America's Founding Son: John Quincy Adams, from President to Political Maverick

by Bob Crawford

An accessible and entertaining biography of our nation’s greatest public servant and original political maverick John Quincy Adams, from the bassist of the Grammy-nominated band the Avett Brothers.

During the tumultuous period between the era of the Founding Fathers and the disunion of the Civil War, John Quincy Adams was the man standing in the breach. After an unsuccessful presidential reelection campaign, he was left reckoning with his political legacy. But Adams would be dragged back into the fray in ways he never expected, pitting him against the slavocracy and Southern congressmen and solidifying him as a key ally to the antislavery cause.

America’s Founding Son tells the tale of Adams’s turbulent government career and his evolving views on slavery. Adams, along with lesser-known abolitionists Benjamin Lundy and Theodore Weld, found himself at the center of the coalition that leveled the first blow against slave power in the United States. The battles they fought would be foundational in the push for emancipation to follow. An entertaining deep dive into an under explored period in American history, America’s Founding Son shows how John Quincy Adams and the grassroots activism of the 1830s and ’40s shifted American politics forever.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, American History, Presidents, Audiobook, Biography Memoir

Audible Audio

Published March 10, 2026

Reviews

[Lisa]

Crawford's biography covers the period post-presidency when Adams served as a Representative in the U.S. Congress. Easy to read and understand, this work tells me why Crawford admires Adams and why he thinks it is important for me to know this story at this moment in time.

"Adams brought the issue of slavery out of the darkness and into the light of the center of politics in the United States--the People's House. John Quincy Adams preserved and protected the America democracy established by the founding generation--his father's generation John Quincy fought a different revolution, because as hard as it is to create a democracy, it takes the long-suffering skill of perseverance to uphold it. As the man standing in the breach, Adams passed the aspirations of the Declaration of Independence on to the next generation. With one hand reaching back to the founding and the other reaching forward toward the Civil War, John Quincy Adams is a bridge and perhaps the best representation of America's tortured adolescence. John Quincy Adams may not have been an extraordinary president like Washington and Lincoln, but he is our most extraordinary ex-president. A maverick. A public servant. An American hero."

"John Quincy Adams reminds us that change happens when good people have the courage to make good trouble in the face of long odds, violent mobs, and apathetic cynicism."

Publication 2026

[Josh McQueen]

NOT AN ADVANCE COPY. I BOUGHT AND READ THIS MYSELF WHEN IT CAME OUT FOR THE PUBLIC.

Bob Crawford’s “America’s Founding Son” recounts the achievements of John Quincy Adams, the son of John Adams and the inheritor of the Founding Father Generation’s dreams.

This reader immediately finds themselves rooting for John Quincy Adams as he overcomes his own trials and attempts to live up to the expectations set for him by the prior generation. It is a concept that many can relate to. However, John Quincy Adams’ most significant achievements were not found in his Presidency, which was limited to one term, but in the aftermath.

Crawford spends most of the book in Quincy’s post presidency years. Unlike prior Presidents, Quincy did not seclude himself from politics after serving in the highest office in the land. Quincy realized he had a duty to serve his nation and stepped into the House of Representatives, serving there for decades until he died in the Congressional building.

Crawford is an effective storyteller and his writing kept me mostly engaged, but his historical layout of this book is lacking. Crawford attempts to make this book somewhat scholarly, providing quotes and adding sources at the end, but without notations for the sources within the chapter, Crawford has made it hard to show what he is referencing. Crawford also periodically inserts himself and his view into the book and often includes pop culture references that may quickly become dated. This adds to the book feeling less scholarly and more like a pop history book.

[Ben]

Entertaining and accessible without in any way diminishing from the subject material.

[Ashley Wright (Herbert)]

I genuinely did not realize John Quincy Adams was a member of the House of Representatives after being president until I read a biography of Charles Sumner and learned about their mentorship.

This man really lost the presidency and said “That's fine, I'll just become a Congressman.”

Throughly enjoyed Crawford's storytelling on this one.

[Andrew Butcher]

3.5

[Gina Dalfonzo]

Full review here: https://dearstrangethings.substack.co...

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

[Cory Stephens]

Bob Crawford wrote a book for history lovers in a way that I remember my favorite history teachers teaching. It tells a fantastic story about an often overlooked individual in the story of America. Loved it!

