23 Books like John Adams

Thomas Jefferson

by Jon Meacham • 2012

How the Declaration's author became the most quietly effective politician of the founding era.

4.05

43k+

🏛️ Founding Fathers 📜 Early American Republic 🦅 American Presidency 📖 Presidential Biography 🔔 Revolutionary America

Thomas Jefferson 98%

How the Declaration's author became the most quietly effective politician of the founding era.

by Jon Meacham 2012

4.05

43k+ ratings

🏛️ Founding Fathers 📜 Early American Republic 🦅 American Presidency 📖 Presidential Biography 🔔 Revolutionary America

George Washington

by James MacGregor Burns • 2004

How Washington invented the presidency from scratch, and why his precedents still rule the office.

3.97

1k+

🏛️ Presidential Biography 🔔 Founding Era 📜 Constitutional Origins ⚡ Executive Power 🎓 Leadership Studies

George Washington 97%

How Washington invented the presidency from scratch, and why his precedents still rule the office.

by James MacGregor Burns 2004

3.97

1k+ ratings

🏛️ Presidential Biography 🔔 Founding Era 📜 Constitutional Origins ⚡ Executive Power 🎓 Leadership Studies

Founding Brothers

by Joseph J. Ellis • 2000

The American founding hung on private dinners, personal feuds, a duel, and one last letter.

3.95

48k+

🏛️ Early American Republic 📜 Founding Fathers 🤝 Political Compromise ⚔️ Political Rivalries 🔗 Slavery And The Founding

Founding Brothers 97%

The American founding hung on private dinners, personal feuds, a duel, and one last letter.

by Joseph J. Ellis 2000

3.95

48k+ ratings

🏛️ Early American Republic 📜 Founding Fathers 🤝 Political Compromise ⚔️ Political Rivalries 🔗 Slavery And The Founding

Revolutionary Characters

by Gordon S. Wood • 2006

Not demigods but Enlightenment thinkers who had to turn philosophy into a working republic.

3.96

4k+

🏛️ Founding Fathers 👥 Collective Biography 💡 Enlightenment Thought 🎭 Myth-Making 📚 Intellectual History

Revolutionary Characters 96%

Not demigods but Enlightenment thinkers who had to turn philosophy into a working republic.

by Gordon S. Wood 2006

3.96

4k+ ratings

🏛️ Founding Fathers 👥 Collective Biography 💡 Enlightenment Thought 🎭 Myth-Making 📚 Intellectual History

Benjamin Franklin

by Hourly History • 2016

Ran away at 17 with empty pockets; by 70, he charmed France into bankrolling America.

4.18

632

📜 Founding Fathers 🏛️ Colonial America 💡 American Enlightenment 🧱 Self Made Lives 🏙️ Civic Innovation

Benjamin Franklin 96%

Ran away at 17 with empty pockets; by 70, he charmed France into bankrolling America.

by Hourly History 2016

4.18

632 ratings

📜 Founding Fathers 🏛️ Colonial America 💡 American Enlightenment 🧱 Self Made Lives 🏙️ Civic Innovation

Alexander Hamilton

by Ron Chernow • 2004

From Caribbean orphan to architect of American capitalism: the scandal and duel that ended him.

4.22

202k+

🏛️ American Revolution 🇺🇸 Founding Fathers 📜 Political Biography 💰 Financial Systems 🏗️ Self-Made Man

Alexander Hamilton 95%

From Caribbean orphan to architect of American capitalism: the scandal and duel that ended him.

by Ron Chernow 2004

4.22

202k+ ratings

🏛️ American Revolution 🇺🇸 Founding Fathers 📜 Political Biography 💰 Financial Systems 🏗️ Self-Made Man

First Principles

by Thomas E. Ricks • 2020

Locke and Montesquieu get the credit. America's founders were actually reading Cicero and Cato.

4.06

4k+

🏛️ Founding Fathers 📜 Early American Republic 📚 Intellectual History 🏺 Greco-Roman Thought 🫡 Civic Virtue

First Principles 95%

Locke and Montesquieu get the credit. America's founders were actually reading Cicero and Cato.

by Thomas E. Ricks 2020

4.06

4k+ ratings

🏛️ Founding Fathers 📜 Early American Republic 📚 Intellectual History 🏺 Greco-Roman Thought 🫡 Civic Virtue

Confronting the Presidents

by Bill O'Reilly • 2024

Every president had flaws, some fatal. A blunt survey of who delivered, who failed, and why.

4.26

7k+

🏛️ Presidential History 👤 Character Studies 🗣️ Opinionated History 🇺🇸 American Presidency 📖 Accessible History

Confronting the Presidents 95%

Every president had flaws, some fatal. A blunt survey of who delivered, who failed, and why.

by Bill O'Reilly 2024

4.26

7k+ ratings

🏛️ Presidential History 👤 Character Studies 🗣️ Opinionated History 🇺🇸 American Presidency 📖 Accessible History

Abraham Lincoln, Philosopher Statesman

by Joseph R. Fornieri • 2013

Lincoln's secret: he wrestled with eternal principles before he ever grasped for power.

