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John Quincy Adams (2012)

by Harlow Giles Unger(Favorite Author)

4.12 of 5 Votes: 4

ISBN

030682129X (ISBN13: 9780306821295)

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Da Capo Press

review 1: Not knowing anything about John Quincy Adams other than he was the sixth president of the United States and son of John Adams, I picked up this book to expand my knowledge. I am grateful I did. This is a fascinating book about one of America’s greatest statesman. John Quincy Adams was a child prodigy who had the fantastic opportunity to travel the world at a very early age. He lived in France, Holland, Sweden and Russia for most of his youth interacting with some of the world’s greatest leaders. I believe he was one of America's greatest diplomats. As Secretary of State he secured the acquisition of Florida from Spain and was a principal author of the Monroe Doctrine. His struggles as President are understandable considering the politics of that time. One might... more even say it was similar to politics today. But his greatest achievement was that of a congressman from Massachusetts. He proved to be one of the more effective congressmen in the 19th century. He became a powerful voice to abolish of slavery in the pre-Civil War era. And he fought against the Gag Rule in the House of Representatives. I strongly recommend this book.
review 2: Unger's biography of JQA seemed fairly well-balanced, highlighting both his disaster of a presidency as well as his incredible achievements in his second career as a US Congressman. The details of his upbringing in Europe, as well as the incredible (and inevitable) influence of his father on John Quincy's values and choices were particularly fascinating. I would have enjoyed even more discussion of his life in the context of the larger Adams dynasty. less

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