Booktalk: John Adams

I took my time reading the biography of John Adams by David McCullough. It is a good thing,  sometimes, not be in a hurry - taking time to re-read a page for the sweetness of the words, looking up a referenced name or book, or reflecting on a shared or vicarious experience.  I did that often with this book.

Adams was a work-horse among our founders. He was proudly stubborn, especially when "he knew he was right."  A lover of books, an articulate and prolific writer,  a persuasive extemporaneous speaker, he was also a man of simple worldly desires: working his farm, loving his family, reflecting on his world. That he loved and married Abigail Smith, a person to match his intellect, integrity and passion for correspondence was his blessing and ours.

Their thousands of candid letters provide a fifty-year window into the lives, opinions, and forces of that era. Given that Adams knew he was writing for posterity as well as the day, still the breadth, passion, poetry and resolve of his words remain immediate and galvanizing.

Often, I was struck by the awesome responsibility entrusted to and borne by individuals.  Sent on assignments to France, Holland, and England at a time when every decision was critical and communication with Congress took months, he, as a lone voice, managed the affairs of an entire nation with only his strength of character to fall back on.

I also was moved by his letter-writing and what it meant to him.  Letters were a powerful tool for him to "work out ideas' and learn for himself what he believed. It helped him to direct and focus his learning and actions. I like that.

For some time I have linked to a list of "transformational" nonfiction books in the sidebar of this blog. Each has helped to shape how I see the world, see others, and see myself. I add this book to the list and thank both John Adams and David McCullough for their insights and inspiration.