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Samuel Adams: A Life [Paperback]

Ira Stoll
4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (73 customer reviews)

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Book Description

November 3, 2009
The gripping story of the man who was the American Revolution’s moral compass—Ira Stoll tells readers who Samuel Adams was, why he has been forgotten, and why he must be remembered.

Thomas Jefferson called Samuel Adams “truly the man of the Revolution.” Adams, filled with religious fervor, inspired others to fight on and overcome the challenges of the Revolutionary War. He was the editor of the influential Boston Gazette, planner of the Boston Tea Party, and signer of the Declaration of Independence, and yet, he is largely ignored and unknown today. Understanding the leading part Adams played in building and sustaining support for the revolutionary cause gives readers new insight into the way religion motivated the founding of America.


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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Thomas Jefferson once declared, For depth of purpose, zeal, and sagacity, no man in Congress exceeded, if any equaled, Sam Adams. Yet the American revolutionary from Massachusetts (1722–1803, cousin of John Adams) has become the forgotten founding father, and Stoll attempts to pull Adams out of this oblivion. Rebellious Americans' passionate vision of themselves as an incarnation of the Israelites freeing themselves from Egyptian slavery was invoked by Adams, one of the most religious American revolutionaries. He called on Americans to fulfill their God-given freedom and was a radical who endured physical danger, poverty and the death at 37 of his only son. But for Stoll, a managing editor of the New York Sun with a long career in newspapers, Adams was also the consummate newspaperman, a pundit dispersing the ideals of freedom. Occasionally apt to settle into litanies of Adams's various tasks and redundant statements on the divine right of American independence, Stoll also sporadically recounts evocative details of the period, such as the lyrics from revolutionary songs. This account might sustain a renewed interest in Adams as the founder of a distinctly American spirit. (Nov.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Unlike Jefferson, Washington, or other Founding Fathers, Sam Adams could point to few accomplishments before the era of the Revolution began. With the end of “benign neglect” and the onset of the efforts by Britain to tighten restrictions on the American colonies, Adams’ true talents emerged. He was, as his cousin John Adams stated, a “born rebel.” Stoll has written a compact, admiring biography of Adams aimed at general readers. He examines Adams’ rich but sometimes sad personal life, including his marriages and family tragedies. The strongest part of the narrative, of course, concerns his career as a Revolutionary agitator and statesman. Many of Adams’ comrades in the struggle were secular deists, but Adams was a devout Christian who sincerely saw the hand of God working in the struggle for his concept of liberty and eventually independence. His fiery rhetoric was infused with biblical allusions. Like many successful Revolutionaries, Adams was single-minded, frequently intolerant of other views, and frighteningly confident of his own righteousness. Stoll effectively conveys both the virtues and defects of a somewhat neglected but very essential figure in our Revolutionary struggle. --Jay Freeman --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 352 pages
  • Publisher: Free Press (November 3, 2009)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0743299124
  • ISBN-13: 978-0743299121
  • Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 0.9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (73 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #279,178 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Ira Stoll is editor of FutureOfCapitalism.com and author of Samuel Adams: A Life. He was vice president and managing editor of the New York Sun, which he helped to found, from its debut in 2002 until its demise in 2008. Before that he was a consultant to the editorial page of the Wall Street Journal, North American editor of the Jerusalem Post, editor of Smartertimes.com, Washington correspondent and then managing editor of the Forward, and a reporter for the Los Angeles Times. He is a graduate of Harvard, where he was president of the Harvard Crimson. He lives in New York City.

