How to Ace Calculus: The Streetwise Guide (How to Ace)

Average customer rating:

Horrible

Best Side-Text Available

Excellent Book

Helped this engineering student conquer calculus-induced panic!

The best accompaniment to any calculus text.

How to Ace Calculus: The Streetwise Guide (How to Ace)
Colin Adams , Joel Hass , and Abigail Thompson
Manufacturer: W. H. Freeman
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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How to Ace the Rest of Calculus: The Streetwise Guide: Including Multi-Variable Calculus

Calculus Made Easy

Calculus for Dummies

3,000 Solved Problems in Calculus

The Humongous Book of Calculus Problems: For People Who Don't Speak Math

ASIN: 0716731606

Book Description

Written by three gifted-and funny-teachers, How to Ace Calculus provides humorous and readable explanations of the key topics of calculus without the technical details and fine print that would be found in a more formal text. Capturing the tone of students exchanging ideas among themselves, this unique guide also explains how calculus is taught, how to get the best teachers, what to study, and what is likely to be on exams-all the tricks of the trade that will make learning the material of first-semester calculus a piece of cake. Funny, irreverent, and flexible, How to Ace Calculus shows why learning calculus can be not only a mind-expanding experience but also fantastic fun.

Customer Reviews:

Horrible.......2007-10-01

I bought this book after seeing the reviews thinking it'd be wonderful but all it's good for is acting as a paperweight. There are no practice problems and the sections are very short. There are charts and formulas in the back but what's the point if they don't help you learn to apply them? IMO- Math takes alot of practice problems for success. I bought this and "The Humongous Book of Calculus Problems: For People Who Don't Speak Math", which I HIGHLY recommend. I'll now be buying "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Calculus" which is from the same author.

Best Side-Text Available.......2007-05-26

Students of calculus often find that they "don't understand" what the textbook is saying, what the teacher is saying, what the problem is saying/asking. This book explains the mathematics with integrity and humor. Over the past several years I am sure that more than a hundred of my students have purchased this book and the sequel, How to Ace the Rest of Calculus, and to a one they all love it! When the stuff in class doesn't hang together we all turn to "Colin and friends" to see how they explain it.

Excellent Book.......2007-05-06

If you are taking calculus without this book, you are wasting too much time. This book is destined to be a classic. If you enjoy being confused and want bad grades, this book is not for you.

Helped this engineering student conquer calculus-induced panic!.......2007-01-10

The great thing about this book is undoubtedly the way the material is presented. It's lighthearted without treating the reader like a moron and every topic is presented in amazing depth and clarity.

I bought this book for my first semester of college calculus. I was apprehensive about what I was getting myself into by going into Computer Science when I haven't historically been very interested in math. On the first exam of the semester, I got a perfect 100%...something I have never achieved on any math test as far back as 4th grade. While I won't say this book was the sole reason since I spent lots of time doing problems, I will say that having it nearby to refer to helped me feel not so scared to dig in and get my hands dirty in what Calculus is really all about.

Out of all the books I bought on Calculus, this one was far and away the best. It should be a required textbook for all first-semester college calculus courses! I've now finished Calc 3 and I'm now taking Differential Equations; I owe it all to the boost of confidence I got from reading this book.

The best accompaniment to any calculus text........2006-12-31

I am a mathematics teacher. I admire this textbook, and have recommended it many times to my students. It is not a substitute for your textbook, but will help you immensely in your studies.

How to Ace the Rest of Calculus: The Streetwise Guide: Including Multi-Variable Calculus

Average customer rating:

Best Side-Text Available
Saved Me in Calc II !!!!
Calculus made Fun!
This is great for Calc II, III, and Engineering Mathematics.
not very helpful

How to Ace the Rest of Calculus: The Streetwise Guide: Including Multi-Variable Calculus
Colin Adams , Abigail Thompson , and Joel Hass
Manufacturer: W. H. Freeman
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0716741741

Book Description

The sequel to How to Ace Calculus, How to Ace the Rest of Calculus provides humorous and highly readable explanations of the key topics of second and third semester calculus-such as sequences and series, polor coordinates, and multivariable calculus-without the technical details and fine print that would be found in a formal text.

