Customer Reviews

Samuel Adams: A Life

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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.

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.

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.

My interest in Samuel Adams increased after watching the John Adams television series. So when I spotted this book I decided to give it a try. It was a good decision to say the least. I have read through the reviews on this site and note some criticism. Here is my take. First, I liked the extensive quotations because I like to read primary source material; it doesn't get altered by the author and one can get closer to the truth using it. Second, I don't find the book at all "dry" as some reviewers mentioned. If those reviewers want more excitement they can read fictional works. The farther away one gets from primary sources the more "excitement" that can be created by the author because the truth can be adjusted. Third, the religious perspective that Adams had was so interesting to me that I am beginning to think a bit differently about religion now. Although I am in the Richard Dawkins camp regarding religion, after reading this book it certainly does seem that the good, moral values that one associates with religion and going to church helped to motivate the Revolutionary generation enough to make Independence work. Even though the end of footnote 37 for the last chapter of the book suggests that the motivation for the Revolution was primarily political, not religious, a point on which I do agree, at the same time it also seems to me that a less God-fearing group of people would have had a tougher time winning. The emotional support provided by religion had to have helped motivate those people. Let me clarify this a little. It is estimated by some that eighty percent of the Israeli population do not believe in God. I don't know how precisely close to that figure the percentage was during Israel's War of Independence but the important point is that the cultural and social effects of religion which were obviously substantial despite the percentage of atheism that there was provided a foundation for winning. Victory was doubtful for both countries but somehow the U.S. and Israel both won. I am not here to take time and argue a comparison between the independence efforts of the two countries but instead want only to support Mr. Stoll's book about Samuel Adams. But this discussion it has caused me to engage in here is perhaps the salient point. This book really made me think more deeply about the American Revolution than I had previously and I feel that I know more now about this subject than I did before. Isn't that the point of reading history?

SAMUEL ADAMS: A LIFE is a remarkable story about a remarkable man. Patriot, founder, revolutionary, politician and statesman, Samuel Adams was a light that burned very brightly during the tumultuous, dangerous, heady days during the birth of America.

Time and time again revolutionary zeal faded to timidity and fear. Patriots' courage failed. Plans went desperately awry. And time and time again Samuel Adams and his close band of freedom fighters rallied themselves and others to the cause of liberty. Tirelessly they labored, far from friends and family, to bring to fruition the fruit of their rebellion: a unified country.

As a man of faith, Adams saw God's providential hand in the birth of a free nation; out from under the tyrannical rule of English kings and potentates. Whether the focus of his pen and fervor was the practice of religion (for Protestants, anyway), the oppression of British troops, or taxes, Adams' goal was always the same: freedom.

Freedom: the potent, liberating drink of free men and women to live their lives without interference from anything but their own conscience. Liberty: high and noble ideals of government by consent of the governed. Was such a thing possible? At what cost?

To these noble virtues cast Adams, Jefferson, Hancock and others their names, sacred honor, and earthly fortunes. The fires of rebellion burned brightly and none more brightly than the heart, mind, and mouth of Samuel Adams.

To this day, his contributions to the Massachusetts Constitution, US Constitution, and underpinnings of the Declaration of Independence live on. No Founding Father contributed more or at a greater price than Adams.

Even though I have read a large number of works on the American Revolution, I knew very little about Samuel Adams. In this relatively brief biography, Ira Stoll does a nice job of introducing us to the neglected founding father. Adams was a religious man (a Congregationalist in the Puritan tradition), and Stoll does a fine job of conveying how Adams religious beliefs supported his revolutionary fervor, and, in particular, how they were essential to his focus on individual liberty as an inalienable right. The author also explains why Samuel Adams never held an executive level national office after the Revolutionary War; something that I never understood before reading this book. Stoll's work also conveys the piviotal role of a man, who would have probably described himself as an average citizen of modest means, in forming the new Republic. Having said all that, I want to say that this biography is essential reading for the student of the American Revolution. The only reason I gave this book four stars (instead of 5) is because there are just a few places where the narrative seems to meander a bit, but don't let that minor reservation deter you from reading this well-written, highly-enjoyable biography of the forgotten founder.

This is a very good book and is an essential read for anyone interested in understanding the motivations of the founders. Samuel Adams is often overlooked and his achievements under-appreciated. Reading Stoll's biography fits very well into other books covering the period, in particular it fills in some gaps with McCullough's 1776, Benjamin Franklin: An American Life, and The Real George Washington (American Classic Series).

Stoll does a great job illustrating the unique mixture of religious belief and the age of reason that characterized the American revolution. Reading this book you get a sense of the importance that many of the founders attributed to maintaining the moral high ground. Both Washington and Adams believed that as dire as things were at times, their cause was just and that God would stick with a virtuous people. Both perpetually advocated for days of thanksgiving, prayer and fasting.

