Samuel Adams: A Life

Very good insight into one of the greatest Americans in our history.

Having forgotten almost everything I learned in grade school with regards to the founding of this country, any book about Samuel Adams would have served its purpose. This book, however, went above and beyond. The story was engrossing as well as informative. It spent as much time describing how we got into a revolutionary war as it did in describing how Samuel Adams was the "Father" of that revolution. It really portrays Samuel Adams as a great American that put his life on the line for the good of the country. He was an incredible patriot and hero. I Would recommend this book to anyone wanting to know Samuel Adams or needing a reminder of how our country was founded.

4 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

Indescribably Awful

If you're looking for a serious biography of Adams avoid this book like the plague. It's hard to imagine a book publisher agreed to print this. I want a refund. Actually B&N should pay damages to anyone who was subjected to this trope.

The author clearly has a point of view of today's politics. It's pretty obvious he wants to bolster his claim of rightness by asserting a historical connection to one of the Founders who may--or may not, since the author's research is so weak it's never proven--have held similar views. He then makes the startling conclusion that Sam Adams was somehow one of THE most influential figures in early American political life, despite a whole host of other people who, you know, actually exercised a lot of influence on how things turned out by holding high office. Adams was SO influential that one of his allegedly core principles--governance in the mold of a Christian specific, faith based structure--was enshrined in the Constitution. Oh wait, no it wasn't. The author never really explains how exactly none of Sam Adams' alleged core beliefs ended up being adopted in early American political structure.

Indescribably awful.

3 out of 9 people found this review helpful.

A real mixed bag

After reading David McCollough's "John Adams" and Ron Chernow's "Alexander Hamilton", I set upon Ira Stoll's "Samuel Adams", hoping to receive the same exciting and interesting style of biography. This book, while decent, is not in the same league as the others.

The other two books I mentioned provided deep, vivid detail of their subjects' families, work, thoughts, gaffes, and ideals. After reading this book, I understand Samuel Adams more, but the amount of detail was lacking. The other authors made their respective subjects' legwork and daily routines seem interesting and memorable. By the end of this book, I was thoroughly bored of Samuel Adams, and couldn't tell you the names of any of his relations.

There are a few positives, however. The book does show how feverishly devout Samuel Adams was, and how this shaped his views. In fact, that particular point is droned upon endlessly. I also greatly enjoyed the last chapter, in which the author gives some meaningful insight into why Samuel Adams is both tougher to connect with and lesser-well-known than his revolutionary counterparts.

Don't expect the detail found in the larger revolutionary biographies here, and expect to hear a lot of "he liked God, hated Catholics, and wrote a lot of letters stating the same". If you're not an American Revolution buff, you'll probably stop reading one or two chapters in. But all things considered, it is certainly worth a once-over from anyone already interested in the subject.

3 out of 6 people found this review helpful.

Oh my goodness! Who knew?

What a fantastic source. I knew Sam Adams was more than a beer, but I had no idea what an important figure he was in our Nation's founding. I would say it proves to that, since King George wanted him, by name wanted Samuel Adams.
Great read. Great information. Inspiring. Don't hesitate.

3 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

Superb Writing!

I was truly amazed at how little I knew of truly one of our most important founding fathers. I was equally impressed with the author showing the huge role religion played in our freedom and feel like the education system has truly failed teaching this to us.

1 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

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