What do you think?
Rate this book
Samuel Adams: The Life of an American Revolutionary
Samuel Adams: The Life of an American Revolutionary vividly tells the story of a titan of America's greatest generation. Friend and foe alike considered Adams one of the greatest members of the generation that achieved American independence and crafted constitutions that made the ideal of republican government a living reality in the new nation. Adams's role as a major political author and organizer are explored as is his central role in momentous events including the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party. The work demonstrates why Thomas Jefferson described Adams as the helmsman of the American Revolution. Adams's career during the war and his involvement in crafting and defending republican constitutions are assessed as are his views on virtue, religion, education, women, and slavery. Following Adams through the 1790s, one sees that he wanted the revolutionary generation to bequeath a land of liberty and equality to the nation's posterity. The personal side of this revolutionary who was renowned for his lack of concern for material things is not neglected. The symbiotic relationship of Samuel and his wife Elizabeth is analyzed. The work demonstrates that Adams's life provides a veritable guide to responsible citizenship and public service in a republic.
432 pages, Hardcover
First published June 16, 2011
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
March 17, 2018
The true Father of the American Revolution. I never realized how much his actions, efforts, and writings moved America towards independence from Britain. His cousin and 2nd President of the United States, John Adams, frequently received the "good press", but Samuel was all business and never wavered from his beliefs. My favorite Samuel Adams quote is one concerning education, "no People will tamely surrender their Liberties, nor can any be easily subdued, when Knowledge is diffused and Virtue is preserved". He's not just an old colonial looking guy on a beer bottle. He was more than a "brewer", he was a Patriot in the truest sense of the word!
February 20, 2024
I would call this a ‘dense’ book, in that it’s loaded with lots of content that isn’t necessarily easy to read or interesting.
Samuel Adams was an important figure in the American Revolution, but it’s hard to get excited over a politician who spends his time chairing committees and writing letters, brochures, and political treatises.
The book is worth the read as Adams is one of those ‘under the radar’ men who laid a philosophical and political foundation for the superstructure that was the American Revolution.
Highly recommended
Samuel Adams was an important figure in the American Revolution, but it’s hard to get excited over a politician who spends his time chairing committees and writing letters, brochures, and political treatises.
The book is worth the read as Adams is one of those ‘under the radar’ men who laid a philosophical and political foundation for the superstructure that was the American Revolution.
Highly recommended
October 10, 2022
3.75 / 5.0
Tries to Smooth out fanatic edges and glosses over controversies. Nevertheless Robespierre fanaticism shows through. Enlightening view on the roots of American messaniac black or white viewpoint
Tries to Smooth out fanatic edges and glosses over controversies. Nevertheless Robespierre fanaticism shows through. Enlightening view on the roots of American messaniac black or white viewpoint
July 19, 2012
Samuel Adams: The Life of an American Revolutionary by John K. Alexander
★ ★ ½
Samuel Adams is sometimes said to be one of our Founding Fathers of the United States. From early on in his life, he was a huge proponent of freedom and not just of the country but religious freedom, educational freedom (education for ALL, not just rich, white males), and freedom of people (freedom from slavery). He was ahead of his time and considered a radical of the period. He was deemed as one of the first politicians of the new United States who would continue to fight for rights and freedom for all until the end of his life in 1803.
This book is full of information, I mean REALLY full of information. It’s a lot to take in. On the information and detail alone, this book would get a much higher rating. It’s the presentation and it’s dryness that drops my rating for this book significantly. I haven’t read such a dry book since my years in college. The American Revolution was a time of struggle and battles and yet this author even makes those sections of the book a snoozefest. The author has a pesky habit of repeating himself…over and over again. For instance, did you know the Samuel Adams believed that the British couldn’t establish their laws and taxes on the U.S. because the U.S. couldn’t properly be counted in voting and meetings since they were so far away? I did..since the author pointed it out at least a couple dozen times within the first half of the book alone. Just too bland and dry for me, and that’s coming from a girl with a huge passion for all this history. Definitely not a light read. I give myself a high-five for finishing this book – even if it did take me over 3 weeks.
★ ★ ½
Samuel Adams is sometimes said to be one of our Founding Fathers of the United States. From early on in his life, he was a huge proponent of freedom and not just of the country but religious freedom, educational freedom (education for ALL, not just rich, white males), and freedom of people (freedom from slavery). He was ahead of his time and considered a radical of the period. He was deemed as one of the first politicians of the new United States who would continue to fight for rights and freedom for all until the end of his life in 1803.
This book is full of information, I mean REALLY full of information. It’s a lot to take in. On the information and detail alone, this book would get a much higher rating. It’s the presentation and it’s dryness that drops my rating for this book significantly. I haven’t read such a dry book since my years in college. The American Revolution was a time of struggle and battles and yet this author even makes those sections of the book a snoozefest. The author has a pesky habit of repeating himself…over and over again. For instance, did you know the Samuel Adams believed that the British couldn’t establish their laws and taxes on the U.S. because the U.S. couldn’t properly be counted in voting and meetings since they were so far away? I did..since the author pointed it out at least a couple dozen times within the first half of the book alone. Just too bland and dry for me, and that’s coming from a girl with a huge passion for all this history. Definitely not a light read. I give myself a high-five for finishing this book – even if it did take me over 3 weeks.
April 4, 2013
The most comprehensive modern biography of Samuel Adams. It is clear, thorough, and well-paced, and especially strong on illuminating Adams's transformative role within his historical context.
The Revolution began in Boston, where Samuel Adams was the leader of the patriots, and he was also a major figure, arguably the major figure, at both Continental Congresses. Thomas Jefferson called him the helmsman of the Revolution, and during the first half of the 19th century Adams's contributions were considered second only to those of George Washington.
His second cousin John Adams (whose political career Samuel Adams helped launch) said that "without the true character of Samuel Adams, the true history of the American Revolution can never be written." Nevertheless, this is precisely what some 20th and 21st century historians have attempted to do, yet several recent biographies of Samuel Adams attest that he is being rightly restored to something of his former renown.
An understanding of the life and character of Samuel Adams is essential to understanding the early history and founding principles of the United States, and as such this biography is invaluable. Through its portrait and analysis of this great figure, it also has much to offer considerations today on democratic freedom and political society generally.
The Revolution began in Boston, where Samuel Adams was the leader of the patriots, and he was also a major figure, arguably the major figure, at both Continental Congresses. Thomas Jefferson called him the helmsman of the Revolution, and during the first half of the 19th century Adams's contributions were considered second only to those of George Washington.
His second cousin John Adams (whose political career Samuel Adams helped launch) said that "without the true character of Samuel Adams, the true history of the American Revolution can never be written." Nevertheless, this is precisely what some 20th and 21st century historians have attempted to do, yet several recent biographies of Samuel Adams attest that he is being rightly restored to something of his former renown.
An understanding of the life and character of Samuel Adams is essential to understanding the early history and founding principles of the United States, and as such this biography is invaluable. Through its portrait and analysis of this great figure, it also has much to offer considerations today on democratic freedom and political society generally.
February 18, 2015
Great book not just on the life of Sam Adams but also the American Revolution and the early years of the U.S. Must read for history buffs.
June 23, 2015
This is a great history of Samuel Adams. It describes Adams' life in detail and chronicles his actions in leading to independence for the Thirteen Colonies.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews