We are so used to driving ambition with candidates/characters who would do anything short of knifing a competitor in the back to achieve the office, that a man like John Adams, a public servant who felt the need to do his best and put aside his own preferences for the sake of the public good provides a refreshing read.

The time and place in which he lived made it possible for a farmer to speak out and be chosen by his community to represent it, moving on to higher office purely on ability rather than political connivance before funding became the number one issue it is today.

A family man, a lover of the land he farmed, Adams was a gifted speaker and writer when those qualities were prized. He was nothing if not principled, driven to place reason above passion. Though he was passionate, he kept it in the family, particularly in his relationship with his beloved wife and full partner in every aspect of life, Abigail, whose support was absolutely necessary to his success.

Thomas Jefferson provides a contrast to Adams that the author continually brings forth. Jefferson the spendthrift, master of political intrigue, aesthete, one who could produce prose the equal of any, but whose own life departed from the sage advice he recommended for others.

Since I have an abiding interest in the injustice the United States supports in Israel, I found it remarkable that both Adams and Jefferson believed that an end to slavery would bring brutal retaliation from liberated slaves, in precisely the same way that modern Israelis claim the people they subjugate, the Palestinians, have only one thought in mind, to kill Israeli Jews, so must be kept oppressed and without rights. This provides a convenient justification for the continuation of injustice! For all their thoughts on democracy, liberty and justice, both Jefferson (a slave owner) and Adams were unwilling to touch the issue of slavery.

With the government new, a small group of men provided the pool from which to draw leaders and Adams moved through several positions, posted to France and then England to represent the United States before being elected vice-president and then president after Washington.

Upon retirement from the presidency with a great sense of relief, he spent many enjoyable years on his farm with his family before dying in his 80's.

With Adams as the core, this book traces his wide network of friends, enemies and associates to give the reader a good understanding of the issues of the time in which the United States became independent, fought two wars with Britain, and followed a delicate course with a belligerent revolutionary France.

McCullough gives us an outstanding example of character in action, of a man who had plenty of self-doubt but that held a steady course for the common good, regardless of popularity.

It has been a long time since I have read a book I appreciated as much as I did this one. Part of it may be that I read it during a tumultuous time in American history (late 2020 with a plague and a contentious election and sometimes-violent protests). It was amazing how often he was experiencing things we were experiencing and helped to make things not feel quite so dire. There were outbreaks of smallpox that caused everyone to flee the cities, newspapers publishing the most slanderous and inaccurate stories, a contentious election, backstabbing politicians, and even a fist fight on the floor of Congress! And we're still here after 200+ years! I think John Adams would be amazed that we made it this long.

I think the other reason I liked it so much is that I liked John Adams so much. He was not perfect, and McCullough is willing to let us see that, but he was principled and conscientious and willing to work across party lines. He repeatedly put the public good above his private interests. I think it would be hard not to admire him.

Even though it was over 600 pages long, it was a let down to get to the end of it. It felt like I had been walking with a friend who had walked this way before me and now I had lost that friend.

John Adams is a well researched and beautifully written biography about the life and times of John Adams and early American history. David McCullough uses letters and diary entries to paint a vivid picture and transport the reader back in time some 200 years.

Don’t let the length of this book deprive you of the joy of reading it. If you love biographies and American history you will want to read this.

Simply put, this biography is a masterpiece.

I took this book home for the summer and read through it slowly because I could not bear it being over. McCullogh tells John Adams' and America's story as well as the best novelist while satisfying the history buff's desire for documents and "truth." Enjoy.

2002 Pulitzer Prize

This book was truly inspiring, on many levels. A real blessing.

אין מספיק מילים לתאר את ההישג הפנומנלי שהשיג דיויד מקלו בביוגרפיה הזו.

ביוגרפיה מרתקת, קולחת ומקיפה של חייו ופועלו של ג'ון אדאמס, הנשיא השני של ארה"ב ומהאבות המייסדים של ארה"ב. אבל לא רק. דיויד מקלו מצליח באופן יוצא מן הכלל לשזור את ההיסטוריה הפוליטית והחברתית ואת האירועים בחייו של אדאמס כך שמתקבלת תמונה פנורמית ועשירה של האיש ופועלו ביחס לתקופה ובתוך המרקם החברתי שבו פעל. הוא מתבסס על מכתבים תקופתיים שכתבו אדמאס, אישתו אביגייל ודמויות שונות שעימן החליף תכתובות כמו תומס ג'פרסון. הוא מתבסס על עיתונות התקופה וכתבים תקופתיים וכל זה מעבר לבבליוגרפיה מפורטת.

