 "Terrific Book for U.S. History" | 2008-09-25 |
| - Reviewed By User: A3F0L6KCJ4JT0I |
| John Adams is a wonderful book for anyone studying U.S. History. I have learned just as much ( or more) in this book as in my textbook. The writing is terrific and not boring at all. I have learned all that I ever needed to learn on early American history in this book, and I've enjoyed it! Students could skip the first couple chapters in their text book and learn just as much in John Adams! |
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| "John Adams is a fascinating read!" | 2008-09-14 |
| - Reviewed By User: A38B3U1OSWYMND |
| I had no idea John Adams was such an intelligent and fascinating man! This book not only give insight into his thoughts and ideas about the future of the United States, but also lets us in on the love and admiration he had for his wife, Abigail, who is just as intelligent and fascinating as he is. Their letters to each other just make me sad to think that letter writing is a lost art. This is not a fast read. It needs to be savored for the historical facts and information about this great man and how this country came into being. |
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 "John Adams - a much unappreciated man" | 2008-09-10 |
| - Reviewed By User: A24CK01UQZPZJ1 |
| Like everyone in America I knew who John Adams was and remembered some few facts concerning him from history classes in school - however, I never knew just how great the man was and how important a part he played in the birth of the United States.br /In fact, from the information in this wonderfully written book, it is obvious the United States would not exist had it not been for his tenacity, stubborn determination and his great personal sacrifice along with that of his amazingly strong, loving wife Abigail.br / I had always thought Thomas Jefferson to be "the man" of our revolution; I was wrong - it was John Adams! |
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| "Read it twice, no, three times!" | 2008-09-09 |
| - Reviewed By kraigblair |
| This book deserves it's award-status of the Pulitzer times two. McCullough is at his best. His narrative historical writing style never bores. I've read it three times and have listened to the audio version twice. Can't say enough good about it. The author is especially strong in writing in a way that helps the reader feel like s/he is experiencing the world of Adams as a contemporary.Too bad McCullough hasn't written a biography on all the Presidents although his Truman time also won the Pulitzer! |
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| "Details give it life" | 2008-09-08 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2PXQZSDTK88TF |
| The book is marvelous in the detail which fleshes out the bones of the very good, but time limited, HBO series. For those who like to know the little things that influence and produce the large picture this is book will not be disappointing. |
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| "Pulitzer Prize Winning for Good Reason" | 2008-09-01 |
| - Reviewed By canuckster1127 |
It's pretty much an excercise in repeating praise to comment upon this stellar biography of John Adams, and so I'll just limit my comments to say that the lauding of the readibility of this book combined with the well written insights into this Founding Father and early president are all well placed. There is clearly a well researched effort that brings the reader into the world of John Adams and family as well as by necessity in close brushes with Washington and Jefferson too.
It's sadly interesting to see the attempts at criticism from the lesser luminaries whom it appears, probably have more chance at being read in rebuttal to McCullough than their own primary efforts would appear otherwise.
The proof, as it were is in the pudding. While this work is very well referenced and based in solid research, it's value is that it reads cleanly and clearly inviting the common reader in to know and understand better both the man and the times. To have approached it otherwise, as some appear to suggest with a more academic emphasis, would no doubt have endeared it to those whose lives are spent in the midst of dusty tomes and intellectual sophistry , but the point is that because it is so seamlessly written and interestingly presented, the impact is much broader for the effort and the bonus is that the accurasy really doesn't suffer for it, except to the narrowest of academics who appear to need to justify themselves by casting stones from their ivory towers.
Well worth the time and effort to read.
5 undisputed stars.
Bart Breen |
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| "The first American Political Intellectual" | 2008-08-23 |
| - Reviewed By User: AY7YN8E6NFY94 |
In the field of historical writing there is this great chasm. There are the intellectual Professional University Scholars who delve into the abyss of historical matter and come up with the historical truth. Unfortunately their writings are boring and state the rather moribund cold facts. On the other hand we have great writers who also do their due diligence but are able to write a coherent historical accounting of the past.
David McCullough is a writer of that other ilk in writing and historical perspective. John Adams happens to be his second best writing in his oeuvre of works.
His detailing of the life and times of John Adams is a work of historical importance that actually brings back a time of life in the early formation of the United States of America. His writings of the correspondence between Abigail Adams and John are remarkable. The following of the raising and the lives of their offspring are indeed new founded and compelling. The recording of John Adams forays with the other founding fathers and his travels abroad are indeed both interesting and compelling. Adam's relationship with Thomas Jefferson is fully explained and exposed.
McCullough goes on to explain the complete political philosophy of John Adams. This is indeed a great read. I consider David McCullough to be a true and actual historian for the common folk. Five Stars No Problem!!!!
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| "An Exceptional Read..." | 2008-08-18 |
| - Reviewed By User: A3ECN92GIEIO5F |
| One of the best books I have read in years. I highly recommend it. |
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| "History comes alive!" | 2008-08-13 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1HOKTGRTZ7GFG |
| It's so much easier to learn & remember history when the writer allows you to become intimately involved with the subject and the period. David McCullough's writing is so personable, so charming, and so precisely informative that I walked away from this book with a deep appreciation of Adams and the time in which he lived. I believe McCullough could fascinate his readers even if he wrote about the telephone book! It was hard to put this book down, I always wanted to know what was coming next. His descriptions of time & place were very visual, putting the reader directly in the midst of the story -- seeing the colors, hearing the voices, feeling the tension, learning about small details. The people he writes about are recognizably human and vulnerable, yet the reader can't help but feel awe for what these people accomplished under such seemingly hopeless situations. One of my favorite history books!! |
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| "Finally Giving the Devil His Due" | 2008-08-09 |
| - Reviewed By smeyers2 |
| Much like his book on President Truman, Mr. McCullough has taken a frequently maligned historical figure and helped to burnish his place in history. Many of the books I have read about other great figures from that era always seemed to minimize John Adams contributions. Mr. McCullough is a gifted historian who makes all his subject matters come to life. The author shows how little has changed since the founding of our country when it comes to brilliant individuals willing to compromise their morals in the pursuit of winning in the political arena. It is a balanced, thought-provoking and highly entertaining biography. Well-worth reading even though the weight of this tome made my wrists sore. |
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