Book of the Decade

I’ve probably read more books this year than in my whole lifetime. Ok, not really, but I have read some amazing books so far.

Because of this I have to share some thoughts on a most remarkable book that I finished last month.

It’s not often that you come across a book that is life changing, pivotal, riveting, inspiring, and teaches you about history in a way that has never been done before. Well, I found such a book and cannot say enough about it, thus must blog about it. Bear with me!

In 2001 I remember watching an interview on the morning news with the author David McCullough about his new book “John Adams”. I remember the interview being so powerful that I said to myself that I must read that book. True to my form, I put it on my “mental list” of books to read. Fast forward to 2008 when I finally purchased and read the book.

Let me say that there is a reason it has won so many awards. First, the way McCullough writes is amazing and he has this ability with every sentence to draw you into the actual event. You are probably rolling your eyes as most people just don’t enjoy reading biographies or books on history. Believe me this would be the most incredible history book you’ve ever read. The book is taken from John Adam’s personal journals, writings, letters, as well as writings from other notable people, Yet it reads like a novel. I found it exhilarating, suspenseful, painful, and surprising. Not a page was disappointing, and that is no exaggeration. All 650 pages of it. I found it almost impossible to put down and once I was done I was saddened to not have another glimpse into the life of the Adams’s. John Adams was an incredible journalist, so much so that vivid details of the revolution and its people are stunning. I felt like I knew each person personally, and felt a sense of loss when one died, or anger when one betrayed another. Absolutely amazing.

Not only is the book amazing due to McCullough’s ability to recount history, and John Adam’s journaling, but the amazing character that John Adams was. I came away with an astounding respect for John Adams and Abigail (this lady was amazing and I often thought it would have been a treat to have known her). While we as humans can weave a tale about who we are in our journals, John Adams was in his journals exactly how others who knew him described him. This man was a pure example of integrity, he had a hard time winning friends because he was opinionated but his opinions were because he did what was right for the right reasons. Little did I know that much of America’s success for winning the war against Britain was largely due to John Adams sacrifice. This man built his life on honesty, hard work, and frugality (which caused such strife between him and Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin).

I found that while I love to learn about history, I really NEVER knew what it took to win our independence. In history class you learn names, dates, and places, but the actual personal sacrifice (which is too large to teach in a classroom) is humbling. This book is a necessary gem that I will require my kids to read when they are in Junior High or High School, I felt that it was that important. As I read, page after page I reflected on who I was, what was my impact on society and the realization that these revolutionary men were in fact a type of person that we don’t see often these days. I felt for the first time ever a true feeling of what hallowed ground I live on, the United States of America.

Lastly, what interested me in the book in the first place was the great love story between John and Abigail Adams. It was, in my opinion a true love story that is attainable, not fantasy or superficial, but a real love story that words can hardly describe, but what we would all want out of our marriages. So amazing.

So to explain my title “The Book of the Decade” a friend said that to me regarding this book and I would have to agree. I highly recommend it for reading even if you are not into history. I can promise you will not be disappointed, or bored. You will read about interesting tid-bits of history that are never taught (like the fact that Jefferson and Adams claim that the declaration was not signed on the 4th but the 2nd), or that as John Adams got off the boat (literally) after returning from France was told he was the new Vice President (even George Washington did not run for President, they were requested to hold the position) or the comical remarks from Abigail encouraging John to put something in the declaration about women’s rights and freedom.

Now onto McCullough’s book “1776” which I’m told is amazing as well.

“I believe in God and in his wisdom and benevolence, and I cannot conceive that such a Being could make such a species as the human merely to live and die on this earth. If I did not believe in a future state, I should believe in no God. This universe, this all, this totality, would appear with all its swelling pomp, a boyish firework.” John Adams