Publisher : Tantor Media
Publication Date : 2008 11 18
>> An Under Appreciated 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
>> Good but too short
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
>> Revealing Historical Fascinating
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
