John Adams
- reading group guide
- 20awards
- customer reviews
In this powerful, epic biography, David McCullough unfolds the adventurous life-journey of John Adams, the brilliant, fiercely independent, often irascible, always honest Yankee patriot who spared nothing in his zeal for the American Revolution; who thought, wrote, and spoke out for the "Great Cause" come what might; who traveled far and wide in all seasons and often at extreme risk; who rose to become the second President of the United States and saved the country from blundering into an unnecessary war; who was rightly celebrated for his integrity, and regarded by some as "out of his senses"; and whose marriage to the wise and valiant Abigail Adams is one of the moving love stories in American history.
Much about John Adams's life will come as a surprise to many. His rocky relationship with friend and eventual archrival Thomas Jefferson, his courageous voyage on the frigate Boston tin the winter of 1778 and his later trek over the Pyrenees are exploits few would have dared and that few listeners will ever forget.
Like his masterful, Pulitzer Prize-winning biography Truman, David McCullough's John Adams has the sweep and vitality of a great novel. This is history on a grand scale -- an audiobook about politics and war and social issues, but also about human nature, love, religious faith, virtue, ambition, friendship and betrayal, and the far-reaching consequences of noble ideas. Above all, It is an enthralling, often surprising story of one of the most important and fascinating Americans who ever lived.
Choose a format:
Book details:
- Simon & Schuster Audio |
- ISBN 9780743550864 |
- May 2001
Teaching Resources
To download a file to your computer right-click on the link and choose 'save file as'
High Resolution Images
- Book Cover Image (jpg): John Adams
Unabridged Audio Download 9780743550864(3.0 MB)
- Author Photo (jpg): David McCullough
Photograph by William B. McCullough(3.4 MB)
Any use of an author photo must include its respective photo credit
Praise
Hear an Excerpt
Get updates on new releases, awards news, materials for course adoption and conference information
Book Reviews
Reading Group Guide
David McCullough
Questions and Topics For Discussion
- John Adams had an insatiable desire to explore human nature. In defending the British soldiers involved in The Boston Massacre, Adams says to the jury, “Facts are stubborn things, and whatever may be our wishes, our inclinations, or the dictums of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence.” How has his decision to defend the British Army, even under suspicion of political treason, prepared him to draft a strong argument for independence?
- In Thoughts on Government, Adams begins to formulate thoughts on public education. Adams writes, “Laws for the liberal education of youth, especially for the lower classes of people, are so extremely wise and useful…” When Adams was a young boy he dismissed the idea of education and only wished to be a farmer. How has his background influenced his opinion on education? Why did he see education as essential to the farmer as to the statesman in the pursuit of an independent nation?
- On slavery, Abigail Adams writes, “It always seed a most iniquitous scheme to me– [to] fight ourselves for what we are daily robbing and plundering from those who have as good a right to freedom as we have.” Even Adams with his great display of integrity during The Boston

David McCullough Wishes He Had This Talent
Historian David McCullough's Favorite Movie
Historian David McCullough's Best Quality
