Product Description
Regnery has produced the most comprehensive one-volume collection of John Adams' political writings ever published. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Plain Adams
You MUST READ this if you liked the Jone Adams you saw in the HBO series. Although he is credieted with the funding of conservative ideology in this country, his insights and record of historical thought are important lessons for all political dispositions. My sugestion for reading - pick and choose sections when current events suggest historical underpinnings. Now go!

John Adams...where's the respect?
Great book...great man.

Of all the founders, he was my favorite, and unlike Jefferson and Washington, who kept slaves because they were wealthy land owners, even though they knew it was wrong...Adams refused the "obmination" forever on principle.

He also wrote the first Constitution of the US (MA) on which ours was modeled after...

And yet, no huge building stands in DC for him...and why?

Because, he was NOT a politician...he was an honest man.

At least, that's my opinion.

Get the book, and be amazed.

John Adams, Patriot Sage and the "American Burke"
Pretentious, pugnacious in his temperament, possessed of a sense of nobility, John Adams was the quintessential Yankee and the Second President of the United States. This collection of his most famous political treatises and his correspondence is most appealing.With a keen intellect, his statesmanship is penetrating and has earned him recognition as the American Burke. Adams was prescient in his understanding of human nature, recognizing that "[s]elf-interest, private avidity, ambition, and avarice, will exist in every state of society, and under every form of government. A succession of powers and persons, by frequent elections, will not lessen these passions in any case, in a governor, senator, or representative, nor will the apprehension of an approaching election restrain them from indulgence if they have the power." Reconciling a flawed nature with man's yearning for liberty was no small task, but he suggested that ordered liberty could be fortified through a mixed constitution: "The nation which will not adopt equilibrium of power must adopt a despotism. There is no alternative. Rivalries must be controlled, or they will throw all things into confusion; and there is nothing but despotism or a balance of power which can control them." Adams surmised that the great work of those statesmen at the Convention was to fortify the British inheritance which was itself a mixed constitution while giving it a strong measure of steadiness and permanence by edifice in the Constitution. In Adams' summation, the licentious nature of democracy was to be quelled by establishing a proper equilibrium with the natural aristocratic and monarchial elements. This was requisite for a free government and history demonstrated that a lack of balance sputters off into despotism. Adams was keenly aware of the fragility of the American experiment in ordered liberty, and he shunned quixotic ideologues. He was utterly cynical of Enlightenment views which held the perfectibility of mankind as tenable, and he saw innumerable odds posed against ordered liberty. It is not surprising that John Adam's political theory perhaps has been glossed over by the egalitarian-minded historians of our day, because he rejected the major ideological assumptions fueling the French Revolution. He was keenly appreciative of the Anglo-American common law tradition and the vibrant interplay of cultures that shaped the distinctively American political tradition.

"Few men will deny that there is a natural aristocracy of virtues and talents in every nation and in every part, in every city and village. Inequalities are a part of the natural history of man," avowed John Adams. In stark opposition to the heresy of equality, Adams postulated a natural aristocracy of talent that was innate to all men gathered in association. Adams realised that man would be lead by his better man, but this natural aristocracy (i.e. rule by the best) was not something to be imposed upon civil society, but was essentially meritocratic and again natural. While it is clear that Adams was no egalitarian leveler, he also favored a free economy and possessed not an iota of Hamiltonian traits. In fact, he reserved personal scorn for the man when he derided him as a "bastard brat of a Scottish peddler." Adams disdained large scale, materialistic schemes to augment a nation's wealth. And on the contrary Adams thought that fostering the personal economic independence of every citizen was necessary for the betterment of the republic.The political order was to serve the people and civil society at large, not some hodgepodge fiduciary elite of speculators and financiers. Indeed, the long-term stability of a republic weighed heavily on a secured, landed populace-in the eyes of John Adams. And that idea was not only enmeshed in the minds of southerners, but temperate New Englanders like Adams as well.

Adams was the foremost advocate of religious moors as a buttress of public stability and virtue. "Statesmen... may plan and speculate for liberty, but it is religion and morality alone which can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand." A great measure of public virtue was deemed requisite for a free government and prosperous civil society. Adams rhetorically inquired, "Have you ever found in history one single example of a nation thoroughly corrupted, that was afterwards restored to virtue? And without virtue, there can be no political liberty."

In my estimation, studying the political theory of John Adams is requisite for serious study of the American founding. Too often shoddy partisan scholarship casts the founding era as one big standoff between those of a austere Jeffersonian or Hamiltonian persuasion. Hamilton's allies within his own party were few, and it imploded after 1800 and many in Jeffersonian camp considered its name bearer to be the compromiser. Reductionist scholarship accentuates the aforesaid personal struggle of minds and also deemphasizes the common ground the founding fathers had. Despite John Adams' influential showing during the early years of the Republic, his political thought has been overlooked especially in contrast to the cult following behind Hamilton, Madison and Jefferson. ... Read more

Product Description
In addition to being an uncompromising defender of liberty, esteemed diplomat, and successor to George Washington, John Adams was a passionate and prolific writer. Adams biographer John Patrick Diggins gathers an impressive variety of his works in this compact, original volume, including parts of his diary and autobiography, and selections from his rich correspondence with this wife, Abigail, Thomas Jefferson, and others. The Portable John Adams also features his most important political works: "A Dissertation on Canon and Feudal Law," "Thoughts on Government," "A Defense of Constitutions," "Novanglus," and "Discources in Davila." There is no finer introduction to the protean genius of this seminal American philosopher. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Great Price, quick delivery
Excellent price compared to Amazon's list price.Thank you Amazon for providing this internal competition!

UN-impressive Volume
Given that critique of John Adams' work requires specific reference to a particular work (which are available separately, thus lending themselves better to individual critique) and given that this collection leans heavily on being one of, if not THE most complete volume of Adams' work available, I'll limit myself to commentary on the quality of the collection itself. First, please note that for whatever reason (be they financial or size limitations, etc), the paper quality is wafer thin. In regular light (i.e., not under candlelight), you can read what is written on the reverse page with ease. While one may say that one gets what one pays for, given that this seems to be the only readily available volume that seems to collect all of Adams' work, Penguin Classics could have easily sprung for a heavier stock and charged extra. Furthermore, one should pay particular care to what the volume contains as it does not contain the complete letter correspondences between Adams and Abigail or between Adams and Jefferson. This entire collection is 576 pages, 40 of which are John Patrick Diggins' (editor) introduction, which given that he's listed as Adams' biographer makes sense. But, given that "My Dearest Friend: Letters of Abigail and John Adams" letter collection is itself 528 pages and given that "The Adams-Jefferson Letters: The Complete Correspondence Between Thomas Jefferson and Abigail and John Adams" letter collection is 690 pages, it is clear how much is left out. In fact, Diggins only devotes 70 some odd pages to the correspondence between John and Abigail Adams and Thomas Jefferson and just 70 pages to correspondence of John and Abigail. And in case anyone is wondering who are these "and others" that the book description mentions as being included in the collection, the "others" are Roger Sherman and John Taylor with just a little over 60 pages worth of letters. Personally, I'd rather have 60 pages worth of Adams' letters to Benjamin Rush. The description notes that the volume "gathers an impressive variety of his works" - well, if by variety you mean his most famous works heavily edited, then yes. But, I personally hardly think the variety is anything impressive. And the parts of his diary and autobiography mentioned account for only about 121 pages of the collection. Thus, in conclusion, if one seeks to have a volume that gathers, as the description notes, Adams' "most important political works: "A Dissertation on Canon and Feudal Law," "Thoughts on Government," "A Defense of Constitutions," "Novanglus," and "Discources in Davila."" - then yes, it does. But how much finer could this volume have been if only it got the treatment worth other founding fathers, especially given the wonderful volumes Library of America has produced for all the founding fathers (even Madison), except Adams. Here's hoping that will change. Otherwise, of course, John Adams' writings are most recommended given their longevity (e.g., Mass. Constitution) and applicability in today's fiery political environment.

Hard to read, not what I expected.
This was so hard to read I didn't finish it.Was expecting more of a biography than a collection of letters.

The greatness of a founding father
Adams was in my American childhood a neglected founding father. Washington was the father of the nation, and Jefferson the great author of the 'Declaration of Independence'maker of the Louisiana Purchase, Madison the great author of the Federalist, Monroe the enunciator of the doctrine which determined US attitudes to the whole of the Americas. But in recent years there has been a great interest in the work of Adams including the outstanding award-winning biography of David MacCullough.
I have read only bits of Adams, and sense a great intelligence, organization of mind, firm conviction of democratic principle. There is a sense with him as with almost all the founding fathers of their having been somehow on a higher level than our present political leaders.
I do not know how much time non- scholarly readers will wish to an Adams volume but there is outstanding political writing here, and aselection of his remarkable correspondence.
Just to give a taste of his language and democratic principles I quote a snippet of his Inaugural Address in 1797.

