Man, oh man. I finished this book on the train this morning. I have kind of been putting of finishing it, and wanting to have it over with, all at the same time. It was a little bit more difficult of a read than 1776 (from an A.D.D. perspective), but well worth it. I have heard from a few different people that the HBO mini-series based on this book, is pretty good, also. I suppose that I will have to check it out. I marked a few parts in John Adams, to write about. So, hopefully I will get around to it at some point. From what I understand, McCullough also wrote a book about Truman. I am definitely going to add that to my list. I really enjoy the way that he writes, not to mention that the subject matter is super fascinating to me. I think that I may hold off until the fall to start that book though. I need chase this book with something that doesn’t require any thought. Anyway, if it isn’t already totally apparent, I strongly recommend David McCullough’s John Adams.

Earlier this week, I came across this quote by John Adams, in the book I’m currenty reading. It was taken from one of his writings contemplating the post British rule, state of the Colonies. He wrote:

We may please ourselves with the prospect of free and popular governments. But there is a great danger that those governments will not make us happy. God grant they may. But I fear that in every assembly, members will obtain an influence by noise, not sense. By meanness, not greatness. By ignorance, not leaning. By contracted hears, not large souls.

I could not agree more. But I really appreciate the fact that he has the character to follow up the above statement with this observation:

There must be decency and respect, and veneration introduced for persons of authority of every rank, or we are undone. In a popular government, this is our only way.

The second part is a lot more difficult to practice, even if you agree with it.  I will try to reflect on it, every time that I start to get annoyed about the guy in the governors mansion. The guy who nobody voted for, wearing jogging shorts, with his feet up on the desk.

I thought it was fitting that I finish the book “1776″ on Presidents day. I guess it would have been more fitting, had I finished it on Independence Day, but whatev. Presidents day is cool enough. I also hadn’t realized before reading this book, that I was born on the 200th anniversay of the battle of Pell’s Point. I would never have guessed that the book would be such a page turner. Most of the second part of the book takes place steps from where I live, as well as from where I work. So, as nerdy as I am, I couldn’t help but to try to imagine what it must have been like during the winter of 1776. Especially when I was running through Fort Tryon park last week. I tried to imagine what the battle at Ft. Washington must have been like.  I wondered if there were the remains of any fallen Patriots, Hessians or British buried somewhere in the park.  I suppose that my locale was part of the reason that my dad recommended (and sent a copy of ) the book to me. So, thanks again, dad.

I appreciated “1776″ so much, in fact, that I started McCullough’s “John Adams” on the train this morning. I’m sure that it will prove to be equally entertaining.