Passionate Sage

The Character and Legacy of John Adams

By: Joseph J. Ellis

Narrated by: Tom Parker

John Adams, one of the Founding Fathers of our nation and its second president, spent nearly the last third of his life in retirement, grappling with contradictory views of his place in history and fearing his reputation would not fare well in the generations after his death. And indeed, future generations did slight him, elevating Jefferson and Madison to lofty heights while Adams remained way back in the second tier. Now, in a witty, clear, and thoughtful narrative of Adams's later life at his home in Quincy, Joseph Ellis explores the mind and personality of the man, as well as the earlier events that shaped his thinking. Listeners will discover Adams to be both contentious and lovable, generous and petty, and perhaps the most intellectually profound of the revolutionary generation, whose perspective on America's prospects has relevance for us today.©1993 Joseph J. Ellis (P)1995 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"His best book....Ellis's knack for bringing historical figures to life seems so natural you can't imagine him doing anything else." ( New York Times Book Review)
"Parker narrates this intellectual tour de force with strength and wit. His unvoiced reading matches the text wonderfully. His reading present the complexity of thought clearly." ( Kliatt)
"Capture[s] the man's appealing spirit, providing new perspective on an unfairly neglected Founding Father." ( Kirkus Reviews)

Old Man John The Balance Scale of Optimism

Ellis provides an insightful and charming analysis of Adam's psychology and political thought. Adams the national curmudgeonly grandpa is probably my favorite founding father. He wanted to be understood, respected, and loved for who he really was, warts and all. He seemed to extend the same understanding to others close to him, most of the time. That's pretty reassuring. I love that he encouraged his daughter-in-law Louisa's confidence. I wish I had a grandpa like that. If he had been listened to a bit more, would American exceptionalist arrogance have ever have caused so much trouble? Would we have so many problems with founders being worshiped as demigods? I'm inclined to think we would be a bit more careful, but only a bit.

The Revolutionary Generation’s Supreme Realist

It’s impossible to choose a favorite Founder. Much like the balanced government they established, each man seems to act as a check and corrective on the intellectual excesses and spiritual shortcomings of his fellows, making it hard to subscribe fully to any single Founder’s views. Still, if forced to choose, I’d select John Adams, and Joseph Ellis, with his typical penetrating insights and lucid style, presents a vivid exposition of the reasons why.

Focusing on the last quarter century of Adams’ long life, we see him wrestling with his bitterness at electoral defeat, defending his record in interminable newspaper articles, arguing with authors in the margins of their books, and mending fences with former friends and political opponents, Thomas Jefferson being only the most famous.

Reasons why I’d select the dumpy, grumpy sage of Quincy as Favorite Founder are most apparent in the marginalia and correspondence. On the French Revolution and it’s Jeffersonian enthusiasts:

“Amidst all the exultations, Americans and Frenchmen should remember that the perfectibility of man is only human and terrestrial perfectibility...disease and vice will continue to disorder, and death to terrify mankind.”

Or, on the true motivation behind our drive for wealth and power:

“In this, ‘who will love me then?’ there is a key to the human heart, to the history of human life and manners, and to the rise and fall of empires.”

Adams’ scattershot, somewhat volcanic literary style—the byproduct of his passionate yet less-than-systematic thinking—means that his ideas are sometimes better summarized by Ellis:

“As Adams saw it, political theory of the grandiose sort was invariable ‘ideology’, an organized collection of seductive hopes and wishes, a systematic way of going wrong with confidence…theoretical wisdom, and therefore a contradiction in terms.”

“Adams was the supreme political realist of the revolutionary generation. His lifelong habit of mistrusting himself effectively immunized him against illusory solutions to the problems of political power…”

So, turning a half-blind eye to his painfully hypersensitive nature, sometimes ungovernable temper, and strident anti-Catholic bigotry, I embrace his intellectual ebullience, his engrained skepticism of fashionable thinking, his courage to make the right decision regardless of the political price tag, and his faith that history—in other words, that you and I—would eventually recognize that he was right. And in so many cases, he is.

A measure of the book’s many excellences is the fact that, despite a rather timeworn (1995) recording, I listened without really noticing. The writing, the subject, the insights presented, and a superb performance by Tom Parker (aka Grover Gardener) overrode all mere technical issues.

Irascible, Honest, Brilliant- JA =#1

My favorite Founding Father. Joseph Ellis digs deep into the English language to bring John Adams to life

An interesting Look

This book show a view of what the World looked through the eyes of an aging John Adams. His regrets and triumphs

Diversity - Not a new concept.

Adams epitomizes what it really means to be a progressive conservative. it is almost scary how clearly he saw the struggles we would face and still have to face as a nation.

Some of the most successful progressive / liberal presidents claimed Jeffersonian ideals for political expediency, but utilized the principles of John Adams to govern.

John Adams was a Titan

Few, if any, people have contributed more integrity or substance to the founding of America; to its ideals, dreams, and direction.

Often overshadowed by Jefferson and Washington, Adams was an amazing man, husband, father, diplomat, philosopher, and many othet things. He, in many ways, was the 3rd term of Washington, continuing with many of policies.

Adams was "always and honest man, often a great one, but sometimes absolutely mad" according to Jefferson and Franklin. I believe the maddening thing about him was his immovable commitment to doing what he thought was right.

loved it! great man

I feel every book I read about a founding father is the best book ever. even this guy. he had his faults but still turned out to be amazing. enjoyed learning more about him after his presidency.
Seriously underrated as a revolutionary hero, as a man, as president.
Way more forward thinking than maybe anyone else's in his time.
Needs lots more time and pages dedicated to him.

The Legacy of John Adams

An indelible portrait of this magnificent Patriot and Founding Father. More than a biography, Ellis gives us a glimpse of the man with all of his foibles and his greatness, of not just what he thought but the core beliefs behind what he thought and what shaped him. And Tom Parker's narration is perfect in every sense. Highly recommended.

A Treasured Summary of John Adams

I learned so much from this masterful compilation of the thoughts and life of John Adams!

Author does not like John Adams

Usually when you read a biography, the author LOVES the subject and you have to discount their claims and tone. Ellis does not like John Adams. It's a bit disconcerting but the overall content is stellar.

John Adams was a vain and difficult man, but no more so than any other world changer. His overall temperament was judicious. Ellis makes him seem like a maniac.