "The most insignificant office that ever man contrived"). His role as President, after having defeated Jefferson. While he had some bad moments (e.g., the Alien and Sedition Acts), he also showed some political, courage (e.g., not caving in to the demand for war against France). He was much aggrieved in his loss in the 1800 election to his archrival Jefferson. He retired to his native Massachusetts and the book describes his life as citizen. . . .

So, in the end, a worthwhile brief biography, that makes a nice contribution in describing Adam's political thinking.

2009-10-01 (Hershey, PA (Born in Kewanee, IL)) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 4

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Overanalytical for a summary history.
The author spent an ungodly amount of his space in writing about John Adams theories and thoughs rather than spend the necessary time talking about his short one term Presidency. This clouded the enjoyability of this read. Rather than here what he did during his Presidency, we come away with his thoughts and theories about social class and political functions. Thus, this short read became difficult to those who wanted to know a little about our second President and his term in office.

The American Presidents series are nice little summaries of all our Presidents. This book is not as interesting as some of the latter books.

2009-06-29 (Carol Stream, Illinois United States) | Helpful Votes: 1 | Rating: 3

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John Adams (The American President)
I found this book very concise and informational. It is an excellent overview of his Presidency without getting deeply into all issue's. I found many items out which I was not previously aware of after reading this book. I deigned that your acquisitive nature will be rapt within the pages of this book. I only caution that I found myself going to the dictionary frequently in regards to wording used to describe the situations. Overall, though, this book met and exceeded my expectations.

2009-05-03 | Builder of Profoundity (KY, IN & MO) | Helpful Votes: 1 | Rating: 4

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My Dearest Friend: Letters of Abigail and John Adams

Product Details

• Persuade: New
• ISBN13: 9780674026063
• Notes: BUY WITH Nerve, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and utility to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Description

Listen to a ten-minute interview with Margaret Hogan
Host: Chris Gondek | Producer: Heron & Crane

Read Margaret Hogan's HUP blog posting: "The Romance of John and Abigail Adams"

Watch the video of The Massachusetts Historical Society's November 2007 event at which Deval and Diane Patrick, Edward and Victoria Kennedy, and Michael and Kitty Dukakis read selected letters from My Dearest Friend

Visit the Adams Family Papers: An Electronic Archive

Watch the March 2008 HBO miniseries--"John Adams"--based on David McCullough's Pulitzer Prize-winning biography

In 1762, John Adams penned a flirtatious note to "Miss Adorable," the 17-year-old Abigail Smith. In 1801, Abigail wrote to wish her husband John a safe journey as he headed home to Quincy after serving as president of the nation he helped create. The letters that span these nearly forty years form the most significant correspondence--and reveal one of the most intriguing and inspiring partnerships--in American history.

As a pivotal player in the American Revolution and the early republic, John had a front-row seat at critical moments in the creation of the United States, from the drafting of the Declaration of Independence to negotiating peace with Great Britain to serving as the first vice president and second president under the U.S. Constitution. Separated more often than they were together during this founding era, John and Abigail shared their lives through letters that each addressed to "My Dearest Friend," debating ideas and commenting on current events while attending to the concerns of raising their children (including a future president).

Full of keen observations and articulate commentary on world events, these letters are also remarkably intimate. This new collection--including some letters never before published--invites readers to experience the founding of a nation and the partnership of two strong individuals, in their own words. This is history at its most authentic and most engaging.

(20070915)

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Customer Reviews

Item just as described
Item bought, shipped out quickly, and arrived safe and sound in a timely manner. Thanks seller!

2009-12-26 (New England) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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greeneyedjo
This is an absolutly wonderful book about John and Abigail Adams. They had quite the unique relationship, which is clearly conveyed in these pages of beautiful letters. Their love and respect each other is so very heartwarming. The reader also gets a deep sense of what it was like to live through the birth of a nation. Worth the read.

2009-02-25 (new rochelle, new york United States) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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My Dearest Friend
Our bookclub chose this book just about the same time that the John Adams Movie for TV came out. It could not have been at a better time. We got to know one of our founding fathers and his wife who was such a strong woman and the obvious love of his life. The reading was a bit difficult because it was all about their letters to one another written during that time period. But it was a great read. NancyHorse Sense: A whimsical desktop guide to horse care

2009-02-22 | Nationally Known Artist (Mechanicsville,VA) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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Insightful
My Dearest Friend: Letters of Abigail and John Adams reveals much about both, Abilgail Adams and John Adams. It is interesting how Abilgail had so much influence on John's heart and how she actually helped mold the Declaration of Independence and American Revolution with her candor, compassion, and commonsense.

2009-02-08 | My Karrin Heart (Glendale, AZ United States) | Helpful Votes: 0 | Rating: 5

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book review
I am very pleased with the quality of this book. I watched the John Adams series on HBO and this makes a nice companion piece to that miniseries.

2008-07-12 | Helpful Votes: 3 | Rating: 5

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John Adams and the American Revolution

Description

In this highly praised biography of the formative years of the America's second president, Mrs. Bowen portrays John Adams within the context of colonial America and examines the momentous events that forged a new nation and the character of our second president. This is an old-fashioned biography, beautifully written, passionately interested in its subject. Mrs. Bowen's primary aim is to convey the temper of mind and intellectual curiosity of a man who many consider the most brilliant individual to have ever held the high office of the presidency.

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Customer Reviews

Dazzling
Catherine Bowen's 1950 version of "John Adams and the American Revolution" is a fascinating portrayal of one man and his resolute passion for independence from England.
Mrs. Bowen's approach to writing is descriptive, embracing and above all, instructive.

This book covers Adams' life from the age of ten to his early forties when, in 1776, we declared independence from England.
We read of his early childhood on the Massachusetts farm, college days at Harvard, law practices, defending the British soldiers from the "Boston Massacre" due to his obsession with proper law ideologies, speaking out against the Stamp Act and other numerous injustices from England, his election to the Massachusetts House of Representatives and finally, the almost never ending debates, arguments and reasoning's for declaring independence. An amazing man. He simply never quit even when ¾ of the country were either pro-Crown or hesitant for independence.

While reading this outstanding narrative of John Adams, I now and then found myself asking, how many of our former presidents actually had a thorough knowledge of the American Revolution...beyond a fifth grade level (?) This book will enlighten.

2009-01-02 (Laramie, Wyoming United States) | Helpful Votes: 2 | Rating: 5

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Great Biography!
John Adams and the American Revolution by Catherine
Drinker Bowen is a great biography of John Adams.
Ms. Bowen spends a great amount of time on the childhood and young manhood of Adams. She also touches on his great marriage life. This is a book that I enjoyed perhaps even more than David
McCullough's biography titled John Adams, though this book was good. I usually stay away from biographies and read more of the reference type books, I'll have to say though that this book kept my interest to the end.

2003-03-27 | Helpful Votes: 9 | Rating: 5

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Excellent biography of John Adams
This book was an excellent portrait of how John Adams matured over the years from age 10 up until the signing of the Declaration of Independence, particularly how a loyal British subject became one of the primary movers of separation from the British Crown. It is a great narrative describing the slow movement from loyal individual colonies to a united country. Significant historical figures are included with more than a passing mention since they were colleagues of his, including Sam Adams, Thomas Hutchison and many more. It reads like an historical novel, not a textbook. If you want to get an interesting flavor for this portion of American history, I highly recommend this book.

1999-08-11 | Helpful Votes: 15 | Rating: 4

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