4.67

🏛️ Statesmanship ⚔️ Civil War Era 🦉 Practical Wisdom ⚖️ Moral Leadership 🗣️ Rhetoric And Persuasion

Abraham Lincoln, Philosopher Statesman Summary

Abraham Lincoln, Philosopher Statesman 94%

Lincoln's secret: he wrestled with eternal principles before he ever grasped for power.

by Joseph R. Fornieri 2013

4.67

6 ratings

🏛️ Statesmanship ⚔️ Civil War Era 🦉 Practical Wisdom ⚖️ Moral Leadership 🗣️ Rhetoric And Persuasion

George Washington's Secret Six

by Brian Kilmeade • 2013

Six civilians ran Washington's spy ring in occupied New York. Their names stayed hidden 150 years.

3.86

21k+

🏴 American Revolution 🕵️ Espionage History 🔍 Wartime Intelligence 🎖️ Ordinary Heroes 🤫 Hidden History

George Washington's Secret Six 94%

Six civilians ran Washington's spy ring in occupied New York. Their names stayed hidden 150 years.

by Brian Kilmeade 2013

3.86

21k+ ratings

🏴 American Revolution 🕵️ Espionage History 🔍 Wartime Intelligence 🎖️ Ordinary Heroes 🤫 Hidden History

The First Conspiracy

by Brad Meltzer • 2019

The secret plot to capture George Washington came from inside his own guard.

3.82

14k+

🗽 American Revolution 🇺🇸 Founding Fathers 🕵️ Espionage History 🎯 Assassination Plots 🔍 Counterintelligence

The First Conspiracy 94%

The secret plot to capture George Washington came from inside his own guard.

by Brad Meltzer 2019

3.82

14k+ ratings

🗽 American Revolution 🇺🇸 Founding Fathers 🕵️ Espionage History 🎯 Assassination Plots 🔍 Counterintelligence

Lincoln on Leadership for Today

by Donald T. Phillips • 2017

How Lincoln held a fractured nation together: leadership tactics that still work in the boardroom.

3.87

258

🏛️ Presidential Leadership 📜 Applied History 🚨 Crisis Management 🧭 Character Leadership ❤️ Emotional Intelligence

Lincoln on Leadership for Today 94%

How Lincoln held a fractured nation together: leadership tactics that still work in the boardroom.

by Donald T. Phillips 2017

3.87

258 ratings

🏛️ Presidential Leadership 📜 Applied History 🚨 Crisis Management 🧭 Character Leadership ❤️ Emotional Intelligence

Crisis and Command

by John Yoo • 2010

America's greatest presidents kept breaking the rules. That was the point.

3.64

132

🏛️ Executive Power 📜 Constitutional History 🇺🇸 Presidential History 🎖️ Wartime Powers ⚖️ Separation Of Powers

Crisis and Command 93%

America's greatest presidents kept breaking the rules. That was the point.

by John Yoo 2010

3.64

132 ratings

🏛️ Executive Power 📜 Constitutional History 🇺🇸 Presidential History 🎖️ Wartime Powers ⚖️ Separation Of Powers

Team of Rivals

by Doris Kearns Goodwin • 2005

Lincoln beat three famous rivals for president. Then he hired every last one of them.

4.29

201k+

👤 Presidential Biography 🏛️ Political Leadership ⚔️ Civil War Era 📋 Cabinet Politics 🤝 Political Rivalry

Team of Rivals 93%

Lincoln beat three famous rivals for president. Then he hired every last one of them.

by Doris Kearns Goodwin 2005

4.29

201k+ ratings

👤 Presidential Biography 🏛️ Political Leadership ⚔️ Civil War Era 📋 Cabinet Politics 🤝 Political Rivalry

The Situation Room

by George Stephanopoulos • 2024

Twelve presidents. One basement room. The crises that revealed who they really were.

4.33

11k+

🏛️ Presidential History 🏠 White House History ⚡ Crisis Decision Making 🌍 American Foreign Policy 🔒 National Security

The Situation Room 93%

Twelve presidents. One basement room. The crises that revealed who they really were.

by George Stephanopoulos 2024

4.33

11k+ ratings

🏛️ Presidential History 🏠 White House History ⚡ Crisis Decision Making 🌍 American Foreign Policy 🔒 National Security

Leadership

by Doris Kearns Goodwin • 2018

Before they transformed the nation, they were broken by life. Four presidents, one pattern.