Customer Reviews:

Best Side-Text Available.......2007-05-26

Students of calculus often find that they "don't understand" what the textbook is saying, what the teacher is saying, what the problem is saying/asking. This book explains the mathematics with integrity and humor. Over the past several years I am sure that more than a hundred of my students have purchased this book and the prequel, How to Ace Calculus, and to a one they all love it! When the stuff in class doesn't hang together we all turn to "Colin and friends" to see how they explain it.

Saved Me in Calc II !!!!.......2007-05-10

This book is great. Provides a solid foundation for the concepts in calc 2, explains the whys, and puts them all into perspective. Was more helpful than my prof or my textbook! Highly recommend...helps SO much.

Calculus made Fun!.......2007-04-20

Although I read this book over two years ago, I still use it as a reference. Instead of just doing the math of a vector field, multiple integral or divergence of something and calling it a day, they give you real life examples of how to apply the just learned math. The best part is the examples are really funny, but I once took a memorization class and your suppose to make up goofy stuff so its so dumb that you do remember it. Its also in a really good format for kids who are advanced students.

This is great for Calc II, III, and Engineering Mathematics........2006-12-31

I am a mathematics teacher. I admire this textbook and its predecessor, and have recommended them both many times to my students. They are not a substitute for your textbook, but will help you immensely in your studies.

not very helpful.......2006-04-23

The book seems to spend more time making lame jokes than actually explaining anything. Also, there are not enough examples and no practice problems.

Abigail Adams: Girl of Colonial Days (Childhood of Famous Americans)

Average customer rating:

Too Good to be True
This book is very interesting and exciting from pg.1-pg.192!

Abigail Adams: Girl of Colonial Days (Childhood of Famous Americans)
Jean Brown Wagoner
Manufacturer: Aladdin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0689716575

Customer Reviews:

Too Good to be True.......2004-12-28

Abigail Adams life was a miracle. The book was so good, that I did not want to finish it. So I didn't read it for about two months. I am thinking about reading more books from this series. It is truly amazing how she survived when she was born. The whole entire world should read it.

This book is very interesting and exciting from pg.1-pg.192!.......1999-11-04

This book is very exciting and interesting from from the begining to the end. It tells how Abigail almost dies as a child. She lived through the Revolution. Abigail also marrys the second President and is the mother of the sixth President.

Average customer rating:

Do NOT read this book
Great biography!
Everything You Want to Know about Abigail Adams
Not Just for Kids
Are you sure it's the 21st Century?

Abigail Adams: Witness to a Revolution
Natalie S. Bober
Manufacturer: Simon Pulse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0689819161

Book Description

Abigail Adams is often referred to as the wife of one president and the mother of another. Rarely is she described as a woman in her own right. Although her primary focus and concerns were in her role as wife and mother, she lives in history because of her extraordinary letters to her family and to her friends.

She was a witness to the gathering storm of the Revolutionary War. She saw the Battle of Bunker Hill from a hilltop near her home, and soldiers marching past her door frequently stopped for a drink of water. Because she was so close to the scene, she was able to give firsthand reports of the American Revolution to her husband and other leaders creating a new government, as she wrote about the times and the people who played vital roles in the birth of our nation.

Mingling the intimate with the momentous, she documented what it was like to live at a time when education was not available to young women, and when pregnancy and childbirth meant the fear of death. Colonial women were called upon to make life-and-death decisions for their children, to educate their daughters, and to run their farms when their husbands were away for months, or sometimes for years, at a time. Yet they had, at best, second-class legal and political status.

Abigail Adams's independent spirit, her sense of humor, and her remarkable intellect, as shown in her letters, open a wide window on a crucial period in our nation's history, and bring Abigail Adams and her time to life.

Customer Reviews:

Do NOT read this book.......2006-05-21

This book did not have a purpose, Abigail Adams had no significant contributions to American society.Though she was a hard diligent worker the biography wasn't as captivating as I expected. If you are going to read this book you may as well reaed a biography on John Adams instead. This book really did not have much value to it.

Great biography!.......2006-04-18

While this is definitely a popularized account, this is a great biography of Abigail Adams. It is easy to ready and very accurate. It is a great book to use in class at an introductory level.

