John Adams | 
| Author: David Mccullough
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Category: Book
List Price: $20.00
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Rating:  788 reviews
Sales Rank: 16872
Media: Paperback
Edition: 1st Touchstone
Pages: 752
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.1
Dimensions (in): 9 x 6.1 x 1.5
ISBN: 0743223136
Dewey Decimal Number: 973.44092
EAN: 9780743223133
ASIN: 0743223136
Publication Date: September 3, 2002
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Condition: Standard used condition.
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Amazon.com Review
Left to his own devices, John Adams might have lived out his days as a Massachusetts country lawyer, devoted to his family and friends. As it was, events swiftly overtook him, and Adams--who, David McCullough writes, was "not a man of the world" and not fond of politics--came to greatness as the second president of the United States, and one of the most distinguished of a generation of revolutionary leaders. He found reason to dislike sectarian wrangling even more in the aftermath of war, when Federalist and anti-Federalist factions vied bitterly for power, introducing scandal into an administration beset by other difficulties--including pirates on the high seas, conflict with France and England, and all the public controversy attendant in building a nation. Overshadowed by the lustrous presidents Washington and Jefferson, who bracketed his tenure in office, Adams emerges from McCullough's brilliant biography as a truly heroic figure--not only for his significant role in the American Revolution but also for maintaining his personal integrity in its strife-filled aftermath. McCullough spends much of his narrative examining the troubled friendship between Adams and Jefferson, who had in common a love for books and ideas but differed on almost every other imaginable point. Reading his pages, it is easy to imagine the two as alter egos. (Strangely, both died on the same day, the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.) But McCullough also considers Adams in his own light, and the portrait that emerges is altogether fascinating. --Gregory McNamee
Product Description
In this powerful, epic biography, David McCullough unfolds the adventurous life journey of John Adams, the brilliant, fiercely independent, often irascible, always honest Yankee patriot who spared nothing in his zeal for the American Revolution; who rose to become the second president of the United States and saved the country from blundering into an unnecessary war; who was learned beyond all but a few and regarded by some as "out of his senses"; and whose marriage to the wise and valiant Abigail Adams is one of the moving love stories in American history.This is history on a grand scale -- a book about politics and war and social issues, but also about human nature, love, religious faith, virtue, ambition, friendship, and betrayal, and the far-reaching consequences of noble ideas. Above all, John Adams is an enthralling, often surprising story of one of the most important and fascinating Americans who ever lived.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 783 more reviews...
 Great book! January 8, 2009
S. Salyer (Los Angeles, CA USA)
John Adams
The book was shipped with decent shipping time. It arrived before Christmas so everything was good. My husband loved it even though it was used. It looked like it was still in good shape. The content of the book is awesome!
 Stunning. An Absolutely Astounding Life. January 4, 2009
Dylan Fan (USA)
I cannot now imagine having NOT read this book.
It now seems impossible to me that a person can understand the beginnings of America without having read John Adams.
The research and writing are impeccable in every respect. The author has made the subject so interesting it is almost impossible to put the book down.
Clearly, the massive corpus of research available -- through John's and Abigail's letters, letters of other family members, Jefferson, and others, made the book possible. But it took master craftsmanship to turn this material into one of the best biographies in existence.
The story is fascinating. The fluff is nonexistent, with every word being essential and relevant.
As a frequent reader of biographical and historical material, I have been offended at the way much of history is colored with political bias and opinion. If there is any such bias to be found in this book, I missed it. As a reader, I had the compelling sense that I was reading the story precisely as it was, or at the very least, the closest rendition that is now attainable.
As to the subject of the book, I can say only that I came away with a sense of respect for John Adams that no other political figure in American history has engendered in me. In every instance, he put his country first -- sometimes, to a fault -- but his country was his first priority, always. He understood the critical nature of what was happening during the time and that the actions taken at that time would not only influence, but dictate, the future of the country -- and he was willing to sacrifice everything for it.
Apart from his extreme patriotism, the importance of Abigail and the relationship with Jefferson were the two overriding themes that were ever-present throughout the book.
Read it, read it, read it.
Should Be Required Reading December 24, 2008
T. Conk
What can I say. This was one of those life changing books for me. The lessons that I learned really made me appreciate my american heritage and realize how fragile our democracy is. As flawed as Mr. Adams was you can't deny that he was an intragrul part of what made this country great. (and his wife Abigail too by the way)
History is alive and well. December 16, 2008
Laura Reading (Freehold, NJ USA)
This book is a project to read, but worth the time spent with it. Made me even more interested in the men who were responsible for our independence. The first independent nation with a diverse population. All Americans would benefit from reading "John Adams".
A Book That Will Affect Future Generations December 6, 2008
Alex Hutchinson (Carver, MA)
Growing up in Massachusetts I never felt a connection with John Adams until I read this book. McCullough describes the amazing life of this founding father with a writing style and attention to detail unimaginable for many others. What struck me as spectacular was that John Adams put as much value in his farm work and his family life as he did in writing the Massachusetts state constitution or being our second President. His example as opposed to Jeffersons, was that of a responsible father, grandfather, statesman, laywer and citizen always with an eye to how his actions would affect future generations. Anyone who enjoyed the HBO series must also read the book it was based on to truly appreciate the man, his times and the author who penned it all.
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