[Maureen Johnson]

3.5/5. Enjoyable listen about John Quincy Adams. Explored a period of history I’ve never really thought about but it gave me a lot of good insight of today’s political climate vs the 1830s and how the cycles do not change. Worth a read if you are interested in the rise of anti-slavery in America and the political power of JQA after being president and serving in congress.

[Caroline Weikel]

Really, really enjoyable ! A perfect intersection of two of my biggest interests (the Avett Brothers and lesser-known historical figures) but the title is a bit misdirecting; this is much more of a study on the rising anti-slavery advocates directly preceding the Civil War. They were several chapters where Adams doesn’t even make an appearance, but this was a super engaging listen nonetheless !

[Beth Evans]

As someone who is obsessed with John Quincy Adams (“But, Beth, who isn’t?” I HEAR YOU.) and who had a significant folk rock phase, I was cautiously optimistic about this book.

No need for caution. The book is fairly well researched, very well written, and has unfortunately only added fuel to the fire of my JQA fixation.

[Lu]

This book was very educational as I didn’t know much about John Quincy Adams. Written by the Avett Brothers bassist and historian podcaster Bob Crawford, the book moves briskly and treats historical icons like real people. There is additional historical details provided as the author doesn’t only focus on Adams' one-term presidency, it explores his post-presidential return to Congress and partnership with abolitionists Benjamin Lundy and Theodore Weld. There are sections of dense historical information and it is worth it to read everything to understand that era in history. It is all very interesting and well written.

I heard the author speak about his book and his research and that’s what drew me to read the book. I am SO glad I read this book. I wish we had a man like John Quincy Adams in the leadership of the government now. He was dedicated to serving the people and putting duty, principle and country before anything else.

[Rebecca]

I might have engaged more with this if I had read it versus listening. I found the timeline a bit difficult to follow as it jumped around a bit. This was heavily focused on the rise of the “slave-ocracy” and John Q Adams role in fighting it. It equally could have been a biography of Benjamin Lundy, given the amount of time spent on his abolitionist views.

I did learn some new things and found spots that were very interesting, but the overall structure was a miss for me.

[Jennifer]

I received a copy through Goodreads giveaways

I'll be generous and give this book 3 stars because it was informative, But I have to say that I was disappointed. I was interested in this book thinking that it would be about John Quincy Adams, but he only appeared in about half the book. Sometimes it seemed like he was an afterthought.

[Thomas Mosher]

Very good history of JQA. Lots of good info, and very easy read.

[Jean]

A consummate American, the sixth U.S. President, John Quincy Adams, for one term from 1825-1829, began when he was ten years old accompanying his father to various diplomatic postings to Europe leading up to two terms as Secretary of State before assuming the presidency. . It was sad to read that his father and mother expected him to become president due to his exposure to political life and his actual experiences. His father went so far to say it would be his laziness, slovenliness and obstinacy if he never achieved that office. He goes on to serve in the House of Representatives for seventeen years earning the reputation of “the old orator” often outwitting his opponents in the House by his knowledge of law and outwitting them. While never owning a slave he had early on in his career appeared to be neutral as to whether a state could have slaves but became one of the most vocal as an abolitionist. The author, Bob Crawford, dedicates a large portion of the book to the dedication of Benjamin Lundy to dedicate his life to freeing the slaves from approximately 1815 to 1830s. Did you recognize the name of the author Bob Crawford? I will leave it to you to read this book and learn what his actual career is and it is his love of John Quincy Adams that this book happened. Many thanks to the author, NetGalley, and Zando Projects for a digital ARC of this book; this is my honest review.

[Jeffrey Collins]

As a history teacher, these stories are always interesting. I had never given John Quincy Adams much thought. I saw him as a failed, one-term president who just wanted to be like his father. That couldn’t be further from the truth. JQA was push so hard by his father, second President and Revolutionary icon John Adams, it caused some extreme anxieties. It’s not that he wanted to be like his father, he just didn’t want to see himself as a failure if he didn’t keep moving up the governmental ladder. His one term as president was kind of a failure, it was his House of Representatives career AFTER his term as president where he really made a name for himself.

I didn’t take any notes as I read this book. I had the pleasure of meeting Bob Crawford and got the book autographed, I’m not writing in this one. I’m going to have to reread this one sooner than later, but next time have a notebook sitting next to me.