Everything You Want to Know about Abigail Adams.......2006-02-25

I find that when one reads a biography of this size, one also reads "little" biographies of other people in their life.

Here, Natalie S. Bober has minimized the little biographies and kept the focus on Abigail Adams.

I think that for the average person, this book is the only one you'll ever need to know. It has just the right amount of information to write a fully-informed report or paper, but Bober has kept it fresh and interesting.

A good place to begin or continue research on one of the greatest American women in history.

Not Just for Kids.......2005-05-12

This book in many ways reminded me of Lynne Withey's biography of Abigail Adams. The writing was forthright and easy to understand. However, sometimes the subject matter seemed more appropriate to an older audience and I often wondered why the book was aimed at a youth audience. Certainly, as an adult reading this book, I took great enjoyment from and interest in it. The inclusion of Abigail's letters certainly indicate the complexity of the woman and of the times she lived in, and there were many times where I felt my heart break for this woman who so loved her family, but outlived 2 of her children. Bober's attention to detail added much interest -- how many trunks of tea were tossed overboard during the Boston Tea Party, why Boston's streets were paved with cobblestones, etc.
Bottom line: This is not just a youth book. If you love American history, pick it up.

Are you sure it's the 21st Century?.......2001-11-11

This book really takes you back in time. It is the most interesting biography I read, ever. It's a bit longer then most biographies at this reading level, but believe me it will go by fast. I learned information that I will keep for the rest of my life. I really felt I was a fly in the wall of Abigail Adam's many homes. The pictures also give you more for your imagination to build upon. Also in the book there are some of Abigail's letters. This shows what is really going on in Abigail's life. I found out that Abigail Adams was more then first lady and mother of a president she did some pretty courageous things. I felt like I was reading a fictional book, when really I was reading a quite informative, book.

Average customer rating:

Somewhat disappointing
Ambiguous
An amazing woman!
The Woman Behind the Man
Remember the Lady

Dearest Friend: A Life of Abigail Adams
Lynne Withey
Manufacturer: Touchstone
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 074323443X

Book Description

This is the life of Abigail Adams, wife of patriot John Adams, who became the most influential woman in Revolutionary America. Rich with excerpts from her personal letters, Dearest Friend captures the public and private sides of this fascinating woman, who was both an advocate of slave emancipation and a burgeoning feminist, urging her husband to "Remember the Ladies" as he framed the laws of their new country.

John and Abigail Adams married for love. While John traveled in America and abroad to help forge a new nation, Abigail remained at home, raising four children, managing their estate, and writing letters to her beloved husband. Chronicling their remarkable fifty-four-year marriage, her blossoming feminism, her battles with loneliness, and her friendships with Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, Dearest Friend paints a portrait of Abigail Adams as an intelligent, resourceful, and outspoken woman.

Download Description

Dearest Friend is the biography of Abigail Adams, the unschooled minister's daughter who became the most influential woman in Revolutionary America. Rich with excerpts from her incomparable letters and alive with the ferment of a new nation, Dearest Friend captures both the public and the private sides of this fascinating woman. She was a keen observer of the politics of her time and fully grasped the Revolution's implications for women and slaves. She was an advocate of black emancipation and urged her husband to "Remember the Ladies" as he framed the laws of their new country. John and Abigail Adams married for love, and their passion for each other endured for the fifty-four years of their marriage. They lived apart for more than a decade while John traveled in America and abroad to help begin a new country. Abigail remained at home for most of that time, writing letters to her "Dearest Friend," raising four children, managing a farm and the family finances, and keeping John informed of the political mood at home. This book chronicles their remarkable marriage, her blossoming feminism, her battles with the loneliness of separation, and her friendships with Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and other giants of her time. Intelligent, resourceful, and outspoken, Abigail Adams lived an uncommon life for a woman of her time. First published in 1981, Dearest Friend brings her legacy to our century.

Customer Reviews:

Somewhat disappointing.......2007-07-12

This is a somewhat disappointing book about a fascinating woman during a fascinating period of our history. The book was highly recommended to a friend of a member of my book club, but the women in my club agreed that the author failed to make Abigail Adams "come alive." The writing was tedious, especially in the first half. I read "The Summer of 1787" just before this, and "Dearest Friend" pales by comparison, especially in the richness of the story telling. Nonetheless, the book contains history I didn't know or had forgotten, and I'm glad I read it.

