Joe's review
John Adams
by David McCullough
Joe's review
John Adams by David McCullough
Joe's review
rating:
Picked this up after watching the HBO series. John Adams is now one of my favorite characters from history. Other than the alien and sedition act, he did alright. Anti-slavery the whole way.
McCollough's treatment of Adams reminds me of his biography of Truman. He tends to downplay the bad -- in particular, their dabbling in political patronage. Both subjects also seem similar in their normal-guy-ness.
I was most interested in Adams's story in the way it told the story of the evolution of American politics. So when the story shifted from government to life on the farm, I found myself wishing for more about power. I wanted to ditch the old man and start following John Quincy around.
McCollough's treatment of Adams reminds me of his biography of Truman. He tends to downplay the bad -- in particular, their dabbling in political patronage. Both subjects also seem similar in their normal-guy-ness.
I was most interested in Adams's story in the way it told the story of the evolution of American politics. So when the story shifted from government to life on the farm, I found myself wishing for more about power. I wanted to ditch the old man and start following John Quincy around.
