An abbreviated audio version of McCullough’s best selling book. McCullough doesn’t narrate (unfortunately), but Nelson Runger does a good job. Having seen the HBO mini-series from a few years ago, this book piqued my interest. Like all of McCullough’s books, this was both educational, informative, and entertaining. I highly recommend. ( )

Brilliant and lucid, this is another fine biogrpahy from the pen of David McCullogh. The life and mind of John Adams is presented with the resulting demonstration of his importance to the founding of the United States of America. ( )

I'm not really giving this book five stars because I enjoyed it so terribly much, but it DESERVES five stars - - of that I have no doubt. It's truly impressive. McCullough draws a compelling portrait of our second president, and I really find it amazing how much research must have gone into this book and how McCullough manages to work it all into a cohesive and compelling narrative.

For me, the most fascinating parts really revolved around the political battles between the Federalists and the Republicans. But the plot line that really connected the book and kept me reading was the "friendship" between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson which ebbed and flowed with their changing roles and over the course of history - - and I don't want to spoil it, but their ending couldn't really be better written than if a novelist concocted it. In fact, if a novelist thought up the end of this book, people would describe it as unbelievable.

McCullough drew on many primary sources and the book includes actual quotes from Adams' many letters - - to his wife, to Jefferson, to his physician friend . . .I think that made the book more personal and rounded out the portrait of Adams more than most presidential biographies. Also, much to my surprise, Adams' children weren't all angels, and it is fascinating how even long ago, tremendous and important men still struggled with the same every day issues and stresses that we all face.

If you like history or politics, I'd say this is a book that probably would fall into the "don't miss it category". If you don't, I think this book is a little too lengthy to recommend as a first foray into the genre. ( )

2/16/23

I really enjoyed this biography of the second President of the United States. It made John Adams into a real person, not just a long-dead Founding Father myth. He was a hard-working, dedicated patriot. He went wherever his country needed him. In addition, he was ethical, principled, faithful, and devoted to his family. I want him to be my neighbor. ( )