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.

I saw the John Adams miniseries on TV and then wanted to read this John Adams biography. Entertaining, interesting, and accessible, McCullough's biography didn't leave me disappointed. Lots of primary resources are used, and I learned a lot more than was covered in the miniseries (Paul Giamatti made for the perfect John Adams).

Simply put, this biography is a masterpiece.

In this well-written, engaging biography, David McCullough tells the story of John Adams' life and times in vivid detail. In McCullough's retelling, the man long overshadowed by Jefferson, Franklin, and his own cousin Sam finally receives his due, emerging as the hero of the revolution and of the early republic.

One may wonder, however, if in certain situations McCullough does not overstate his case. On the one hand, every achievement that Adams makes is portrayed as one of the greatest accomplishments in American history. Whether he is securing loans from the Dutch, meeting with the King of England, writing the constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, he always appears to be engaged in some earth-shatteringly brave, bold, and brilliant effort on behalf of his country. On the other hand, Adams' foes are cast in a decidedly negative light. Thomas Jefferson emerges as a two-faced, spineless, spendthrift; Benjamin Franklin appears as an indolent womanizer with bad taste and no morals; Alexander Hamilton becomes an amoral, ambitious intriguer. To be sure, Jefferson, Franklin, and Hamilton had their flaws, but many of their actions could be interpreted differently, or at least more sympathetically, than McCullough does here. As it is, we know where McCullough's sympathies lie - with Adams, who emerges as a sort of virtuous American Cincinnatus, always longing to return home to Braintree, abhorrent of ambition and intrigue, but always forced by circumstance back into public life.

McCullough is not so biased, however, that he does not allow Adams' own flaws to stand for themselves, and he will almost reluctantly admit when Adams' judgment has failed him (such as during the passage of the ill-conceived Alien and Sedition Acts). What is truly wonderful about the book is that McCullough presents a picture of Adams the man, more than Adams the statesman, diplomat, or president. McCullough captures his deep love of his family, his deep love of home, which for Adams were indistinguishable from his patriotism - his acts on behalf of the country he loved were also acts of love for his family - and presents all the powerful forces that motivated this remarkable, passionate, fiery character. Politics are always personal, and the personal is always political, and nowhere was this more true, perhaps, than in the life of John Adams.

6 stars! I appreciated what this biography revealed to me about the character of John and Abigale Adams' lives so much that I have purchased the hardcover editions for my two grandsons (ages 12 and 11) who love reading and history for their birthdays. (There's a 20 dollar bill inside to use as a bookmark.) John Adams is the kind of man I hope they will try to emulate as young men and adults without desiring to go into politics.

There is danger from all men. The only maxim of a free government ought to be to trust no man living with power to endanger the public liberty. (John Adams)

JOHN ADAMS! He is my President. Yes, I know he's been dead for some time now, but he is still my President. Honest and forthright. A lawyer and a farmer. An intellectual and a man of the earth. He also remains my favourite American revolutionary. Let others worship the hypocrisy of aristocratic Jefferson or the ambitions of power-mad Hamilton. Mr. Adams is good enough for me.

He didn't have the money or the influence of the Virginia elites and his refusal to accept the Brits as his overlord changed the world. He was short and pudgy. He didn't chase women and gambling was not a vice for him. However, he was President #2 for the United States and that means he is sandwiched forever between the godlike Washington and the salesman Jefferson. Yet it was Adams who pushed through the creation of the U.S. Navy, it was Adams who pushed Jefferson to write the Declaration of Independence and it was Adams who foresaw the destruction of the French Revolution.

Everything will be pulled down. So much seems certain. But what will be built up? Are there any principles of political architecture?

Adams was loyal enough to keep Washington's Cabinet, a cabal of Hamilton supporters, who did everything they could to undermine him. Yet, he stood his ground and refused to go to war against France, an act that would have probably destroyed the still-unstable American Republic. When he retired, he tended to his farm, the Cincinnatus of his time. His eldest son would also become a President and the Adams line would be famous for a few more generations. A simple yet complex man. How can you not admire this lawyer who resented the British shackles yet went to court to defend the British redcoats of the Boston Massacre? That takes guts.

My fundamental maxim of government is never to trust the lamb to the wolf.

I have enjoyed reading several books about Adams but McCullough is a perfect biographer for this overlooked Founding Father. Everything is enjoyable, as though the author is simply telling a bedtime story. The respect is there as is the understanding of what made Adams tick. No overblown hyperbole. No resentful gossip. No false notes. David McCullough presents Adams for what he was, a man of reason ruled by gale-force passions.

Ballast is what I want. I totter with every breeze.

Book Season = Year Round (consider the results)

I just reread this, 15 years later, and a definite five star book

4.5 stars, but with a few flaws. A great biography overall. It did take a while to get through, but by the time I hit the halfway point, I was really into it. The author focuses quite a lot on John Adams's relationships, especially with Abigail, but even more so, I would say with Thomas Jefferson. It almost felt like a dual biography in a lot of ways. It was as if McCullough saw these two men as the most significant of the signers of the Declaration and wanted to show how America as a nation was birthed and grew up by contrasting the lives of these two men. A lot has been written about the Founding Fathers, especially Adams and Jefferson (along with Washington, Franklin, and Hamilton, the books are almost endless). I did go into this wondering how much new information I would learn.

