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Samuel Adams: A Life
"I pity Mr. Sam Adams," his cousin John Adams wrote to his wife, "for he was born a Rebel." At virtually every juncture of the American Revolution, from the Boston Massacre and Tea Party to Lexington and Concord and the ratification of the Constitution, Samuel Adams played a forceful role. With his fiery rhetoric and religious fervor, he was in many res...more
Audio CD
Published
November 18th 2008
by Tantor Media Inc
(first published November 4th 2008)
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A short, readable book about one of the more known names of the American Revolution. However, while many could recognize the name Sam Adams, most probably could not say a whole lot about him aside from his role as one of the key instigators of rebellion in Boston in the 1760s and 1770s. Yet, this book attempts to address Sam Adams, and provide greater insight into one of the original founding fathers. He was a key force in Boston pre Revolutionary War, and in most cases, more famous then his cou...more
one good thing about this book is to show we should not make blanket statements about the founders such as "They were all deist" and "All rich property owners and thus had mixed motives for revolution". Love him or hate him, Samuel Adams was a Puritan and a religious fanatic and idealist and according to other revolutionaries, he was the main driving force, without him, there would be no United States of America. He lived in poverty much of his life and was anti-materialism, ...more
I'm glad I "read" this book. I really didn't know that much about Sam Adams. I knew he was one of the Founding Fathers -- and that he was considered rebellious compared to his cousin John. Like many Americans, I also knew there was a brand of beer named after him. I was happy to learn that his life was much more influential than beer and rebellion. Turns out he was highly religious. He often called upon God while in his many public offices. He was also ahead of his time. He was one of ...more
I give up. This is a frustrating, shallow book about a great, great man. It follows the chronology of Adams's life without establishing any sense of the man's character. The portion that covers the Boston Tea Party is less than three pages and establishes very little about Adams's role other than the fact that he wasn't there. The book reads like an alibi: this is what Adams WOULDN'T have done, rather than how he did what he did..
One other feature that annoyed me is Stoll's emphasis on Ad...more
One other feature that annoyed me is Stoll's emphasis on Ad...more
This book confirms that Samuel Adams was a more complex, and a more sympathetic person than is often portrayed by popular history such as the recent John Adams HBO mini series. Book also had many interesting tidbits such as the one offer by the English military to give amnesty to any American rebel--except for John Hancock and Samuel Adams. Also, that Paul Revere's ride was as much a warning to Hancock and Adams as anyone else as the evidence shows that the Lexington/Concord battle was started ...more
I am not going to write as much as the other reviews. I guess because the book just seems so, well, dull. The middle chapters are good, but mostly it is this list of all the things Samuel said. And most of that stuff was not interesting. He was hyper fundamental, then he would have a cool couple thougths, then right back to Liberty University. More than whether the author was inaccurate, or accurate, which there did seem some times like when he claimed Samuel Adams wrote the Massachusets Co...more
Well-researched and decently written biography of one of the more neglected founders of the American Republic. I remember learning about Sam Adams in elementary school, but he doesn't figure in to most narratives of American history in a very big way. The author provides an in-depth biography, and elaborates on some of Adams' qualities (his commitment to a particular region of the country, his populism) that have caused him to be somewhat neglected but that contain powerful lessons for contemp...more
This was a great book to learn about Samuel Adams' role in the American Revolution and setting up of a new government. He played a bigger role than I thought. I've been rather obsessed lately with politics and government and thought Samuel Adams has good practical advice that we cannot have liberty without virtue. I think our general lack of virtue as a people is the source of much of our difficulties. I had some trouble keeping up with the way the author would sometimes switch around in tim...more
I enjoyed this book, although the writing was limited by a certain repetition int he text of Adams' strong religious views, which hardly varied throughout his life. Having said that, there are a number of interesting facts about Adams that I hadn't known, including that Paul Revere's famous ride was equally about warning Hancock and Adams that the British were indeed coming - to arrest them.