"For it is the people only that are represented. It is their power and majesty that is reflected, and only for their good, in every legitimate government, under whatever form it may appear. The existence of such a government as ours for any length of time is a full proof of a general dissemination of knowledge and virtue throughout the whole body of the people. And what object or consideration more pleasing than this can be presented to the human mind? If national pride is ever justifiable or excusable it is when it springs, not from power or riches, grandeur or glory, but from conviction of national innocence, information, and benevolence."

... Read more

Product Description
John Quincy Adams was raised, educated, and groomed to be President, following in the footsteps of his father, John. At fourteen he was secretary to the Minister to Russia and, later, was himself Minister to the Netherlands and Prussia. He was U.S. Senator, Secretary of State, and then President for one ill-fated term. His private life showed a parallel descent. He was a poet, writer, critic, and Professor of Oratory at Harvard. He married a talented and engaging Southerner, but two of his three sons were disappointments. This polymath and troubled man, caught up in both a democratic age not to his understanding and the furies of passion, was an American lion in winter.Amazon.com Review
Who is the real John Quincy Adams? The brilliant secretaryof state, prime mover behind the Monroe Doctrine, and principledopponent of slavery, defender of the Africans shanghaied aboard theAmistad? Or the ineffectual president stymied by a hostile Congressand his own self-righteousness, the vindictive political foe famedfor his cold, disagreeable character? Paul C. Nagel, author oftwo previous books about the Adams family, seeks to give readers amore human Adams (1767-1848) whose complex nature contained manycontradictions. John Quincy Adams is a valuable revisionist biography of a misunderstoodfigure at the crossroads of American history. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (56)

Allergic to analysis
Obviously, there's nothing wrong with a good narrative, but at least at some point an author should try to actually analyze and understand his subject, not simply recount his actions.Nagel argues that he is the first historian to use the entire JQ Adams diary; that's debatable in and of itself, but even if true, he should try to USE it, not simply tell us what it says.

To be sure, Adams' life IS a very good story: the man was extremely intelligent, and witnessed (not to mention participated in) many of the most pivotal events of US (and European) history during the early national and Jacksonian periods.And Nagel writes well.What could be bad?

Well, it's not as if that story hasn't been told before.I don't quibble with Nagel's decision to focus on Adams the man -- if he actually could tell us something about him.But I find that lacking.For example, he confidentally tells us that Adams suffered from "clinical depression," which is quite a claim given that he was not, and could never have been, clinically diagnosed.So maybe Nagel could make the case for it, set forth the pros and cons.That, however, would have required him to actually do more than going through the diary.

Similarly, we learn about his political ineptness, particularly as President.But where did that come from?Why did it happen?The man was elected President, after all, albeit by the House: surely that means that he had SOME political skills.

While this book is unparalleled, then, in giving us the details of Adams' private life, it really doesn't tell us much about the strenghts and weaknesses of Adams the man.At the beginning of the book, Nagel tells us that he has wound up really liking Adams personally.But why?What's the basis for that judgment?(This is especially so, given his concession in one of his earlier books, The Adams Women: Abigail and Louisa Adams, Their Sisters and Daughters, that Adams was an often unkind husband.What changed?).

Although its treatment is much less detailed than Nagel's on Adams himself, for my money (and time) I'd go with Daniel Walker Howe's What Hath God Wrought: The Transformation of America, 1815-1848 (Oxford History of the United States).Howe dedicates his book to Adams, and you can see why: it really makes the case for why Adams was right in his policies, as well as why his personality and world view made his Presidency a failure.

JQ Adams' life and character are so intrinsically fascinating that this book has ample value.But it could have been so much more.

A good study of the private John Quincy Adams
Few American presidents enjoyed a career as varied and accomplished as that of John Quincy Adams.As early as his teenage years he played an informal role in American diplomacy, and soon after college he rose quickly in American politics.His years as a state legislator, United States Senator, diplomat, and Secretary of State would be crowned with election to the presidency in 1824 and followed with an extraordinary post-presidential career in the House of Representatives.Yet such achievements can often overshadow the man who made them, reducing him to a series of decisions with little sense as to the motivations of the man who made them.

It is for this reason that Paul Nagel's biography of Adams stands out.Rather than providing another book that seeks to understand Adams through his professional accomplishments, Nagel instead concentrates on Adams's personal life.This has the effect of humanizing Adams, turning him from the stern and oftentimes forbidding figure from paintings and old photographs into a real human being to whom the reader can relate.The problem with this book, however, is that this is pretty much the limit of Nagel's examination.Adams's public career receives nowhere near the degree of coverage that his private life receive; in this respect, the subtitle is only half correct.This diminishes the value of what Nagel has done, as there is no effort to connect his insights into Adams's personality with any analysis of his public achievements.

Because of this, Nagel's book is only a qualified success.Though well written and valuable for its exploration of the inner Adams, Nagel's book is at best only a partial portrait of the nation's sixth president.To get a complete picture of this fascinating man, it is best read in conjunction with one of the more comprehensive examinations of Adams's public careers, such as Samuel Flagg Bemis's award-winning two-volume study of Adams's life,John Quincy Adams and the Foundations of American Foreign Policy and John Quincy Adams and the Union, or Marie Hecht's shorter John Quincy Adams: A Personal History of an Independent Man.

John Quincy Adams: A Public Life, A Private Life
After visiting Quincy, MA, I realized I knew almost nothing about JQA, so I ordered this book.Good choice.

Precocious, brilliant, irascible, hyper-critical of himself, always striving for the family tradition of integrity, esteem, and honor, and only in his final years receiving accolades for his accomplishments, JQA presents a fascinating study of an intellectual on Jefferson's plane.Because of his diaries and letter-writing, we have a view into his innermost thoughts.Ahead of his time, he was probably the first influential politician to declare against slavery.

Well written biography.
The author clearly researched a mountain of material to write such a complete biography of JQA.It was rather fast paced and did not get boresome as some bios. tend to be.All in all, I would recommend this history of our 6th president, one who got very little recognition as President, but far more for his writings and scholarship.

Enriching read
I was worried that this was going to be boring because all I really knew about John Quincy Adams was that he had failed to be re-elected, just like his father.But Nagel puts together a compelling story and I found this a really enriching read.There was so much about JQA I had never known, and Nagel makes great use of JQA's journal in giving a great picture of this man and a sense for what made him tick. I thought Nagel was a bit harsh on Abigail Adams, and I wish he'd addressed the fact that JQA's two older sons might have had such difficult lives because JQA left them in America for a long stretch of their developmental years while the rest of the family was in Europe.But those are minor quibbles to what is a great presidential biography. ... Read more

Product Description
Until recently rescued by David McCullough, John Adams has always been overshadowed by Washington and Jefferson. Volatile, impulsive, irritable, and self-pitying, Adams seemed temperamentally unsuited for the presidency. Yet in many ways he was the perfect successor to Washington in terms of ability, experience, and popularity. Possessed of a far-ranging intelligence, Adams took office amid the birth of the government and multiple crises. Besides maintaining neutrality and regaining peace, his administration created the Department of the Navy, put the army on a surer footing, and left a solvent treasury. One of his shrewdest acts was surely the appointment of moderate Federalist John Marshall as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Though he was a Federalist, he sought to work outside the still-forming party system. In the end, this would be Adams's greatest failing and most useful lesson to later leaders. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (12)

Great, brief intro to John Adams
All other reviews on Amazon at the time of my writing this review are for a completely different book in a different series, The American Presidents, and erroneously placed under this book.This is a review of the John Adams book for the Childhoods of the Presidents series.

This book is a simple, short (40 easy pages, including many pictures) telling of Adams's life, with an emphasis on his childhood.It would be appropriate for children from 3rd-6th grade, although all ages would enjoy reading it.Far from being a dry textbook, it's written in an engaging, easy-to-read style, with a short glossary in the back for words a child might not be familiar with (such as "diplomat" and "pulpit").My 11 year old homeschooled daughter and I love this series of books.In less than one enjoyable hour, you get an accurate (if brief) biography of the president, with a focus on the influences and circumstances that led him to become the man he did.If we didn't get to read it for school, we'd read it for pleasure.It should be noted that there are only a few pages dedicated to his actual presidency, and no mention of his affiliation with the doomed Federalist political party, so any student doing a book report on Adams would certainly need other sources.But for a basic, interesting introduction to United States history and our presidents, this series can't be beat.

A Complex Take On A Complex Man
Over the past few years, thanks to a TV docu-drama bearing his name, our nation's second President, John Adams, has gotten quite a bit of press after years of playing second-fiddle (at least in public perception) to names like Washington, Jefferson, and Franklin.This book only adds to that new-found sense of legacy for Mr. Adams by giving a very clear and concise picture/assessment of his time in office.

