ABSTRACT
A great deal of Adam's charm and fascination had to do with way he united qualities often appearing in the world as opposites. He was a man of towering intelligence, with a tremendous grasp—partly intuitive—of the workings of large intellectual architectures, of complex systems. Adam was a believer—the way few modern people are—in the importance of decorum. Adam was a great individualist, who felt that Ted Williams—refusing to tip his cap after hitting a home run—was a kindred spirit. And yet, few individualists of that sort have inspired such communal warmth. Few such bold and apparently self-contained spirits have had so many friends. Many people, having heard of Adam's death, commented—after expressing their personal grief—that it marked the end of an era. Perhaps this is because of the particular character of his culture and experience, and its richness.