Ambiguous.......2004-05-17

I assigned this book to college freshmen and sophs.... in US History.

I did not like how it portrayed Abigail as "long suffering," yet strong. The two did not mesh well.

An amazing woman!.......2003-06-11

During the history of the United States there have been many women who have sacrificed just as much or more for their country than did Abigail Adams, but not many. Thanks to the voluminous correspondence of Mrs. Adams this book was made possible and should stand as a monument to all of these women.

In recent years the life of John Adams has been reexamined and his role in American history has again come to the forefront. Without Abigail, Mr. Adams could never have accomplished what he did. For unlike many of the other leaders of the Revolution, Adams was not a man of means. When he was away, someone had to look after the family's domestic concerns. That someone was Abigail. John became so accustomed to having Abigail to take care of home and hearth that when he did have time to see to such matters he seldom did.

This book details the work Abigail did behind the scenes to allow John to make his vital contributions to American independence. We see a strong woman who is more than willing to take charge of a given situation and make a decision. We also see however a wife who misses her husband. Abigail and John Adams are one of the true love stories of history. Their complete devotion to each other is amazing, especially in that the longer they were together the more in love they became. In the end becoming almost one soul in two bodies. Abigail's worst hardships didn't involve the work she did but the separations from John. Separations that lasted months and then years at a time.

Abigail is also shown in this book as a woman of strong conviction but also a woman of great contradiction. She and her husband helped make the American Revolution but she detested revolution as a threat to the social order. She believed strongly in a good education for women but still thought a woman's place was in the home. She believed the election of a Republican President would destroy the republic, but eventually became a Republican herself. Mrs. Adams was also probably a better politician than her husband was and while she had much influence on her husband, there were times when he paid no attention to her and ended up wishing he had. For example, it was Abigail who first saw the danger posed by Alexander Hamilton and it was Hamilton who in the end cost John the Presidency.

An excellent book but not complete. A much larger volume would be required to do this great lady justice. Still, it is wonderful that there is such a book at all for the women of that era are often forgotten. Abigail once advised John to not forget the ladies. Advise we should remember in the 21st century.

The Woman Behind the Man.......2002-08-22

While in college I took an American History class because I wanted to, not because I had to. In the process of writing a paper on the role of women in the American Revolution, I found so many references to Abigail Adams, that I knew at some point in the future I would have to read her biography. Well, I just completed this book and I can't recommend it more highly!

With so many books regarding the Founding Fathers being touted at the bookstores recently, it's wonderful to read the story of one of the Women behind one of the Men. Though not traditionally educated Abigail's knowledge of politics, curiousity about everything, and affection for family and friends is well-documented through excerpts from her numerous letters. The sacrifices both she and her husband made for the fledgling America are a sober reminder of the courage and bravery required of our ancestors.

In a time when woman were subservient to men, she stood head and shoulders above other members of her gender. Her husband wisely depended on her counsel, love and care.

This is a wonderful biography that takes the reader back in time and place so vividly as to feel present at the birth of a nation and a voyeur into the unfolding political career of the second President of the United States and the woman who loved him.

I, too, wish American History had been presented this richly in my grammar and high school years.

After reading this book I would suggest reading "John Adams" by David McCullough, though quite lengthy, it is worthwhile to read the other half of the "conversation".

Remember the Lady.......2002-08-11

This is a beautifully written tale of an extraordinary 18th century woman. She was the wife and dearest friend of one US President and the mother of another. Her husband depended on her political acumen, and trusted her judgment. She was sometimes referred to as the old lady in the politics. She corresponded on business and politics with many men including Thomas Jefferson. Perhaps our first American feminist, Abigail Adams was full of contradictions.

As a staunch revolutionary, she foresaw the need for independence from England perhaps even before her husband, John. She advocated education and political freedom for women long before it was respectable to do so.