I did learn quite a lot of new information. McCullough spends a lot of time discussing Adams's career as a diplomat. This period, when Adams lived in Paris, London, and Amsterdam was the section of his life that I knew the least about, so it was nice to see it covered so thoroughly. Adams was a solid family man, and McCullough goes in depth about the relationships he had with Abigail and how he had ambition for his sons, but also loved his daughter so deeply. Interestingly, the section on Adams's presidency felt a little underdone. The author does a good job showing the transition that the government took under Adams in moving from Philadelphia to Washington DC, but politically I don't think the analysis on the major events of his administration were sufficiently as high level as the rest of the book. The XYZ Affair and the Alien and Sedition Acts are given time and effort to, but I feel McCullough handles the relationships in Adams's life more convincingly. And maybe, as a biographer, that's what he's supposed to do. I guess I liked Morris's book on TR and Caro's book on LBJ better and high expectations after reading those. I will say I liked this book better than the one other McCullough book that I have finished, 1776, and I am willing to read some of his others, as I mostly was amazed by this work.

P.S. -As a side note, I was interested to learn just how much of his presidency, he did his work from Quincy, Massachusetts rather than being in either Philadelphia or Washington DC.

This was the second book I have read by David McCullough about one of our presidents. He is a masterful biographer and did a wonderful job bringing John and Abigail Adams to life. They were a marvelous couple so full of spirit and love for their new country. There were ever so many incidents of their dedication and devotion to one another and to the United States. Constantly in the state of motion, Mr Adams did so much to set us upon the stage that led to our world prominence. He and Abigail gave up many times to be together as John is pulled to Europe many times to serve his country.

Again learning so many things I never knew made this novel both fascinating and made one unable to put it down. The most revealing portrait of all was that of both Abigail Adams and Thomas Jefferson. Never before was I aware of all the animosity that transpired in those days. Somehow I always thought as the press and politics, being oftentimes as unprincipled as they are, were a modern invention. Imaging that old statement of "history repeating itself" was often at the forefront of my mind as I read through the pages of this novel.

John Adams was a strong willed man who felt quite strongly about the "rightness" of all situations. He was scrupulously moral in all his judgements and although was oftentimes looked upon as rigid, he never lost his way in the life he chose to travel. With Abigail steadfastly behind him, he was always a success in her mind. Their love story, although open separated was beautiful. They were totally dedicated to one another and loved one another deeply and constantly.

So in conclusion, although a long novel, its pages were crammed with amazing facts about not only Mr and Mrs Adams, but also some of the rest of our founding fathers. I would surely recommend it to anyone who wants as excellent perspective on our second president who was so much more than history books ever portrayed of him.

I didn't know much about John Adams before reading this book, and now I admire him as a great man and revolutionary who helped shape the beginnings of this nation. While at times vain and stubborn, he was not lacking in conviction to what he thought was right, even if it made him unpopular. This biography is comprised of three main narratives: (1) the revolution and building of a new republic; (2) the love story between John and Abigail (possibly the best part); and (3) the friendship arc between him and Thomas Jefferson, which culminates in both men dying on the same day, July 4th, 50 years after Jefferson authored the Declaration of Independence and Adams was its most ardent supporter in Congress. David McCullough did a masterful job with this.

These were some of my favorite quotes (there are a lot haha):

"Better that many guilty persons escape unpunished than one innocent person should be punished. The reason is because it's of more importance to community that innocence should be protected than it is that guilt should be punished." - John Adams

"The preservation of liberty depends on the intellectual and moral character of the people. As long as knowledge and virtue are diffused generally among the body of a nation, it is impossible they should be enslaved." - John Adams

“. . . Remember the ladies, and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the husbands. Remember all men would be tyrants if they could. If particular care and attention is not paid to the ladies we are determined to foment a rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any laws in which we have no voice, or representation.” - Abigail Adams (writing to her husband)

"Ambition is one of the more ungovernable passions of the human heart. The love of power is insatiable and uncontrollable. There is danger from all men. The only maxim of a free government ought to be to trust no man living with power to endanger the public liberty." - John Adams

"Men ought to avow their opinions and defend them with boldness." - John Adams

"Laws for the liberal education of youth, especially for the lower classes of people, are so extremely wise and useful that to a humane and generous mind, no expense for this purpose would be thought extravagant." - John Adams

"I wish most sincerely there was not a slave in the province. It always seemed a most iniquitous scheme to me to fight ourselves for what we are daily robbing and plundering from those who have a good a right to freedom as we have. " - Abigail Adams

"We may please ourselves with the prospect of free and popular governments, but there is great danger that those governments will not make us happy. God grant they may, but I fear that in every assembly, members will attain an influence by noise, not sense; by meanness, not greatness; by ignorance, not learning; by contracted hearts, not large souls. There is one thing my dear sir that must be attempted and sacredly observed or we are all undone. There must be decency and respect." - John Adams