The author mostly focuses on how Adam's political philosophy differed so radically from his contemporaries.Whereas George Washington thought himself above politics and government, and Thomas Jefferson thought that "the people" should completely control the government, Adams instead championed the notion that a strong government and executive office is actually NEEDED in order to provide for the masses.Though this idea was ultimately what led to the general sullying of Adams' reputation, as he was labeled a monarchist by a young country fresh off a revolution, Adams was remarkable adept at turning his ideas into practices, some of which still thrive to this day.

Basically, this is the summary of Adams that you want to read if you would like to get to know both the man and his times without poring over volumes of literature.I am currently in the process of working my way through this American Presidents series, and this volume surely did not disappoint.

Good short bio of John Adams
Personally, I prefer more detailed biographies of historical figures as opposed to briefer ones. Hence, I really appreciated McCullough's detailed work on John Adams. Nonetheless, Diggins' book is a worthwhile addition to one's library. Especially for those who want a briefer, accessible biography, the Diggins' book would be a good investment.

First, unlike most books in The American Presidents series, there is considerable emphasis on the ideas of John Adams. This is most important, given that he had a more philosophical bent than most American presidents, and his writings are, in themselves, contributions to our understanding of American political thought. This alone makes this book most useful to those who are interested in the impact of presidents. In this case, his ideas are important to be aware of.

Second, it is a decent biography in its own right, given its brevity (a hallmark of this series). The book traces the arc of Adams' life from birth to death--a rich, long, full life. We see his friendship with Thomas Jefferson disintegrate and become enmity--only to have the friendship rekindled after the termination of Jefferson's political career. Their letters back and forth are intriguing, in exposing the very different political perspectives at stake in the early 19th century.

We get a sense of the special relationship between Adams and his wife, Abigail. We see his unique, and sometimes problematic, personality at work--desperate for respect and prickly enough. His role as diplomat in Europe. His service as Vice President under George Washington (describing the office as "The most insignificant office that ever man contrived"). His role as President, after having defeated Jefferson. While he had some bad moments (e.g., the Alien and Sedition Acts), he also showed some political, courage (e.g., not caving in to the demand for war against France). He was much aggrieved in his loss in the 1800 election to his archrival Jefferson. He retired to his native Massachusetts and the book describes his life as citizen. . . .

So, in the end, a worthwhile brief biography, that makes a nice contribution in describing Adam's political thinking.

Overanalytical for a summary history.
The author spent an ungodly amount of his space in writing about John Adams theories and thoughs rather than spend the necessary time talking about his short one term Presidency. This clouded the enjoyability of this read.Rather than here what he did during his Presidency, we come away with his thoughts and theories about social class and political functions.Thus, this short read became difficult to those who wanted to know a little about our second President and his term in office.

The American Presidents series are nice little summaries of all our Presidents.This book is not as interesting as some of the latter books.

John Adams (The American President)
I found this book very concise and informational.It is an excellent overview of his Presidency without getting deeply into all issue's.I found many items out which I was not previously aware of after reading this book.I deigned that your acquisitive nature will be rapt within the pages of this book.I only caution that I found myself going to the dictionary frequently in regards to wording used to describe the situations.Overall, though, this book met and exceeded my expectations. ... Read more

Product Description
A fresh look at this astute, likably quirky statesman, by the author of the Pulitzer Award-winning Founding Brothers. "The most lovable and most laughable, the warmest and possibly the wisest of the founding fathers, John Adams knew himself as few men do and preserved his knowledge in a voluminous correspondence that still resonates. Ellis has used it with great skill and perception not only to bring us the man, warts and all, but more importantly to reveal his extraordinary insights into the problems confronting the founders that resonate today in the republic they created."151;Edmund S. Morgan, Sterling Professor of History Emeritus, Yale University. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (36)

Another great one from Ellis
I'm a huge fan of Joseph Ellis, and this one is just as good as his other, more famous books.Just an incredible read.

Very Good.
The author has written a handful of very good books on America's Founding Fathers. These are not conventional biographies per se, i.e. birth to death chronologies, but rather focus on the formative years/events in the founding of the republic, including the historical figures involved or vice versa, focusing on a specific historical figure and his impact on these critical times and his legacy. These books are somewhat cerebral - thoughts vs. actions - but are not dry intellectual tomes - a credit to the author.

Passionate Sage is the latter - chronicling Adams' life after his "retirement" from the Presidency, (1801), to his death on July 4th, 1826 in Massachusetts - fifty years after the "signing" of the Declaration of Independence - and the same day, in an almost fictional quirk of history, that Thomas Jefferson died at Monticello in Virginia. (Note - This book was written before McCullough's biography.) We are privy to much of Adams' thoughts and memories during this time because of his prolific letter writing - most notably with Thomas Jefferson but with many others - and because these letters have been thankfully preserved. Also Mr. Adams - who read a lot during his retirement - had the interesting habit of arguing with the books he read by leaving notes in the margins - Another fascinating facet of his personality.

The topics covered are wide and varied - including theories on government, critical decisions, and historical personalities - and being John Adams, he usually brings these written discussions around to himself and his thoughts and actions. This last bit is what makes Adams human and therefore fascinating. Washington and Jefferson have been put on historical pedestals, consciously so; Adams is one of us - albeit a very intelligent one of us.

The only caveat here is that the book assumes some previous knowledge of Adams and his times - but otherwise is a fascinating and engaging read. It also makes for an excellent sequel to Catherine Drinker Bowen's book on Adams' formative years - John Adams and The American Revolution and also a great supplement to David McCullough's excellent Adams biography.

McCullough's Poor Cousin
Despite some controversy regarding Ellis's plagiarism from other sources for this book, I love it.I feel the the much more popular McCullough view of Adams is also excellent but would encourage people to t read this book because for me it presented the mind of John Adams much more clearly.I prefer it, despite the protests of my friends and colleagues who do not see what I see in this book, a gem.

Passionate Sage:John Adams
Not exactly what I was looking for. I wanted a more chronological
biographical story. This author did a great job with George Washington
from beginning to end. In John Adams he skips around through different
phases of his life. Very in depth and sometimes complicated on his description
of Adams. I'm still reading but it is a hard book to understand for a novice reader like myself, even though I am a true American history fan

A Man For Our Times
Little would John Adams know that the 2000's would see the re-birth of the Adams legacy.First, there was the David McCullough book chronicling his life, and then the HBO award winning series taken from that book.There has been a continuing push to get an Adams memorial on the Mall in Washington.All this would have made John Adams immensely satisfied, because as he died he correctly predicted that Thomas Jefferson's conception of America would live on, and his would be relegated to the backwaters of history.But in the 200 years since Adams lived and wrote, America does not find itself in the liberal paradise that Mr. Jefferson imagined, nor does it find itself the financial-industrial-military state that Hamilton envisioned, because as I write this review, that state is in ruins.Adams and his writings remain as brilliant cautionary warnings about ideology, untrammeled patriotism, religious fervor and unbridled greed.Basically, the credo that most Americans took for granted, has broken down.Ellis does not follow a straight narrative in his book, but instead focuses on Adams as he leaves the Presidency as the Revolution of 1800 beckons.
His writings in the period after the presidency strike the reader as lacking any kind of ideology, but rather concentrate on the way things are.Even as a young man, Adams had the notable, albeit impolitic, way of speaking the truth no matter whom the audience was.On religion: "After listening to an argument in behalf of the divinity of Jesus Christ that concluded with the unknowability of it all, Adams jotted down his own conclusion: `Thus Mystery is made a convenient Cover for absurdity.'On his chosen profession: "the chief problem with the lawyer was that `he often forments more quarrels then he composes, and inriches himself at the expense of impoverishing others more honest than himself."While these polemics can be explained as an angry young man (he wrote them in the 1750's) they still are important, because none of the others founders spoke like this.
But as the Revolution came and went, and his Presidency, Adams again railed against ideologues from Europe saying that: "Equality is one of those equivocal words which the philosophy of the 18th Century has made fraudulent...in the last twenty five years it has cheated millions out of their lives and tens of millions out of their property."Adams, unlike most current Presidents who constantly quote God as `on our side', never thought that America was a chosen nation: "There is no special providence..we must and we shall go the way of all earth."
Not exactly, the kinds of words that you would expect to hear at a 4th of July celebration.But just because Adams was a cynic does not mean that he didn't appreciate the validity of the cause of American independence.His main line of thinking saw the Revolution as a necessary evil, and did everything in his power as ambassador and as President to preserve it, so the Spirit of 1776 would not devolve into the flames of a counterrevolution or a Reign of Terror.I for one, am glad that America is rediscovering the Adams legacy of public service coupled with a healthy dose of pragmatism.We should do well to remember this as a new decade and a new Presidency begins.

... Read more

Product Description

Dear Reader:

The Childhood of Famous Americans series, seventy years old in 2002, chronicles the early years of famous American men and women in an accessible manner. Each book is faithful in spirit to the values and experiences that influenced the person?s development. History is fleshed out with fictionalized details, and conversations have been added to make the stories come alive to today?s reader, but every reasonable effort has been made to make the stories consistent with the events, ethics, and character of their subjects.

