John Adams: A Life

By: John Ferling

Narrated by: Bob Souer

John Ferling has nearly 40 years of experience as a historian of early America. The author of acclaimed histories such as A Leap into the Dark and Almost a Miracle, he has appeared on many TV and film documentaries on this pivotal period of our history. In John Adams: A Life, Ferling offers a compelling portrait of one of the giants of the Revolutionary era.

Drawing on extensive research, Ferling depicts a reluctant revolutionary, a leader who was deeply troubled by the warfare that he helped to make, and a fiercely independent statesman. The book brings to life an exciting time, an age in which Adams played an important political and intellectual role. Indeed, few were more instrumental in making American independence a reality. He performed yeoman's service in the Continental Congress during the revolution and was a key figure in negotiating the treaty that brought peace following the long War of Independence. He held the highest office in the land, and as president, he courageously chose to pursue a course that he thought best for the nation, though it was fraught with personal political dangers.

Adams emerges here a man full of contradictions. He could be petty and jealous, but also meditative, insightful, and provocative. In private and with friends, he could be engagingly witty. He was terribly self-centered, but in his relationship with his wife and children, his shortcomings were tempered by a deep, abiding love.

John Ferling's masterful John Adams: A Life is a singular biography of the man who succeeded George Washington in the presidency and shepherded the fragile new nation through the most dangerous of times.

©1992 The University of Tennessee Press (P)2018 Tantor

What an incredible look at John Adams’ life and the world in his time

I found this book absolutely fascinating. It’s amazing how much information is left out in most typical K-12 and higher ed curriculum. For example, I learned that some ships were turned back from ports other than Boston prior to the Boston Tea Party.

Adams’ decision to serve his country and himself, while spending years away from his family, was difficult to hear, but it was described in great detail.

Also, get your dictionary out, or you may miss a lot (at least I didn’t know words like Vertiginous and Improbity until I tool some time to learn them after hearing them used. I’m not sure why so many words like that were used, but it was a good challenge for me!

Good insight into Adams

The book provides a detailed overview of Adams life and what drove him. He is a complex figure and the book does a good job of describing his contrasts. Well worth the listen.

Entertaining and balanced bio of a very great and very vain and jealous and insecure man

Entertaining and balanced bio of a very great and very vain and jealous and insecure man.

Details

I truly appreciate being able to see the details and nuance of that lives of Americas founders.

Highly recommended

I really enjoyed this and hope to have my children listen to in the future

Intelligent Biography of a Complex Figure

Well researched and well expresses, this fair, honest and ultimately inspiring biography of one of the most human and often underrated Founding Fathers (and his wife Abigail and family) clearly positions him in the ranks of the more than almost great. Flaws, failings, and afflictions in his nature, his family life, and his career not withstanding, Adams' upstanding and disinterested dedication to the service of his country shine through. A man worth remembering.

Eye opening and refreshingly candid

I learned so much about the man and events as well as his contemporaries. the reader was excellent. highly recommended!

Balance View of John Adams

I liked the detail about his life and his view of himself vs what others thought and how they viewed him.

Great historical story

Loved the whole history on Adams but the narrator’s exhales and breathing noises were distracting.

A study of one of the great founding fathers

This work is a fascinating examination of one of the great yet under appropriated men who founded America.