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John Adams (Paperback)

by David McCullough (Author)
4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Paperback: 752 pages
  • Publisher: Simon & Schuster Ltd; 1st Touchstone Ed edition (15 July 2002)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0743223136
  • ISBN-13: 978-0743223133
  • Product Dimensions: 23.4 x 15.5 x 3.8 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 378,097 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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    #7 in  Books > Biography > Political > United States > U.S. Presidents, A-Z > Adams, John

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Product Description

Product Description

A biography of the extraordinary man who became the second president of the United States, this book traces John Adams' adventurous life and spirited rivalry with Thomas Jefferson, and encompasses both the American Revolution and the birth of the young republic. David McCullough describes the childhood, youth and coming of age of Adams, the fiercely driven Massachusetts farmer-lawyer whose marriage to Abigail is one of the great real-life love stories. He also tells the story of his lifelong rival Thomas Jefferson, the Virginia planter and slave-owner. Through their lives, McCullough explores the extraordinary factors that transformed 13 colonies into a united nation that eventually brought these two distinctly dissimilar men to the presidency.
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Customer Reviews

19 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.6 out of 5 stars (19 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent account of an important historic figure ., 3 Aug 2001
By A Customer
This review is from: John Adams (Hardcover)
David McCullough has written a highly elegant and descriptive book about a man whose name , John Adams , should be as well known as some of his contemporaries such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson . If only more historians wrote with the same highly readable prose as McCullough then I feel that many more people would have studied history at school . The book uses much source material by way of Adams' and his wife's letters and is incorporated into the text in a natural way by the author . Many historical events that were influenced by Adams are described in interesting detail , such as the negiotiations with the European powers during the United States' struggle for independance . The book is so sympathetic to both Adams and also to his very notable wife that one can be forgiven for wondering whether the individuals described were really so special . It seems again however that there is ample evidence for this . One confusing element remains Jefferson , who does come over as being a much lesser character than his reputation might suggest . In conclusion I enjoyed the book for its history and read it like a novel .
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20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A classic!, 13 Aug 2004
By Dennis Phillips "The Book Friar" (Bulls Gap, Tennessee USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   
There are so many great things about Mr. McCullough's latest work that it would be hard to list them all. The very best thing about this book is Mr. McCullough's writing style. He has, I understand, received some bad reviews from some so called "professional" historians. I have an advanced degree in history and have read some of these "professional" works. Even I find these books and articles are often dry and hard to read. Most readers simply don't even try to read these works. What good does a well researched work do if it lays on the shelf and gathers dust? Mr. McCullough does the research and then writes in a way that often makes it very hard to put the book down.

Another fine point about this book is that one almost gets four stories for the price of one. Not only does one get the story of John Adams but also his wonderful wife. A remarkable person in her own right. The reader also gets a great deal of information about Thomas Jefferson and the early life of John Q. Adams.

In my opinion there are two real tests of a biography beyond the obvious need for facts. First; does the book shed new light on its subject? This book rises to that test with flying colors. When I read Mr. McCullough's "Truman" I started out with a very positive impression of its subject. I had rather negative feelings for Adams before reading this book. I now find that John Adams has often been faulted for many things beyond his control. I also find that my feelings about Adams have changed a great deal.

The second test is a more personal one. If the book has made me feel like I really know someone, like a close neighbor or friend I will feel a sense of loss when I read of the subject's death. At the end of this book I felt the loss deeply. It was as if I had known John Adams for years. Thank you David McCullough. You have given me a new friend.

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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A Biography Worthy Of Its Subject!, 4 Feb 2007
By James Gallen (St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A.) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   
This review is from: John Adams (Hardcover)
"John Adams" by David McCullough is talented rendition of a unique story. Despite being remembered as the pigmy sandwiched between two giants, Washington and Jefferson, McCullough portrays Adams as an immensely important and interesting character in his own right. Adams is shown as being at the heart of many crucial events of our revolutionary and early national history. It was Adams of the Continental Congress who was the prime promoter of Independence and the nominator of George Washington for the post of commander of the Continental Army. He then carried out a series of diplomatic assignments in Europe, in which he was the intimate collaborator with Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson. Among his unique diplomatic accomplishments were the negotiation of a Dutch loan at a crucial stage of the Revolution and participation in the negotiation of the peace treaty ending the Revolution. Upon his return to America he wrote the constitution of Massachusetts before serving eight years as Washington's loyal vice-president.

Adams was one of those rare figures whose greatest for whom the presidency was not the office in which he rendered his greatest service. His mistake of retaining Washington's cabinet compounded his misfortune of having his prime political rival as vice-president and a deadly enemy, Alexander Hamilton as a leader of his won party. This left him leading an administration rife with sabotage. These factors handicapped him as he confronted issues of peace or war abroad and subversion at home. Having to function more as a sole actor than a leader of men, his administration is generally regarded as a failure. His term was influential, largely in the maintenance of peace and appointment of John Marshall to the Supreme Court.

Through much of this book the reader is treated to an interwoven mini-biography of Thomas Jefferson. Through this dual biography the reader comes to understand the dichotomy of these two friends, but rivals, collaborators and opponents and, ultimately, correspondents. Their timely demises on the Fiftieth Independence Day are seen as nothing less than providential.

As the readers of my reviews are aware, I have read very many biographies. Few match "John Adams" for quality.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars Grippingly written, but the lack of perspective is frustrating
I too bought David McCullough's biography of John Adams because of the TV series. However, in my own case I haven't watched the TV series yet; I bought it, but my wife and I are... Read more
Published 3 months ago by lexo1941

3.0 out of 5 stars none
Haven't read it myself as bought it for a present. I chose it because I'd been very impressed with the TV series based on this book: the story it told of the early years of the... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Mrs. S. Parry

5.0 out of 5 stars Must-read
Immacculate research has produced this absorbing book. As an avid reader I would say this is the best book I have ever read and am reading it again. Read more
Published 6 months ago by S. Murray

4.0 out of 5 stars John Adams - The Book
Absorbing and informative about the early days of the USA. Not as easy to follow as the HBO videos.
Published 7 months ago by Bob E

4.0 out of 5 stars John Adams
This is a 'heavy' history of John Adams and family. It is a most intereting read and extends greatly knowledge of the early days of the United States, and makes one wonder why... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Mr. J. Patrick

5.0 out of 5 stars History comes to life!
This book is a hugely entertaining biography of the great John Adams; a man who was the cornerstone of America yet is somewhat in the shadows of other giants such as Washington... Read more
Published 10 months ago by SEll51

5.0 out of 5 stars John Adams by David McCullough
After seeing the film on channel 4 - the book was superb - it told me a lot of things that I didn't know about America
Published 11 months ago by Mrs. Sheila Grollman

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Story
John Adams is a series about one of the lesser known characters of the American revolution. It is in every way absolutly fantastic; the cast are without exception brilliant, and... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Mr. A. Mcgregor

5.0 out of 5 stars Definitive Biography of a Great President
This book is a fantastic way to learn about John Adams and it's a great way to be introduced to excellent historical biographical writing. Read more
Published on 1 Jan 2008 by Kendra

5.0 out of 5 stars biography at its best
McCullough isn't a historian, and this book (and his superb biography of Harry Truman) do suffer as a result. Read more
Published on 3 Nov 2007 by T. Burkard

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