מהביוגרפיה עולה תמונה של אדם צנוע, אינטיליגנט, חם ואוהב אדם, מסור למטרה ולמדינתו כמו גם למשפחתו. פוליטיקאי חף מתככנות, שנאמן לדרכו ולאמונותיו אותן הוא פעל לקדם גם במחירים אישיים. נדיר למצוא היום פוליטיקאים מהזן הזה, שכך רואים את טובת המדינה והעם שלהם לפני הכל ומדובר על תקופה שבה הפעילות הציבורית לא היוותה מקור הכנסה משמעותי, כך שמרבית נטל הככנסה הושת על המשפחות ולא על המדינה (ספרו על כך לנציגים הנפלאים שלנו שיושבים בכנסת ובממשלה ולא רק שדואגים להעלות את השכר שלהם באלפי שקלים בכל שנה, אלא גם בוכים ומייללים שהם מסכנים והשכר שלהם לא הולם את המשרה והמעמד שלהם...- אגב לאדאמס לא היה מטוס פרטי, את רוב הוצאותיו הוא כיסה מכיסו וגם כשהגיע לדיוני הקונגרס שיכנו אותו בחדר קטנטן שנותר להשכרה.)

לא אכנס לנבכי הביוגרפיה ואפשר לקרוא על פועלו של ג'ון אדאמס בוויקפדיה ובכלל באינטרנט. אולם, אני מפצירה בכם לקרוא את הביוגרפיה בשל שני ההיבטים המרתקים באמת בביוגרפיה הזו:

הראשון מערכת יחסיו עם אישתו אביגייל, שהיתה ציר מרכזי בחייו והיוותה מקור לאהבתו, געגוגעיו וכמיהתו. למרות שבמשך השנים, היו תקופות ארוכות בהן חיו בנפרד (יש לציין באומללות וגעדועים רבים), בחלק מהתקופות הוא חי באירופה והיא בארה"ב תוך שהיא שומרת על תפעול החווה שבבעלותם ומגדלת את הילדים, לאורך כל חייו וחייה, נהגו בני הזוג להתכתב ולהסתמך אחד על השני לתמיכה נפשית ומוסרית. קטעי המכתבים מציירים סיפור אהבה גדול מהחיים.

היא היתה המשען שלו, אשת אמונו, התומכת הנלהבת ביותר שלו גם בשעותיו הקשות. היא היתה היועצת שלו ומי שוויתרה עבורו על חיי משפחה מסורתיים.

היא זכתה להערכה מהקולגות הפוליטיות שלו וחלקם אף ניהלו תכתובות איתה, ללא קשר למערכות היחסים שלהם עם אדאמס.

הוא ראה בה נפש תאומה, מקור לגאווה ולאהבה. ולמרות המחוייבויות הפוליטיות והחברתיות שלו תמיד קדמו למשפחתו ולה, מהמכתבים ניכר עד כמה תמיד היתה בליבו, בנפשו ובמחשבתו. לשניהם היתה תפיסה כל כך עמוקה של מחוייבות ציבורית שלהם, כך גם כאשר הדבר פגע בהם כלכלית, הם שניהם היו שותפים ברמה האישית לדרך הציבורית.

ההיבט השני המרתק בביוגרפיה הזו הוא מערכת יחסיו עם ג'פרסון כפי שהיא נפרסת לאורך השנים הרבות. מערכת יחסים טעונה של אהבה שינאה ואהבה. שלוותה בנתק ארוך של שנים וחזרה לקשרים רק בשלהי חייהם, כאשר על מיטת מותו הוא סבר שחברו שרד כשלמעשה שניהם נפטרו באותו היום, 4 ליולי.

בכלל הביוגרפיה הזו לא חוסכת בפרטים על חייו של ג'פרסון ואפשר לחשוב שלסופר לא נותרה עבודה רבה להשלמת ביוגרפיה על חייו של ג'פרסון. דמותו של תומס ג'פרסון היתה כל כך שונה באופן קיצוני מזו של אדאמס, שהסופר משתמש בדמותו של ג'פרסון כדי להנגיד בינהם ולהאיר את הצדדים החיוביים באישיותו של אדאמס. ולא רק לגבי פערים אישיותיים בהתנהלות של כל אחת מהדמויות אלא הוא מקדיש גם ניתוח עומק לפערים פוליטיים שהתגבשו לאחר החתימה על מגילת העצמאות. אדאמס הלעומתי שתמיד הלך אחר צו מצפונו ואמונתו.