These books reaffirm the importance of our American heritage. We hope you learn to love the heroes and heroines who helped shape this great country. And by doing so, we hope you also develop a lasting love for the nation that gave them the opportunity to make their dreams come true. It will do the same for you.

Happy Reading!

The Editors ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Another Great Reader
Just an outstanding history for children to dig into.We have a 7 and a 9 year old that love these series.

Wonderful series of books
The Childhood of Famous American series are excellent tools to help kids learn about history and great people who have lived.My 11 year old son and 9 year old daughter have both enjoyed reading these books, and now have some admirable heros to look up to!After reading about Thomas Jefferson, my son said--I hope I can become a great man someday!So, both educational, and inspirational! Easy reading that is appealing to children. ... Read more

Product Description
In February 1778, at the height of the Revolutionary War, the American representative from Massachusetts, John Adams, is sent on a secret mission to France. It is dangerous to cross the Atlantic in winter, but the situation is desperate-the colonies need France's help against the British army. Adams is accompanied by his ten-year-old son, Johnny. Together, father and son must weather an angry ocean, perilous sea battles, and other dangers to help the colonies achieve freedom.

Vivid illustrations and a fast-paced narrative bring to life this little-told story of a character-defining event in the lives of two future presidents. ... Read more

Product Description
Publisher: James M. AldenPublication date: 1850Subjects: BibleChildrenHistory / GeneralReligion / Biblical Studies / GeneralReligion / Biblical Commentary / Old TestamentReligion / Biblical Commentary / New TestamentReligion / Biblical Criticism ... Read more

Product Description
A rare jewel has been discovered in the oeuvre of Ansel Adams.SIERRA NEVADA: THE JOHN MUIR TRAIL, originally published in an edition of only 500 copies in 1938, is an extraordinary publication in many respects. Adams, at the age of 36, was commissioned to prepare a book of his photographs taken along the world-famous John Muir Trail as a tribute to Pete Starr, a young American mountaineer (and son of a Sierra Club president) killed in a climbing accident. Composed of 50 photographs of the Sierra Nevada--many never published again--the book is an exquisite portrait of the mountain world of the High Sierra in California. When first published, it set a new standard for fine photographic reproduction in book form. Little, Brown takes great pride in announcing a new edition of this magnificent book. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Mass Produced Version of the Ansel Adams Classic with Uninspired Printing
I am very glad that this book is available. It's history has near legendary status for its role in helping the conservation movement in the high Sierras. I was pleased to read the extensive essays about the book's origin and how it was originally produced in an expensive version of 500 copies. I felt like I was holding the fate of wilderness preserves in my hand.

I also know from talking to many climbers that the John Muir Trail is a special treat. I wanted to see it from Ansel Adams' perspective. And that was quite rewarding and revealing.

Due to the limitations of printing when the original came out, it was impractical to include more than 50 images. Adams' choices of what to include are as interesting as the John Muir Trail.

I have to add a big caveat before you consider buying the book: The photographic reproductions aren't nearly as good as you've seen elsewhere. I don't know why (it may even have been intentional), but it's hard to imagine that Ansel Adams who liked to use detail to bring out an emotional reaction suddenly created one book where the potential emotional impact seems downplayed.

My suggestion is that you look at this in a book store or a library . . . but don't buy a copy. You'll be unhappy with the images. It would be better to remember Ansel Adams through printed versions that he approved of personally.

Ansel's Quartets
Ansel Adams has in some ways become a victim of his own mythology. The Ansel Adams Trust and the Bullfinch press have maintained a steady output of Adams' work since his death, and they have maintained his notoriously high standards, but these are the standards Adams set in his last years when his printing style, in the opinion of this reviewer, became dramatic to the point of brittleness. Everything is played at d-max, all forte and no piano.

This remarkable book is an exception, and William Turnage has taken a brave stand in revisiting Adams' earlier work and printing methods. Yes, some of these photographs were later printed and published with a more contrasty appearance, but they were not thereby improved. This is the work of an artist coming to maturity, confident, meditative and above all about the Sierra Nevada, not about the photographer. Adams was an accomplished musician and often drew upon musical analogies when talking about photography, memorably describing the negative as the score and the print as the performance. To push the analogy a little further, this is not the Wagnerian Adams we are are used to seeing; these are his string quartets. Adams worked at the same high standard for the rest of his long career, but as a suite of photographs Sierra Nevada: The John Muir Trail was never surpassed.

Lives up to the original
The original version of this book was published in 1938 in a limited edition of only 500 copies.Ansel's other well known work of this early period include his portfolio entitled Parmelian Prints of the High Sierras (1927) and his other early books include Taos Pueblo (published in a limited edition of about 100 copies around 1930), and the relatively common instructional book "Making a Photograph" (1935).I have seen all of these works in their originalform and was grateful to see this book reprinted making it accessable to modern Ansel Adams fans of modest means such as myself.

Ansel's printing style changed over the course of his life.For instance, the Monolith (face of Half Dome) print included with the Parmelian Prints looks completely different than the much more familiar and frequently reproduced prints from this negative made in the 1970s.Several other examples can be found of this change in printing style.Most books currently on the market and prints that are frequently shown focus on the dramatic Wagnerian style of printing Ansel adopted in his later years.Modern Ansel Adams publications which seem to include several new books every year focus on already well known images as Ansel printed them in the final decades of his life.This book is refreshing in that focuses on Ansel's early images and printing style.The book is also focused on the John Muir trail rather than being a "greatest hits" collection.

Printing technology has also changed and improved a lot since the original version of the book was published in 1938, and his improved significantly even since 1984 when Ansel died.Of course not every book is printed with the best technology of an era.I have not seen original prints of all of many of the images reproduced in this book, but I believe the printing to in the spirit of this era and to the original edition.

Plate #49 in the book, "Lake and cliffs, Kaweah Gap" has been reproduced in several other books as "Frozen Lake and Cliffs" including as plate XIII in the 1935 "Making a Photograph" and on page 10 of the 1983 printing of "Examples the Making of 40 photographs."I have taken the opportunity to compare these three reproductions side by side.The 1935 reproduction is clearly the worst of the three to my eye - likely because of the printing technology of that era.The 1983 book and the current book are much closer. The blacks are deeper in this book.There is more constrast in the cliff in the current "John Muir Trial" reproduction at the expense of a slight amount of shadow detail which is present in the "Examples" book.In "Examples" Ansel mentions that the negative was processed in nearly exhausted developer and lacks density in the shadows making it difficult to print.He goes on to say in "Examples" (which he wrote in the early 1980s), that it was "Only within the past year or so have I been able to get a nearly satisfactory print..."This implies to me that the loss of shadow detail in the John Muir Trail reproduction of this image is due to the way Ansel printed this image in that era and not due to the quality of printing in the book as another reviewer suggested.

This is one of the few books currently available which focuses on Ansel's early photography career, and I would highly recommend it to anyone with a serious interest in his work.Having seen and read the 1938 edition, I believe this new printing does justice to the original as well as makes this body of work accessible to the current generation Ansel Adams enthusiasts.

A book of so-so quality for AA's gem prints
It is always told that AA put enormous energy and care in producing his 1938 edition of "Sierra Nevada: The John Muir Trail", originally published in only 500 copies and a fine art book of highest quality at the time.

I never saw a copy of the origional edition and my comment is purely on what I see in this 2006 standard edition. I don't know how this book is made from the original edition. It says tri-tone but the printing quality is so-so. Some images are a little vague, some losing details in shadow or highlight. The book is pale in compasrison with some great AA books published by Bulfinch in the past, such as "California" or "Yosemite and the High Sierra". You can find some images from this book in other AA books and in better quality. Overall, it would make AA uneasy to stamp his famous AA Authorized Edition to the book. If it were not for its historical value, I'd skip this book.

Now Bulfinch also offers a 2006 deluxe edition at $1,200. Again I haven't seen a copy but perhaps the pricier version can live up to the standard of the original edition.

