Alexander Hamilton

Reviews

1. 

   Jim Braun – July 28, 2024

   Inspiring
   One of the most gifted of our founding fathers. I never realized the tremendous contributions he made that helped form America into what it is today. A very long book but wonderfully researched and well written.

2. 

   Digital Rights – July 28, 2024

   This is a top notch biography.
   GREAT book. I feel like I lived it. It will take me quite a while to fully digest. Perhaps it was the same for the colleagues or legislators that were presented with overwhelming arguments by Hamilton himself when building the foundation of what has become the American government and its constitution. You just sit with your mouth open for awhile.Chernow has yet again (I equally loved “Titan” and “House of Morgan”) written a thoroughly researched and gripping biography. Thank you.Hamilton’s energy, intellect and ambition seep through practically every page. As do his contradictions, impatience, sensitivities occasional hypocrisy. Like others I was put off by the length (and small point size) and weight of the book. I actually found it easier to read on Kindle. I can’t say I found any slow parts and the drama leading up to and through the duel with Burr is captivating.Some commentators think Chernow was too much of a fan of Hamilton’s. I think to write a book of such depth you need to be truly interested if not obsessed with your subject. But where he compares Hamilton to Jefferson, Adams, Washington, Burr or others I think he brings enough evidence and directly quoted source material to back up his descriptions and accounts both good and bad. I think Chernow gives very rich descriptions of the main characters in Hamilton’s life. His descriptions of his wife Eliza and her family are as fully rounded and deep as those of the Founding Fathers. Where Hamilton’s actions were inexplicable, stupid, arrogant or misguided I believe the readers were equally treated to Hamilton’s flaws.Jefferson does come across rather badly. But maybe he should. The evidence of his “relationship” with Sally Hemmings raises deep questions about his moral compass. He was a callous slave owner whose lifestyle was completely subsidized by their work and suffering. Some may argue that “that was the times” but I think there’s plenty of evidence that other leaders of the time were realizing how evil slavery was and doing something about it. Hamilton was one of them.At the core I appreciated and learned so much about how the Revolution was fought. The aftermath of uncertainty that lead to the Constitutional Congress and the critical role the Federalist Papers played in explaining the government to the people along with Hamilton’s leadership of the US Treasury to truly construct a durable government. Chernow’s “real time” descriptions add to the drama. You feel the uncertainty of events and the perilousness of the times as they must have felt.I always reflect on some of the great people on history on how they are able to do so much. Aside from not watching tv I think the biggest contributor is the neglect of their families. For all of Hamilton’s professed love of family he really is an absentee father as were both Roosevelts and many others. I think it gets glossed over that in an earlier time fathers had a nice put option on family obligations. The duel with Burr was the ultimate selfish act which cannot be forgiven. As his son had already died by the same route why couldn’t Hamilton have written something reflective to Burr in response to the challenge? He has a wife and seven children, the youngest was 2. It was pride ahead of family in my view. Chernow captures it well and puts you at the scene.Well its a great book. I am intimated by the amount of source material which was obviously very thoroughly read. Like any great book it should lead a reader to seek out other books. I cannot wait for Chernow’s biography on George Washington due in October!

3. 

   Pedro Emeth Herrera Baselis – July 28, 2024

   Si te gustó Hamilton, el musical de Lin Manuel Miranda (Moana, Encanto), deberás leer ésta biografía. Una idea diseñada para instruir, entretener y honrar la memoria de uno de los grandes personajes históricos de Estados Unidos.

4. 

   Livio – July 28, 2024

   Che dire.Ho letto più libri di Ron Chernow, un maestro di biografie.Anche questa su Alexander Hamilton conferma la grande accuratezza nella ricerca delle fonti storiche, descrivendo la storia di quello che molto probabilmente, con George Washington, è stato il più grande Founding Father degli USA, con dovizia di particolari che rendono la lettura interessante, sempre più avvincente in un crescendo irresistibile.Altri maestri come David McCullough e Joseph Ellis hanno celebrato questo libro, confermando, se ce ne fosse bisogno, quale straordinaria opera abbia partorito la mente di Chernow.Imperdibile.

5. 

   Cliente Amazon – July 28, 2024

   Una gran edición, cuidada y además ha llegado en buen estado. El libro en sí es un poco rígido pero el lomo no se ha estropeado. Recomendado.