great book

Independence Forever

I have revisited this review written in 2001 after reading the three volume Library of America set of John Adams' writings and the one-volume LOA edition of Abigail Adams' letters. I revisited the review again after reading the recent book by Isenberg and Burstein "The Problem of Democracy: The Presidents Adams Confront the Cult of Personality" which is critical of McCullough's book for its giving short shrift to John Adams' philosophy and writings. The authors are right in their criticism but McCullough's book has performed a great service in introducing Americans to John Adams.

John Adams has been the most overlooked of the American Founders. David McCullough's large, epic-scaled biography seeks to correct this omission and to bring the character and achievement of Adams alive for today's reader.

McCullough describes well the essential role Adams played in his long life in our Nation's founding. The stages of Adams career, each filled in their own way with accomplishment, can be divided as follows: 1. early years as a young attorney culminating in his courageous defense of the British militia responsible for the Boston Massacre; 2. ceaseless advocate for American Independence during the First Continental Congress; 3. Diplomat to France and Holland during the Revolutionary War and American negotiator of the peace treaty; 4. Diplomat to Britain to negotiate commercial treaties for the fledgling nation 5. first Vice-President of the United States; 6. second President of the United States who successfully kept the country out of war with France; 7. retirement in Quincy.

Each of these periods of Adams's life is described in detail with good attention paid to giving the reader a feel for time and place. I thought the descriptions of early Philadelphia and of Paris both before and after the Revolution were well done.

McCullough also concentrates on Adams's character. He emphasizes his honesty and integrity, admitted to even by his opponents, his love of learning, his relationship with his remarkable wife Abigail and his sometimes sad relationships with his children, and his relationship with other leading figures of the time including, of course, Jefferson, Washington, and Franklin and many others. Adams's vanity, his sharp temper, and his ambition also come through well.

For all of Adams's accomplishments, I was most impressed with the final stage of his life following his 1800 loss of the Presidency to Thomas Jefferson. Adams retired to his farm in Quincy, Massachusetts and devoted himself to reading and to extensive correspondence. In particular, Adams and Thomas Jefferson effected a reconciliation following the conclusions of their Presidencies and exchanged a remarkable series of letters on their thoughts on government, their political experiences, their reading, and simply on growing older and wiser. These letters are indeed treasures of American literature and thought.

Both Adams and Jefferson died on July 4, 1826, the fiftieth anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, as befitting the stature they have for our country. Virtually on his deathbed, Adams was asked for a toast for the celebration. He responded with the words that are the title of this review -- "Independence Forever".

This is a deservedly popular book. May it awaken in the reader an appreciation of our country's revolutionary past and a devotion to its present.

Robin Friedman

Of the hundreds of books I have read thus far in my life, this is my favorite without question. As an American history teacher, I have an obvious bias toward a book about one of our founding fathers. However, I have read quite a few history books that were not very good and could not hold my attention. This book is written as a narrative and could hold its own as a story written simply for pleasure. It is a page-turner that is all but impossible to put down, and it gives the reader a tremendous knowledge about the time period of the American Revolution. All of the legendary characters of our country's early history are brought to life, and we learn about both the good and bad aspects of each of them. I have read this book through a few times now, and take something new from it each time. This is the perfect book to read for someone who did not like history in high school but feels that it is something they should learn about. It is also the perfect book for anyone who loves history and is looking for a good read.

So good I don't know where to start -- review to come.

This book was fantastic!

I knew so little about Adams before reading this. I've heard some rank Jefferson as an historical figure they'd like to dine with: forget Jefferson! Adams is seemingly so under appreciated, but was a giant both in his role as a founder of the United States but also in character.

Okay, I'm giving this 5 stars, even though I've only made it to Page 40! That's because I just finished the 3-disc movie/documentary of John Adams based on David McCullough's book -- one of the best movies I've ever seen. The documentary also includes a half-hour portrayal of David McCullough at the end and I have fallen in love with the man. What a decent human being -- a seemingly rare thing these days.

Even at Page 40, I'm already impressed as it reveals so much about Adams, like his childhood and youth, that the movie didn't have time for. And so well-written.

When I finish the book, I guess I can edit this comment later, right? So I'll be back. Though I doubt the rating will change.
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Finished! Wow, it's been a long time since I cried at the end of a book, or got to know and love a "character" so thoroughly. The book was full of surprises, including about Jefferson and Franklin. These three larger-then-life iconic figures are now real people to me, with strengths and weaknesses.

Abigail Adams was also fascinating. What a strong woman! She would have made a good president too, had she been born in another era.

Davis McCullough -- touche! On to more of your many good books.