The trend looks a little worrisome recently in AA books pulished by Bulfinch. The printing quality goes down from "California (1997)" to "Ansel Adams at 100 (hardcover 2001)". "Trees (2004)" rebounds just a little but "Sierra Nevada: The John Muir Trail (2006)" is a little disappointing. I would hope the next AA book by Bulfinch can rejuvenate the printing quality, even if doing so means a higher price tag.
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Product Description
The Big Three in Economics reveals the battle of ideas among the three most influential economists in world history: Adam Smith, representing laissez faire; Karl Marx, reflecting the radical socialist model; and John Maynard Keynes, symbolizing big government and the welfare state. History comes alive in this fascinating story of opposing views that continue to play a fundamental role in today's politics and economics. In the twenty-first century, Adam Smith's 'invisible hand' model has gained the upper hand, and capitalism has ultimately won the ideological battle over socialism and interventionism. But even in the era of globalization and privatization, Keynesian and Marxist ideas continue to play a significant role in economic policy in the public and private sectors. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Misleading
This book is well written, easy to follow and presents the ideas of many economists with simplicity. Yet I only gave it two stars, and this is due to several reasons. First, the content of the book is not faithful to its title. This book should have been called "The Big One in Economics (Adam Smith)". I bought the book hoping to read about the main economic principles put forth by each of Smith, Marx and Keynes. Instead, the book turned out to be a description of how Smith's ideas triumphed over all others despite the numerous attacks that were launched on them. My problem is not the fact that the author thinks that Smith's ideas have triumphed, although I don't agree with that. Smith after all is the father of modern economics and he was an excellent thinker. His book should be read by all. My problem is with the author using such a misleading title. Second, I was amazed at the ease with which the author wrote off Marx as an economic thinker. The author actually goes as far as to wonder how anyone can believe in Marx's economic theory. The answer, again according to the author, was that Marx was more of a prophet and hence the effect that he had on his followers need not be rational. The author mentions Paul Sweezy's book "The theory of Capital Development" in a small paragraph and does not even bother himself to address any of the issues raised by it. Instead, like many authors before him he spends a considerable amount of time talking about Marx's life. I would have rather read a critique of some of the Marxian ideas put forth by Sweezy than read how Marx had an illegitimate child. When it came to discussing the ideas of Keynes, the author manages to give Keynes credit for being a great economist, yet makes his ideas seem as good enough for specific circumstances, and not good enough to be an all-encompassing theory. Keynes, according to the author was right in a specific circumstance, nothing more. All in all, the book started out as being very promising and ended as a narrow version of the history of economic theory.

Reads like a college essay.
I didn't make it very far into this book before putting it down. It was not what I expected. I did not care for the writing style at all. It was too dry and academic for me to continue reading. I am interested in learning more about these three figures, but this read like a thesis paper.

An excellent book
The book takes an open-minded and balanced view of the philisophies and economics of those titled.If you're looking for an explanation of how the modern economy evolved, this book by Dr. Skousen, a brilliant author and speaker, is an excellent choice.

Opinionated
The author's predilection for Smith is obvious from the early chapters.It would be a more satisfying book if he substantiated this with real-world examples.His sniping at fellow academics is trying at best.

excellent history of economics
For a while I have been wanting to delve into economics. With the current crisis, I thought it imperative to start learning what was going on so I could at least understand the news if nothing else. This book is fantastic for the novice who wants to understand economics. Though it is a history, learning the history may be the best way to learn the subject.

Those sympathetic to free-market economics will probably enjoy more than others since Skousen is critical of Marx and Keynes. But he also submits evidence as to why Marx and Keynes have been wrong much of the time. While it is called The Big Three (Smith, Marx, and Keynes), I'd say that they take up only about half of the book.A fair amount of space is given to the background and influences of these big players.A brief biographical sketch is given of the Big Three. Then he covers their economic beliefs. He discusses their successes and shortcomings. Skousen does an excellent job of painting a coherent image of economic history.

In case you are wondering, I would guess that Skousen is most sympathetic to the Austrian School (and rightly so!).
Unfortunately this book came out just a bit before the current economic crisis took off so it isn't covered. But Skousen does correctly point out that much of what you see in the news media (and the governing politic) is Keynesian ecomonics (consume, consume, consume your way out of the recession). And this is very evident watching the TV today. Too bad they're wrong. ... Read more

Product Description
America's finest eighteenth-century student of political science, John Adams is also the least studied of the Revolution's key figures. By the time he became our second president, no American had written more about our government and not even Jefferson or Madison had read as widely about questions of human nature, natural right, political organization, and constitutional construction. Yet this staunch constitutionalist is perceived by many as having become reactionary in his later years and his ideas have been largely disregarded.

In the first major work on Adams's political thought in over thirty years, C. Bradley Thompson takes issue with the notion that Adams's thought is irrelevant to the development of American ideas. Focusing on Adams's major writings, Thompson elucidates and reevaluates his political and constitutional thought by interpreting it within the tradition of political philosophy stretching from Plato to Montesquieu.

This major revisionist study shows that the distinction Adams drew between "principles of liberty" and "principles of political architecture" is central to his entire political philosophy. Thompson first chronicles Adams's conceptualization of moral and political liberty during his confrontation with American Loyalists and British imperial officers over the true nature of justice and the British Constitution, illuminating Adams's two most important pre-Revolutionary essays, "A Dissertation on the Canon and Feudal Law" and "The Letters of Novanglus." He then presents Adams's debate with French philosophers over the best form of government and provides an extended analysis of his Defence of the Constitutions of Government and Discourses on Davila to demonstrate his theory of political architecture.

From these pages emerges a new John Adams. In reexamining his political thought, Thompson reconstructs the contours and influences of Adams's mental universe, the ideas he challenged, the problems he considered central to constitution-making, and the methods of his reasoning. Skillfully blending history and political science, Thompson's work shows how the spirit of liberty animated Adams's life and reestablishes this forgotten Revolutionary as an independent and important thinker.

This book is part of the American Political Thought series. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

You're in for a treat.. this is good stuff
I've been trying to learn more about the founding fathers of our great nation and most books are quite negative about John Adams. This book is not only fair and balanced about Mr. Adams, it also opened my eyes to John Adams' book that most people have never studied or heard about. I have put that book, "A defence of the Constitutions of Government of the USA", on my amazon wishlist and I am looking forward to diving into it next. I think that is the true sign of a great book and author, one who makes you want to study deeper into the subject matter. In summary, a great book, not easy to read, but an entertaining look into a misunderstood president.

John Adams - American Hero
The most critical period of American history actually occurred after the revolution. The instability of anarchy threatened to make the ideas expressed in Jefferson's Declaration of Independence and the heroic successes of Washington nothing more than a forgotten dream. Another hero, one who would be willing to chronicle all previous forms of government and guide the architects of the constitution in creating something entirely new was what was needed. He was more than just another name on the list of American presidents. That hero was John Adams.
Thank you, C. Bradley Thompson, for this inspirational account of an often overlooked and undervalued intellectual giant among the American John Adams and the Spirit of Liberty by C. Bradley Thompson
founders.

The Mind of Adams
Enjoy one of the biographies of John Adams, then read this superb book to complete the story of this great man.Mr. Thompson is a fine writer and can be seen on an old CSPAN segment giving a lecture on Adams.His grasp of President Adams's work and his ability to explain it are unmatched.

Knowing the Ideas of the Founders

To return America to its original foundation of freedom and individual rights, it is vital that we know the ideas of the men who created that system. This important task will be easier thanks to this book by C. Bradley Thompson. Readers interested in the Founding period and its legacy for our own time will not want to miss this book.

John Adams: Second American President; First American Psycho
I am floored! I started reading biographies of John Adams after the musical "1776" piqued my interest in him and have absorbed at least 20 of them since then. I don't know how this 1998 title flew underneath my radar until 2004 but it did ... and I think NOW, after the 2004 election, is the time when every American needs to know what he did for us ... or TRIED to ... including: pointing the way for those of us who CAN to start doing something about the mess we're in now. His insistence on basing our government structure on actual human nature instead of a fantasized ideal of how human nature ought to be may be the only reason we've lasted even this long. Communism went down because it flew in the face of this wisdom. We could be next. Thompson shows that Adams was not only a political theorist, he was a scientifically oriented psychologist. So am I. And I know that he had a handle on psychological reality that exceeds what most modern psychological theorists can lay claim to. He was an Adlerian more than a century before Adler was a gleam in his father's eye. May ALL the Gods bless C. B. Thompson for what he has done ... and may his publisher start doing a better job of getting this book before the public. ... Read more

Product Description
It was a contest of titans: John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, two heroes of the Revolutionary era, once intimate friends, now icy antagonists locked in a fierce battle for the future of the United States. The election of 1800 was a thunderous clash of a campaign that climaxed in a deadlock in the Electoral College and led to a crisis in which the young republic teetered on the edge of collapse. Adams vs. Jefferson is the gripping account of a turning point in American history, a dramatic struggle between two parties with profoundly different visions of how the nation should be governed. The Federalists, led by Adams, were conservatives who favored a strong central government.The Republicans, led by Jefferson, were more egalitarian and believed that the Federalists had betrayed the Revolution of 1776 and were backsliding toward monarchy.The campaign itself was a barroom brawl every bit as ruthless as any modern contest, with mud-slinging, scare tactics, and backstabbing. The low point came when Alexander Hamilton printed a devastating attack on Adams, the head of his own party, in "fifty-four pages of unremitting vilification." The stalemate in the Electoral College dragged on through dozens of ballots. Tensions ran so high that the Republicans threatened civil war if the Federalists denied Jefferson the presidency. Finally a secret deal that changed a single vote gave Jefferson the White House. A devastated Adams left Washington before dawn on Inauguration Day, too embittered even to shake his rival's hand. With magisterial command, Ferling brings to life both the outsize personalities and the hotly contested political questions at stake. He shows not just why this moment was a milestone in U.S. history, but how strongly the issues--and the passions--of 1800 resonate with our own time. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (42)

Adams vs. Jefferson:The Tumultuous Election of 1800
I have read all of Professor
Ferling's books and have enjoyed all of them. This book is an excellent book that illustrates one of, if not the most important elections in America's history. It is a virtual outline of the many more that succeeded it.