As practical homemaker, she worked the farm, raised the children, and handled the family finances including investments. Abigail liked investing in securities; John preferred land. They made investments in both. Her dependability in these matters secured the home front. This allowed her husband to attend the Continental Congress, sign the Declaration of Independence, serve as minister to France and then England, as well as serve as the first vice president, and then 2nd President of the fledgling USA. Without her shepherding the family finances, either the family would have been ruined; or the United States would have lost one of its great founding fathers.

As a post-revolution political conservative, she hated the republicanism of Jefferson, although she respected him as an honorable man. She foresaw the problems with the French Revolution before Jefferson and his Republican cohorts. She did not understand the criticism of the free press. She strongly advocated the Alien and Sedition Act, passed by congress during her husbands presidency. It addressed the two of what she thought were the serious threats to the security of the USA& that of foreigners and criticism of the government by the press.

The paradox of Abigail Adams is that she had always established her identity through her husbands achievements. The author tells us that Probably Abigail would have been astonished to find herself transformed into something of a celebrity one hundred fifty years after her death. Yet surely she would have approved of the reasons for her fame: the interest of a later age in the history of family and domestic life, as well as the history of politics, and above all its interest in the emancipation of women and the discovery of women in the past who spoke out on behalf of their sex.

The beauty of this book is that Lynne Withey presents Abigail Adams as a real human being, not an icon. It is easy to understand why Abigail was Johns Dearest Friend.

Book Description

The lives of this remarkable couple unfold alongside events of the Revolutionary War era, a time in which John left his family for prolonged periods to serve his colony and country. Their engaging exchanges follow John's career from provincial lawyer and farmer in Braintree, Massachusetts, to delegate to the Continental Congresses in Philadelphia, to diplomatic success in Europe. John reveals himself as an ambitious, determined, and self-doubting statesman with a trusting, deeply affectionate character and an earthy sense of humor.

Abigail's lively and captivating letters show the trials of an intelligent, strong, and resourceful woman who managed the family's farm and business affairs and reared the pair's four children during her husband's long absences. Her missives to John are filled with outspoken remarks on politics, public figures, and world-shaking events. An independent thinker and advocate of equal rights for women, she urged him in one spirited letter to "Remember the Ladies" in framing the new government. Abigail also vividly documents domestic life in eighteenth-century America, providing enlightening details on health problems, childbirth, education, women's activities, the difficulties of travel, and the impact of wartime inflation.

The 226 letters contained in this volume are supplemented with a few to third parties and a sampling of diary entries. Altogether, the words and thoughts of these warm, if occasionally fallible, human beings richly convey the experience of the Revolutionary generation in a most personal and authentic way.

Customer Reviews:

Good History Book.......2001-04-15

This was a very interesting book showing the way a women saw the start of a new country. It also shows the sacrifice that both John and Abigail both had to make to still be together while John was helping the colonies. John tells Abigail all of the political happenings that have been going on not including deaths etc... Abigail is very much into politics and reminds John to "remember the ladies" when writing the Declaration of Independence. This is an excellent book for anyone who wants to learn more about the war at a different perspective than what just the history books say.

Average customer rating:

John Adams - A Joy to Know
It's so romantic
A timeless love story that relates to American history
Warm and insightful look at John and Abigail Adams
Wonderful

Those Who Love
Irving Stone
Manufacturer: Doubleday
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0385001576
Release Date: 1965-09-22

Customer Reviews:

John Adams - A Joy to Know.......2001-10-15

When I first read this book many years ago, I fell in love with John Adams. Stone brought to life not only this most honorable of our founding fathers, and his beloved wife Abigail, but other "characters" of our nation's revolutionary history such as Samuel Adams, a rabble-rouser who was afraid to ride horses. So many intimate details of John and Abigails's life together were brought to this novel that you feel as though you know and love them both. You can't go wrong with this one.

It's so romantic.......2000-07-27

"Those Who Love" got me hooked on the saga of John and Abigail Adams. Thiers was a true love match that endured through joy and pain, triumph and trajedy. Stone's sprawling novel follows the pair from thier spirited first meeting, through the hellish American Revolution, and into the turbulent White House years. A fantastic read.

