All I can saw is wow! These were true stories about people God touched, healed and blessed. I really hope you read this book and feel about it like I did.

I have read a lot of books on humor. None ever addressed "How To" be funny. This one does. It explains how to 'tailor' a joke to make it your own regardless where you are or what is happening in current events. For speakers that are good with humor ... this book is a must.

The Profiles of the Presidents series is suited for those young readers who want a lot of pictures to go along with the text. There are indeed historic pictures on every page from paintings, etchings, and the like contemporary to the life of John Adams (including a newspaper clipping reporting the amazing historical coincidence that Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died on the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence). However, Andrew Santella slips in a competent juvenile biography of the American patriot who became the nation's second President, having the historical misfortune of having an administration that fell between the Mt. Rushmore figures of George Washington and Jefferson. Santella emphasizes the life of Adams as that of an "ordinary man," which is something certainly highlighted by any comparisons to the other Founding Fathers. Young readers should get an appreciation for Adams as THE major figure in the American struggle for independence before the start of the Revolutionary War. They will also get a sense for how the rise of political parties doomed his political career. Santella deals forthrightly with the major problems of the one term as President Adams served but also emphasizes the accomplishments for which he should be remembered. Not only are the main details of the life of John Admas covered, but the early history of the republic. Like all of the volumes in the Profiles of the Presidents sereis this look at John Adams features a glossary, fast facts about the president, a parallel timeline of world and presidential events, extensive resources to help young readers understand the president's life and times better, and an index. Younger students assigned to research Adams for class will find this an excellent book to turn to first.

Mr. Brown is one hell of an author with other great books. I would like to commend Mr. Walt Brown on a great piece of writing. Also I know Mr. Brown personally and he is such a weirdo!

Ann Graham Gaines's juvenile biography of "John Adams: Our Second President" is an excellent book for young students to find out about the patriot whose accomplishments were overshadowed by the men who were elected before and after him: George Washington and Thomas Jefferson. This book has only four chapters: American Patriot, A Weak Vice President, The Presidency, and Saving the Nation from War. So even though Adams only served one four-year term as President, his time in the office is the focus on half of Gaines's book. No doubt Adams himself would be grateful that the final chapter emphasizes what he considered to be his major accomplishment in office, which was avoiding going to war with France.

This book focuses on providing basic information about Adams, with "Interesting Facts" about his life and times added to the margins. Each chapter has a page devoted to details about a related topic: The Boston Massacre, Abigail Adams, the White House and the friendship between Adams and Jefferson. There are a couple dozen illustrations in the book, all of which are in color. The back of this volume includes a time line of John Adams's life, a glossary of three dozen words, information on all of the Presidents form Washington to Bush, Presidential facts, and internet sites and books for finding further information.

Older students or those looking for more detailed information about Adams in a juvenile biography should turn next to Marlene Targ Brill's biography in the Encyclopedia of Presidents series and eventually David McCullough's best-selling biography. The "Our Presidents" books are part of the "Spirit of America" series, which focuses on the American experience in terms of history, culture, and politics.

John Adams, Second President of these United States, is certainly enjoying a revitalized reputation thanks to David McCullough's best-selling biography. But for younger students who are not yet ready to tackle that weighty tome, Marlene Targ Brill provides a solid introduction to the man for this volume in the Encyclopedia of Presidents series. The story begins with what Adams considered to be his most important accomplishment as President, which was keeping the young nation from going to war with France. But Brill establishes right from the start that this patriotic man was frequently an unpopular public figure. At the start, Brill offers the verdict of history on John Adams as pronounced by Benjamin Franklin, who said Adams "means well for his country, is always an honest man, often a wise one, but sometimes and in some things absolutely out of his senses."