As one who reads a great deal of historical books, I believe that Professor Ferling comes extremely close to Cicero's admonition to historians to (1) never dare utter an untruth (2) suppress nothing that is true and (3) record history with no suspician of partiality or malice in the writing. The professor brings to life the election of 1800 in terms of today's world.I think a reader would enjoy the book. I highly recommend reading his other books which go into greater detail on the Revolutionary period and the wonderful men that played vitally important roles in our nation's history.

I read most of Professor Ferling's books through the local library system and was impressed enough with his writings to purchase all of them for my own reference.

Price watch
Excellent book!! My only concern is a "list price" on Amazon of $19.99, which is a paper sticker overlying the book's listed price of $14.95 - so that the discount is in fact $1.

I would expect somewhat less devious pricing from Amazon!

Excellent history
This is excellent history in that the book does not overwhelm the reader with detail but gives one enough to understand the relationship between Jefferson and Adams.

Exciting excursion into American history
Packed with history, this reads like an adventure story. A must read for fans of the founders and especially valuable for its enduring lessons about the roots of our party system.

The United States gets back on the republican track in 1800 (4.5*s)
While the particulars and the intrigues surrounding the election of 1800 made it the most raucous election held to that point in US history, it was, more importantly, according to Thomas Jefferson, the culmination of the American Revolution begun twenty-five years prior. It was, in his mind, no less than the repudiation of the elitist Federalist era that had lasted the long decade dating from the Constitutional Convention in 1787. More so than the election, the author focuses on the events and decisions of that decade that gave rise to a political party, the Republicans, who opposed the entrenched party of government, the Federalists, all of which did lead to the first Presidential election with identifiable political parties. Some of the most capable political figures in American history were players in the 1790s. While John Adams held the offices of both Vice President and President in the 90s, it was Alexander Hamilton who was the driving force behind the Federalists and their policies of nationalism and commercialism. Both Jefferson and James Madison were greatly disturbed by the power and size of the federal government, the militarism of the Federalists, and their rejection of republicanism, or average citizen empowerment.

Most of the leading figures in colonial society in the decade after the Revolutionary War came to understand that the Articles of Confederation left the United States in a helpless state, almost on the edge of collapse. When those elites met in Philadelphia in 1787, they had no intention of constructing a true democratic republic; in fact, they feared the democratic initiatives of recent years in various states. The design of the US Constitution, with its roadblocks at every turn, virtually guaranteed that popular initiatives could not be realized. However, it was not fully appreciated at the time just how much power some, namely Hamilton, wanted to exert through the central government.

Early on in the Washington administration, both Madison and Jefferson knew that Treasury secretary Hamilton's initiatives to fully fund US war debts (a boon to speculators in War bonds), to assume the wartime debts of the states, and to establish a central US bank were designed to enhance the interests of commercial elites. However, it was the US involvement in European affairs that engendered the strongest opposition throughout the decade. The official neutrality position of the US towards British-French hostilities in 1793 merely confirmed to many that US elites had far too much respect for aristocratic British society. Democratic-Republican societies (the forerunner to the Republican Party) emerged at this time to denounce the failure of the US to support the French in their efforts to establish a republican order.

When the French began preying upon US shipping in 1796, largely as a result of the US pro-British stance, the Federalist reaction was militaristic. The French refusal to accept US envoys in 1798 caused the Quasi-War with France to reach a fever pitch. Both Hamilton and Adams had to exert a moderating influence to keep ultra-Federalists from forcing a war with France. However, they did ram the Alien and Sedition Acts through Congress which were designed to curtail critical commentary of the policies of the US and its officials. Numerous newspaper writers and editors were jailed under the Sedition Act. It is the black spot on Adams' presidency that will not go away.

As the author points out, the republican political societies and the partisan opposition press did profoundly impact the perceptions among average Americans who now saw Federalists as social elites and who were increasingly alarmed at their militarism, policies favoring elite commercial interests, including tight-money monetary policies, pro-British and anti-French stances, and their ignoring of First Amendment rights to a free press. The first significant evidence of a shift among voters was the takeover of the New York assembly by the Republicans in 1800, virtually guaranteeing Jefferson all of New York's electoral votes, since that body selected the electors.

The author describes well the peculiar electoral system of that era whereby the two Congressional caucuses actually nominated two candidates for President, reflecting the fact that electors actually cast two votes for President, one vote of which could not be for a candidate from his state. The top two vote getters became President and Vice President regardless of party. If no candidate received a majority of votes in the Electoral College or the top two tied, then the House of Representatives decided the election with each state getting one vote. In 1800, the vote of nine states out of sixteen was required to win the election. Another variable in the election process was the manner in which electors were selected. In some states the legislature chose, in others popular voting by district or statewide selected electors, with states frequently changing the system between elections.

Into this novel electoral system stepped the candidates for President in 1800: John Adams and Charles Cotesworth Pinckney of South Carolina were nominated by the Federalists and Jefferson and Aaron Burr of New York by the Republicans. As the author points out, there was far more politicking in the election of 1800 than ever before. In the first place, the Republican press had greatly expanded. If anything, the Republicans were more organized with pamphlets, parades, dinners, picnics, etc. The Federalists, sensing their cause as being lost, mounted scurrilous on Jefferson concerning his alleged atheism and radicalism. And there are the intrigues of Hamilton before the election and of Burr once the election moved to the House of Representatives because of the tie between Burr and Jefferson. Wiser heads did finally prevail in the Congressional contest, averting a potentially dire political crisis. As it was, the election represented the first peaceful transfer of power from one faction to another in US history.

The author captures well the fact that the 1790s and the election of 1800 were very pivotal times in US history. The promise of the American Revolution was slowing ebbing away. Perhaps there are those believe that the direction of US history was firmly cast by the Revolution. This book makes clear that is not the case. The thinking and efforts of Jefferson, Madison, republican societies and newspapers were instrumental in changing the course that the Federalists had set for the US and the greater society. Jefferson was overjoyed that the US had finally been able to cast off the Toryism of the Federalists and hopefully begin anew on the path promised by the Revolution.
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Product Description
John Adams comes to vivid life for young readers in this addition to Harness's acclaimed presidential picture-biographies. Dynamic artwork and lively narrative create a warm, personable portrait of the stubborn man from Braintree, Massachusetts, whose passion for liberty spurred him on to extraordinary roles as a Founding Father, first Vice President, and second President of the United States. Through Adams's eyes, kids witness the tension-enflamed streets of Boston, the bickering Continental Congress, the complexities of waging the War for Independence, and the challenges of governing a new nation. Vivid quotes from both John and Abigail Adams provide great primary source material for school reports, and three illustrated maps show readers where key events took place.


"How wonderful now to see his story told for children in such an appealing fashion. Cheryl Harness's illustrations and text are first rate, appropriately full of life and understanding." —David McCullough, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of John Adams ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Good information badly written
I checked out this book from our library and read it to my 6-year-old. We made it about 2/3 through and had to stop. It is full of good, accurate information, quotes from letters to and from John and Abigail, but the writing is very difficult to read aloud. Children's books are best written with simple, declarative sentences (Bill went to the store to buy bread) rather than indirect, compound sentences (Because his pantry was low on bread, Bill made a trip to the store). Children do not grasp the point of the sentence if the subject/verb is reversed. The writing style makes the book hard to read aloud to young children, and difficult for older children to read alone. One star off for writing.

Also, I understand that context is important when telling someone's story, but parts of this book have more to do with the Revolution than the life of John Adams. I would like to have seen more about the man named John Adams and less about what was going on in the world at the time. There were a few teasers about specific things that he did toward America's freedom--like defending the British soldiers from the Boston Massacre--but there was not very much detail about these monumentous events.One star off for content.

The information it contains is correct, it just seems lacking somehow. ... Read more

Product Description
The administration of John Adams was a period of rapid change, internal discord, and the continual threat of war. Few of the nation's chief executives have been subjected to such immediate and ever-present danger of foreign involvement and national destruction, to such bitter animosities and serious cleavages within their administrations, or to such constant need for decision making as was John Adams. In the face of such adversity Adams successfully pursued a policy of neutrality and consiliation and, in so doing, provided time for the country to grow strong and to prosper. Yet, despite the seriousness of the country's problems and the contributions of his administration, he is seldom designated as one of the great American presidents.

