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John Adams: A Life

john ferling katherine e. speirs

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JOHN ADAMS by John Ferling is part of the American Political Biography Press collection of definitive bigoraphies of the American Presidents.

535 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1,1992

This edition

Format
535 pages, Hardcover
Published
January 1, 1997 by Amer Political Biography Pr
ISBN
9780945707141
ASIN
0945707142
Language
English
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  • John Adams

    John Adams

    John Adams (1735 - 1826) was an American politician and political philosopher and the second President of the United States (1797–1801), after being the first Vice President of the United States (1789–1797) for two terms. He was one of the most influentia...

  • Abigail Adams

    Abigail Adams

    Abigail Adams (née Smith; November 11, 1744 – October 28, 1818) was the wife of John Adams, who was the second President of the United States, and the mother of John Quincy Adams, the sixth. She was the first Second Lady of the United States, and the seco...

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About the author

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john ferling

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John E. Ferling is a professor emeritus of history at the University of West Georgia. A leading authority on American Revolutionary history, he is the author of several books, including "A Leap in the Dark: The Struggle to Create the American Republic", "Almost a Miracle: The American Victory in the War of Independence", and his most recent work, "The Ascent of George Washington: The Hidden Political Genius of an American Icon". He has appeared in television documentaries on PBS, the History Channel, C-SPAN Book TV, and the Learning Channel.

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Rating(4 / 5.0, 75 votes)
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75 reviews All reviews
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setsuna_hakanai
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 16,2025
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I thought this book was delightful! In depth, he writes an eminently readable biography of a complex man, as so many of our founding fathers were. I think Ferling does a superb job of differentiating between the Public and Personal personas of Adams, which are as starkly different as they are eerily similar. All in all, this is one of the most vivid and well described presidential biographies I have ever read. Highly recommend to anyone and everyone
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Deylin
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 16,2025
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This is book number 2 for me in my Presidential biography challenge. I really liked it. It was great at capturing the feelings of the time, and gave a great perspective on John Adams. Since there was much from his personal writings, I was left feeling that I knew Adams. The pacing was good and it gave enough time to other important figures in his life - Washington, Jefferson, Sam Adams, etc... along with John's kids as well - especially John Quincy. I haven't read many others yet to compare, but from what I gather, legacy is important to a biography as well. The last chapter deals with this - mostly how history views Adams and how he viewed himself. Great read!
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Tii__
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 16,2025
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Kirjan kuvaus on törkeästi liioitteleva. Jos tätä vertaa Goodwiniin tai Chernowiin (tai uuteen suosikkiini, Caroon) teos on kömpelö. Kirjan jälkeen minulla ei ole kummoista kuvaa Adamsin ajan politiikan monipuolisuudesta ja teemoista, korkeintaan niistä asioista, joihin Adams osallistui. Ja tällöinkin herkästi vain Adamsin itsensä näkökulmasta, ei monipuolista kuvausta teemasta.

Tuntuu myös kuin Adamsin tekoja esitellään turhan hyviin päin, koska en aina ihan saanut kiinni, mikä hänen toimissaan oli niin erinomaista. Esimerkiksi hänen suurlähettiläskaudellaan Euroopassa ei hän hirveän suuria mullistuksia saanut aikaiseksi mielestäni, konkreettisia tukia tai mullistavia lainoja (sai toki Hollannista lainoja, mutta en osaa kirjan perusteella sanoa, kuinka merkittäviä ne olivat). Rauhansopimuksen neuvottelu oli merkittävä,ja toiminta kongress(e)issa itsenäistymisen molemmin puolin.

Presidenttikaudelta ei käsitellä oikeastaan kuin Ranskan sodan mahdollisuus ja hänen suuri vaikutus sen vastustamiseen. Mutta hyvin huonosti. Miksi hän oli kannalla, miksi hän lopulta vastusti ei aukea riittävän hyin.

Kirjassa haukutaan myös hassusti Adamsin kulloisenkin elämäntilanteen mukaan muita, Jeffersonia kehutaan ennen kuin heistä tuli kilpailijat, ja kehutaan taas, kun he elämiensä loppupuolella olivat ystäviä. He kuolivat samana päivänä, itsenäisyysjulistuksen 50-vuotispäivänä. Mikä muuten kirjan mukaan nosti Adamsin statusta todennäköisesti myös jälkipolvien kohdalla, koska heidät kytkettiin täten yhteen.

Ilmeisesti Ferling ei ole Chernowin kanssa samaa mieltä Hamiltonista. Adams ei tullut toimeen Hamiltonin kanssa, vaikka olivat samassa federalistisessa puolueessa. Hamilton esitetään häikäilemättömänä poliitikkona, pohjoisen teollisuuden etujen ajajana, joka jopa halveksi suurinta auttajaansa, Washingtonia. Ehkä. Mutta toisaalta olisi voinut mainita samalla Hamiltonin taloudellisesta merkityksestä, teollistumisen auttamisesta sekä perustuslain puolustamisesta (federalist's papers).

Edelleen, sama kuin aiemmin. Voisin antaa kolme, mutta sellaisia suomalaisia elämänkertoja saanut kolme, joten saakoon tämä neljä.
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merope28
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 16,2025
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This is a great biography. And I should thank John Adams for his copious amounts of correspondence which added lots of emotion to what are often dry tomes. Unlike other men, John Adams is severely aware of his own flaws and does not hide it from himself or put himself in a good light. He is such a diva!
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Rubenferro
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 16,2025
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I found it to be a thoughtful and comprehensive biography of John Adams.
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_lapeace
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 16,2025
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Under appreciated work and overshadowing by McCullough's work
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AzureDaora
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 16,2025
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Interesting and gives a fantastic picture of a flawed but very great man. Not only did it show Adam’s greatness but also of his wife. Adams gives some of the most cogent arguments for early American conversation.
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RenzyBlood
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
April 16,2025
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The nation's first nationalist, consistent with views of America's relationship with major European powers.
Declaration of Independence 1775-76, when not a popular stance
Shaped post-independence state governments through Thoughts on Government, checks and balances
Diplomat to France, Holland....Not present in two younger son's lives during crucial developmental years of their lives, which negatively shaped their adult fates. Abigail raised family by herself when Continental Congress was in session or when Adams was serving overseas.
As president, kept country from joining French Revolution
Views changed from Federalist to Republican after presidency and during retirement
Self-absorbed, vain, tireless worker, persuasive, impulsive, always seeking greatness.
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