Customer Reviews

This is a must-buy for anyone who loved McCullough's John Adams or Isaacson's Benjamin Franklin. Julian Barnes  |  14 reviewers made a similar statement
In GOD, we must trust!!!! BigJohn  |  5 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
145 of 150 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Even better than the beer. November 1, 2008
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is a must-buy for anyone who loved McCullough's John Adams or Isaacson's Benjamin Franklin. Ira Stoll puts Sam Adams back where he belongs, front and center with the great founding fathers. But "Samuel Adams, A Life" is not merely a work of history, it is a powerful argument about the ideas that made America and still, to this day, shape the nation. Stoll demonstrates, through the life and writing of Adams, how much religion and property rights motivated the revolutionaries of New England. From the first chapter, I felt I was not just learning about important history, but I was also gaining insight into the character of America. This book is bound to help change how we think about the Revolution. And it will help us understand how Sam Adams continues to influence our own era.
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71 of 73 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars The Soul of the American Revolution October 31, 2008
Format:Hardcover
In "Samuel Adams: A Life," journalist Ira Stoll has rescued from relative (and undeserved) obscurity one of the most influential and fascinating figures of the American Revolutionary generation. Samuel Adams was one of the earliest and most zealous of the Boston firebrands. At the same time, he was imbued with a worldview inherited from his Puritan ancestors that placed the urgent events of the day in God's time. His "religious tranquillity" was much commented upon by his contemporaries, and Stoll is committed to understanding the paradox of the "tranquil revolutionary." Stoll's crystal clear and plain-spoken prose is entirely fitting for his equally plain-spoken subject. What emerges is a full-blooded portrait of a man whose idea of America resonates -- and often tellingly contrasts -- with positions on the right and left in our own debates about the nation's course and what it means to be a patriotic American. For history scholars and enthusiasts, for anyone interested in the origins of American political culture, and for today's political junkies, this book is a wonderful read.
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73 of 76 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars Fervent father, devoted follower May 29, 2009
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Most books you read on the revolution make at least some reference to Samuel Adams. Books dealing with the Declaration of Independence and The Constitution even more so. This in mind I decided to read a bit more on the man.

Why should you read this book? It gives great background on Adams and the Commonwealth of Massachusettes prior to the start of the revolution, discusses a lot about S. Adams' role in bringing it about, and in doing both gives us some important background on the role religion did and did not play in both.

S. Adams stands somewhat alone as the religious voice of the founding fathers. While many had strong beliefs of their own, this man was driven by them. His life and legacy centered around religion and the role he thought it played in a just and lasting society.

The book never takes his side on the matter, in fact does a pretty good job of showing many others as much more supportive of a govenment that was
tolerant to everyone including those Adams refered to as "Papists".

If you're interested in the founding fathers do not miss this book. There may be better ones out there but this book is fairly easy to read and includes a lot of letters to, from, and about S. Adams and some reference to the role of the newspapers as well.

One of the few founding fathers with no military or law experience he was nonetheless on of the most important men of his time and this book tells why in a very inviting manner.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Goodq
Added to my collection of American history one of my favorite subjects of discussion. Used by my grand sons also for school.
Published 28 days ago by Donna M. Stafford
5.0 out of 5 stars Sam Adams.
I'm a history buff and this book is one of the best books I've ever read on Sam Adams. As a result of this book Sam Adams is now my favorite of the founding fathers.
Published 3 months ago by kathleen houser
5.0 out of 5 stars Samuel Adams a must read to learn about the beginning of the country!
This book is laid out well. It is full of information about the man andwhat he accomplished for our country.
Published 4 months ago by Bill Graham
5.0 out of 5 stars Our founders told us our country would fall into ruin without God and...
Our founders were right. We are loosing our liberty and freedom by leaps and bounds. We ran God out of everything and now our freedom and liberty are being stripped from us. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Patricia Collins
5.0 out of 5 stars Samuel Adams: A Life is a must read
Exciting man.
This book is one hard to lay down. I visited Boston and Samuel Adams is well known by everyone still. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Nancy M. Law
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting read
There were so many interesting facts in this book that I was surprised and thrilled to learn about S. Adams. Read more
Published 5 months ago by jccwc
5.0 out of 5 stars More To the Man Than Just A Beer!
"Samuel Adams A Life," by Ira Stoll is a well written, thoroughly researched look at a most fascinating and admirable man. Read more
Published 8 months ago by J. Hagg
4.0 out of 5 stars Extremely interesting book despite somewhat poor editing
I agree with the five-star reviews of this book. Ira Stoll shows that Samuel Adams has not been given enough credit as one of the most important leaders of the revolution. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Ebby
3.0 out of 5 stars Not new
Maybe I misread the description, but the book arrived used. Either way the price was right, I was just surprised to receive a used book.
Published 13 months ago by Amy
5.0 out of 5 stars Tranquil Revolutionary
Samuel Adams the Pillar and spine of the American Revolution.Though he has literally been forgotten Mr.Ira Stoll brings him back to life with his excellently researched Biography. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Mystikeye
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Topic From this Discussion
Glenn Beck Recommended!
If you are truly interested in the founding of this country, this is a wonderful book. I am so glad Glen recommended it since I never heard very much about Samual Adams in my American History class(do they even teach that anymore?) many years ago.
As one of the true "founders", it was... Read more
Apr 9, 2010 by Midi Lin |  See all 4 posts
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