Review: John Adams

By David McCullough

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

Keeping with our theme of patriotism

The book is long and very detailed. It is also the basis of the HBO series Adams, similar to the book and play on Hamilton. I tried to cover in this review everything the book detailed about an amazing man, a patriot and diplomat. He was not easy to get along with, but he was instrumental in rallying the people to a cause. David McCullough is one of my favorite authors, and this is a masterful job in history and storytelling.

David McCullough’s John Adams is a sweeping, deeply human biography that highlights Adams’s pivotal role in the American Revolution, his presidency, his remarkable marriage to Abigail, and his complicated friendship with Thomas Jefferson. What I expected to be a straightforward presidential biography turned out to be a rich portrait of one of America’s most overlooked Founding Fathers. McCullough brings Adams to life not just as a revolutionary and statesman, but as a husband, father, and friend whose stubborn integrity helped shape the nation.

Early Life

John Adams was born in Massachusetts in 1735 to a strict, religious family. Educated at Harvard, he was initially expected to become a minister but chose law instead. He was known for his sharp intellect, rebellious streak, and blunt New England manner—brash, direct, and fiercely passionate about independence.

Marriage & Family

Adams married Abigail Smith in 1764, and their marriage remains one of the most compelling partnerships in American history. It’s striking—especially for the era—how much influence Abigail had on his thinking. They shared thoughts on politics, philosophy, and government, and their extensive letters form the emotional backbone of the book.

They had six children, including John Quincy Adams, a future president. One son struggled with alcoholism, and Adams, with his rigid New England sensibilities, eventually cut ties with him—seeing him as weak and neglectful of his family. It’s one of the more painful and revealing parts of Adams’s character.

Role in the Revolution

When we think of the Revolution, we often picture a few iconic battles and Paul Revere’s ride. But Adams operated in the crucial political arena that laid the foundation for the Constitution and the American legal system.

He famously defended the British soldiers after the Boston Massacre (1770), demonstrating his commitment to fairness and the rule of law. He was a leading voice against British policies like the Stamp Act and became one of the strongest advocates for independence at the Continental Congress.

Although Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, Adams was instrumental in pushing it forward and rallying support for it.

Diplomatic Service

The Revolution needed money, and Adams was sent to Europe to secure it. He negotiated loans with the Dutch, worked alongside Benjamin Franklin in France, and played a key role in finalizing the peace treaty that ended the war.

His diplomatic work was essential but often left him isolated from his family for long stretches—one of the recurring emotional tensions in the book.

Presidency (1797–1801)

Adams became the second President of the United States after serving as Washington’s Vice President. His New England base was critical to the Revolution, and he had been one of the strongest voices urging Washington to lead the Continental Army.

But Adams could be difficult and opinionated. His long friendship with Jefferson soured after the Revolution due to political differences. His presidency was marked by the controversial Alien and Sedition Acts, passed in response to rising tensions with France. Though intended to prevent foreign interference, the laws damaged his popularity and contributed to his loss to Jefferson in the next election.

Later Life & Legacy

After losing the presidency, Adams retired to his farm in Quincy, Massachusetts. He did not attend Jefferson’s inauguration—not out of spite, but because he wanted the focus on Jefferson and because the long journey home awaited him.

In retirement, Adams and Jefferson rekindled their friendship through a remarkable exchange of letters. In one of history’s great coincidences, both men died on July 4, 1826—the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

Themes & Takeaways

• Adams emerges as a principled, stubborn, fiercely independent patriot.
• His marriage to Abigail is one of the most compelling and humanizing aspects of the book.
• His honesty and moral compass—sometimes abrasive—were central to his leadership.
• McCullough portrays him as underrated compared to Jefferson and Washington, yet absolutely indispensable to America’s founding.

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