This book covers the boyhood of John Adams in Braintree, Massachusetts, his education at Harvard, his career as a lawyer, his marriage to Abigail Smith, and his involvement in the movement for American independence. After the Declaration of Independence was adopted, Adams planned on retiring from politics, his life's work accomplished, but his nation was not even close to being done with him. After a decade of work in the Foreign Service, Adams was elected to two terms as the country's first Vice President (a New Englander to balance Southerner George Washington), and then faced the unenviable task of being the person who followed Washington as President and was then in turn replaced by Thomas Jefferson. In perhaps the greatest irony in American history, both Adams and Jefferson would die on July 4, 1826, the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

I have always admired Adams ever since I became enamored of the musical "1776" and enjoyed "The Adams Chronicles" mini-series. This is not a slick looking book but it does provide more than adequate coverage of the life of its subject, which is supposed to be its purpose. There are better looking juvenile biographies of Adams, but they do not provide the amount of information Brill presents here. This volume is illustrated with dozens of black and white illustrations, mostly engravings and illustrations from Adams's lifetime, as well as maps, pamphlets and signatures. The book contains a detailed Chronology of American History that lists virtually ever year from the birth of Washington in 1732 to the crash of the space shuttle Challenger in 1986, when this book was published.

The Profiles of the Presidents series is a superb collection of introductory juvenile biographies for young students, which I think is around the halfway mark in terms of covering everyone from Washington to Bush the Younger. Ironically, it is because of the current resident of the White House that John Quincy Adams has received more attention in recent years. After all, the parallels are extraordinary: both men are the only sons of Presidents to be elected to the office, they both have the same first name but different middle names, and they both lost the popular vote in their first election. Will the parallel continue in 2004? Well, no: because while every other President who was elected with less of the popular vote lost their bid for re-election they both (John Quincy Adams and Benjamin Harrison) lost in rematches with the opponents who won the popular vote (Andrew Jackson and Grover Cleveland) and that is not going to happen this time because Al Gore did "Saturday Night Live" and disappeared into the sunset.

Michael Burgan begins this book by establishing the idea that the story of John Quincy Adams is that of "A Lifetime of Service." Where Adams is most unique is that there he continued to serve his country after his four difficult years in the White House, serving in the U.S. House of Representatives and becoming known as "Old Man Eloquent" for his attacks on slavery (touched on in Steven Spielberg's film "Amistad"). Burgan deals with the problems of being the son of a President but also goes into detail on the extraordinary diplomat career both abroad and at home. The end result is the inevitable conclusion that even if he had not been elected President the life and political career of John Quincy Adams should be remembered.

In addition to the concise but detailed biography, this volume is profusely illustrated with historic etchings, paintings, and maps. Even when the illustrations are black & white they often end up with colored frames, showing the premium placed by the editors on having an eye-catching book. In the back of the book you will find a glossary, fast facts about Adams, a parallel timeline of world and presidential events, extensive resources to help young students better understand the life and times of this particular president, and a decent index. The Profiles of the Presidents series is excellent and Michael Burgan's look at "John Quincy Adams" is one of the best to date.

It is ironic that the thing that reflected poorest on John Quincy Adams, his tenure as president, is what he is today remembered for. In fact, his most outstanding achievements were in the field of foreign affairs and civil liberties. Professor Bemis's book addresses the first of these (the second is handled in vol. 2).

Because of his father's career as a diplomat during the American Revolution, John Adams probably had the best education in foreign affairs of any statesmen in early America. While charges of nepotism haunted Adams, it was money well-spent in terms of results. Adams was posted to Prussia, Russian and Great Britain during the Napoleonic War. He managed to secure a peace treaty with Britain which was threatening to send over the Duke of Wellington to resolve the war of 1812.

As Secretary of State, Adams established the principles that later became enshrined as the Monroe Doxtrine. His vision of Western Hemispheric solidarity was designed to allow the new American Republic to stand up to the more powerful nations of Europe. Adams did much to establish anti-colonialism as the hallmark of American Foreign Policy up to the Second World War.

The job of Secretary of State was seen as the springboard to the presidency in the "Era of Good Feelings." Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe had held this office. The rise of Adams was overshadowed by that of Andrew Jackson. However, given the nature of politics at the time neither he nor Adams were able to achieve a clear victory in electoral college. The inconclusive results of the election of 1824 led to the ultimate decision resting with the House of Representatives. When the fourth runner up and Speaker of the House, Henry Clay was in a position to decide the outcome.