מעבר להבדל הבולט בינהם שאדאמס היה עיקבי בדעותיו, והצהיר ופעל באופן כן וישר מול עמיתיו ויריביו הפוליטיים למול ג'פרסון שפעל בדרכים עקלקלות, לא ישרות, מאחורי הגב ובאופן שלעיתים סתר את עצמו, היו עוד מספר הבדלים באורח החיים שלהם:

הבדל משמעותי בין שניהם היה אורח החיים הצנוע של אדאמס, שלקראת סוף חייו גם לא הותיר חובות לילדיו לעומת אורח חיים ראוותני ובזבזני של ג'פרסון, שבמקום מסויים בביוגרפיה הזו נכתב עליו שחזר מלונדון עם היקף מטען שלא נראה כמותו מעולם עד אז.

ג'פרסון גם השקיע באחוזתו מונטצ'ילו בה בילה שנים ארוכות בעיצוב והרחבה, עד כדי כך שבסוף חייו נערכה מגבית לכיסוי חובותיו.

הבדל משמעותי אחר היה ביחס לעבדים. אדאמס סירב להחזיק עבדים, בזמן שג'פרסון לא רק החזיק בעבדים אלא במקום מסויים בספר נטען כי היתה לו מערכת יחסים עם אחת השפחות שילדה לו מספר ילדים.

למרות אורכו, מדובר באמת באחד המסמכים ההיסטוריים המרתקים שיצא לי לקרוא. בכל עמוד רואים את אהבתו של הכותב לנושא הביוגרפיה ולתקופה עליה הוא כותב. אני שמחה שהשקעתי בספר את הזמן, הוא יותר מראוי לקריאה.

"No man who ever held the office of president would congratulate a friend on obtaining it," wrote John Adams, and this superb biography by David McCullough makes it clear why Adams was undoubtedly sincere in this sentiment. Adams was a plain and honest speaking man who rose to the challenges of extraordinary times. In this biography he emerges from the shadows of the better known presidents - Washington and Jefferson - whose administrations bracketed his.

McCullough did not originally intend to write a biography of Adams, it transpires, but a more general book on American history. (This eventually became his later work, 1776.) But Adams' character and life made McCullough reconsider, and soon he found himself writing a book solely on Adams.

I confess to having known almost nothing about Adams, and further confess to being dismally uninformed about the revolutionary period in general, especially considering that I majored in history as an undergrad (albeit with a focus almost exclusively in European history). Some dreadful instruction during middle and high school still casts a pall over American history for me, which I realize is a poor excuse now in my fifth decade, but sadly is the only one I can offer for not having really ever undertaken a more thorough study of my own country's development. Since reading this book, however, I've vowed to read McCullough's 1776 and several other notable accounts of the period.

I'm confident that I won't go wrong if I begin with more McCullough, for he is a master portraitist, using apt quotes and vivid description to make his subjects spring to life. Someone (I forget who) remarked that McCullough never wrote a bad page of prose, or something to that effect, and while that may be an exaggeration, it's no exaggeration to say that he is one of the most graceful stylists of our time. He is eloquent without seeming over-enamored of his own words. McCullough's long years as an editor no doubt paid off in honing his own style. Like John Adams, McCullough gravitates toward "classical" modes of oration and style. There's a forcefulness and directness that shines through both in Adams and in McCullough's portrayal of him.

McCullough has a gift for "humanizing" his subjects. Of Adams, he wrote, "He had a brilliant mind. He was honest and everyone knew it. Emphatically independent by nature, hardworking, frugal, he could be high-spirited and affectionate, vain, cranky, impetuous, self-absorbed, and fiercely stubborn; passionate, quick to anger, and all-forgiving; generous and entertaining. He was blessed with great courage and good humor, yet subject to spells of despair." Thus Adams is shown as not a paragon but as someone who had to struggle with his shortcomings.

The author's gift for fleshing out his subjects comes the fore in describing the marriage of John and Abigail. Here is a marriage shown in all its complexity; two people who were ideally suited to one another. I couldn't help but think that in their union McCullough saw something of his own -- he's often cited his own wife as being one of the reasons for his great success as a writer, especially in standing behind his decision to quit his job as an editor and research his first book.

I confess to having done something I usually hate to do -- I saw the HBO special based on the book before I listened to the audio version of it. Normally that ruins a book for me, but here I found it simply reinforced it. Edward Hermann is an excellent narrator, and in fact I've ordered another audio book read by him from my library, Mornings on Horseback McCullough's biography of Teddy Roosevelt.