When people say that history is dry they haven't read this book. David describes himself as a painter with words, and he is not wrong about that. Most people don't know much about this very important founding father. He was the second president of the United States and the voice of the Declaration of Independence. As Americans, we owe him a debt of gratitude for all he did. He was not the first President but was a first in many ways. He was the first President to serve one term and the First to also have a son become a President. He formed the US. Navy and the Marines and negotiated peace with France when America could not afford another war. Up until his death on July 4th, 50 years after the founding of our country he was clear of mind and a strong believer in our country. When asked at the end of his life what he wanted to say about his beloved country he stated "Independence Forever" they asked him then "anything else." To which he answered "No nothing else"

two things that i got from the book:

1. John Adams and Abigail really loved each other a lot. By the way, have I told you again, dear reader, that John Adams and Abigail really loved each other a lot? Well, not to worry, I'm David McCullough and I will tell you about 547 additional times before the book ends.

2. David McCullough as a chub-on for his subject. That's BAD history.

2002 Pulitzer Prize

I greatly enjoyed this biography of the second American president, about whom I knew little. I was very impressed by his character, intelligence, humor, patriotism, life of service, and innate human decency. His marriage to Abigail Adams was apparently a true passionate partnership - the two shared affection, humor, similar outlook on responsibility to family, faith and country, and thanks to his life of public service, they left a rich correspondence from all of their time apart.

Abigail spent years on her own, raising their children and managing their farm in Massachusetts while John served various government and diplomatic posts, in the U.S. and in Europe.

I was astonished at the thankless, lonely years Adams spent in France, during the Revolution, trying to secure military and financial aid for the American cause. He was with Benjamin Franklin in Paris, whose work ethic, actions, and lifestyle he was not terribly impressed with, and embarked on his own to Holland to try and secure much-needed loans for the country.

Traveling back and forth across the Atlantic was dangerous, thanks to weather and British ships, and traveling long distances overland in Europe could also be difficult and dangerous. Yet he never wavered, despite loneliness for his wife, children and beloved farm, and the difficulties of maintaining appearances in European diplomatic circles without going into debt (unlike Jefferson, who was also attached to the diplomatic missions in Paris, and later London, and was always in debt). I found much to admire, and much that was relatable in both John and Abigail’s beliefs and outlooks.

I knew Adams and Jefferson had been friends, then had a falling out that lasted for years, before reviving their friendship through a remarkable correspondence after both had served as president and retired from public life. It was very interesting to see how very close John, Abigail and Jefferson had been in Paris and London, and how deceitful Jefferson had been, working against Adams, even as he served as Adams’ Vice President. Abigail apparently never forgave Jefferson, at least she never took resumed her warm correspondence with him. She also deeply distrusted the press, and Alexander Hamilton, who several times worked behind the scenes to damage Adams political career.

A wonderfully written, enjoyable, in-depth look at the life of Adams! I found much to admire in this very human, but innately decent Founding Father. I’ve read a few Washington bios, to get a feel for the man behind the mythology, and now have found a second Founder to admire, warts and all - though in fairness, as John and Abigail were never slave owners, I think Adams is a notch above Washington for me. I want to read a biography of Abigail, she’s delightful, and I guess I should give Jefferson and Hamilton a look, but not in a hurry! Definitely will read more McCullough, though, he remains one of the most readable, entertaining historians I’ve read.

As always with nonfiction reads, I’ve added several quotes and interesting passages to my reading progress, to give a taste of the interesting events and wonderful writing.

What an accomplishment to have listened to this 30 hour book! It could easily have ended up being one of those books that I "always meant to get to".

At the beginning I got kind of discouraged and thought "Why am I reading another book about the white guys - by another white guy? I read an interview with David McCullough and the interviewer asked him if there was a story he had wanted to write but it just didn't happen? He responded that yes, he wanted to write about Martha Jefferson or George Washingtons wife, but their correspondences didn't survive. Burnt by either themselves or their husbands, for whatever reason. So, McCullough wrote from the "Gold Mine" of the Adams papers.
Interesting; the erasure of history... Who gets control of the story... Whose stories survive...

Anyway. John and Abigail's love story was so amazing. They were affectionate and absolutely in love with each other their whole lives. They seemed to have a great capacity for being united whether they were with each other or not. (John was gone for months and years at a time sometimes). Abigail was strong and good and smart and independent. Widely considered to be one of the most exceptional women of her generation. They were perfectly matched.

I loved the parts about the other great historical figures; Washington, Hamilton and Jefferson etc. They certainly weren't perfect, but they are interesting!! It would be cool if somebody wrote some songs about them.