John Adams published 7 non-fiction books, beginning with The Judgment of Whole Kingdoms and Nations, Concerning the Rights, Power and Prerogative of Kings, and the Rights, Privileges and Properties of the People (1773). The best-known is A Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America, Against the Attack of M. Turgot in His Letter to Dr. Price, Dated the Twenty-second Day of March, 1778 (1787).
Updated September 2026
Where to start with John Adams
Start here
A Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America, Against the Attack of M. Turgot in His Letter to Dr. Price, Dated the Twenty-second Day of March, 1778
John Adams's most-read book.
Non-fiction in order
The Judgment of Whole Kingdoms and Nations, Concerning the Rights, Power and Prerogative of Kings, and the Rights, Privileges and Properties of the People (1773)
Twenty-six Letters, Upon Interesting Subjects, Respecting the Revolution of America (1786)
A Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America (1787)
A Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America, Against the Attack of M. Turgot in His Letter to Dr. Price, Dated the Twenty-second Day of March, 1778 (1787)
The History, Civil and Commercial of the British West Indies (1789)
The Works of John Adams, Second President of the United States (1850)
An Inquiry into the Original of Our Ideas of Beauty and Virtue
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About John Adams
John Adams was a Founding Father and the second president of the United States from 1797 to 1801. Before his presidency, he was a leader of the American Revolution that achieved independence from Great Britain. During the latter part of the Revolutionary War and in the early years of the new nation, he served the Continental Congress of the United States as a senior diplomat in Europe. Adams was the first vice president of the United States, serving from 1789 to 1797. He was a dedicated diarist and regularly corresponded with contemporaries, including his wife and advisor Abigail Adams and his friend and rival Thomas Jefferson.
Biography from Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Photo via Wikimedia Commons.
John Adams FAQ
- How many books has John Adams written?
- John Adams published 7 non-fiction books that we list, as of September 2026.
- What order should I read John Adams's books in?
- Publication order is a safe choice; the full list is above. Most readers start with A Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America, Against the Attack of M. Turgot in His Letter to Dr. Price, Dated the Twenty-second Day of March, 1778.
- What is John Adams's last book?
- The History, Civil and Commercial of the British West Indies (1789).
- What is John Adams's most famous book?
- A Defence of the Constitutions of Government of the United States of America, Against the Attack of M. Turgot in His Letter to Dr. Price, Dated the Twenty-second Day of March, 1778 (1787) is John Adams's most widely read book.
- Does John Adams write under a pen name?
- Yes: John Adams has also published as Novanglus.
- Can I read John Adams's books for free?
- Yes. 3 books by John Adams are in the public domain in the US and free to read online or download here.
Authors like John Adams
Sources: book lists and dates from Wikidata and Open Library, ratings from Open Library readers, free texts from Project Gutenberg. Last updated September 2026.