Fire and Knowledge

John Adams by David McCullough

I read this book from January 15 – 29, 2005. It was one of the most enjoyable and informative books I have read this year. I was never a history buff and always did poor in history classes during school–it never interested me. But this book helped raise my interest in history and introduced me to a slew of other historians. But most of all, it put flesh and bones on the Founding Fathers. They were people who were not perfect and had less than perfect ideas. After reading this book, I felt for the first time that I understood the basic formations of American ideology—a sad case for someone who had been in American education for 15 years!

And with that, I leave you with the publisher’s description:

In this powerful, epic biography, 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; who rose to become the second President of the United States and saved the country from blundering into an unnecessary war; who was learned beyond all but a few and regarded by some as “out of his senses”; and whose marriage to the wise and valiant Abigail Adams is one of the moving love stories in American history.

This is history on a grand scale — a book about politics and 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, John Adams is an enthralling, often surprising story of one of the most important and fascinating Americans who ever lived.

Available Editions (Amazon): Paperback | Hardback

Available Editions (BookCloseouts 68-74% off!): Paperback | Hardback