A timeless love story that relates to American history.......1999-02-03

For Those Who Love was a timeless love story that relates to American history. When you read this story, you will not be able to put it down. It tells you about historical events that happened in Boston during Abigail's life and how our country was formed. It was a beautiful story that a person who likes romantic novels could read, or one that a person interested in history could read. I personally fell in love with the Adams'.

Warm and insightful look at John and Abigail Adams.......1998-03-02

Irving Stone gives us a look at the American Revolutionary period and the writing of the Constitution in this book about the relationship of John and Abigail Adams. His attention to the details of life in that era help us to a greater understanding of what it was all about.

Wonderful.......1997-10-02

Irving Stone transports you back into time. You feel as if you knew Abigail Adams as well as a next door neighbor. It was hard to put down.

Average customer rating:

The loving letters of our second president and his wife abigail: brilliance in Braintree!

The Letters of John and Abigail Adams
Abigail Adams , and Frank Shuffelton
Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0142437115
Release Date: 2003-12-30

Book Description

The Letters of John and Abigail Adams provides an insightful record of American life before, during, and after the Revolution; the letters also reveal the intellectually and emotionally fulfilling relationship between John and Abigail that lasted fifty-four years and withstood historical upheavals, long periods apart, and personal tragedies. Covering key moments in American history-the Continental Congress, the drafting of the Declaration of Independence, the Revolutionary War, and John Adams's diplomatic missions to Europe-the letters reveal the concerns of a couple living during a period of explosive change, from smallpox and British warships to raising children, paying taxes, the state of women, and the emerging concepts of American democracy.

Customer Reviews:

The loving letters of our second president and his wife abigail: brilliance in Braintree!.......2006-08-25

John Adams was the first Vice-President and second chief
executive of the United States of America. He was also a brilliant lawyer, legislator, writer and diplomat for the fledging American nation in France and the Netherlands during
the Revolutionary War.
In this excellent collection of personal letters John and
Abigail share their thoughts on a wide variety of topics chiefly the struggle for our nation's independence. The letters in this
copious collection cover the years from 1774 to 1783 (the years
of the American Revolution).
These are two extremely intelligent persons! John's letters
let the reader look through the keyhole in Philadelphia as the
Declaration of Independence is approved; throughout the war
Adams was away from his Braintree farm for long stretches of
time. His life was in danger and he was worried about Abigail and
their young children. A few of the letters in this collection
were written by his parents to the young John Quincy Adams who
served as the sixth President of the United States.
Abigail lived long before the womens liberation movement but
she was the intellectual equal of her husband. Abigail kept the
farm going staying abreast of political affairs and raising a
great American family.
The patriotism and self-sacrifice of the Adams family is an
inspiration to all Americans. This is a wonderful collection
for anyone wishing to know these two American patriots on a more
intimate basis. Excellent resource for history classes and anyone wishing to know more about our history.

The Adams-Jefferson Letters: The Complete Correspondence Between Thomas Jefferson and Abigail and John Adams

Average customer rating:

Meet John Adams and Thomas Jefferson
Throw Away the Text Books
Just what I was hoping for
Not just for historians
The Adams-Jefferson Letters

The Adams-Jefferson Letters: The Complete Correspondence Between Thomas Jefferson and Abigail and John Adams
John Adams
Manufacturer: The University of North Carolina Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0807842303

Book Description

An intellectual dialogue of the highest plane achieved in America, the correspondence between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson spanned half a century and embraced government, philosophy, religion, quotidiana, and family griefs and joys. First meeting as delegates to the Continental Congress in 1775, they initiated correspondence in 1777, negotiated jointly as ministers in Europe in the 1780s, and served the early Republic—each, ultimately, in its highest office. At Jefferson's defeat of Adams for the presidency in 1800, they became estranged, and the correspondence lapses from 1801 to 1812, then is renewed until the death of both in 1826, fifty years to the day after the Declaration of Independence.

Lester J. Cappon's edition, first published in 1959 in two volumes, provides the complete correspondence between these two men and includes the correspondence between Abigail Adams and Jefferson. Many of these letters have been published in no other modern edition, nor does any other edition devote itself exclusively to the exchange between Jefferson and the Adamses. Introduction, headnotes, and footnotes inform the reader without interrupting the speakers. This reissue of The Adams-Jefferson Letters in a one-volume unabridged edition brings to a broader audience one of the monuments of American scholarship and, to quote C. Vann Woodward, 'a major treasure of national literature.'

