The revolutionary

Sam Adams was so different from his cousin, John Adams. It is interesting, how this important propagandist for the revolution could not fit into governing the country of the United States. His wife put up with a lot from him with his insistence on subsistence living. However, it was reassuring how much he was certain that women should be as educated as men. He was an irritating original for all the other founding fathers.

5 people found this helpful

Not loving this.

I will finish this book because I should know more about Samuel Adams. But it’s tedious, lacking in any of the personal details that bring historical figures to life. He’s on his second wife, and I still don’t feel like I know the first. Women don’t count much for this author. I also don’t care for the narrator. Thin, high pitched voice. Give me bass.

3 people found this helpful

Excellently presented story

I grew up just outside of boston and pride myself on an immersion into its history. But I was woefully ignorant of the pivotal role of Sam Adams in the lead up to Lexington and concord. A genuine eye opener. Highly recommended.

Well Researched Plod through History

I read this for a book club and typically enjoy NF and history. This was an absolute slog, not a moment of excitement or revelation. If you are doing research on Sam Adams, read it. Otherwise feel free to pass.

The forgotten career of Samuel Adams

This book is well written (if you overlook its occasional sarcastic tone and 21st century metaphors) and utterly engrossing. Much is owed to the excellent narration of Jason Culp; the text is full of quotations, which he cleverly and subtly indicates with a change in his excellent voice. A must-read for fans of early US history.

Hard to follow

I’m a history teacher and yet I just couldn’t get into this book. Was it a book on Sam Adams or on Thomas Hutchinson???

Moments of interest

There truly are great moments of interest that kept me from just setting the book aside as a good effort. However, I also found myself often having to go back nearly a chapter because I would find my mind wondering and couldn't remember when I stopped paying attention.

I enjoy history and politics, but this was very much a book I "just got through to finish it," rather than find myself engaged by.

A brilliant and unexpected story

Stacy Schiff’s exquisite writing brings Samuel Adams to life. Frankly, his name was most notable as a beer before reading this book! I highly recommend it!

Get the hard copy instead.

This book is absolutely unbearable to listen to. I am reading Schiff’s other book The Witches: Salem, 1692 and very much enjoying it. Look forward to reading the hard copy of this one because the topic is interesting and I love her thoroughly researched, engaging, prolific writing style. This is just :::horribly::: narrated.

Lifeless rambling

I expected to be immersed in history, and instead, I was subjected to a patchwork of facts loosely tied together. Somehow Adams shows up and is linked to historical events. I could not finish...