[Sarah Shepherd]

This is a novel with horrifically misleading notes on historical events. I’m admittedly a JQA fan, I’ve read more than one biography about him, his own letters and speeches, and a biography of his wife. This book would be better titled “before the civil war.” It goes on multiple tangents that extend into present day and spends as much time talking about Andrew Jackson (favorably) as it does talking about JQA. It gives credence to fictional tropes about JQA. As someone who is currently reading the biographies of all the US presidents this is not even a biography. I’m up to FDR at present and when I saw this book published I decided to read it because I love JQA. I beg of you if you are trying to learn more about this person or time period look elsewhere.

DO NOT READ.
Misleading.
Not a biography.

[Carlie Pearson]

I love Crawford's passion for this time period! I think this book would be best suited for someone who is really a history buff and wants to dive even deeper into this particular time period/person. As a casual history reader, the book sometimes assumed previous knowledge I didn't have/couldn't always quite follow. However, it was still interesting and I learned a lot! My favorite bits were the more personal aspects of Adams' life and would have loved to read even more of that. I also loved when Crawford pointed parallels to current events. I recently read "Burn Down the Master's House" by Clay Cane (an historical fiction that centers the stories of enslaved people), and found it interesting to consider the stories of those characters in the context of this more "political" perspective.

[juliet]

Incredible book on American history through the lens of John Quincy Adam’s

This book bridges the gap between the founding of our country and the American Revolution and the Civil War. This book brings to us a very readable examination of the career of John Quincy Adams, whose one-term presidency could have been a footnote in history. Instead JQA returned to public service after his presidency as a Massachusetts congressman in the United States House of Representatives. It uncovers for us not just a brilliant politician who defended the Constitution adroitly, and in doing so laid the groundwork for the abolition of slavery, but the deep division in our nation over slavery and the people who tirelessly fought to end it. I cannot recommend it enough.

[Chrissy]

I wanted to like this book but it is very dryly written. I relied on Wikipedia to understand what I was learning from this book. I would recommend this book to college history professors who specialize in early American history.

[Susanne]

It’s too bad that history taught in high school was never this entertaining. I recall having to do reports on presidents in my youth (“He was born in…..first he did this, then that…yawwwwn). I think high schools need to make books such as “America’s Founding Son” required reading instead of the sanitized textbooks we were subjected to.

John Quincy Adams was expected to become president of the US; the family pressure was intense. What he didn’t expect was to become the champion of antislavery abolitionist movements gaining momentum in the country. Nor did he expect to do this as a member of the House of Representatives after his term as presidency, strongly defending the right of the people to petition the government. What Crawford makes abundantly clear is that the Civil War was inevitable because it was the only way slavery would be eliminated to maintain the Constitution and the founding principles of Declaration of Independence. Make no mistake, the Civil War was about slavery (not “state’s rights” as my previous-alluded-to sanitized high school history book tried to convince us students).

What I also appreciate about Crawford’s telling of this story is how he relates the divisions we experience today driven by the rabid MAGA movement which blatantly ignores both the Constitution and the founding principles of this country because—people don’t change. There will always be the greedy in positions of power, no matter how eloquent our country’s founding documents are. So on the one hand, this book offers solace insofar that the crazy times we live in now are really not nearly as crazy as they were then; yet I hope that the corollary which in John Quincy Adams' time turns out to be Civil War as a means to settle the big difference is not the outcome for which we are destined today.

I highly recommend this book for a refreshing view of early American history—read it as an homage to this country’s 250th birthday.

[Andrea]

If you think early American history is just a collection of stuffy oil paintings, this book will completely change your mind. Bob Crawford’s (yes as in Avett Brothers bassist) accessible, witty style is so perfect. he makes John Quincy Adams feel less like a boring historical figure and more like the brilliant, stubborn, deeply principled fighter he actually was. Like Jimmy Carter, JQA's presidential years weren't bad but not great, but his post-presidency years in the House of Representatives were unforgettable.
We tend to compartmentalize history into neat chapters ("The Revolution," "The Antebellum Era," "The Civil War"), it's easy to forget how tightly they overlap. John Quincy Adams is a human bridge between those worlds. He literally grew up sitting on a hill with his mother, Abigail, watching the Battle of Bunker Hill, and by the end of his life, he was serving in Congress alongside a young Abraham Lincoln. When you look at JQA, you realize the Civil War wasn't some distant, separate event—it was the direct, unresolved fallout of the Founding. The Founders knew we would fight the Civil War; they just didn't want to be the ones doing it.
Crawford also drives into JQA's defense of the enslaved Africans from the Amistad ship. At over 70 years old, Adams stood before the Supreme Court and delivered an epic, eight-hour defense of their natural right to freedom. JQA spent his final decades cementing a legacy as a rogue political maverick. It is a fantastic, funny reminder of how interconnected our history really is.
Thank you Zando and NetGalley.#AmericasFoundingSon #NetGalley

[Ernie]

I reluctantly finished this book. The history of this period was just enough for me to keep going. But I was uncomfortable/unconfident about how the author treated the material.

