I was originally assigned War By Other Means as a required reading for my Homeland Security class in college but I did not finish the book and made it a priority to do so after the semester wrapped up.  I’m glad that I made that decision.  The book is filled with a lot of insight into the Bush Administration, the justification behind their course of action after the September 11 terrorist attacks, and much more.  Even though the book does contain a lot of good information, there were definitely times that the progression stalled and there wasn’t too much to reinitialize interest in the topics being discussed.  At times, it felt like Yoo was repeating himself and the subject just kept dragging on.  Those type of moments were few and far between, but they did require me to set the book down for a couple of days in order to get my interest peaked once again.

I must warn you, this book takes a very right wing approach, as it is practically a defense of the actions taken by the Bush Administration.  Although I’m not a big fan of biased books, it was quite refreshing to read literature that was not produced by the media, which often is in the pocket of left wing politicians.  John Yoo brings up some excellent points in the book, especially when discussing the topics of interrogation and wiretapping.  I believe that this is a book that every American should read, even if they aren’t too interested in politics or homeland security.  The information within the book put some pieces together for me and filled in some gaps that I had about our nation’s defense system, the laws that run our country, and the policies that the Bush Administration put into place.  I think this is a good starting point for people who want to know more about what went on after September 11 and for individuals who desire to be familiar with the topic of homeland security and all that goes along with it.

If you want a preview of the book, you can check out it out on Google Books.

I don’t think there was an aspect of the book that did not impress me in some way.  First, the style of writing used by David McCullough is critical in setting the events of the book and conveying the emotion that John Adams put into every aspect of his life.  It is as if McCullough is hosting the life of John Adams and is narrating it as it goes on, continually building on the past and leaving the reader wondering the path Adams will take next.   To say the book is anything but eloquently written would be an understatement.

In biographies, the reader is often given information about the subject from an outsiders point of view or from a first person perspective.  Unlike most biographies, John Adams conveys the material from all levels, including that of multiple people at the same time.  A large part of the book is devoted to the ever-changing relationship between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, a topic that is important when retelling the story of Adams’ life.  David McCullough does not stick to telling of the relationship from the perspective of solely Adams or Jefferson; instead he conveys the information needed from the points of view from multiple people, including family members of both men and common friends.  The level of detail that is present in the book allows the reader to fully be encompassed in the lives of John Adams and the people who were important in his life.

Overall, John Adams is a stunning read for any individual who is interested in history or who would like to learn more about one of the Founding Fathers of the United States.  I would also recommend the book to people who do not have an interest in history because it contains a writing style which can be appreciated by any reader.   John Adams is a book like no other that can have a permanent impact on anyone who reads it.