John Adams

By: David McCullough

Narrated by: Nelson Runger

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)

A delightful experience

I completely enjoyed all aspects of this audio book. The narrator was engaging and his voice was pleasant to listen to for the many hours required. The writing style drew me in and I became enthralled with each small detail revealed about the lives of John and Abigail and the early American and European life depicted. I have gone on to read several books of Abigail's letters with great pleasure. This was an excellent, life affirming, and positive experience. Thank you Audible!

AN ENTHRALING MIRACULOUS MULTIFACETED WONDER

There are just a few books that are so amazing to me that I dread trying to review them. This book was so rewarding for me( as you might gleam from my understated headline) that I really lack the verbiage and surly the subtlety ( lol) to do it justice.

The love story between Adams and his amazing wife is in itself more than enough for a great book..Adams personal and professional struggles and sacrifices for his warily conceived country is in itself more than enough for a great book. And his torturous friendship and correspondence with Jefferson is in itself more than enough for a great book, and naturally great books have been written on each of these areas, but here in this one book, they are all here together in one wondrously researched and written story.

John Adams was my first David McCullough book. I found his writing style so refreshingly clear, humanistic, scrupiosly researched and uniquely readable that I wasted no time purchasing all the rest of his works from Audible. While I enjoyed everything else he wrote,and have reread them all, The great bridge is a stand out that I would recommend be your next McCullough read, if you haven't read it already.

I wish I could know the man personally

For as long as the book is, it was done before I knew it. However, as the book came to a close, I felt such a strong bond to this great man. He seems to have seen himself as a ordinary man thrust into extraordinay circumstances, but in truth he was an extraordinary man. And his right hand was his incredble wife. And as I experienced their life through this book, I applauded their heroism and sacrifice, I raged as close friends betrayed them, and I cried as loved ones were lost. And in the end, I can't get over the fact that I would love to sit down with him to talk about life philosophies.

Great American story.

Glad I finished reading over the Independence weekend. Adams was truly the bedrock of our nation's foundation and let God lead his ideals and visions.

Founding Father

In this monumental, meticulous work by David McCullough, John Adams is intimately revealed as a passionate, visionary, bullheaded patriot, sometimes arrogant, and at times gullible when others conspired against him, which was often. He was as responsible as any, and more than most, in propelling the difficult birth of a great nation against all odds.

The portrayals in this book can be surprising. In contrast to historical images of bold and thoughtful men working together, there were constant clashes of egos and competing personal agendas among the founding fathers. They were mortals—the irascible and sometimes indolent Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, and many more. Hamilton, especially, was a treacherous and self-aggrandizing man whose vicious and false public accusations cost Adams his reelection and ultimately ended Hamilton’s own career. The revered Thomas Jefferson comes off as something quite different from his reputation: a vain, mercurial, spendthrift, self-centered man who can be a trusted friend one day and a scheming, duplicitous betrayer the next. The architects of America comprised a cast of heroes and scoundrels. Many were both.

For those who worry about modern digital messaging consuming too much of our time, have no fear. It was rampant 250 years ago, via quill and ink, when people wrote endless letters and kept daily journals in elaborate prose, rife with literary and scriptural quotations, describing and debating the issues and events of the day. It was oddly formal. Abigail Adams addressed her beloved husband in letters as “My dearest friend.” Any educated person must have written millions of words in a lifetime. It’s difficult to imagine how they had time to do anything else. Parsing them must have been a colossal task for David McCullough, but it creates a history that would otherwise be far from complete.

There are fascinating insights here into 18th century politics. For example, presidential candidates in those earliest years took no part in the campaign, staying home for months and waiting to see what the outcome would be.

Although McCullough himself is also a fine narrator, Nelson Runger does a superb job through all thirty hours.

Adams and Jefferson, in particular, were often at odds and sometimes didn't communicate for decades. But their lives at last converged once more in the years of their retirements, when they carried on a memorable exchange of correspondence on every conceivable subject. And in one of history’s stunning coincidences, both men died in their homes on July 4, 1826, precisely the 50th anniversary of the independence of the nation they had worked so brilliantly to create.

John Adams is a wonderful audio book

If you have an interest in American history, or of the American people, this is a wonderful audiobook to hear.

Well written, superbly narrated, and finely produced, it is a pleasure to hear. It is brought to life by a brave narrator who lends the characters voices and even sings lyrics to a song that was composed to satire Adams.

A wonderful project.

No words can express the enjoyment!

Beautifully written and compellingly read, kept me on the edge of my seat . . . Even though I knew the events and endings. A great book about an even greater man.

A history not to be overlooked!!

The video miniseries is a deftly crafted concision of a masterful literary work. That being said one can only fully appreciate this representation of John Adams by giving equal time to David McCullough's book!

Such painstaking care is given to every aspect of Adams' life, it left me feeling as though an extraordinary person was taken from me at the books conclusion. I wanted more, so much so I considered starting at page one as soon as I finished the last.

This is a book which allows you the chance to understand how extraordinary it was for men and women to live during the birth of a nation. Their choices became our way of life.

Mrs. Adams is revealed to be a woman of amazing intelligence. Her expertise and wisdom was a perfect compliment to her husband. I thank McCullough for introducing her to me. Knowing her means to better understand the family and the President.

President Adams is a flawed, but intelligent man. He had a strong ego, but recognized excellence in others, not an easy compromise for anyone.

Read this book and have your eyes opened wide! I fervently believe that the late President would have approved of this biography.

I would have stayed awake in school.

McCullough makes the men at the beginning of our country's history come alive in a way I never thought possible.

One of my best audiobook experiences yet.

David McCullough's work comes to life as narrated by Mr. Runger. An excellent, meaty read that I enjoyed every second of.