Passionate Sage

Joseph J. Ellis has contributed several fine works to the recent spate of ink devoted to our founding fathers (American Sphinx and Founding Brothers). This particular work deals with John Adams, fast becoming my favorite founder.

First published in 1993, the new edition allows Ellis to expand on a few points, but the thrust of the book remains the same-- an examination of Adams' legacy, looking at what he influenced, what he left behind, and how has come to be remembered (or, unfortunately, not so remembered).

For folks who like their Famous Guy Bios focused rather than thorough, this is a good choice. There are so many difficult episodes in Adams' life, and so much of his own writing to poke through, that it would be easy to ramble on forever about the man. What Ellis manages to do is find a focus that allows us to avoid being sucked down any side streets and still come away with a full-ish picture of a man who was in many ways the most difficultly human of the founding fathers.

In other words, among the many Adams works out there, this is an excellent place to start for a thorough but accessible overview, creating a picture of a man both infuriating and lovable, humble yet hungry for a fame that he feared would escape him. By focusing on the later period of Adams' life, Ellis manages to show what is perhaps the most satisfying picture of Adams-- that of a man who comes to terms with himself, his past, his legacy, his victories and losses. It is a work written with obvious affection, but with an equal degree of honesty.

With the paperback version available currently for a measly eleven bucks, this is a worthwhile addition to any history-laden shelf.