If you are a history/biography buff, you will enjoy this one. Take note, though, it is 651 pages of history and biography! It took several months for me to devour this elephant, but page by page, it was worth it.

Ever since I read 1776, McCullough has become one of my favorite historians. He has a gift at bringing history alive. Not only does he convey historical detail, but he does so in a story-telling way that pulls you right into the historical context. When you read John Adams, you come away knowing more than facts about the man, you feel as if you know him!

McCullough takes us from Adams' defense of the British soldiers at the Boston Massacre to the fight for Independence to the foreign affairs in France and England to the Vice Presidency and the Presidency and the years back home until his death. It is truly a remarkable, patriotic life! Along the way, McCullough allows us to see Adams' love of family and farm and simplicity. He was the ideal politician. He moved on principle and knew when to stand firm and when to sit down.

Three aspects of Adams' life were intriguing for me. (1) His relation and comparison with Thomas Jefferson. Although friends since the 1776 Continental Congress, Jefferson turned on Adams during his presidency and was a force of opposition. Years later, in their retirement, Adams initiated the reinstitution of their friendship. Adams was a man of simplicity that believed in hard work and family. Jefferson was a flamboyant character who constantly stayed in debt to support his lavish tastes. Fifty years to the date of independence, July 4, 1826, both Jefferson and Adams died. Adams was worth about $100,000.00 when he died. Jefferson, on the other hand, was in debt about $100,000.00! Jefferson expressed his desire to relive his life; Adams expressed his acceptance of death. Both were patriots, but both were very different.

(2) Abigail. The strongest theme that weaves through the amazing life of John Adams is his wife, Abigail. During his appointments for his country, they spent years apart from each other, yet their love and loyalty remained constant. Literally hundreds of letters passed between them. They never tired of sharing their innermost thoughts with each other. Abigail was a strong woman. She maintained the family and the farm when Adams was away and tirelessly counseled and encouraged her husband through letter writing. She was intelligent and a behind-the-scenes influence in the politics of the day as she also corresponded with people like Jefferson. Hers is a classic example that behind every good man stands a great woman!

(3) His faith. While not expressing his conversion in terms that I would hope for, it is clear that Adams leaned upon faith in God through all the trials and strains of his life. He was not a Deist, but believed in a God that is involved in His creation. Within his great love for books, he had a favored place for the Scripture. He said of the Psalms, ". . . in sublimity, beauty, pathos, and originality, or in one word poetry, are superior to all the odes, hymns, and songs in any language." (p. 629) He also had a sense of the "wonderful whole" that stands behind all things. He wrote to Jefferson, "I feel an irresistible impulse to fall on my knees, in adoration of the power that moves, the wisdom that directs, and the benevolence that sanctifies this wonderful whole." (p. 630) He was speaking there of the beauty of written language!