The Avett Brothers’ Bassist on Writing a John Quincy Adams Book

Podcast: The Book Review
Host: Gilbert Cruz
Guest: Bob Crawford (The Avett Brothers bassist, first-time author, history podcaster)
Date: March 6, 2026
Book Discussed: America’s Founding Son: John Quincy Adams from President to Political Maverick (out March 10, 2026)

Overview

In this episode, Gilbert Cruz interviews Bob Crawford, bassist for The Avett Brothers and passionate historian, about his debut book on John Quincy Adams. Crawford shares his journey from touring musician to published author, exploring the deep personal and historical resonance he found in the sixth U.S. president. The conversation traces Crawford’s early fascination with history, his evolution as a researcher and writer, and why Adams’s life story still matters today.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Bob Crawford’s Journey from Musician to Historian

• Early Love of History:
  • Even as a child, Crawford was fascinated by history pamphlets at family vacation kiosks.
  • “Probably interest in history, because that goes back to, you know, being eight, nine, ten years old… and I would, like, just lay them out on the floor and look at them. I was just captivated by it for some reason.” (05:49)
• The Musician’s Life:
  • Twenty-five years as a touring musician, starting in the early days of The Avett Brothers, reading history books while on the road.
  • Describes late-night jam sessions at the college radio station making C-SPAN-themed songs.
• History as Refuge:
  • History provided a “comfortable place to go,” especially in difficult times—both personally and for the country.
  • “Our technology has changed, but the human heart hasn’t changed. The human capacity for greed or hate or to do harm to another human being or the human capacity to do good and…try to do better, that hasn’t changed at all.” (07:52)

Influences and the Seeds of the Book

• David McCullough’s ‘1776’ and ‘John Adams’:
  • Reading McCullough during the chaos of the Iraq War and Abu Ghraib scandal led to “devouring” history books for understanding.
• Sean Wilentz’s ‘The Rise of American Democracy’:
  • “That was the big turning point…that just got me...the period between Jefferson and Lincoln and the way Wilentz is just this...encyclopedia of this time period.” (13:58)
• Writing Style and Challenges:
  • Crawford had no formal training as a writer and expected to be paired with a co-writer; he wrote the book himself.
  • “The only way to learn how to write is to write.” (18:30)
  • Inspirational advice: “Chronology is your friend...Editing is everything.” (19:22)

John Quincy Adams: Beyond the History Books

• Why JQA?
  • Adams is more than an “also-ran president”—his post-presidential Congressional career was unique and influential.
  • “People love characters who make turns in their life…and you see, the deeper you look into this man, he makes this amazing turn inside of himself.” (22:18)
• An Epic End:
  • Adams literally died “with his boots on,” collapsing in Congress after standing against the Mexican War.
  • “He says, ‘This is the end of earth. But I am composed.’” (23:17)
• The Power of the Diary:
  • Adams’s diary, begun in his teens and running to 14,000 pages, was crucial to Crawford’s research.
  • “My favorite diary entry from Adams is, I believe, November 2, 1837...he suffers from hypochondria...he lost his son...he suffers from the Blue Devils. And Adams...says, ‘oh, yeah, yeah, I’ve suffered from the Blue Devils.’” (26:10)
  • Adams’s openness about grief and depression resonated with Crawford’s own experience as a parent.

Writing and Research Process

• Immersive Research:
  • Crawford read all major JQA biographies, consulted primary sources, and connected with expert historians.
• Empathy and Connection:
  • Deep engagement with Adams’s emotional struggles as well as his political and diplomatic career.
  • “Just the humanness in his diary...is just incredible.” (27:45)
• Parallels to Present Day:
  • “Democracy is always in crisis. The future is always uncertain.” (40:50)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Writing as a Process:
  • “The only way to learn how to write is to write.” – Bob Crawford (18:30)
  • “Abandon chronology at your own peril.” – Doug Brinkley (as recounted by Bob, 16:00)
• On History’s Echoes:
  • “Our technology has changed, but the human heart hasn’t changed...that hasn’t changed at all.” – Bob Crawford (07:52)
• On John Quincy Adams’s Final Moments:
  • “He says, ‘This is the end of earth. But I am composed.’” – Bob Crawford (23:17)
• On the Importance of the Present Historical Moment:
  • “Democracy is always in crisis. The future is always uncertain.” – Bob Crawford (40:50)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Bob Crawford’s Early History Fixation – 05:49
• Finding Solace in History – 07:00
• Reading Sean Wilentz—A Turning Point – 13:58
• Learning to Write via Writing – 18:30
• Unique Story of John Quincy Adams – 21:18
• Adams’s Epic Death – 23:17
• The Power of JQA’s Diary – 26:10
• Writing Through Grief & Journaling – 27:45
• Book Recommendations & Reading Habits – 33:09
• Reflections on the U.S. 250th Anniversary – 39:10
• Final Thoughts on Democracy & Legacy – 40:50

Book & History Recommendations

• On Historians and Writers:
  • Jill Lepore (“her writing is like butter”)
  • David McCullough (entry-level, narrative style)
• Presidential Biographies:
  • James Bradley’s Martin Van Buren
  • Alexis Coe, You Never Forget Your First (George Washington)
  • Lindsay Chervinsky, Making the Presidency (John Adams)
• Classic Literature:
  • Melville’s Moby Dick (“the prose…is so pleasurable…sometimes I’m not even sure what he said, but it’s so pleasurable.” 34:39)
  • Theology: Thomas Aquinas, Thomas Merton, Richard Rohr, C.S. Lewis, Thomas Keating
• Documentary Viewing:
  • Ken Burns’ The American Revolution (latest series)
  • Netflix’s Death by Lightning (on President Garfield)

Reflections on Democracy & Historical Memory

• Bob frames the upcoming 250th anniversary (semiquincentennial) as a critical moment for Americans to engage with their history, acknowledging the ongoing uncertainty and fragility of democracy.
• “Nothing is ever inevitable…It wasn’t inevitable in John Quincy Adams’s time, and it’s not inevitable now.” (40:50)

Closing Thoughts

Bob Crawford’s journey from touring bassist to presidential biographer is imbued with curiosity, humility, and a genuine passion for connecting the past to the present. His emotionally resonant approach to history—particularly through the humanity of John Quincy Adams—offers fresh insight into figures often reduced to footnotes. The episode is at once an encouragement to read, reflect, and write, and a meditation on the enduring cycles of American life and politics.