It's easier for me to relate to history when I have a link with particular people and places. McCullough established that link for me in this period of history, and for that I'm grateful.

McCullough dazzled with his depiction of Harry Truman and brings that passion now to look at the life of John Adams. As he tackles the more daunting task of bringing this Founding Father and former president to life, through a plethora of research and historical tomes, McCullough illustrates the varied life Adams lived and the complexities of his journey. Presenting Adams as both a man of the people and a politically-minded gentleman, McCullough shows how he shaped the formation of the United States and led it through its early years. Crossing paths with numerous greats, Adams not only took from them but also added some of his own ideas, which benefitted all who took the time to synthesise the discussion. Throughout the biography, McCullough shows three predominant sides to Adams, all of which play an important part in his entire personality: Adams the advocate, the political leader, and the family man, though not necessarily in that order of importance. Written in a clear and fluid manner, McCullough does an amazing job of showing John Adams to be more than a stuffy politician who signed the Declaration of Independence. I have new-found respect and admiration for Adams and took way so much from this one book, as I do whenever I give McCullough the chance to teach.

McCullough makes reference throughout that Adams enjoyed playing the role of advocate, especially for the underprivileged. In his early years as a lawyer, Adams handled defending those whom others would not assist, citing that he wanted to grow both in his knowledge of the law as well as strongly believing that everyone deserved a proper defence. McCullough shows that Adams sought to use his way with words (both the written and spoken) to present as strong a case as possible, no matter the defendant. One might extend this advocacy to Adams' role in Philadelphia, where he acted as one of Massachusetts' representatives at the Continental Congress. Adams planted the seed of formal independence from Britain in the minds of many, through speeches and shaped legislation. McCullough comments that Adams sought to advocate as vociferously as possible against the oppressive George III and tried to promote the idea of an independent country whose rights ought to be held in Congress, not some far-off parliament with no representation. McCullough illustrates Adams' passion for independence and while some of the pre-conference happenings receive but a passing mention (Boston Tea Party, for example), the actual constitutional discussions at the Congress receives much attention and exemplifies how Adams shone repeatedly. After declaring their independent interests in 1776, Congress sent Adams abroad to advocate for treaties of support and commerce in France, as well as peace with England when it became clear that George III's armies would be no match for Washington's forces. Congress went so far as to appoint Adams as the first Ambassador to the Court of St. James', an awkward honour in which Adams thrived. While these were by no means simplistic jobs, Adams took them as challenges in which personal growth was assured. McCullough depicts the trials and tribulations throughout these journeys, binding them together with the thread of intense interest to advocate for what Adams felt was right for all.

As a political leader, Adams looked past his own interests and pushed ideas of the greater whole while working in Congress and overseas. The oft stated belief that a leader ought to look outside themselves and seek what is best for the entire populace may have been based on Adams' life, as he tried to lead others when little or no precedent existed. Working to create a constitution for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Adams drew on some of the key aspects found within the Declaration of Independence (something he thought might be tasked to him before he passed it along to Jefferson), and added key tenets that he felt were best for all those living there, Adams tried to lead by example and to use his passion for his home state (province in the early years) to better everyone. As mentioned above, Adam sought also to lead in his roles as plenipotentiary minister to both The Netherlands (an interesting story told by McCullough about how Adams scored this post) and England, seeking to forge new alliances and political ground for the newly-born state. Through trials and tribulations abounded, Adams worked to foster needed relationships and climb the ladder of importance, which worked when Congress eventually named him the first vice-president of the United States in 1788. The role still new (and the constitution's depiction of the job description lacking), Adams tried to lead from the dais of the President of the Senate, injecting himself into debate and offering up many opinions. Not used to the role well founded now, the vice-president is better seen and not heard, waiting for the demise of the president to assume any true role. Still, through his pamphlet writing, Adams sought to lead the country through his ideas and political commentary on world events, most especially the French Revolution, drawing parallels to the happenings in 1776.