Aside from the religious aspects of Adam's motivation was the sheer determination and effort that he put into the cause. It's interesting to read of the numerous achievements accomplished by Samuel Adams. He was one of the earliest proponents of independence, a masterful user of the written word to disseminate information and raise the ire of the populace. He took advantage of every British misstep to ensure that the most was made of it. His attacks on the Stamp Act, the Boston Massacre, and other events kept the cause in the forefront of not just Massachusetts but other colonies as well.

He served in both the first and second continental congresses where he worked tirelessly on countless committees, taking up the slack for delegates that went home. He never relented in his efforts.

He was also and incredibly honorable man who never took advantage of his position for monetary gain. He was incredibly frugal with public coffers when he served as governor of Massachusetts.

In addition to his actions and roles, the book also chronicles his relationship with other founders, notably John Hancock, his cousin John Adams, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson.

This is a relatively quick read, but packed with interesting information. I've written a bit more at [...]

A more creative writing slant would have added to the reading continuity of this Samuel Adams biography.

Nonetheless, this version does ideate how strong willed Samuel Adams' character was to establish a new government and country for the people, by the people. The original radical. With the '08 elections now in the history books, how often did we hear the word "maverick" to the point of exhaustion? Here was the pioneer maverick.

The Sugar Act, Stamp Act, Declaratory Tax (which ultimately led to the Boston Tea Party), the list goes on. Sam was there, relentlessly fighting in favor of freedom, liberty and justice for the colonists.

Being one of the staunch innovators and supporters for independence, a British bounty was placed on him and John Hancock. This did not quell his efforts. Religious morals and ideals played a major part in the Revolution and Sam was front and center on this theme.

He was elected time and again to the Massachusetts House of Representatives, published numerous articles promoting freedom, activated the Declaration of Independence, ratified the Massachusetts Constitution and was eventually Governor. His commitment and dedication never ceased. Though he initially had issues with a U. S. Constitution, he resolved these differences and became a firm advocate.

Overall an educational read, apart from the Gatling gun writing style of fact after fact.

Ira Stoll has attempted to bring Samuel Adams out of the shadows and into the forefront of the Revolution. Putting Sam Adams in the midst of the Founding Fathers and shining a light on Adam's beliefs and principles through the quotable words directly from Sam Adams is a different approach than that taken by the more popular writers such as David McCullough, Joseph Ellis, John Ferling et al. This approach continuously quotes Adams and his various newspaper articles as well as his letters of memorandum from the House of Representatives of Massachusetts, the Continental Congress and those to his wife. While this is effective at giving us that inner glimpse and fire burning, it has the opposite effect on the reader - it might be too much Adams. Much of the quoted material while from different time periods and different letters has much of the same information and is too much too similar and so becomes tedious at points. However, the power of Samuel Adams overcomes this deficiency in this reader's mind.

Stoll focuses on the religious aspects of Sam Adams and how everything revolved around Adams and his beliefs that religion, morality and decency trumped everything and God would watch over and bring successes to all those that worshiped Him and paid homage to Him. Sam Adams credits his successes and that of the nation to the Christian beliefs that were held by the men and women of America. He called for many days of Thanksgiving, fasting and prayers. The clerical ministers were front and center to Adams's town meetings and convention settings - always giving the initial prayers and often a sermon.

While the book is written as that of a research paper than popular history (i.e. McCullough, Ellis, Hackett Fischer), the meat of the book is important and should be given its due. Stoll is not retelling the life of Sam Adams, and that might be misaligned with the Title of this work, but one cannot help but feel the strength of the character through the printed words of Adams.

I'll grant you that this book is not going to have the reader on the edge of their seats or moving through the pages at a rapid pace, but the importance in this as a researched history of the ways of Samuel Adams is still valid. The focus is directly on Adams and not on the Revolutionary War surrounding him. This alone might turn some people off, but if the reader stays focused on what the author is trying to bring to him/her then this reviewer says Stoll does his task. This book can be utilized as a reference to Sam Adams and his way of speaking, writing and thinking.

Samuel Adams: A Life, by Ira Stoll, is a very well written, if abbreviated, biography of the life of this famous founding father. Known more today for the excellent beer named after him (a legacy of his father's brewery, which Samuel briefly ran after his father's death) rather than his importance in the founding of our Nation, Samuel Adams was one of the most outspoken advocates for Liberty and ultimate Independence from Britain. He was one of the most patriotic founding fathers, one of the most religious, and carried the cries for Independence among a rather non-committal continental congress during the early 1770's. The fact that he never served in national office or at a national cabinet-level position (though he was governor of Massachusetts for a while) left him a bit of an enigma to later generations. Now that the story of his cousin, John Adams, is becoming so well known to modern readers, that of Samuel should also understood. His moral for today is in the importance of smaller federal governments (he was a true anti-federalist, along with Jefferson, and contrary to his cousin). While both the federalist and anti-federalist legacy is important to our modern society, we can currently use a good does of the state's rights and smaller federal government group. Stoll's biography is a bit too short for me though. Many aspects of Samuel Adams career are only briefly mentioned. For a truly in depth biography, another read may prove better.