John Quincy Adams

American Visionary

De: Fred Kaplan

Narrado por: Eric Jason Martin

Fred Kaplan, the acclaimed, award-winning author of Lincoln, returns with John Quincy Adams, an illuminating biography of one of the most overlooked presidents in American history - a leader of sweeping perspective whose progressive values helped shape the course of the nation. In this fresh and lively biography rich in literary analysis and new historical detail, Fred Kaplan brings into focus the dramatic life of John Quincy Adams - the little known and much misunderstood sixth president of the United States and the first son of John and Abigail Adams - and persuasively demonstrates how Adams's inspiring, progressive vision guided his life and helped shape the course of America.

Kaplan draws on a trove of unpublished archival material to trace Adams's evolution from his childhood during the Revolutionary War to his brilliant years as Secretary of State to his time in the White House and beyond. He examines Adams's myriad sides: the public and private man, the statesman and writer, the wise thinker and passionate advocate, the leading abolitionist and fervent federalist who believed strongly in both individual liberty and the government's role as an engine of progress and prosperity. In these ways - and in his energy, empathy, sharp intellect, and powerful gift with words both spoken and written - he was a predecessor of Lincoln and, later, FDR and Obama. Indeed, this sweeping biography makes clear how Adams's forward-thinking values, his definition of leadership, and his vision for the nation's future is as much about 21st-century America as it is about Adams's own time.

Meticulously researched and masterfully written, John Quincy Adams paints a rich portrait of this brilliant leader and his significance to the nation and our own lives.

©2014 Fred Kaplan (P)2014 Audible Inc.

A truly reviting and epic life!

This has been my favorite presidential biography yet! the story itself is fascinating and this biographer captures all of the complex nuances of Quincy's life. The reader's cadence is annoying and slow. I listen at 1.15x speed and it helped, but is still inferior to others.

Great book!

Very much enjoyed this book, thank you so much to the author for wonderful work.

His indomitable spirit

Simply an amazing man who gave his childhood and every day forward to the principles of America

Magnificent storytelling for a magnificent man

This is my sixth presidential biography on Audible and is second only to McCullough's on JQA's father. I had to get used to the narrator initially, but he ended up being one of my favorites thus far. 10/10!

Great Book – Great Leader!

I recommend this book.

The author, Fred Kaplan, wrote a very good book about John Quincy Adams.

I also really enjoyed the stories of John Quincy Adams (JQA) and him growing up with his father, President John Adams. JQA was a public servant as his number one job. I was very interested in how JQA became President and then took a “demotion” to serve in the House of Representatives. JQA worked until the day he died. Amazing life. Helped the black Africans from becoming slaves (the movie Amistad). Anti-slavery.

JQA was also a good family man, loving his wife and children.

I am also reading the book on JQA by James Traub. However, Traub’s book spends more time on JQA’s negative aspects, such as JQA’s depression. It’s interesting reading two very different books on the same man.

Overall comments?
Very good listen. The narrator does a great job.