Good things about the book: 1) I have a better understanding of who John Quincy Adams was and why he lost election to a 2nd term. 2) Its fascinating that he continued to serve in the House of Representatives. He clearly had unfinished business. 3. The early 1800s was a period of ascendency of the "slavocracy" despite the founders (Jefferson, Washington, Madison, and others) expectation a decline and eventual end of slavery. This was due to the growth of economic benefits to the agrarian South and exploitation of cotton and rice agriculture. 4. The secession of the South could have occured at any time during that period and it is surprising that it did not occur until Lincoln was elected. Clearly, the South lost the expectation that they could hold the line.

Why I had trouble keeping engaged: 1) I thought this was a rather traditional biography of John Quincy Adams and his times. It is not. The actual topic was the rise and persistence of the abolition movement and John Quincy Adams rather spotty relationship with it. This is interesting in itself, but I only gradually realized it. (I guess I wasn't paying enough attention) 2). The author illustrated some points by referring to modern day events from the past 20 years. It was somewhat jarring to leap ahead and the points of reference chosen by the author were not always as apt as other events in history might have been.

In all, I learned stuff. But the telling was rather disjointed.

[Stephanie]

John Quincy Adams is one of those people who everyone knows as the 6th President of the United States, but other than that he seems to vanish in the ether. Adams served one term as president. However, unlike presidents of our era, Adams didn't fade into the sunset, build a library, and go on book and lecture tours. No. John Adams was so much more. He went onto be one of the most clever orators, well immersed in the fledgling Constitution. He was a champion of anti-slavery sentiments that was polluting our new nation. Ensconced in the Missouri Compromised which was characterized as balancing act between the interests of slave holding states and northern states' interests, Adams saw that this was a disaster waiting to happen.
Adams had a vision for this country, a deep understanding of our Constitution, and an uneasiness of slave holders and the states they occupied. It was too bad (or maybe not) that he wasn't alive to see his prediction of a Civil War come into fruition. We need people like him and his contemporaries who fought so diligently for the abolition of slavery. These were fearless people that believed in this young country, had a view of a new nation, and through their acts foreshadowed the phrase of the Gettysburg Address, "...that we will have a new birth of freedom...". Great things were demanded of Adams- from his founding parents, to the abolitionists who wanted him to champion their cause. John Quincy Adams did not disappoint-he made his parents proud, as he did our young nation.

[Christine]

While titled to imply this is just an autobiography of John Quincy Adams, this is really a book about the period of time from his presidency to death that was just prior to the Civil War. If you aren't familiar with John Quincy Adams, he was the son of founding father John Adams, and was the first "son of a President" to be elected President. However, his presidency was just a small piece of his legacy as he only served one term as President, but shortly after was elected to Congress.

While he was quick to always state that he was not an abolitionist, John Quincy Adams strongly opposed slavery and fought to abolish it throughout his career. He believed, however, that it needed to be done politically and through the use of the Constitution, and not in the ways most abolitionists believed.

If you aren't familiar with Crawford outside of this book, he's also the bassist of the band The Avett Brothers and he evidently also hosts a podcast. I really enjoyed Crawford's style of writing. He uses a more relatable storytelling style rather than the more dry style author's often use when writing a biography and/or historical book. Despite the more storytelling style, it was well researched and informative. I recommend this to anyone who wants to learn more about a historical figure that from the early years of our country that may not get talked about as much as some others.


I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Phil K]

I believe it was the last sentence of this book's introduction that summed up what this book is all about. Author (and musician) Bob Crawford, is not out to write the complete biography of the 6th POTUS, John Quincy Adams. Instead, Crawford composes a deep-dive on John Q's transformation and advocacy against slavery and for abolition.

