Unger captures the many sides of Adams and his era in the superb John Quincy Adams…Eloquent, irritating and fiercely committed to his work, John Quincy Adams lived and extraordinary life, and Unger tells his story convincingly in this compelling narrative.”
Library Journal, 9/1/12
“[An] in-depth biography. The reader comes to know John Quincy Adams intimately as a son, father, statesman, and patriot…The individuals encountered in the narrative are familiar, but—in the best tradition of David McCullough's biographies—the pace and plotting pull readers forward even though they may know the ending. Unger makes use of many years of JQA's diaries and expertly dissects intricate political and (potentially confusing) family relationships. In all, he succeeds in making clear why JQA was the first subject of John F. Kennedy's Profiles in Courage. Verdict: Unger does a masterful job. Although there are other books on John Quincy Adams, American history and political history buffs will find this stirring work irresistible.”
Internet Review of Books, 9/14/12
“Unger gives us the story of a person bred for great deeds…A thoughtful significant work, bringing this sixth president to life.”
Portland Book Review, 9/12/12
“Thorough…Mr. Unger spreads his focus around, never getting bogged down by the details…A powerful biography.”
Washington Times, 9/20/12
“Unger gives us the biography of one of the great intellects of that era, our sixth president, and son of the second, and how he interacted with both his fellow Americans and the foreigners with whom he was assigned to deal…We should be grateful to Harlow Unger for his detailed biography.”
Denver Post, 9/16/12
“JQA had quite a life. Unger, an award-winning historian, spells it out.”
InfoDad.com, 9/20/12
“Readers of this fact-packed, dense biography will certainly come away feeling that politicians like John Quincy Adams do not exist anymore.”
Encyclopedia Britannica blog, 9/26/12
“Searching and thorough, though not overwhelming in length or detail, John Quincy Adams helps restore the second Adams to memory.”
“The first few words of John Quincy Adams illustrate Unger's skill: in a very few words he tells us everything we really need to know about his subject, introduces the idea of why we should care and teases us to go on. It's a great ride.”
Lone Star Book Review, January 2013
“If we want to have a better America then we need to read about John Quincy Adams and look for a leader who puts the nation's interest first all of the time. John Quincy Adams is the standard by which we should judge all others seeking to fill the highest office.”
Tutu's Two Cents, 11/28/12
“Unger's writing is clean, interesting, well-researched."
Roseburg News-Review, 1/10/13 “A fast-moving, intimate, and wonderfully entertaining biography…The book reads like a novel, except that, as fiction, the story would be implausible. Tragedy, triumph, intrigue, romance, Duels, liaisons, alcoholism, suicide, murder, political scandals…John Quincy Adams is a delight.”
“Most Americans know very little of this former president…Unger has provided a palatable remedy to that national knowledge gap…An excellent portrait of Adams as a man of great intellect…Unger has brought the dour visage of Adams from the dim daguerreotype, with which many are familiar, to life.”
Tucson Citizen, 10/1/12
“A fascinating biography of this almost bigger-than-life figure. Exciting and crisply written, this is a vivid biography that finally gives Adams the historic acclaim he deserves. This is more than a mere political biography since it is nothing less than the stirring story of our country finding its way during changing and often turbulent times.”
Reference & Research Book News, October 2012
“This readable narrative biography for general readers interweaves many excerpts from Adams's diary as it celebrates Adams's triumphs.”
Bookviews blog, October 2012
“An extraordinary biography of an extraordinary man…I heartily recommend this book.”
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 10/7/12
“It's not just the biography of an American who would grow up to lead his nation, or the story a much-loved son. It's a lesson that many Americans need to get reacquainted with. What happens when parents help their kids get a good education, and then urge them to use what they learned? The short answer is that those kids grow up to be highly productive members of society, and better citizens…Unger's work addresses more than the chronological sequence of a great man's life. This biography demonstrates the value of character, ethics, and integrity.”
Warning Signs blog, 10/18/12 “[A] captivating biography.”
