John Adams by David McCullough Book Review

Note: Hi, when I review books, or anything really, I’m big on discussing what works and what doesn’t work. That often involves spoilers, and seriously I do mean SPOILERS. While that may not seem as much of a big deal with a non-fiction book like the one below, nor might it even seem as if there are any, if you’re still not cool with spoilers, that’s totally fine. I have a spoiler-free review that you can read on Goodreads. But if you’re cool with spoilers (or whatever), then let’s sit back and chat about this book.

A Brief Summary

(Taken from Goodreads)
The enthralling, often surprising story of John Adams, one of the most important and fascinating Americans who ever lived.
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 — “the colossus of independence,” as Thomas Jefferson called him — 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.

What works

• I really liked how much of a flesh-and-blood person John Adams became while reading this. I’d read 1776 by David McCullough so I knew he would do a good job with John Adams, but knowing before I read the book and knowing after I read the book are two different things.
• I loved the narrative writing style. It made it so much easier to get immersed in the book which helped overall but really helped during some of the more tedious portions of the book.
• Even though the accounts of what he did during the Revolutionary War and after becoming Vice-President were interesting (even if they weren’t always the popular decision), I think I was most fascinated by his travels abroad to France, London, and Amsterdam and how the brand-new United States was perceived in Europe.
• In a tie for ‘most fascinating part of this book’s is the relationship between John and Abigail Adams. I feel no shame whatsoever in making John and Abigail Adams one of my new favorite couples because not only is their story by far one of the best parts of this book (in fact it was one of the crucial aspects of the book) but also their relationship was one of the best that I have ever read. The fact that they and their relationship actually existed in real life just makes it that much better.

What May or May Not Work

• While I greatly enjoyed the book, there were still parts throughout this book that got a bit tedious. I mean, it is a thick book and especially the later (more political) portions took a lot to get through.

Honorable Mentions

•  Chapter Seven opens with this great description of the common interests between John Adams and King George III, leaving me with the strong impression that had the two been on more equal footing in terms of status, they probably would have been really good friends. In fact, the way their interactions are written, they are friendly but it’s not the same.
• I’ve mentioned it above and I’ll mention it here again. The relationship between John and Abigail is amazing. 

Side Questions

• With the tragedy of having two sons fall away from the family and descending into unhappy circumstances, would Mr. Adams have done anything differently if he could go back and fix it? I obviously do not expect an answer from this, but reading about essentially losing two sons in the prime of their lives was so sad. Though being a fan of The West Wing, it kind of reminds me of how Leo McGarry’s divorce came to be.

Would I read this book again?

• Yes, yes I would though I am going to take a nice long break from it until well after I complete my Presidential Book Challenge. Also now my mom will let me borrow my parents’ copy of the John Adams mini-series since I finished the biography.
  

If you’ve read John Adams, what are some of your thoughts? Share in the comments below!

John Adams is a part of my Presidential Book Challenge.