Simon & Schuster
752 Pages
Finally after far too long stuck on George Washington, I have moved onto John Adams in my Presidential Reading Project. I have loved the other books by David McCullough, and I watched the miniseries about Adams based upon this book, so it was a no-brainer to start my reading about our second President with McCullough’s John Adams. I’ve owned this book since the move came out, but I never got around to reading it until now. I have no idea what I was waiting for.
I have long been a big fan of David McCullough’s writing, starting with his book about the Johnstown Flood. I like the way he writes, less like a stodgy historian and more like a guy telling a story that’s relatable. He doesn’t try to inundate the readers with academia. He writes history for Everyman. That doesn’t mean that he isn’t professional in his approach. However, with his easy style and delivery, you end up enjoying learning about the life of John Adams.
Over the years Adams has been unfairly relegated to an unlikable President in our history, a man overshadowed by both his predecessor and successor. McCullough starts to peel back the layers of the man who, in my opinion, has been overlooked by history. To be fair, though, McCullough, while he obviously admires his subject, is not prone to hero worship like many of the Washington biographers or Page Smith, who wrote the first extensive biography of Adams. Instead, McCullough treats John Adams like a human being, praising him for his great deeds while taking him to task for his faults.
John Adams was not from the elite. He was a self-made man who used his intelligence and curiosity to rise above his ranks to ultimately lead the United States as its second President. Even his detractors, both his contemporaries and modern, can agree that Adams was a man who stood by his convictions. He did not bend his views to the whim of the political winds. Many times, that was his undoing. Adams was quick to defend himself when he felt wronged. His fiery temper often got the best of him. At the same time, he was intensely loyal to his friends, and he was loyal to what he felt was right.
Adams was one of the most influential Founding Fathers. From defending the soldiers of the Boston Massacre in court, to fighting for American recognition abroad, he was steadfast. His obstinate attitude won many concessions for the young republic, but at the same time this attitude invited enemies to lure him into an argument to diminish his political character. Without the calming influence of his beloved wife, Abigail, John Adams would have had a very short career.
McCullough explores the relationships between Adams and his fellow Founding Fathers. Many times, his peers may have disagreed with the delivery, but supported the product. His relationship with his wife and family were under a great deal of stress, especially as he traveled abroad in pursuit of the American ideals. McCullough shows us the human side of the man.
Over two hundred and fifty years have passed since John Adams became a household name. For most of that time, Adams has been largely written off. It is important to note, however, that he was put in an unenviable position. No one would be able to live up to the great George Washington. Washington was the hero of the Revolution and set up to be nearly saintly in his devotion to his home country. No matter who followed, no one would have been able to live up to that. Every decision that Adams made would be held against the perfection of George Washington. How he endured under the stress of knowing that is explored by McCullough. It was not easy for the proud Adams.
To be clear, Adams did make some questionable decisions. Foremost would be the Alien and Sedition Acts, as well as his insistence on an overly monarchical and ornate title for the President. However, the totality of this man’s deeds should not be measured by these acts alone. David McCullough reminds us of that as he explores the rest of the life of John Adams. He pulls no punches when Adams deserves it, but he also gives him praise where deserved, unlike other historians who have tended to paint the man with a broad brush of disdain.
Of all the David McCullough books that I’ve read, John Adams is probably my least favorite. But McCullough’s writing is so good that it’s still a great book. I will say, though, that sometimes the biography seems a bit thin and there is a bit of skipping around. Still, McCullough delivers the goods on John Adams. This was a great way to start the John Adams portion of my reading project. In full disclosure, as I write this, I've already read a dozen books on our second President. I have three more books left in Adams before I start Thomas Jefferson. It’s starting to get good.
Craig Bacon has a new appreciation for John Adams. He loved the miniseries, and the book is even better. He’s moving quickly now on this Presidential Reading Project.