Customer Reviews:

Meet John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.......2007-09-22

Out second and third presidents began their political career as friends, fell out, and then fortunately became friends again. In this wonderful collection of personal letters we see not only the men but the times until their deaths July 4, 1826. One of our most beloved presidents and most mis-understood are brought into reality by this collection. They were after all both remarkable men and human beings.

Throw Away the Text Books.......2006-11-10

Throw Away the texbooks. As others have said this is our Real History and Heritage. There is more to be found here on Ethics and Intergrity than in any of the pogressively vaporous decriptions of these men and their times. Imagine the chief architects of the Great Experiment in Representstve Democracy. Adversaries at the Constitutional Congress; ememies over the the transition from Adam's Presidency to Jefferson's. And then THESE! Conciliation and repect and eventually true affection - The founding fathers in thier own words - asessing what they had wrought - the good, the bad, the ugly - all passsed through that wondeful 18-19th Century Prose. Throw away the text books. Integrity was the founding principle of Taoism; Ethics the founding princple of Socratic/Platonic discouse. Adams and Jefferson knew this. Many Americans are waking up astounded by the lack of these two foundational elements in our modern system of governance. There is more to be learn of governance,literature and critical thinking on any page than there is in an entire high-school(and most college) curricula. Jefferson and Adams are stirring, stirring - and this can only be a Good Thing.

Just what I was hoping for.......2006-11-03

This collection of historic dialogue is just what I was looking for. The simply and powerfully reprints the letters between Adams, the older more conservative thought leader for a nation, and Jefferson, the quiet country Gentleman who gave voice to that nation. This chronilogical collection of letters bring to life the common bond that brought together and then sustained these two giants; the love of well formed thoughts and learning. The addition of the Abigal to Jefferson letters adds a deeply spiritual and personal tough. A great tool for understanding the thoughts and arguments behind the norming and forming of the United States.

Not just for historians.......2006-02-01

I have a hard time reading straightforward history. Usually, I would rather read fictionalized or storified versions of history. This is my first effort at reading original sources like letters of historical figures. So it was with real trepidation that I started reading.

It has been so worth it! The words and ideas of these two great men (and one great woman) are really interesting. The ideas that they discussed and fought over resonate into today's political discussions. What makes it all so much more interesting is the falling out that they had and the eventual reconcilliation.

Still, if you are like me, there are times when you may want to skim just a little. There is only so much reading about the commerce of the New England Whale Oil that I can take. Ride through it though...the good sections are very good and sometimes mixed into the dull sections.

The Adams-Jefferson Letters.......2002-10-25

The Adams-Jefferson Letters: The Complete Correspondence Between Thomas Jefferson and Abigail and John Adams edited by Lester J. Cappon is a remarkable book containing letter correspondence of the time when the United States was being formed and for fifty more years.

It is very interesting to read their letters to find out what really was on their minds concerning issues of the day. Americana at its best is what you come away with after reading these letters. The letters are in chronological order and are placed in order of response to the letter sent. Thomas Jefferson was a very prolific letter writer and the subjects the he discussed with John Adams vary greatly, but that is what made these letters very interesting. Also, the depth and the detail of the letters is remarkable.

Abigail Adams for a woman of her time was well versed and her letters to both Jefferson and her husband showed character, wit, and resolve. She was well aware of what was going on around her and you could tell by her letters that she loved her husband while he was away in the duty of his country.

This collection of letters is a real treasure, if you read or study the American Revolution, you have to own this book. This makes an excellent reference volume to fall back on when you get to the footnotes and want a more detailed reference, you can with these letters readily at hand.

I would recommend this volume for your home library.

Average customer rating:

He couldn't have done it without her

Five Stars

OK but not stellar

Abigail Adams -- At long last !!!