In this volume, Ralph Adams Brown presents a new evaluation of John Adams and of his four years in the presidency. The portrait drawn by Adams's enemies disappears and the second president emerges as a world citizen whose insight, judgment, and perseverance held the young nation together in a critical period. Brown focuses closely on the most significant aspect of Adams's presidency, foreign affairs. He examines the country's increasing concern with matters of defense and Adams's successful efforts to evade foreign entanglements.

Describing the vicious personal attacks to which Adams was subjected, and the devious and disloyal maneuvers of his cabinet members, Brown traces Adams's difficulties with Timothy Pickering, James McHenry, Oliver Wolcott, Jr., Alexander Hamilton, and others. He documents Adams's steadfastness to his ideals and principles, despite the hostility, exaggerated accusations, and perfidy that surrounded him.

This book is part of the American Presidency Series. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Displays John Adams as he really was, a great president
All U.S. presidents must confront and solve problems, some more unique than others.There are a few whose difficulties are unprecedented and will never recur again. John Adams was such a president and his effectiveness as a chief executive is often underestimated. When he took the oath of office, the nation was still young and in many ways not yet a nation. Regional differences, which sixty years later would explode into civil war, were powerful and could have led to a similar event during his administration. The governmental structure was idealistic, novel and untested. There were many who felt that it was unworkable, and with minimal communication infrastructure, it was difficult for the central government to project its' power quickly and effectively.
The framers of this government were highly talented, ambitious men, who were now faced with the task of governing. As history has shown us so many times, the talented revolutionary is often mediocre at governing. Political parties began to form and like all births, involved a great deal of fits and starts. George Washington commanded such respect that no one could reasonably hope to challenge his authority, and yet he was wore down by the political battles. Succeeding such a towering figure would have been difficult for anyone. Europe was also currently engaged in a general war as a consequence of the revolution in France, and there were strong forces driving the United States towards involvement.
Into this horrendous mix of conflicting forces, John Adams became president. There is no question that the crises he faced rank in the top five of all presidents. Forced to face and solve these problems, he performed admirably. There is no more telling measures of his success in that he angered many in both parties and one of his strongest enemies, Thomas Jefferson, continued his policies when he succeeded Adams.
Brown does an outstanding job of describing these circumstances, for without this knowledge it is impossible to understand how successful Adams was. He also describes many of the details of John Adams' relationship with his wife Abigail. Although the times dictated that women play secondary roles in society, it is clear that many women wielded substantial power behind the scenes, if only to provide the strength for her husband to do what was right. After reading this book, you cannot help but be impressed with the power and intelligence of Abigail Adams, one of the most talented first spouses that this country has ever had.
This book serves a necessary and overdue purpose. It shows John Adams as more than just an adequate successor to Washington, but as a president who stood firm and always placed the interests of the nation first. He was a great man, showing that many of the men who made the American revolution were also, and perhaps even more skilled, at making and executing a government. I will forever be in awe of their political genius. ... Read more

Product Description
Did Alaska create the music of John Luther Adams, or did the music create his Alaska? For the past thirty years, the vastness of Alaska has swept through the distant reaches of the composer's imagination and every corner of his compositions. In this new book Adams proposes an ideal of musical ecology, the philosophical foundation on which his largest, most complex musical work is based. This installation, also called The Place Where You Go to Listen, is a sound and light environment that gives voice to the cycles of sunlight and darkness, the phases of the moon, the seismic rhythms of the earth, and the dance of the aurora borealis. Adams describes this work as "a place for hearing the unheard music of the world around us." The book includes two seminal essays, the composer's journal telling the story of the day-to-day emergence of The Place, as well as musical notations, graphs and illustrations of geophysical phenomena. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

I loved the book!!!
It's very good reading, the letters are really good. I just finsh reading John Adams that's a really good book too. And I just brought John Adams DVD it was on HBO early this spring!!! I'm trying find more books on John and Abigail books and other time period books in the 1700 and other history books. I just can't find any but I keep trying. I know they are there I just have I to looked!!!

The First Harvard Collection of Adams Letters--1975
This collection is the first assemblage of the letters between John and Abigail Adams published by Harvard University Press.Subsequently, in 2007, an expanded collection was published by Harvard, under the editorship of different scholars, with the title of "My Dearest Friend: Letters of Abigail and John Adams" (which I also reviewed on Amazon).While the newer version has more letters (289 v. 226), and covers the period of John's Vice Presidency and Presidency, this earlier edition continues to have value.It includes more editorial material, some correspondence with third parties, and a larger number of illustrations--though not the beautiful color plates found in the newer volume. As I mentioned in my other review, the star of the letters clearly is Abigail, who carried on alone under the most challenging of circumstances while John was absent.She manifests both a literate perspective, as well as a sharp eye for political issues.John's letters afford an invaluable insight into a most critical period of American history; especially perceptive are his assessments of some of the leading political figures of the day.Either volume is well worthy of consideration and study--perusing both is doubly helpful.

Good History Book
This was a very interesting book showing the way a women saw the start of a new country.It also shows the sacrifice that both John and Abigail both had to make to still be together while John was helping the colonies.John tells Abigail all of the political happenings that have been going on not including deaths etc...Abigail is very much into politics and reminds John to "remember the ladies" when writing the Declaration of Independence.This is an excellent book for anyone who wants to learn more about the war at a different perspective than what just the history books say. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Meeting a Founding Father
Axelrod presents a thematic and historical analysis of the thought and principles of John Adams, one of the founding fathers of the United States.Axelrod analyzes the principles of management Adams articulates, analyzing his letters, diary and published essays, as well as his official acts while President of the republic.

Lessons from Another Time
ms' prolific writings and records 126 Lessons.He quotes from Adams, discusses the historical and political or social dynamics of the time, presents Adams' perspectives and draws an application for today's approaches to business or political management.This volume is very informative about the relationships and interpersonal dynamics behind the American Revolution, the reality and complexity of the situation.

Axelrod shows how practical Adams' concerns and management approaches were.Adams' writings give us insights into the deep struggles the colonial leaders went through to discern a new path, to ensure liberty and avoid anarchy in a new decentralized society.Common recollections of Adams are incomplete and often fail to take into account the broad commitments this Founding Father had to personal liberties and to Public Safety and self-government.

Two Enlightenment Streams
Especially helpful are Adams' extensive interactions with his dear friend Thomas Jefferson, with whom he disagreed on some important philosophical matters related to human nature and public management, as they both worked together in their common task of extricating the colonies from what they understood as tyranny.

Jefferson was a secular Rationalist, while Adams, though an Enlightenment Rationalist, retained his guiding perspectives from his New England Congregational Calvinism.Many current readers will be able to identify with him and some of the sentiments and concerns that inform his writings and practical efforts on behalf of the new society he helped form.

While Adams rejected the hard Calvinist concept of total depravity of the human spirit, he remained more cautious and pragmatic, wary of Jefferson's strong belief in the "Perfectibility of Mankind."He was aware of the inertia of the status quo and wanted a system that would encourage the responsibility of individual citizens andprevent acquisition of power by a small group, either religious or political.

Diverse
The clear portraits of these two personalities will help modern readers appreciate how different either of these Founding Fathers was from the facile picture we hear sometimes about how all the Founding Fathers were strong Christians (usually meaning fundamentalist evangelicals) and made sure this was a "Christian country."

Separation of religious and secular powers was a critical principle for both the believer Adams and the skeptic Jefferson.They lived too close in time to the Religious Wars of Europe Religious and Political persecutions of Europe for this need to be denied.

Axelrod provides important evidence to counter the trend of recent decades of recreating American history into a dynastic story of religious government.Adams expresses himself strongly against the danger of the dual tyranny of religion and government.

Counter-Models
Adams' references the English Civil War and the depredations caused by thePuritan government of Oliver Cromwell's reign of terror.Adams wants to avoid the merging of ecclesiastical and governmental power that he saw devastate England and her territories under the dictatorship of Cromwell and his Roundhead vigilantes, supported by the compliant and complicit Parliament.

Adams had a keen awareness of the persecution this religious government inflicted upon those who tried to exercise their conscience to worship as Catholics or dissenters.In more recent times, most colonies had wearied of the persecution and imposition on personal liberties caused by established religious authorities.Notable are the stories out of Massachusetts and Virginia.

Axelrod provides context by presenting key segments of Adams' thoughts and declarations.Adams wanted to avoid the deterioration of the high Enlightenment principles of liberty into a religious dictatorship, where government was driven by religious institutional enforcement or the church was under the control of the government.

Fairness and Equality
Equality of all individuals and all groups within a society was the starting point for Adams.Pragmatically, however, he acknowledged the common state of affairs is that a small number of more influential individuals will arise as leaders in each working setting of public life.Adams took pains to analyze the role of the wealthy and prosperous, acknowledging that all of society needed the leadership of such.

To Adams it seemed to simply be the nature of human societies that the segments of a society come to be influential, either directly or indirectly.This natural influence needs simply to be bounded to protect the politically and economically weaker segments of society.