Adams is an underappreciated founder, and there have been almost no decent biographies of hi...more
Adams is an underappreciated founder, and there have been almost no decent biographies of hi...more
This is a good book if you are interested in the American Revolution and the personalities behind it. The author relies heavily on quotes from primary source materials, and refers often to secondary source materials, but doesn't add much contextual detail or breathe much life into them. The authors obvious affinity for his subject, while not necessarily a bad thing in a Biography, comes across as making conjectures to excuse any perceived negative portions of Adams life. A driving force behind t...more
For revolutionary history buffs only. Some decent info and a few interesting highlights, but very poorly written and at times painfully boring. Through quote after quote after quote after quote, we learn that Adams' motives were substantially driven by his religious fervor and that he was highly biggoted against Catholics, but we don't learn a whole lot more. It's the only biography of Sam Adams I've read, but I have to assume there are better ones out there.
I enjoy history, but I'm sorry... this book was boring. Too much detail, including too much of his and others original writings (with the original grammar and spelling), that added little to the narrative or to the understanding of the man.
I wanted & expected to like this book - as I do with almost every book I read - but I found it a chore to push through to the end. And the book isn't even that long.
I wanted & expected to like this book - as I do with almost every book I read - but I found it a chore to push through to the end. And the book isn't even that long.
I really enjoyed Ira Stoll's take on Samuel Adams, and his attempt to restore him to his rightful place as one of the most influential men of the American Revolution, and certainly as the firecracker who started it all. He also establishes the role of his faith in his life, beliefs and decisions. When most biographies on the founders show how far from faith they really were, the same cannot be said of Samuel Adams who was a man of deep, unshakable religious convictions. Ira Stoll states that ...more
My mental images of Samuel Adams were skewed by some elementary school misinformation, which led me to believe he was a lesser personage than his cousin John. This book certainly set me straight. Yes, Sam Adams was a revolutionary all his life, but he was also a God-fearing, loving family man who was talented at leading people.
I'm glad I read this book.
I'm glad I read this book.
Good book. This was a brief biography of Sam Adams and his role as the "father of the American Revolution". Ira Stoll presents him as an ardent Puritan patriot and rabble rouser who advocated for independence long before 1776. King George III offered all rebels a pardon except Adams and Hancock, this book explains why very effectivly. Really enjoyed.
This is a pretty good book although the author had to face challenges not found in researching other founders. Namely, Sam Adams periodically burned all his papers! I've done a complete review here
Very impressive bio of an unsung hero of the American Story. A good case can be made that American got its start from Sam Adams and his leadership skills. He was unceasing in his communication and his ability to shape thought, long before Facebook, the internet and phones. Sam Adams does deserve greater acknowledgement for his long hard work to create a free and independent nation. This was a great read.
Its interesting the details that get left out in studies of history and how much this man has disappeared, yet he was very important. to quote his famous cousin "Without the character of Samuel Adams, the true history of the American Revolution can never be written."
I'm always good for American history puzzle pieces and I really enjoyed this one. It isn't McCullough but it's still good. I've seen some reviewers take issue with all the "religiosity" in it, but it's a biography...using extensive quotes from the subject's writings. If the subject is religious, there's a chance the book may be too.
Interesting book on this forgotten founding father. It was definitely a biased view, but since it was fairly obviously such, and one that I liked, I was fine with it. I enjoyed seeing the guiding force of faith in his life.
This isn't quite a page turner, but it's a great look into the mind and deeds of one of the first Sons of Liberty. If you want to understand a little more about how the country came to be, this is a good read.
I've always wanted to read a book on Adams but the author makes this so dry and dull I went from chapter 3 to the end and read the last 12 pages. Avoid at all costs and search for a better bio.
I knew Samuel Adams was instrumental in the American Revolution. What I did not know that, from this writer's perspective, if there had been no Sam Adams, we'd probably still be British citizens!
Terrific story of Samuel Adam's huge contribution to the formation of the USA and the sacrifices he endured. Presents a clear and missing chapter in the history of America.
A short biography, clearly written by a fan and admirer of Samuel Adams. Not a bad book, but I prefer my biographies to be more nuanced in their views.
I never knew how much of a part Samuel Adams took in the revolutionary war. How is he kept secret. This man was a giant in our nations history
There are a number of excellently written books about our Founding Fathers. This is NOT one of them. Poorly written, unevenly researched, garbage.
Interesting book. It gave me a new perspective on the influence that religion had on Sam Adams and his political views.
The book filled in some history I didn't know, particularly about the biases of New England folks during those days.
Colorful man of emotion. I enjoyed this book for the overview. Not the smoothest read.
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| Sam Adams | 1 | 4 | Apr 13, 2010 07:46pm |
