John Adams: A Life

I read Ferling's biography of Adams after reading McCullough's John Adams. I was a bit disappointed with a few aspects, and thought reading Ferling would round out my knowledge of our second president. I wasn't disappointed. Ferling's masterly and scholarly work provides an outstanding insight into Adams, his activities, his motivations, and his relationship with his wife Abigail. In particular, Ferling pulls no punches in describing some of Adams' rather significant character flaws, particularly his burning ambition (and his subsequent abandonment of his family in pursuit of it). Richly footnoted, the work still remains THE biography of Adams, despite McCullough's recent work and its NY Times bestseller status.

This book is a biography of John Adam's life from his birth in 1735 until his death on July 4th 1826, the fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The date of John Adams death coincided almost to the hour with the death of Thomas Jefferson, a coincidence that is itself remarkable. This and numerous other events in his life are depicted in a clear, and interesting manner. The book is organized chronologically from Mr. Adam's early childhood thru the day of his death and is organized into the following five parts: Love of Fame, An Epocha in History, Safe and Glorious in the Harbour of Peace, One Man of Inflexible Integrity and I Still Live and Enjoy Life. The book contains a Preface, an Introduction, an Afterword, an Abbreviations Section, Notes, a Selected Biography Reference and an Index.I found this book very interesting not only for the story of John Adam's life but also the historical period that is discussed in the telling of that story. The five-page introduction paints a concise picture of Early America and what life was like for men and women of that time. John Adams was the son of Puritan farmers and as the first son of the family was chosen as the only child to be provided an education due to the family's meager resources. Rather than being kept on the farm he was sent to local schools and then to college to become a Lawyer after his graduation from Harvard College. This opportunity gave him the ability to escape the more common lifelong rigor and manual labor of farming although he did own a farm with slaves and maintained a working farm for most of his life. He became quite successful as a Boston lawyer and this opportunity and his education provided us with one of the Founding Fathers of the American Revolution. The book chronicles his life and relationship to numerous famous early Americans and other Founding Fathers including Samuel Adams, John Hancock, James Monroe, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, Aaron Burr, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and others. The story of these men and how they came together in a common cause to break the chains of tyranny from the British Monarchy is told in an interesting and readable style. Mr. Ferling also notes perspectives on the Founding Fathers actions that are often lost on the reader. For instance the fact that these men, including John Adams, were either very successful or soon to be or like George Washington were very wealthy with large land holdings. And yet, they were willing to risk all that they had in a revolutionary war against the "Parent State" for the sake of liberty and freedom from British rule. These men were well aware that by forming the Continental Congress and acting as they did they would spark a Revolution and that their fate for such treasonous acts would be death at the hands of the British Monarchy should the revolution fail or falter. The book recounts the early days of the revolutionary period and how events were intertwined to

Before reading this magnificent book, the only Adams biography I had read was Page Smith's two volume book and that is now quite dated. This book must now stand as the definitive Adams biography. Ferling paints a riveting portrait of this complex and misunderstood American hero. Adams is unfairly tossed off by the uninformed as a peripheral figure in the American Revolution, but this book shows clearly that Adams was an integral force throughout. Ferling also takes great pains in illuminating Adams' amazing breadth of intellect and this a trait sometimes not associated with him. When one thinks about the intellectual titans among the Founding Fathers, Jefferson, Madison and Hamilton generally come to mind. Add Adams to that list and the Father of the Constitution should remain on this lofty list for all time.Many American Revolution buffs eschew Adams and toss him off as not as interesting, flamboyant or "essential" as the other leading players. I challenge them to read this biography, which shows Adams was not only extremely intelligent, but likable and thoroughly human. This is biography at its finest.

Several years ago, I was given "Truman", the award-winning biography about one of our most beloved presidents. I was fascinated by all of the behind the scenes details about some of the most important events in our history. It reminded me why I always loved history so much in the first place. I've since set out to read a biography of each of our U.S. presidents, from Washington to Clinton.Of the half dozen I have read so far, Ferling's John Adams: A Life, may be the best. While Washington was revered, then and now, for his exploits in the Revolutionary War, it was Adams who had a hand in most of the behind the scenes events that made independence for the young country a reality. Adams is portrayed as he really was, warts and all. In addition, Ferling's detailed descriptions of some of the other Founding Fathers such as Washington, Franklin, Jefferson, Hamilton and others help put John Adams in perspective, helping to explain why Adams has often been one of our most misunderstood presidents. Along with "Truman", simply the best biography I have ever read.

I have been reading biographies of the founding fathers from Washington to Madison. I picked up this book knowing that Adams was the one that I, and most people, know the least about. Ferling brings this man to life to the point that I felt that I knew him personally more than any of the other bios I've read so far. I was amazed at how attached I became to this intense and profoundly intelligent person who is regrettably most remembered as a vain and awkward curmudgeon. Ferling's story is complete, covering the varied facets of Adams as farmer, lawyer, philosopher, negotiator, statesman, friend, husband and father. If John Adams is more of a mystery to you than the much celebrated likes of Washington, Jefferson, Franklin and Madison, then this is the book for you.