Book Review: ‘John Quincy Adams’ gives the sixth president’s life the sweep and scope it deserves

To be clear, Randall Woods’ “John Quincy Adams: A Man for the Whole People” is not a leisurely read designed for the beach or airport. But that’s the type of book Adams deserves for a life and legacy that stretches well beyond his time as commander in chief and includes his years as a diplomat, senator and congressman. In his later years, the book describes, Adams exchanges letters with a British actor about the merits of William Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet.” As Woods writes, Adams “identified completely with Shakespeare’s fallen angel” and viewed the play as a cautionary tale for the country. Whether or not readers view Adams’ life as a cautionary tale, Woods’ biography is a sweeping look not just at his life but at the early years of the republic.