The result was the famous "corrupt bargin" in which Adams came in as president and Clay was appointed to be secretary of state. The hint of "political hanky panky" undermined the presidency of John Quincy Adams. There were a number of good ideas proposed, a national university, a system of observatories, internal improvements featuring a national network of canals and roads that would have opened up the west and promoted greater regional ties and interdependence. Unfortunately these good ideas were ineffective against the charisma of Jackson and the political machinations of Van Buren, the first national political boss. The presidency of John Quincy Adams was ineffective against well-organized congressional opposition.

Beemis is excellent on all points. He correctly assesses the highlights of his career. This is intended to be a scholarly biography, not a popular representation. The level of detail and the flow of the narrative may drag at times, but this book is well worth the effort.

This book is the second volume of a two volume biography of John Quincy Adams and it is the definative study of the subject.

The book takes up in the midst of his presidency. Beemis wisely assesses Adams's presidency as a low point in his career as an American statesman. The focus of the book is career as a congressman, his one foray into the world of popular politics and he performed magnificently.

While in congress the crucial issue was slavery. Adams, like his father, detested the institution. While not an abolitionist, Adams's concern was the effect that this "peculiar institution was having on the politics of the republic.

The justification of slavery seemed to occupy the focus of the southern delgations to Washington during this period. One of the innovations designed to halt discussion was the so-called "gag order" which prevented any petition addressing the subject of slavery to be automatically tabled. While not having the reputation as a popular politician, Adams realized what was at stake by this measure. To maintain slavery, fundamental rights were being sacrificed. To this son of the revolution this endangered all that had come before. If congress could limit the right of petition, it could limit other rights granted by the constitution, something that all branches of government were willing to accept.

Luckily for the future of the United States, Adams was a stubborn fighter who relished the conflict. This book charts his efforts to overturn this measure and to make the government accountable to its citizens.

During this period Adams also defended members of Amistead revolt, fought for the establishment of the Smithsonian Instition (congress had predictably squandered the original bequest), opposed the growth of slavery. Ironically Adams's reputation was more effective as a congressman than he ever was as president. He died in 1848 denouncing the Mexican War. He was carried from the chamber of the House of Representatives by his fellow congressmen, among them Abraham Lincoln, a moment of great symbollism.

Professor Beemis again demonstrates his mastery of his subject. While a distiguished scholar of American diplomatic history, he displays a great grasp of domestic affairs that his often lacking in those who are specialists in this subject.

Gerry and Janet Souter's juvenile biography of "John Quincy Adams: Our Sixth President" is an excellent book for young students to find first person to follow their own father to the Presidency. If there is any chance for a renaissance of interest in the life and career of John Quincy Adams, then it is during the Presidency of George W. Bush that is might actually happen. This book offers four chapters on Adams's life: In His Father's Footsteps, A Career in Politics, The Bitter Presidency, and Duty to the End. It is important that the four years Adams spent in the White House are probably the least significant of his career. Young readers will learn about how Adams spent his early career in the diplomatic service, all because he learned to speak French when he was 10 years old and serving as his father's secretary when John Adams was sent to French to ask for help during the American Revolution. Eventually John Quincy Adams because Secretary of State, which led to him becoming President in a disputed election (sound familiar?) that was thrown into the House of Representatives. It was as a Congressman, known as "Old Man Eloquent" for his speeches attacking slavery, that Adams proved there was a life of public service after the Presidency.

This book focuses on providing basic information about the second Adams to be President, with "Interesting Facts" about his life and times added to the margins. Each chapter has a page devoted to details about his life: sailing on the "Boston" to France, his wife Louisa, his troubled family with regards to his sons, and the "Amistad" affair. There are a couple dozen illustrations in the book, all of which are in color. The back of this volume includes a time line of John Quincy Adams's life, a glossary of three dozen words, information on all of the Presidents form Washington to Bush, Presidential facts, and internet sites and books for finding further information. Older students or those looking for more detailed information about Adams in a juvenile biography should turn next to Zachary Kent's biography in the Encyclopedia of Presidents series. The "Our Presidents" books are part of the "Spirit of America" series, which focuses on the American experience in terms of history, culture, and politics.