What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedJohn Adams
David McCullough · Book · 2001
If you loved John Adams, start with The American Revolution (Ken Burns, 2025) — a series on the same thread. Below: 4 films, 3 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to John Adams across media.
What captivated you in John Adams is the way grand historical shifts are defined by the complex, fallible individuals at their center.
Films on the same thread
Malcolm X
Spike Lee · Film · 1992
Explores: Racial Identity, Black Nationalism, Social Justice.
Like John Adams, this portrait of a transformative American figure examines the fierce intellectual independence and personal evolution required to challenge the status quo and reshape a nation's conscience.
Oppenheimer
Film · 2023
Explores: Moral ambiguity, Scientific ethics, Cold War paranoia.
Much like the moral weight carried by John Adams, this film explores the heavy personal burden and political isolation that accompany a life dedicated to shaping history's most consequential turning points.
Reds
Warren Beatty · Film · 1981
Explores: Russian Revolution, American Socialism, Radical Politics.
If you appreciated the revolutionary idealism in John Adams, you will find a similar dedication to radical political fervor and the personal sacrifices required to pursue a grand historical vision.
Amadeus
Film · 1984
Explores: Jealousy and Envy, Artistic Genius, Obsession.
This drama mirrors the human obsession found in John Adams, stripping away the polish of historical status to reveal the deep-seated jealousy and rivalry that often define the lives of geniuses.
Series on the same thread
The American Revolution
Ken Burns · Series · 2025
Explores: American History, Revolutionary War, Colonial America.
This documentary deepens your understanding of the period explored in John Adams, presenting the Revolutionary War as a multifaceted struggle that tested the resolve and integrity of the American people.
The Roosevelts: An Intimate History
Ken Burns · Series · 2014
Explores: American Presidency, Family Dynasty, Social Reform.
Just as John Adams provides an intimate look at the founding of a republic, this series offers a comprehensive study of family legacy and the power dynamics that define American political leadership.
American Experience
Series · 1988
Explores: American History, 20th Century History, Social Change.
This series captures the same spirit of historical inquiry found in John Adams, grounding its analysis of social change in the compelling, personal narratives of those who built our modern world.
Podcasts on the same thread
Dan Carlin's Hardcore History
Dan Carlin · Podcast · 2026
Explores: civilizational collapse, human nature, moral ambiguity.
The analytical approach here echoes the intellectual rigor of John Adams, applying a critical, unorthodox lens to the moral ambiguities and consequences of power that drive the engines of history.
Revolutions
Mike Duncan · Podcast · 2025
Explores: societal collapse, power dynamics, cyclical history.
This podcast satisfies the same appetite for political narrative found in John Adams, tracing the recurring patterns of human behavior and power dynamics that define the trajectory of major revolutions.
Keep exploring
Common questions
Is John Adams a biography of the second president?
Yes, John Adams is an epic biography by David McCullough that details the life of the second president of the United States. It explores his role as a brilliant and independent Yankee patriot who worked to save the country from an unnecessary war during his presidency.
What is the primary focus of the book John Adams?
John Adams focuses on the adventurous life journey of the man who became the second president of the United States. The book covers his fierce commitment to the American Revolution and his efforts to prevent the nation from blundering into an unnecessary war while in office.
How is John Adams described in the book John Adams?
In the biography John Adams, the author describes the subject as a brilliant, fiercely independent, and often irascible Yankee patriot. He is portrayed as an honest man who spared nothing in his zeal for the American Revolution and his service to the United States.
Does John Adams cover the American Revolution?
Yes, John Adams provides an account of the life of a patriot who was deeply committed to the American Revolution. The biography by David McCullough explores how his zeal for the cause eventually led him to the presidency and his efforts to protect the young nation.