A new selection of the most significant writings by America’s second president

In addition to being an uncompromising defender of liberty, esteemed diplomat, and successor to George Washington, John Adams was a passionate and prolific writer.

Adams biographer John Patrick Diggins gathers an impressive variety of his works in this compact, original volume, including parts of his diary and autobiography, and selections from his rich correspondence with this wife, Abigail, Thomas Jefferson, and others.

The Portable John Adams also features his most important political works- A Dissertation on Canon and Feudal Law, ‘Thoughts on Government,’ A Defence of Constitutions of the Unites States of America, Novanglus’ and Discourses on Davila.

There is no finer introduction to the protean genius of this seminal American philosopher.

‘At last, a manageable volume offers a brilliantly selected and annotated edition of the wisdom of John Adams, the most sardonic of the Founding Fathers.’ - Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.