The book is definitely about politics, but describing John Q. as a political maverick does not do justice to the force that this man became and how the book's nearly sole focus is the slavery issue.
From the Constitution, to the Supreme Court, to the Missouri Compromise, to the Annexation of Texas, and more, it's all about the issue of slavery.

Lots of history is told in this book. But it's very readable, especially for today's audiences (including references to the 'Real Housewives' and more). But be warned, this is not your father's history book, and feels quite 'woke' at times.

I would have preferred photographs or portraits as opposed to the sketches that this book included for art.
Overall it was OK. While I have read about the Founding and about the Civil War, I had read very little about what happened in-between (including the Era of Good Feelings, which were not all good, because even then people were arguing about slavery). So this was a nice look into the pre-civil-war-era.

[The History Mom]

I was so excited to read this book by one of the members of a favorite band! Bob fell for John Quincy Adams much like I fell for Adams’ wife, Louisa, and I love when people follow their passions and write a book about them! Bob’s obvious admiration and respect for John Quincy Adams shines through as he discusses Adams’ work as an antislavery crusader in his later years as a member of the House of Representatives. Our country has much to be grateful for in his sacrifice and toil to make America a more perfect union. Bob delves into the political machinations of the era in a readable way, making even the most intricate policy understandable.

In this year of celebrating America’s 250th, I can’t think of a better way to commemorate the best our country has to offer than to highlight the life and work of John Quincy Adams (and his wife). He was a true statesman with principles, and he knew that America had yet to live up to its ideals. He wanted to make our country a better place, and he should be remembered for his success rather than his one-term presidency. I highly recommend reading this book to learn more about this founding son.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.

[Joe Berman]

Bob Crawford has written an accessible popular biography of JQA. He provides a concise overview of the life of John Quincy Adams. He focuses on the 17 years Adams served in Congress after his mediocre one term as president. It is an inspiring story of public service.

Adams was not an abolitionist, although he was opposed to slavery. His primary fights in the House of Representatives concerned the so-called gag rule which prohibited in a petitions or speeches concerning slavery. It is shocking now to realize that Congress would pass and sustain such a rule for many many years.

The book provides a good general history of the first half of the 19th century, . At Crawford describes as America’s adolescence. Adams watched the battle of Bunker Hill from his home in Quincy, Massachusetts. The same man, soon before his own death, met a freshman congressman from Illinois, Abraham Lincoln. In addition to Adams, we learn about the lives of Benjamin, Lundy and Theodore weld, two leading abolitionist of the day.

My main criticism of the book is the author’s attempts to seem hip and current by using modern idioms and trying to analogize to present day politics. These efforts fall flat.

[Rae Bradshaw]

Bob Crawford’s America’s Founding Son delivers a vivid, unexpectedly energetic portrait of John Quincy Adams, portraying him not as a dusty historical figure but as a relentless political maverick whose post‑presidential career reshaped the nation. Drawing on rich historical detail, Crawford follows Adams through the turbulent decades between the Founding era and the Civil War, highlighting his fierce battles against the slavocracy and his alliance with abolitionists like Benjamin Lundy and Theodore Weld. The book paints Adams as a man dragged back into public life by moral conviction, standing “in the breach” as the country lurched toward disunion. Crawford’s narrative blends accessible storytelling with deep research, showing how Adams’s evolving antislavery stance and the grassroots activism of the 1830s and ’40s helped lay the groundwork for emancipation. The result is an engaging, modern-feeling biography—infused with the author’s distinctive voice—that reframes Adams not just as a former president, but as a pivotal force who pushed America toward its better ideals.

[Caleb Woodring]

This book is interesting, though the cover is somewhat misleading. Rather than being a comprehensive biography of John Quincy Adams, it is a relatively brief overview of his life, with much of the book focused on his evolving views on slavery and the abolitionist movement of his era. I was not aware of that emphasis when I picked it up, expecting more coverage of his diplomatic career and presidency.

The book is well written, accessible, and easy to read. It is not particularly long, and most readers could finish it fairly quickly. While I appreciated the information it provided, I found myself less engaged by the end and was somewhat glad to finish it.

That said, the book highlights an often-overlooked aspect of John Quincy Adams’s legacy. Too often, he lives in the shadow of his father, John Adams, in discussions of early American history. Crawford does a good job of showing how Adams’s anti-slavery efforts became one of the defining causes of his later life and public service.