John Adams

By: David McCullough

Narrated by: Nelson Runger

Length: 29 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

Pulitzer Prize, Biography/Autobiography, 2002

In this powerful, epic biography, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian David McCullough unfolds the adventurous life-journey of John Adams, the brilliant, fiercely independent, often irascible, always honest Yankee patriot who spared nothing in his zeal for the American Revolution. Adams thought, wrote, and spoke out for the "Great Cause" come what might; he traveled far and wide in all seasons and often at extreme risk; he rose to become the second president of the United States and saved the country from blundering into an unnecessary war; he was rightly celebrated for his integrity, and regarded by some as "out of his senses"; and his marriage to the wise and valiant Abigail Adams is one of the most moving love stories in American history.

Much about Adams' life will come as a surprise to many. His rocky relationship with friend and eventual archrival Thomas Jefferson, his courageous voyage on the frigate Boston in the winter of 1778, and his later trek over the Pyrenees are exploits few would have dared and that few listeners will ever forget.

McCullough's John Adams has the sweep and vitality of a great novel. This is history on a grand scale, an audiobook about politics, war, and social issues, but also about human nature, love, religious faith, virtue, ambition, friendship, and betrayal, and the far-reaching consequences of noble ideas. Above all, it is an enthralling, often surprising story of one of the most important and fascinating Americans who ever lived.

©2001 David McCullough (P)2001 Recorded Books, All Rights Reserved

Critic reviews

"Brilliant...a winner." (Publishers Weekly)
"McCullough writes to be heard as well as read." (AudioFile)

The Guy Who Really Should be on Rushmore

Where does John Adams rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

The content is great. While the narrator, the late Nelson Runger is considered to be one of the best, I find his style not fully to my liking. The pauses and other "noises" take away a bit from the book.

What was one of the most memorable moments of John Adams?

That's a strange question. What I took the most from the book was the incredible mind and patriotism of John Adams. His contributions were as great, if not greater, than the other founding fathers, but he doesn't get the press of Jefferson or Hamilton.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Nelson Runger?

I listen, in part, based on the book itself. That being said, if I have a choice of several books, and if Runger is the narrator of one of them, I might well choose one of the other books.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Uh. No. Its a book with a length of more than 30 hours with lots of complex ideas and detailed history.

More of our politicians should read this book!

What made the experience of listening to John Adams the most enjoyable?

The wonderful life experience of great man

What did you like best about this story?

The parallel established with Thomas Jefferson.

Which scene was your favorite?

The wonderful relation he shares with his wife, her support, his trust.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

It is a bit long for that, but I was captivated and dedicated every free moment to hearing it!

Any additional comments?

A wonderful page of the making of the USA.

A Classic Work for Our Time

This Pulitzer Prize winning biography by David McCullough has become a classic work. John Adams is one of the most interesting and, before this book was published, one of the least known of the Founding Fathers. Born to a farmer in Braintree, Massachusetts Adams went to Harvard and then studied law. He became a respected attorney in the Boston area. He met and married the brilliant Abigail Smith he proceeded to and they produced four children who lived to maturity. From there his career took off. He defended the British soldiers who fired on a mob. He served in both Continental Congresses. He served on the diplomatic mission to France. While in Europe he helped to secure loans from Dutch bankers to keep the American Revolution going. He served on the peace commission. He was named the first ambassador to Great Britain. Returning home he become the first Vice-President and the second President of the United States.

McCullough bring out the brilliant and irascible character of Adams. Adams was brilliant. In fact he was one of the most brilliant men of his age. A man of passionate and fiery temper he often rubbed people the wrong way. He was well known as one of the great orators of his time. His speeches on behalf of Independence helped to lead the way to the Declaration of Independence. As brilliant as he was as a thinker and a speaker he always seemed to have a hard time getting his thoughts on to paper. He tended to write material that was long and rambling. He also never seemed to grasp that other people were not as well read as himself, nor were they capable of understanding some of the subtleties of his thought. A thoroughly practical man he seemed to not understand that he lived in a day of rhetoric and idealism.

The period that Adams lived in and helped to define was a complex period. New ideas were coming together that would change the world forever. So many things that we take for granted, the idea of individual rights, freedom of speech, even freedom of thought, were not accepted as the norm. In fact many believed that a society founded on such ideas was considered dangerous and unlikely to succeed.

As alway, McCullough’s prose is masterful. He has the writer’s gift of making complex issues come alive and seem easy to understand. So many scenes remain with you. You can see the rage of the mob and the fear of the British soldiers as they fire on the crowd at the Boston Massacre. You feel the cramped and stuffy conditions of the Congress as it debates the idea of independence. Most of all you get to know the characters. You get to know, and love the irascible Adams. You get to know his brilliant wife, Abigail, who was the great love of his life. So many other people come out. You feel the friendship that he had with Thomas Jefferson. You feel the pain that he felt when Jefferson chose party ideology over friendship. The pain that his children, except for his oldest son John Quincy, brought to him is heartbreaking. If you have never read this book you should do so. It is a brilliant work of history, and a wonderful work of literature.

Best Audio by David M.

Really did enjoy. See why this mom is so lauded.

John A. Was really a remarkable study... This book does him great justice.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book

I thoroughly enjoyed reading John Adams's insights and thoughts on art, literature, friendship, family, work ethic, history, the future, government, and politics. This book is extensively researched and well written. What a privilege to learn so much in such an entertaining way. I am recommending it enthusiastically to friends and strangers.
Please don't let the comments on the narrator's pauses keep you from listening. This is a long story that is told carefully, and occasionally story tellers pause and swallow. Although noticeable, I did not find it at all distracting.

John Adams

A very interesting and accurate account of an amazing man. Slow and mediocre narration but easy to ignore with such engaging stories.

Another excellent David McCullough audiobook

I love McCullough's work. His manner of telling stories is great because he always connects the dots and reminds readers/listeners about why something is said or done, and why it is important enough to include in the story. His characterizations and descriptions of people leave vivid images. It helps the reader/listener visualize what the moment was like. The story of John Adams is a great story to tell. McCullough does a good job of appearing to be fair in his assessment of Adams. I say "appears" because I am sure that some points of Adam's life are debated by historians. McCullough, however, does not imply that his assessment is the only view. He seems to want to be balanced and fair-minded. This is probably best seen in McCullough's description of all that went on between Adams and Jefferson. The reader is good. He does seem to mispronounce some names, but who knows - maybe I've had it wrong all along. The book is a solid A+ and the reader is a good A-.

Required reading!

I truly wish this was part of every history class ever taught in American schools! The audio performance here is excellent!

excellent for history nerds.

excellent book to grow your knowledge of the founding of America. the author paints a very vivid picture of Adams role in forming what this country was founded on.

The Humanity of John Adams

If you could sum up John Adams in three words, what would they be?

Courageous, patriotic, integrity

What was one of the most memorable moments of John Adams?

I would say the period leading up to the Declaration.

What does Nelson Runger bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The opportunity to listen and read along. I found it quite enjoyable to take the paper copy and note passages that I thought were particularly compelling.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

A man for his time, and for all time.

Any additional comments?

Everything McCullough puts his pen to becomes a masterpiece.