Abigail Adams

Abigail Adams: A Biography
Phyllis Lee Levin
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 031229168X

Book Description

Wife of one president and mother of another, Abigail Adams was an extraordinary woman at the center of Americas most tumultuous era. A tireless writer, her penetrating and often caustic impressions of most of the major persons of her day, including Benjamin Franklin, George and Martha Washington, and Thomas Jefferson, give one of the best accounts of the American Revolution.This brilliant and revealing study is the perfect companion to John Adams by David McCullough. Incorporating scrupulous documentation, thorough research conducted over 14 years, and the words of Abigail herself, Phyllis Lee Levin has written a fascinating and definitive biography of the mother of American history.

Customer Reviews:

He couldn't have done it without her.......2007-09-11

Abigail Adams was an amazing woman in so many ways - a conservative feminist (before the word "feminist" was in popular use), and a woman who was unashamedly and passionately in love with her husband when such things weren't generally discussed. Despite her professed lack of education, Abigail's letters were erudite, eloquent and got right to the point in an era where legalese and dense language were the norm. Her understanding and interest in politics was nothing short of astounding (at times I think she had a keener understanding of the issues than her husband did).

Ms. Levin's painstaking research is apparent in every page of this meticulously crafted volume, and she should be very proud of her accomplishment in bringing someone who left us almost 200 years ago to vivid, blooming life.

This is an excellent companion to David McCullough's "John Adams," and should be required reading for anyone, especially any woman, who is interested in American history.

Five Stars .......2006-11-03

A wonderful and indept biography about Abigail Adams. On her own she's a very fascinating person and one of the first pioneers for women's equality hoping the newly formed United States would including women being made equal too. Its was interesting learning more about her. Her childhood, msrriage, children, the years of being alone raising her children and trying to support her family while John was away with meeting with the Congress or sent to France and her experiences being first lady. She was a remarkable lady.

OK but not stellar.......2006-01-04

I am an avid fan of biography, and I found this one to be OK. It was certainly informative, but there was little information here that can't be found in David McCullough's book on Abigail's husband John. Abigail is a true heroine of American history, and certainly deserves her own study, I just wish there was a bit more here. In McCullough's book both John and Abigail are so well drawn that it basically leaves this work as a side note. Pick this one up if you just want more on this dynamic, rare political woman who was opinionated and at the same time develop a true partnership with her husband.

Abigail Adams -- At long last !!!.......2002-03-04

At last, a well written, well researched book on one of America's most fascinating ladies, Abigail Adams. Based on carefully interjected original research and letters, this book provides a long needed look at the issues and challenges that faced Abigail Adams. The author portrays her as a woman, very much in love with her husband, very much in love with her country, and very willing to try to balance the needs of both. It is striking to realize how totally independent she became in financial affairs, and in domestic issues. The book reminds you of the challenges of communications and distance. It also makes you aware of the personal sacrifices this family made for the young, emerging nation. The focus of the book is on Abigail, but sufficient information on the political events and political players is provided. An excellent look at a very important person. Don't miss it if you enjoy this period of history and are anxious to understand more about its key players.

Abigail Adams.......2002-02-13

Abigail Adams by Phyllis Lee Levin is an excellent companion work for David McCullough's John Adams.

Throughout life Abigail and John were inseparable, best of friends, and each others life. Through circumstances John was away in the service of forming a government and the duties to a new nation, but Abigail was not far from his heart, nor he from hers.

We see an unabated ardor in her for her "Best Friend" in life. Abigail Adams saw and wrote with clarity about the time leading to and after the Revolutionary War, and events following and her humanity. We have a unique perspective of the life and times of this period through her eyes written for posterity through her letters to a variety of people surrounding her life.

Not since Barbara Bush, has a woman been both a wife and mother to a President of the United States, even though she dies before John Quincy is elected. Abigail kept her family close to her heart and was the one to keep the family together and the family homestead viable in John's absence.

This is a well written book, solid in research, flowing prose and good details. This book captures Abigail Adams and shows us her intellegence and her perceptiveness of the events of her times. She wrote letters to Jefferson and had comments about all of the people, albeit caustic or poignant, close to John's work and life.

She loved John and missed him greatly when he was away, her letters attest to that, but when she was at his side both flourished. This book gives us a great insight into how Abigail was as a woman and how she coped with private and public life.

I recommend reading and enjoying this book.

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