Adams was thus always concerned to establish mechanisms of fairness and limitation to ensure against the unfair, exploitative and selfish use of power by any individual or group of persons.This volume provides valuable insights enabling New Generation Americans to understand more clearly the beliefs, conflicts and streams of thought and practice involved in birthing the land Americans now know in a different context.

Practical Correctives
Axelrod weaves this story together on several levels.This will not come across as a dry academic analysis, but as a vivid picture of a tumultuous and exciting time in the life of a real situation.The reader will not only learn fact and information but will become familiar with the ethos of an era.

We see the fully rounded personalities of the key players in the foundations of what became America.But also pictured here are the foundations of what became American Culture.Adams and others whose lives make up this story are our inescapable cultural forbears.This volume should help counter some of the new myths of American history concocted by various power groups in recent years to wield political power over other Americans through misuse of our past heritage.

Axelrod leaves us with a good grasp on what we can call Politics.This book provides insights into the practical factors, probing past the common mythical, theoretical and romantic concepts of popular thought.

He provides important insights into the origins of the United States and factors that led to the unique institutions and national character of this new political entity and people.And he makes practical application of these and provides guidelines for modern business and society.

Insight into his leadership style
Like many great leaders they are not appreciated at the time. He was one one of many brilliant people during this time and their leaderships styles differed.The book gave me a better understanding of it. His Yankee farm up bringing vs the aristocratic plantation up bringing of the south shows through in this book.Especially his attitudeif something is to be changed, "What Then".He looked past the tare down of some thing and planned on what to after the decision was made.
There are many other leadership principles that are enumerated in the book. I think it's a worth while read. ... Read more

Product Description
This scarce antiquarian book is included in our special Legacy Reprint Series. In the interest of creating a more extensive selection of rare historical book reprints, we have chosen to reproduce this title even though it may possibly have occasional imperfections such as missing and blurred pages, missing text, poor pictures, markings, dark backgrounds and other reproduction issues beyond our control. Because this work is culturally important, we have made it available as a part of our commitment to protecting, preserving and promoting the world's literature. ... Read more

Product Description
The 1828 presidential election, which pitted Major General Andrew Jackson against incumbent John Quincy Adams, has long been hailed as a watershed moment in American political history. It was the contest in which an unlettered, hot-tempered southwesetern frontiersman, trumpeted by his supporters as a genuine man of the people, soundly defeated a New England "aristocrat" whose education and political résumé were as impressive as any ever seen in American public life. It was, many historians have argued, the country's first truly democratic presidential election. Lynn Hudson Parsons argues that it also established a pattern in which two nationally organized political parties would vie for power in virtually every state.During the election of 1828 voters were introduced to a host of novel campaign tactics, includingco-ordinated media, get-out-the-vote efforts, fund-raising, organized rallies, opinion polling, campaign paraphernalia, ethnic voting blocs, "opposition research," and smear tactics.
In The Birth of Modern Politics, Parsons shows that the Adams-Jackson contest began a national debate that is eerily contemporary, pitting those whose cultural, social, and economic values were rooted in community action for the common good against those who believed the common good was best served by giving individuals as much freedom as possible to promote their own interests. It offers fresh and illuminating portraits of both Adams and Jackson and reveals how, despite their vastly different backgrounds, they had started out with many of the same values, admired one another, and had often been allies in common causes. Both were staunch nationalists, and both shared an aversion to organized parties and "electioneering."
But by 1828, caught up in a shifting political landscape, they were plunged into a competition that separated them decisively from the Founding Fathers' era and ushered in a style of politics that is still with us today. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Planting partisanship's seeds
For most of us public school-educated Americans of a certain age, here is what our history classes sounded like: "Columbus in 1492 ... mumble, mumble ... Plymouth Rock and the first Thansgiving ... mumble, mumble ... Revolutionary War ... George Washington ... mumble, mumble, mumble ... slavery and the Civil War ... mumble, mumble ... cattle drive, cowboys, gold rush ... mumble ... World War I ... League of Nations ... World War II ... mumble, mumble ... zzzzzzzzz."

Most of us can recognize that Andrew Jackson and John Quincy Adams were presidents and if we really, really concentrated hard we might remember that Jackson gave us a victory at the Battle of New Orleans (though it came after the War of 1812 was concluded). But now Lynn Hudson Parsons has made some of those dusty names come alive in a very readable book that finds the seeds of modern politics in the 1828 presidential race between Jackson and J.Q. Adams.

This is a book that makes memorable a period of time that's often glossed over by teachers (or, more likely, napped through by bored students). There is enough sex, violence and intrigue to keep even the most bored student awake in history class. There's Jackson's famous temper that involved him in several duels in his younger years (and from which he still carried bullets lodged in his body from two of them). Then there's the scandal of Jackson running off with his future bride while she was still married to another man. The repercussions of that followed Jackson into the campaign and may have even contributed to his wife's death before he took the oath of office.

The Birth of Modern Politics draws stark comparisons between Jackson, the Southern little-educated orphan of immigrants, and Adams, the privleged son of the second president. Despite their differences, each man had a respect for the other and shared a sort of friendship. That friendship ended as Jackson and Adams locked horns for the presidency.

By 1828 the rules of the game had changed in elections. While blacks and women still were unable to vote, white males no longer had to be property owners in most states to vote. This brought an unprecedented number of new voters to the polls and Jackson's followers were the first to capitalize on this change. Likewise, the 1828 election saw coordinated political rallies, early attempts at fund-raising, and, perhaps the most lasting legacy, political partisanship.

Though it's a long way from today's 24-hour news cycle, sound bites and candidates racing back and forth across the country (candidates left the campaigning to their supporters in 1828), Parsons makes a convincing case that the election sewed the seeds of change in American politics. One of Parsons' most astute observations is the anti-intellectualism that accompanies tarring one's opponent as an "elitist." That's a tactic that still resonates in today's campaigns.

This is the kind of history book that not only brings history alive, but draws clear connections to the world we see about us today. I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in politics and history.

Add this to your American Politics Collection!
This book is full of great information that any American History and Politics buff would absolutely love!

A Useful Overview of the Election of Andrew Jackson
This is an enjoyable and enlightening new book on the election of Andrew Jackson in 1828. It does a good job of discussing the coalition of supporters that put Jackson in the White House. It begins, appropriately with the collapse of the first party system and the election of 1824, which shaped fundamentally the 1828 campaign. The author contends that this election served as a watershed in the American political system. We have known this for a long time, but Parsons's goes further by insisting that the election of 1828 forever separated the politicians and people of the second American party system from the era of the Founders and its genteel, Enlightenment political ideals.

The author deals both with the rise of new styles of campaigning--emphasis on popular rallies, etc.--and on the division of American society into divergent pieces that had to be enticed to support the various organizations that could carry on the job of electing officials and formulating policies that reflected the priorities of its adherents. I'm not sure I would say that this election represented the "birth of modern politics," but it is a thought-provoking way to think about the election and its meaning.

While this is a very fine overview of its subject, clearly the author's primary intent, there is not that much new here for those immersed in the history of the era. The class divisions, the sectional influences, the push and pull of political traditions, the economics of the time, and the culture of the Antebellum U.S. are all present, but I looked hard for a new take on this and failed to find it. Instead it is a useful and succinct synthesis that builds on decades of historiographical contributions from a range of scholars, among them Arthur Schlesinger Jr., Robert Remini, Charles Sellars, Sean Wilentz, and others. I would recommend this book as an accessible survey of the election of Andrew Jackson, appropriate for classroom use, but not a benchmark in historical understanding of a well-studied subject.

Substantive and easy to read
Parsons packs an amazing amount of information in about 200 pages.While anyone who is familiar with this era will already have been exposed to a lot of what is said, the material is presented in an easily readable, logical, interesting manner.Really a quite good job accessable to anyone but also substantive enough for the already knowledgable.

an important step in understanding political development
The book makes a convincing argument that the election of 1828 is the first to resemble our current process.However aspects of modern politics occurred at different times.The beginning of true partisan electioneering definitely started in the 1800 contest between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.The book does acknowledge this and goes further to point out the changing electorate and the process for selecting electors.This would not be the final revision of these concepts.It's hard to draw a link to modern politics when election results were still factored by the three-fifths compromise.Two states also determined there electors in the state legislatures with no link to the popular vote.

The consensus among historians has been that the Jacksonian age was a revolutionary period in government, commerce, industry and of course politics.One problem I find with anointing this as the birth, is that both parties were not playing the same game using the same rules.Modern politics is a coordinated frenzy of press releases, rallies, debates, town halls and endorsements.The Jackson camp was really the only one using these tactics to their fullest advantage.It would still be years before these practices became the normal operation of political campaigns and evolve into their present state.A huge portion of modern politics is also fundraising and the Jackson's and Adam's did this but were not regulated in the way modern politicians are and since disclosure was not mandatory we can only estimate the influence and where the funds came from in 1828.

It's worth reading if you are not familiar with the period or looking for place to start.
... Read more