bailey_books's review against another edition
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
4.5
lakecake's review against another edition
4.0
Abigail Adams was a confident woman, comfortable in her skin and with her opinions, at a time when that was rarely acknowledged. Her relationship with her husband is a big reason we know about her—the fact that he allowed her to be herself within their relationship, and to an extent outside of it, gives us as later observers a fuller picture of her. As most humans are, she’s a complicated figure and she’s far from the feminist icon she’s been portrayed as in recent times. But she is fascinating and complex and history is better for knowing her story.
hannahelise's review against another edition
3.0
I really love Abigail Adams and had high expectations but I did not enjoy this author at all. He seemed to constantly be pointing out "what other biographers failed to note" which I quickly found obnoxious. And as interesting as Adams' financial transactions were for a woman of her era, he focused entirely too much on those as well. When I read a historical book, I want to be transported to that time and feel as if I'm there and this author utterly failed to do this. If I didn't have an affinity towards Abigail Adams before the book, I'm not sure I would have even been able to finish it.
nferre's review against another edition
4.0
Our first feminist, Abigail Adams was a woman ahead of her time. The wife of our second president and mother of our sixth president, she was feisty, opinionated, confident, caring, loving and smart. An independent woman, she learned the hard way to navigate her world while her husband travelled, to rely on her instincts in child rearing and business dealings – and did so well. At a time of “femme couvert” laws, or couverture, when the law declared that a husband and wife were as one, and that “one” was the husband with all rights over the wife as well as her property, most women did not dabble in finances. Did not own property, much less sell it. Abigail threw convention to the wind and did just that. She challenged not only her husband, but anyone who said women shouldn’t vote, shouldn’t have the same rights as men. She wanted her daughters and all girls to be educated far beyond the simple math required to go to market or make a dress. She definitely was not a saint and still had ideas about class and slavery that would not sit well in today’s world but that does not diminish the positive traits clearly represented in her letters to her husband, daughter and friends.
The social history explained in this book is reason enough to have it on a shelf as a reference for the customs of the times. For ex: The explanation of her daughter’s breast cancer diagnosis and subsequent surgery is fascinating. The issues with raising boys – not all that different from raising a boy today. The author did thorough research, although the letters speak for themselves. My only complaint is that at almost 20 hours of listening, I think the book could have been shaved by almost half.
The social history explained in this book is reason enough to have it on a shelf as a reference for the customs of the times. For ex: The explanation of her daughter’s breast cancer diagnosis and subsequent surgery is fascinating. The issues with raising boys – not all that different from raising a boy today. The author did thorough research, although the letters speak for themselves. My only complaint is that at almost 20 hours of listening, I think the book could have been shaved by almost half.
spinnerroweok's review against another edition
3.0
This book could have easily and more accurately been titled "Abigail Adams' Fight against Coverture" or "The Secret Financial Life of Abigail Adams." I came into this expecting to meet the charming delightful woman I met in David McCullough's "John Adams." Instead, I found a woman obsessed with having her own money and whose husband spends most of his time away from home not writing back. I think this was a book worth being written, but I don't think that it was what I was looking for. If you are interested in the finances of a late 18th, early 19th century woman's finances in the face of discriminatory legal obstacles, check this out. If not, look elsewhere. If you know of a better Abigail Adams biography, please let me know.
brookamimi's review against another edition
5.0
Abigail Adams was America's first feminist and all-around a super cool lady. This is a well-written biography that shows her tendency toward service and her business savvy.
csemanek's review against another edition
4.0
Quite interesting. I've always been somewhat interested in the First Ladies, but this is the first full biography I've read on any of them. What a bright and strong woman she was!
danicapage's review against another edition
4.0
I greatly enjoyed this one. It's long, but fascinating. I feel we often reduce Abigail to a few lines or scenes or who she was in connection to her husband or son. I greatly enjoyed this book that centered on Abigail, and I'm glad I was able to get to this one.