The design and UX isn't done, Rob and Abbie, okkurrrr! 😌
isaacbarton's review against another edition
5.0
I'm glad I read this when I did. It's strangely comforting to be reminded in a particularly harsh election year that there is nothing novel about the partisan nastiness and the general feeling that the US is on the brink of destruction. Those sentiments have been with us since the beginning. Ours is a civilization designed by its founders to live--even thrive--in that space.
solaana's review against another edition
Makes me want to watch the show now but also fuck Jefferson
klmeyers's review against another edition
5.0
This was honestly one of the most compelling books I have ever read. As someone who takes great interest in the American Revolution, I might be a tad biased in its praise, but I still believe that anyone can get through this book even without having a sufficient passion for history. I didn't think I'd be interested in a 751-page biography about one of the Founding Fathers, but now I take great offense in the fact that many Americans can't even name him as our second president. I knew nothing about him when I began reading, but by the end, I was crying at the description of his last days because I am an embarrassment to myself.
What I'm saying is: as far as biographies go, this one is pretty nifty.
What I'm saying is: as far as biographies go, this one is pretty nifty.
crypto_ceejay's review against another edition
4.0
This is one of the best books ive read on any founding father. Its full of information it mustve taken years to accumulate and go thru and presented wonderfully within the timeline and one of my favorite things is the way it also focuses on Thomas Jefferson and the relationship they had both before and after theyre lives tragic events towards the end. Very long read but i learned so much from it!
hiltzmoore's review against another edition
4.0
Wow, what a story! It is hard to believe that this is non-fiction at times. The true love story between John and Abigail, the frenemy relationship between Adams and Jefferson, and the intrigue of the birth of party politics in America were all fascinating. I found a little of Adams' time in Europe to be a bit dry and drawn out, but other than that, really great read.
ferris_mx's review against another edition
4.0
A nice history, clearly favorable to our second President. Comforting in that politics was every bit as much of a shitshow in the age of our FOUNDING FATHERS. Jefferson paid a disreputable journalist to slime Adams so that he (Jefferson) could win the 1800 election, for example. Generally there was more backstabbing than not and maybe things aren't the worst ever ever.
It was a big world back then, where it could take four months to communicate with your representative abroad and then hear back.
Although this book stars Adams, it's much more of a reasonable comparative history of Adams and Jefferson than Bullock's Hitler/Stalin.
It was a big world back then, where it could take four months to communicate with your representative abroad and then hear back.
Although this book stars Adams, it's much more of a reasonable comparative history of Adams and Jefferson than Bullock's Hitler/Stalin.
jbmorgan86's review against another edition
5.0
#2 of 43 on my Presidential Quest. It took me sixth months to read this book. Between the start date and end date I read 60+ other novels, non-fiction books, graphic novels, plays, etc. Also in that time, my wife went through two trimesters of a pregnancy!
This is a thick book . . . and I don't mean just the length of it. Every word matters. The prose is beautiful. McCullough weaves together his own prose with primary source material (mostly letters between John and Abigail).
Things that I learned (or relearned)/found interesting/thought noteworthy:
- John Adams started every day with a glass of cider (yes, alcoholic!)
- Adams was the legal defense for the British soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre
- Adams did not consider the presidency to be the pinnacle of his career. Rather, he saw his entire career as a continuous quest for freedom. In fact, what he did before his presidency was probably more significant than what he actually did in his presidency.
- The relationship between John and Abigail is something to be admired. Over the decades, they acted like kids in love, continuously writing letters back and forth.
- Abigail is just as significant of a figure as John. It is amazing how much she influenced his political career (more than his cabinet?!). She was very wise and often passionate in righteous judgment. She even predicted the Civil War! I was particularly fond of a story about her scolding white students that threatened to boycott school because she sent her literate black slave to the school.
- I was impressed with Adams' stance on slavery. He and Abigail saw it is a sin and saw nothing but bad outcomes from it. He even consider Jefferson's affair with Sally Hemings the fruit of the sinful practice.
- I knew little-to-nothing about Adams' dealings in France, Holland, and England
- Adams picked Washington as the General of the military, helped draft the Constitution, and selected Jefferson to write the Declaration of Independence. These were monumental choices.
- I was surprised by the lack of interaction between President Washington and VP Adams
- To the people who say "WE HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE DIVIDED!" need to read history. The amount of vitriol and partyism outweighs is going on in 2017. I was especially surprised to see the behavior of Jefferson and Hamilton
- I had forgotten that Washington was recalled to active duty by Adams after his presidency
- The reconciliation between Jefferson and Adams is endearing.
In sum, Adams is an often forgotten president. He made crucial decision before his presidency. He was at the heart of the Revolution. He did some great things during his presidency (such as the resolution of the Quasi-War with the French). He also did some terrible things during his presidency (the Alien and Sedition Acts). Adams was often naive and often showed a violent temper. On the other hand, he was also a passionate, faithful, and loving man. I am thankful for McCullough's work!
This is a thick book . . . and I don't mean just the length of it. Every word matters. The prose is beautiful. McCullough weaves together his own prose with primary source material (mostly letters between John and Abigail).
Things that I learned (or relearned)/found interesting/thought noteworthy:
- John Adams started every day with a glass of cider (yes, alcoholic!)
- Adams was the legal defense for the British soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre
- Adams did not consider the presidency to be the pinnacle of his career. Rather, he saw his entire career as a continuous quest for freedom. In fact, what he did before his presidency was probably more significant than what he actually did in his presidency.
- The relationship between John and Abigail is something to be admired. Over the decades, they acted like kids in love, continuously writing letters back and forth.
- Abigail is just as significant of a figure as John. It is amazing how much she influenced his political career (more than his cabinet?!). She was very wise and often passionate in righteous judgment. She even predicted the Civil War! I was particularly fond of a story about her scolding white students that threatened to boycott school because she sent her literate black slave to the school.
- I was impressed with Adams' stance on slavery. He and Abigail saw it is a sin and saw nothing but bad outcomes from it. He even consider Jefferson's affair with Sally Hemings the fruit of the sinful practice.
- I knew little-to-nothing about Adams' dealings in France, Holland, and England
- Adams picked Washington as the General of the military, helped draft the Constitution, and selected Jefferson to write the Declaration of Independence. These were monumental choices.
- I was surprised by the lack of interaction between President Washington and VP Adams
- To the people who say "WE HAVE NEVER BEEN MORE DIVIDED!" need to read history. The amount of vitriol and partyism outweighs is going on in 2017. I was especially surprised to see the behavior of Jefferson and Hamilton
- I had forgotten that Washington was recalled to active duty by Adams after his presidency
- The reconciliation between Jefferson and Adams is endearing.
In sum, Adams is an often forgotten president. He made crucial decision before his presidency. He was at the heart of the Revolution. He did some great things during his presidency (such as the resolution of the Quasi-War with the French). He also did some terrible things during his presidency (the Alien and Sedition Acts). Adams was often naive and often showed a violent temper. On the other hand, he was also a passionate, faithful, and loving man. I am thankful for McCullough's work!
readingslug's review against another edition
4.0
This was a very engaging and interesting biography. It's the first biography I've read so I have little to compare it too but overall very good. Not 5 stars because at times (especially at the end) I didn't know how far apart things were happening or what year it was and there were other very very minor issues. Very informative, interesting read.