Styleforum › Forums › General › Entertainment and Culture › John Adams
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

John Adams

post #1 of 10
12/5/09 at 9:31am
Thread Starter 
Has anyone read David McCullough's bio of Adams? I am reading it now and just relishing it, every detail. I never realized, for example, that the whole idea of a three-branch government, where each keeps the other in check and the Chief Executive commands the army, came from an essay Adams wrote. He single-handedly thought up our whole structure of government.

He would have enjoyed the Style Forum, as per this line from his diary: "Whether to make me a suit of new clothes at Boston or to make them at Philadelphia, and what to make I know not."
Reply
Reply
post #2 of 10
12/6/09 at 1:34am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stu View Post
Has anyone read David McCullough's bio of Adams? I am reading it now and just relishing it, every detail. I never realized, for example, that the whole idea of a three-branch government, where each keeps the other in check and the Chief Executive commands the army, came from an essay Adams wrote. He single-handedly thought up our whole structure of government.

He would have enjoyed the Style Forum, as per this line from his diary: "Whether to make me a suit of new clothes at Boston or to make them at Philadelphia, and what to make I know not."

Not exactly true. Baron de Montesquieu, the french philosophe who lived in 1689-1755, believed and may have created the three branch government. I know he certaintly advocated it, thus it was around before Adams. By the way, watch the miniseries with Paul Giamatti.
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 10
12/6/09 at 4:32am
Quote:
Originally Posted by SergeantSuave16 View Post
Not exactly true. Baron de Montesquieu, the french philosophe who lived in 1689-1755, believed and may have created the three branch government. I know he certaintly advocated it, thus it was around before Adams. By the way, watch the miniseries with Paul Giamatti.


I was just about to recommend that. You need to become more like Thornton Melon.
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 10
12/6/09 at 4:40am
The miniseries were great.
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 10
12/7/09 at 3:10pm
I re-watched the miniseries about 2 weeks ago, truly excellent. I've also read the book which is, well a masterpiece of writing.

Here is a great scene, from the first ballon flight:



IMPORTANT NOTICE: No media files are hosted on these forums. By clicking the link below you agree to view content from an external website. We can not be held responsible for the suitability or legality of this material. If the video does not play, wait a minute or try again later.       I AGREE

TIP: to embed Youtube clips, put only the encoded part of the Youtube URL, e.g. eBGIQ7ZuuiU between the tags.
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 10
12/7/09 at 3:21pm
I am often apprehensive about popular historians but McCullough is an exception. Incredible research, incredible prose, etc. Actually, academic historians should be thankful for people like David.
Reply
Reply
post #7 of 10
12/7/09 at 9:00pm
I read the book about a month ago.

Am watching the miniseries now.

Both are terrific.
Reply
Reply
post #8 of 10
12/7/09 at 9:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by SergeantSuave16 View Post
Not exactly true. Baron de Montesquieu, the french philosophe who lived in 1689-1755, believed and may have created the three branch government. I know he certaintly advocated it, thus it was around before Adams. By the way, watch the miniseries with Paul Giamatti.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Connemara View Post
I am often apprehensive about popular historians but McCullough is an exception. Incredible research, incredible prose, etc. Actually, academic historians should be thankful for people like David.

Read the book @ George Washington- excellent.

Miniseries outstanding too.
Reply
Reply
post #9 of 10
12/9/09 at 12:57am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Connemara View Post
I am often apprehensive about popular historians but McCullough is an exception. Incredible research, incredible prose, etc. Actually, academic historians should be thankful for people like David.

I stood behind him in a bank line once. He's short. In stature. Nobody recognized him but me. Sad.
Reply
Reply
post #10 of 10
12/9/09 at 3:34am
I haven't read McCullough's biography, but I recently read Founding Brothers, by Joseph Ellis, which has a lot of interesting material on Adams. I'll try to read the McCullough when I get a chance.
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Entertainment and Culture
Styleforum › Forums › General › Entertainment and Culture › John Adams