"When I consider the great events which are passed and those greater which are rapidly advancing, and that I may have been instrumental in touching some springs and turning some wheels which have had and will have such effects, I feel an awe upon my mind which is not easily described." - John Adams

"He had not wanted the responsibility of hitting the board of war and felt vastly unequal to the multitude of problems and decisions to be grappled with. But it was also clear that they were all unequal to the task. No one in Congress was qualified. 'We are all inexperienced in this business.'" - David McCullough (quoting John Adams)

“I must study politics and war that my sons may have liberty to study mathematics and philosophy. My sons ought to study mathematics and philosophy, geography, natural history, naval architecture, navigation, commerce, and agriculture in order to give their children a right to study paintings, poetry, music, architecture, statuary, tapestry, and porcelain.” - John Adams

"Let us have ambition enough to keep our simplicity, our frugality, and our integrity and transmit these virtues as the fairest of inheritance to our children." - John Adams

“We cannot ensure success, but we can deserve it.” - John Adams

"You will ever remember that all the end of study is to make you a good man and a useful citizen. This will ever be the sum total of the advice of your affectionate father." - John Adams (to his son John Quincy)

"Thanks to God that he gave me stubbornness when I know I am right!" - John Adams

"Merit, not titles, gave a man preeminence in our country." - Abigail Adams

“I hate to complain. . . No one is without difficulties, whether in high or low life, and every person knows best where their own shoe pinches.” - Abigail Adams

"A man must be sensible to the errors of the people and on his guard against them. And must run the risk of their displeasure sometimes or he will never do them any good in the long run." - John Adams

"Like Washington and many others, Adams had become increasingly distraught over the rise of political divisiveness: the forming of parties or factions. That political parties were an evil that could bring the ruination of republican government was doctrine he with others had long accepted and espoused: 'There is nothing I dread so much as a division of the republic into two main parties; each arranged under its leader and converting measures in opposition to each other. . . The turbulent maneuvers of factions could tie the hands and destroy the influence of every honest man with a desire to serve the public good. . . There was division of sentiments over everything. How few aim at the good of the whole without aiming too much at the prosperity of parts?'" - David McCullough (quoting John Adams)

"If the way to do good to my country were to render myself popular I could easily do it. But extravagant popularity is not the road to public advantage." - John Adams

"The boy is a free man as much as any of the young men, and merely because his face is black is he to be denied instruction? How is he to be qualified to procure a livelihood? Is this the Christian principle of doing unto others as we would have others do unto us? Tell them that I hope we shall all go to heaven together." - Abigail Adams

"I pray heaven to bestow the best of blessings upon this house (referring to the white house) and all that shall hereafter inhabit. May none but honest and wise men ever rule under this roof." - John Adams

"Were it not for John Adams making peace with France, there might never have been a Louisiana Purchase." - David McCullough

“Our obligations to our country never cease but with our lives." - John Adams

“Public business, my son, must always be done by somebody. It will be done by somebody or other. If wise men decline it, others will not; if honest men refuse it, others will not.” - John Adams

"Absolute power in a majority is as drunk as it is in one." - John Adams

"If the empire of superstition and hypocrisy should be overthrown, happy indeed will it be for the world. But if all religion and all morality should be overthrown with it, what advantage will be gained? The doctrine of human equality is founded entirely in the Christian doctrine that we are all children of the same Father, all accountable to Him for our conduct to one another, all equally bound to respect each other's self-love." - John Adams

"Whenever complimented about John Quincy and his role in national life and the part he had played as father, Adams would say, with emphasis, 'My son had a mother!'" - David McCullough

"The longer I live, the more I read, the more patiently I think, and the more anxiously I inquire, the less I seem to know. Do justly. Love mercy. Walk humbly. This is enough. Sow questions, and sow answers." - John Adams

"Griefs upon griefs. Disappointments upon disappointments. What then? This is a gay, merry world notwithstanding!" - John Adams

I know that I was supposed to love it, but I must be flawed since I found myself reading it as if it were on a required reading list for American History 201. It came highly recommended and admittedly I learned a great deal, however with apologies to my history buff friends, reading it was not enjoyable for me and rather than finding it compeling as did they, I had to compel myself to finish it.

It took me a long time to finish, but that’s only because I have bad reading habits. This was an enlightening book that presents a truly impressive combination of enjoyable reading and useful learning. John Adams often seems misunderstood and undervalued in history, or at least whenever I have encountered him, but this book ensures that he will remain understood and appreciated by all who read it. But the beauty of “John Adam’s” is not just what you learn about him, but what you learn of the people and experiences that surrounded him. Learning about Abigail Adams and the relationship between John and Abigail was a real treat. Otherwise, the Goodreads description describes it all, so I won’t bother recounting it here. I will just say that this is a worthwhile read for anyone who is interested in US history. It is hard to imagine a better biography.