Passionate Sage: The Character and Legacy of John Adams

I thought the energy, mischevious wit and intellectual excitement of Adam's mind was wonderfully brought to life with this book. Though not an A to Z life story - it generally focuses on his later life - it still manages to give you a sense of the whole man and the challenges of his times. I wish Ellis would have written a more comprehensive life story, perhaps he will yet.

Written with wit, charm, and a keen eye for historical detail, this book restores John Adams to his rightful place as one of our most intelligent, prescient forefathers. Dealing primarily with his post-presidential life, the author creates a fascinating image of an aging, yet mentally sound patriarch attempting to rehabilitate his image and settle old scores with former foes. In addition to highlighting the legendary correspondence with Jefferson (where Adams doubled the epistolary output of Mr. Jefferson), the author also brings to light his lengthy disputes with Mary Wollstonecraft and Mercy Otis Warren. Fortunately, Adams is neither belittled nor attacked with the unfairness of hindsight. Instead, he is presented in the fullness of his complexity; often self-righteous, obsessive, and grouchy, yet always believing that the principles of the Revolution were best served by a national, rather than provincial, approach. Few have disputed Adams' eloquence or dignity and now, thanks to Mr. Ellis, we can finally see that Adams just might be one of the most relevant.

I too, sought out this book after reading Prof Ellis' fine study of Thomas Jefferson. This study is equally excellent. Surprisingly, I came away with the clear understanding that I would have enjoyed the passionate, pugnacious Adams far more than the reserved, detatched Jefferson.

I searched this book out after first reading Professor Ellis's outstanding character analysis of Thomas Jefferson in "American Sphinx". "Passionate Sage" was written before the Jefferson book (which won a National Book Award) and, as a critical analysis of John Adam's character , should be regarded as a companion piece to American Sphinx. The two books tell a similar story, but from the very different perspectives of Jefferson and Adams. With a fluent, gripping and readable style uncommon among professional historians, Professor Ellis makes a compelling case that the eccentric and volatile Adams is seriously underappreciated both for his towering contributions to this nation and for his unconventional yet oddly endearing personality. Anyone who likes American history should not miss this book.

Ellis' work focuses on the latter part of Adams' life. While it makes no claim to be a complete biography, the book serves as an excellent foundation for those seeking to learn more about our most underappreciated founding father. Through detailed comparisons with Jefferson - Adams' rival and close friend who has been treated more kindly by America's collective consciousness - Ellis begins to illuminate many levels of the New Englander's character. In doing so, he helps us understand why Adams was not, and probably never will be, adored by the nation he helped to create