4.40

16k+

🏛️ Presidential History 🗳️ Political Leadership 📖 Biographical Leadership ⚡ Crisis Decision Making 🧠 Cognitive Diversity

Leadership 93%

Before they transformed the nation, they were broken by life. Four presidents, one pattern.

by Doris Kearns Goodwin 2018

4.40

16k+ ratings

🏛️ Presidential History 🗳️ Political Leadership 📖 Biographical Leadership ⚡ Crisis Decision Making 🧠 Cognitive Diversity

The Crisis of the Old Order 1919-33

by Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. • 1957

An aristocrat's reluctant turn toward populism, set against the crash of an economic order.

4.19

455

🇺🇸 Presidential Biography 🗽 Interwar America 🌱 Political Origins 🌊 Progressive Era 🏛️ Aristocratic Legacy

The Crisis of the Old Order 1919-33 Summary

The Crisis of the Old Order 1919-33 93%

An aristocrat's reluctant turn toward populism, set against the crash of an economic order.

by Arthur M. Schlesinger Jr. 1957

4.19

455 ratings

🇺🇸 Presidential Biography 🗽 Interwar America 🌱 Political Origins 🌊 Progressive Era 🏛️ Aristocratic Legacy

by George W. Bush • 2014

A son's Oval Office portrait of his father: loss, war, and the quiet character that held.

4.08

12k+

🏛️ Presidential Biography 📜 Political Memoirs 🧭 Principled Leadership ⚔️ Wartime Leadership 🛡️ Resilience In Adversity

41 93%

A son's Oval Office portrait of his father: loss, war, and the quiet character that held.

by George W. Bush 2014

4.08

12k+ ratings

🏛️ Presidential Biography 📜 Political Memoirs 🧭 Principled Leadership ⚔️ Wartime Leadership 🛡️ Resilience In Adversity

1776

by David McCullough • 2005

How a year of defeats and desertions almost ended the American Revolution before it began.

4.10

250k+

🦅 American Revolution ⚔️ Military History 🏰 18th Century Warfare 📖 Narrative History 📚 Popular History

1776 93%

How a year of defeats and desertions almost ended the American Revolution before it began.

by David McCullough 2005

4.10

250k+ ratings

🦅 American Revolution ⚔️ Military History 🏰 18th Century Warfare 📖 Narrative History 📚 Popular History

COUNSELOR

by Theodore C. Sorensen • 2008

Kennedy's speechwriter and closest advisor for eleven years tells what the history books leave out.

4.05

1k+

🏛️ Presidential Biography 📝 Political Memoirs 🕯️ Kennedy Administration 🌐 Cold War Politics ✍️ Political Speechwriting

COUNSELOR 93%

Kennedy's speechwriter and closest advisor for eleven years tells what the history books leave out.

by Theodore C. Sorensen 2008

4.05

1k+ ratings

🏛️ Presidential Biography 📝 Political Memoirs 🕯️ Kennedy Administration 🌐 Cold War Politics ✍️ Political Speechwriting

The Founding Fathers on Leadership

by Donald T. Phillips • 1997

Beat an empire with better teamwork: the leadership manual hidden in the American Revolution.

3.87

298

📚 Applied History 🤝 Team Building ⚡ Crisis Leadership 🔭 Visionary Leadership ♟️ Strategic Thinking

The Founding Fathers on Leadership Summary

The Founding Fathers on Leadership 93%

Beat an empire with better teamwork: the leadership manual hidden in the American Revolution.

by Donald T. Phillips 1997

3.87

298 ratings

📚 Applied History 🤝 Team Building ⚡ Crisis Leadership 🔭 Visionary Leadership ♟️ Strategic Thinking

The Price of Greatness

by Jay Cost • 2018

The Constitution's coauthors split over its purpose. That rift still produces American oligarchy.

3.71

245

🔔 Founding Era 📜 Constitutional Debates 💰 Hamiltonian Economics ⚖️ Madisonian Democracy 🐍 Political Corruption

The Price of Greatness 93%

The Constitution's coauthors split over its purpose. That rift still produces American oligarchy.

by Jay Cost 2018

3.71

245 ratings

🔔 Founding Era 📜 Constitutional Debates 💰 Hamiltonian Economics ⚖️ Madisonian Democracy 🐍 Political Corruption

The Five Thousand Year Leap

by W. Cleon Skousen • 1981

The principles that compressed 5,000 years of political trial into a single working republic.

4.27

7k+

🏛️ Founding Fathers ⚖️ Natural Law 🗽 Classical Liberalism 🫡 Civic Virtue 📜 Originalism

The Five Thousand Year Leap 93%

The principles that compressed 5,000 years of political trial into a single working republic.

by W. Cleon Skousen 1981

4.27

7k+ ratings

🏛️ Founding Fathers ⚖️ Natural Law 🗽 Classical Liberalism 🫡 Civic Virtue 📜 Originalism

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