Miami Today, 10/25/12
“[Unger] bring[s] to life a character he ranks among a handful of ‘truly virtuous and selfless leaders in American history.'”
January, 10/24/12 “No one writes biography quite like Harlow Giles Unger. His last half dozen or so books have brought as many long dead presidents back to something like literary life…As the country rolls towards election, looking over our shoulder can be an interesting—and sometimes even helpful—exercise. And, as usual, Harlow Giles Unger delivers some of the best.”
The Federal Lawyer, December 2012
“[A] compelling volume.”
“Finely written…Unger deftly weaves into a narrative of what was a very demanding—even harrowing—career, choice reporting on the tragedies that dotted Adams' personal life…Anyone still burdened with an image of an early American leaders bewigged, wearing shoes with silver buckles, rolling along cheerfully in horse-drawn carriages while thinking great thoughts should read this book…[Adams] wasn't a great president, but he was a great American statesman and legislator.”
WomanAroundTown.com,9/27/12
“This biography is a gift to all of us who love American History.”
Collected Miscellany, 10/13/12
“A wonderful tribute to one of the greatest defenders of freedom in our nation's earliest years.”
“Politics & Patriotism” blog, 10/17/12
The Washington Independent Review of Books Pick of the Week, 1/7/13
Kirkus Reviews, 5/1
“A neglected president receives his due as a statesman and practical politician…A fine examination of a life, well deserving a place alongside David McCullough's study of Adams père.”
Publishers Weekly, 6/11/12 “Spare prose clarifies the overview of political complications and intricate family dynamics, revealing Adams as a historically overlooked yet key transitional figure who witnessed the birth of the nation and endured its nearly irreparable geographic squabbles of the 1840s.”
Booklist, August 2012 “Unger's well-presented portrait merits American-history readers' attention.”
Asbury Park Sunday Press, 8/26/12
“[A] lively and often intimate account…John Quincy Adams is usually brushed aside in discussions of the presidents, but Unger makes a convincing argument that the presidency was only a footnote in one of the most important public careers in American history.”
BookPage, September 2012
Taft Bulletin, Fall 2012 “[A] masterful biography.”
American History, February 2012
“In Unger's hands, Adams comes close to becoming an inspiring character… Unger makes him seem as overweeningly intelligent, clever, headstrong, insecure, brave and insightful as he probably was.”
Sacramento Bee, 12/1/12 “[A] captivating new book.”
Midwest Book Review, reviewed, November 2012
“A magnificent book…and one for the young scholar in your family whilst in high school or college.”
Washington Independent Review of Books, 1/2/13 ”[An] excellent biography…it is refreshing to find an author who, while still rigorous in his use of sources, is a champion for his chosen subject…The great strength of Unger's approach is his extensive employment of diary entries by John Quincy Adams, allowing him to speak in his own voice. He also makes excellent use of the extensive correspondence between Adams and the rest of his family…For anyone looking for a thoroughly researched, entertaining and informative biography of the public life of John Quincy Adams, this is an excellent choice.”
January Magazine, Best Books of 2012: Non-Fiction, 1/5/13
AND Magazine, 9/22/12 “There are few historians of the United States from the Revolution up to the Jacksonian era who have the knowledge and ability to make familiar faces seem brand-new and shine the spotlight on some of the more obscure figures or those who are often overshadowed by the most famous of the Founders…As is his style, Unger's John Quincy Adams is first-class history from cover-to-cover…Unger is one of the preeminent historians and chroniclers of our nation's first 75 years. Nobody is better-equipped to write this biography, and we're lucky that Unger has told the story of this underrated American icon, legendary diplomat, and tireless advocate of everything that is just and righteous in our country.”
Louisville Courier-Journal, 9/28/12
“As our election season kicks off with crude and confounding incivility, it is pure pleasure to read about a statesman who refused to tout himself because he believed that votes should be cast for principles, not for the politician behind them…The superlative nature of Unger's material alone would make for a rich life history. But his distinctive biographical gift is his ability to humanize rather than lionize his subject.”
Roanoke Times, 9/23/12
