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jimbowen0306's review against another edition
4.0
This is the second biography of John Quincy Adams that I've read. This first was by Harlow Giles Ungar, and this book is much better, because, while this book doesn't necessarily like Adams (like the Ungar book), it recognises that he did good/effective things too.
So what do I mean that Traub might not like Adams? Well, if this book demonstrates anything, it's that... Adams was a hard man to like. He had fixed views on certain things, and he would push those incessantly. Now in many ways, this was a good thing because he was right on many of the issues, but Winston Churchill once said a fanatic fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject, and this could be used to describe Adams. The result is that even his family doesn't like him on occasions.
This book is thorough. You will get a balanced view of Adams, and get to understand how Adams worked,and why he was a great congressman, a good diplomat, but a poor President. If you're looking for a balanced book on a fairminded President, then this book is for you.
So what do I mean that Traub might not like Adams? Well, if this book demonstrates anything, it's that... Adams was a hard man to like. He had fixed views on certain things, and he would push those incessantly. Now in many ways, this was a good thing because he was right on many of the issues, but Winston Churchill once said a fanatic fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject, and this could be used to describe Adams. The result is that even his family doesn't like him on occasions.
This book is thorough. You will get a balanced view of Adams, and get to understand how Adams worked,and why he was a great congressman, a good diplomat, but a poor President. If you're looking for a balanced book on a fairminded President, then this book is for you.
musicdeepdive's review against another edition
5.0
Spectacular book about one of American politics' most fascinating figures, of his age and of any age. Adams the Younger shaped his country from its beginning to his demise, and while his presidency was a bit of a doomed affair, his stint as a congressman afterwards saw him introduce and champion the perspectives on slavery and disunion that a fellow named Abe would ride to the White House just a few years later. Traub lays this out so well and emphasizes all the right parts of the story to make Adams' life stand out - hard to believe this was his first biography.
neglet's review against another edition
Really engaging biography of the sixth President, who was actually pretty boring as a president but quite a bad-ass as a congressman after getting booted from the White House. Gives a lot of context and insight into Adams, his personal relationships, and his political accomplishments. Well-done and very readable.
acarman1's review against another edition
5.0
Since my early days in graduate school, I have been working on a longterm project about the life of John Quincy Adams. I have read pretty much every major biography that has been written about him and try to read anything that touches tangentially on his life and career. This is my new favorite JQA birth to death biography, taking over from Fred Kaplan's work, although I am reading Bill Cooper's biography now so stay tuned. Traub recognizes something that has been given short shrift in Adams scholarship--how in many ways he was one of the few Americans that could be described as a Burkean conservative. Though the word conservative has come to refer to people who believe in hands-off government it originally meant someone who wanted to preserve traditions and saw a role for government in that. Edmund Burke and David Hume felt that way, as did Adam Smith. Traub notes the similarities in Adams, even as he recognizes the shortcomings of that approach to politics in America. While there is not much earthshattering new revelations here, it is well written and engaging. Traub even comes the closest to anyone I've read yet to defending Adams' presidency. While JQA was not an effective chief administrator, I personally think this can be laid at the feet of his intransigent opponents and not his own personal failings. The period JQA served in Congress is the best part of the book and goes year by year, the most in-depth look in a total biography I've seen to date. Scholars of the period and JQA fans, this is your biography!
jeremyanderberg's review against another edition
4.0
The events of JQA's life are interesting enough, but it's in delving into JQA's personality that Traub's writing really shines. The reader sees the full complexity of Adams prickly and moralistic character, and gets to delve deeper into the man himself than probably any contemporary would've been able to. (It helps that Adams was a prolific journaler.)
John Quincy Adams is a thorough and absorbing account of a man unlike any other to hold the title of President of the United States. One of the rare biographies where, at the end, I actually felt I didn't need any more information.
John Quincy Adams is a thorough and absorbing account of a man unlike any other to hold the title of President of the United States. One of the rare biographies where, at the end, I actually felt I didn't need any more information.
spinnerroweok's review against another edition
4.0
This is the third biography of JQA and the the 8th book about the Adams family I have read. JQA's life is fascinating. He served the American government from the age of 14 until the day he died in Congress. Along the way, this grumpy old man held such posts as minister, senator, representative, secretary of state, and president. Along the way, he is surrounded by a family of alcoholics and political enemies. Could this curmudgeonly old grump rally support to make logistical and educational advances in the country? Read this fascinating book to find out.
I really enjoyed this take on JQA. Traub gives good succinct analysis of the issues and technological developments facing JQA, and keeps the story rolling along. I think this book would be a good introduction to the 6th president of the U.S.. I recommend.
I really enjoyed this take on JQA. Traub gives good succinct analysis of the issues and technological developments facing JQA, and keeps the story rolling along. I think this book would be a good introduction to the 6th president of the U.S.. I recommend.