John AdamsJohn Adams
Score Modern
What it's about
John Adams was a stubborn, prickly, brilliant lawyer from Massachusetts who helped lead the American Revolution, argued for independence in the Continental Congress, served as a diplomat in Europe, and became the second president. David McCullough draws heavily on the letters between Adams and his wife Abigail, his closest adviser and equal, and on his long friendship and rivalry with Thomas Jefferson, who died on the same day as Adams, July 4, 1826.
Why it's worth reading
It won the Pulitzer Prize, spent weeks at #1 on the New York Times list, and became an HBO miniseries. It brought a neglected founder back to life for millions of readers.
You'll love it if you liked
1776
Truman
The Rise of Theodore RooseveltGood to know
It's long but very readable. It's sympathetic to Adams and less so to Jefferson.
By the numbers
- Readers61 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics63 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller74 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #69 of the 290 memoirs and biographies we rank
- #175 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #346 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story, Epic
More by David McCullough
Truman
The Path Between the Seas: The Creation of the Panama Canal 1870-1914
The Wright Brothers
The Great BridgeIf you like this, read next
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Quick answers
Is John Adams worth reading?
Yes. It won the Pulitzer Prize, spent weeks at #1 on the New York Times list, and became an HBO miniseries. It ranks #346 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 80.8 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is John Adams about?
John Adams was a stubborn, prickly, brilliant lawyer from Massachusetts who helped lead the American Revolution, argued for independence in the Continental Congress, served as a diplomat in Europe, and became the second president. David McCullough draws heavily on the letters between Adams and his wife Abigail, his closest adviser and equal, and on his long friendship and rivalry with Thomas Jefferson, who died on the same day as Adams, July 4, 1826.
How long does it take to read John Adams?
About 19 hours (751 pages), or about 5 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has John Adams won?
Pulitzer Prize (Biography) winner (2002).
What should I read after John Adams?
If you liked it, try 1776 by David McCullough, Truman by David McCullough or The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt by Edmund Morris.