Political leadership took on a new role when Adams narrowly defeated Jefferson (by a mere 3 votes) in the Electoral College in 1797. The presidential campaign of 1796 saw the birth of party politics in America. Tarred and feathered as a monarchist by many of those seeking to derail him, Adams had to shed the moniker in order to move forward and to keep him from the figurative (and perhaps literal) gallows. Forging ahead, Adams used a great deal of his political knowledge to act in as strong a capacity of president as he could. Faced with an openly volatile and confrontational vice-president, Jefferson, the nation faced its most strained administration. While Jefferson tried to set pitfalls for his president, congressional progress appeared glacial and the two parties (the Republicans and the Federalists) sought to stop the other from any crumb of success. McCullough presents much support for the argument that Adams' presidency was ultimately shaped by the post-revolutionary French government, which began goading America into war. Adams built up the needed defences, should war become necessary and proposed two major pieces of legislation to define America for decades thereafter, the Aliens Act, and the Sedition Act. He argued that these pieces of legislation would defend honour and patriotism within America and let foreign potentates know with whom they were dealing. While McCullough posits that peace was Adams' ultimate goal, this is hard to see amongst the military chest bumping. While making the ultimate decision to seek peace, Adams ruffled the feathers of many and may have cast himself in a poor light from thereon in in the eyes of Jefferson and other key Republicans. However, it is his prerogative to do so. This paved the way for the highly vicious campaign of 1800, pitting president against vice-president for the first and only time in history. McCullough presents a highly intriguing story surrounding this campaign and the dirty politicking for which America would eventually become known. McCullough further posits that the outcome of that election hinged greatly on Adams' decision not to go to war with France.

Perhaps his greatest role, seen as a major arc throughout the tome, is that of a family man. McCullough uses this role as an overarching one throughout the book. Abigail Adams plays a central role in the story of John Adams' life and there is no section found therein that McCullough does not have some reference to her importance in his life. Adams valued his family above all others and tried to include them wherever he could. Granted, looking at things through the lens of the time, some might query his dedication to family and he and Abigail discuss stillbirths and deaths by letter, but there is no doubt that Adams did all he did to better the lives of his wife and children, going so far as to bring his sons with him to France and The Netherlands on various plenipotentiary missions. His constant letters to Abigail and the detail in which he discussed his adventures, as well as the poetic way in which he waxed wand waned about missing his brood shows how dedicated he was to their inclusion in his life. McCullough does a wonderful job illustrating this through the book's numerous parts and keeps the theme of family predominant throughout the numerous segues. Bringing family along with him on his numerous political appointments, Adams sought to enrich their lives as much as his own, exemplifying his dedication to the family unit. McCullough shows a strongly supportive father and keen head of household whose determination to open new paths for his children as a central tenet of the biography. Even through his trying years as president, Adams always kept his family close at hand, especially Abigail's near death at the hand of yellow fever. He juggled things as best he could, never shutting him family out to run the executive of the country.

Of interest, McCullough does not isolate the story to the life of John Adams and family. Numerous, detailed accounts of some of the other Founding Fathers and key actors in the rise of American independence whose interactions with Adams were central tasks undertaken by McCullough throughout. Jefferson, Washington, Franklin, and even Madison all receive great attention from McCullough and offer a teaser to the biographical backgrounds of each. Jefferson surely played a significant role in Adams' life, even if they did eventually distance themselves when wearing their respective political hats. The executive clashes between Washington and Adams would likely be accentuated with an alternate perspective, making Ron Chernow's biography of Washington essential. In the same light, Jon Meacham will surely help show Jefferson's side to the numerous clashes with Adams, both as Founding Fathers and within the executive. Some great storytelling surrounding the difficulties Adams and Franklin faced while working 'together' in France may give the reader a new perspective on both, though surely that is to be expected in such a thoroughly documented tome.

One area I had hoped would receive more attention (though the length of the tome justifies its exclusion) is the debates surrounding the independence movement and eventual creation of the Constitution of the United States. Being an institutional reformer, I find it interesting to see where the constitutional seeds germinated and some of the important aspects arose. From his Truman biography, I know that McCullough does present electoral campaigns in a highly detailed fashion. While 1896 was a mere blink of the eye, the re-election campaign of 1800 proved highly entertaining.

Kudos do not seem to be enough to encapsulate how much I enjoyed this biography. Choosing a well-known president (by name, but not necessarily by background) appears to be a strength for McCullough as he weaves the detailed background of their lives, their successes and more certainly their demises. I learned more about early America (and the roots about some of the current goings-on) than I have in all my reading to date. Thank you so very much for this and I hope to dive into another McCullough classic soon.

Well-researched, incredibly detailed, and well written. A bit long in parts and not too many note worthy moments. All in all, I enjoyed getting to know John Adams on a personal level, but I wouldn't recommend this biography to anyone unless they specifically wanted to know more about this important figure.

Learned a lot from this massive, well researched, well written, and easy to follow biography on one of our best founding fathers.
Applause to McCullough for once again writing so well.