[Kat]
I'm in the middle of reading David McCollough's, John Adams
So far, it's a great book. I'm about half way through and can say it is a great way to have an inside look at the process to declare independence, get support from all the colonies, run a war, develop commercial, political and military alliances with other countries, run an interim government while trying to maintain your health and sanity. McCollough relies heavily on personal letters, journals and other documentation from the time to tell the story. He even relies on personal correspondence to touch on economic (the cost of items) and health related issues (such as the introduction of small pox inoculations)
It's interesting to me, though I don't know if all the details would be as interesting to everyone.
What comes across about Adams is that he is, in a word, driven. About everything that he takes interest in whether it is the law, love, languages or independence. At the same time, he displays moments of utter lack of confidence in himself and his efforts.
It's clear why Adams is recognized as an eminent figure among the "founding fathers".
[As an aside, I think that anyone reading this book and watching the growing pains in Iraq or Afghanistan, particularly the political problems and various compromises that sometimes end up good and not so good, would have a much better appreciation for how long it is taking.]
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