Alexander Hamilton

Rating:
Summary: Hamilton, an awesome read
Review: All too often we have glorified our founding fathers. This biography humanizes Hamilton, the only founding father (other than Franklin) who did not become president. No one else did more to solidify the financial and political base of the national government. This is the ultimate rags to riches (and then on to tragedy) story. No other person in the history of our country had more to do with the founding of essential institutions including the Treasury department, the Coast Guard, the modern ideas of credit and deficit spending, and the unique role that government can play in trade and commerce. For anyone interested in the early republic this is a must read.

Rating:
Summary: Amazing
Review: Chernow should get a Pulitzer for this baby! I'm a big fan of George Washington (yes, I know he's dead), so if one really wants to understand the Washington presidency, one needs to understand Hamilton. I have not read much about Hamilton other than what was included in books on Washington, so Chernow's book offers a much needed focus on Washington's right-hand man. The assumption plan, funding plan, and the creation of the national bank are crucial components in the success of the new Constitutional government. Hamilton was the brain and will-power that made it all happen. I still can't believe they shot him!

Rating:
Summary: Excellent view of a remarkable but overlooked hero
Review: Chernow's insight into the character and motivations of Alexander Hamilton can't help but make the reader wonder what America might have been like had his life not been tragically cut short by someone else's selfishness, although Hamilton's manner of death is yet another testament to his character. The honor code of the day demanded no less of a gentleman. Could Hamilton have been a president? Might he have steered the country in an entirely different direction? Unfortunately, we'll never know, although, thanks to Chernow, we have a reminder for future generations of the positive motivations politicians used to have.

Rating:
Summary: Great account, great writing!
Review: Dr. Chernow puts the right spin on the right words. Even allowing for the countless direct references within the text (end notes, please), his HAMILTON has everything, including the Republic's first Monicagate.

In this episode, Hamilton fell for a married tramp whose flim-flamming husband blackmailed the Treasury Secretary. The only element missing was CNN. A more important part of this book is a by-product: The character of Jefferson.

Professor Chernow underscores what a mealy-mouthed politician the VP actually was, running to Washington on every occasion to trip up whoever disagreed with his starry-eyed drivel. Hamilton's actions, however, always spoke louder than TJ's back-stabbing, and the Prez always stood by him.

Perhaps Hamilton would be shocked by the Frankenstein into which his federal system evolved. Whatever the case, this analysis makes clear that Hamilton's efforts remain the cornerstone of the American economic system.

Rating:
Summary: Understand how this Country became the United States of Amer
Review: I believe that to understand modern day, that history, especially Biographies are critical because they share views that exist today under different circumstances. This biography's utilizes a higher vocabulary that encourages readers to learn more about today and about the day the Hamilton walked the streets of what is now New York City. The ability for one today to understand the dreams and hopes that Hamilton envisioned are just as much reality today.

Rating:
Summary: The CD Version is ideal!
Review: I found myself wanting to read this biography as everyone I know raved about it and couldn't believe that I hadn't read it yet. But I couldn't find the time to read an 800 page book. I got the CD version for Christmas... and it is ideal. I drive quite a bit so I have long stints in the car, but I still find myself sitting and waiting in parking lots to hear just a bit more from the book - only turning it off when I absolutely have to. It is an intriguing story told in a rich language with incredible details and facinating quotes.

I find myself wanting to go back to read the book to pick up the items that might have been cut out of the CD version. But if you don't have the time to read an 800 page book, the CD version is well worth the money to hear this incredible story read to you.

Rating:
Summary: A thorough and well-timed biography
Review: It was just two hundred years ago that Alexander Hamilton was killed by Aaron Burr in the most famous duel in history. Thanks to Ron Chernow's excellent biography we have a fuller account of the man who was at the center of the founding of America and probably one of the least understood.

Hamilton's life began on the Caribbean island of Nevis and had it not been for this inauspicious start in life Hamilton might have turned out more like the other founding fathers. Indeed, his accusers and enemies made great light of the fact that he was foreign-born. (and probably out of wedlock, as well) Yet Hamilton's incredible story has much to do with his early life in the islands and his sudden rise and short "tenure" as a founding father is one of the most remarkable things about him. Chernow captures this all in a style which allows the reader to see how Hamilton maneuvered his way up the chain. As an aide to George Washington at a very tender age, Hamilton became a privileged and trusted confidant of the general and it put him in a position of enormous influence and ultimately, power.

Although the author trumpets Alexander Hamilton's assets....his gift for writing, clear argument and long-range vision, he adds that Hamilton could also be vain, verbose and not always politic in his decisions. Some of the best chapters of the book revolve around Hamilton's continuing battles with his enemies.....mostly John Adams and Thomas Jefferson. This, however, is also where the book falters. In promoting Hamilton he demotes his adversaries to a degree that makes them look unimportant. They become almost comic in their hatred of Hamilton and we know while there were times of heated debate and almost maniacal despisement between Hamilton and his contemporaries, the other founding fathers had many more attributes than Chernow seems to allow.

That said, the author's writing is often mesmerizing. His use of quotations is an excellent device to show us the tenor and temperature of the day and his attention to detail is superb. The description of the duel is so good that I read it twice.

Alexander Hamilton's legacy is as broad as it is unique. Ron Chenow has presented a work of thoroughness and enlightenment and I highly recommend it to other readers.



Rating:
Summary: A complex man with great foresight - great writing.
Review: Ron Chernow presents a highly readable account of the life of a man who, despite living 200 years ago, still has a very tangible positive impact on our daily lives today. In his telling of Hamilton's story, Chernow has written a book that serves a dual purpose: it serves as an excellent historical biography that tells the story of a man and his time, at the same time, it helps the modern reader to understand the basic tenets of our fiscal and economic system in the United States.

Alexander Hamilton is a fascinating and complesx character and Chernow's writing keeps you moving through the book at a good pace right through the epilogue. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys history or biography.

Rating:
Summary: Rousing revision
Review: Usually the term revision makes us shudder, but in this case, a scholar has delved deep into an exhaustive amount of primary documentation to give the fullest view of his subject yet offered to the general public. We learn of eccentricities, foibles, powerful convictions and costly errors. In short, we learn of the man, and are edified from the experience. Well worth reading by any fan of U.S. history, or human nature. Particularly relevant in the current political climate, where someone as unique and who held such strong convictions may easily be labelled a traitor by either left or right--this book shows us that all men of great stature defy labels.

Rating:
Summary: 5 stars despite a grindingly slow start
Review: Yes, five stars, but if it weren't for my inclination that there was a great story in Alexander Hamilton, I would have put the 800 page tome down after 100 pages. So if you start reading this book, just persist and you will be rewarded. Hamilton rules. Just look at his mug on a $10 bill!

The first 100-150 pages went very slow. Chernow seemed pretentious and wordy. In retrospect, this may have been because Hamilton's early life growing up in the Carribean was very poorly documented and Hamilton almost never talked about it, so Chernow tries to fill it in the gaps with his own two cents. When ever Chernow does this I got the feeling that the quality of information nose dived.

Like I said, Chernow shows us why Hamilton was a god, and once Chernow gets to the point in Hamilton's life where he is a student at Columbia University and then immediately becomes a twenty-something right hand man to the leader of the Revolution (Washington) the book is excellent. Chernow's writing style takes a little time to get used to. I had a difficult time initially, but once the story got going, the writing, I felt, was very polished (make sure to keep a dictionary along side you!).

The length of the book gives him plenty of time to quote source material and spin a story or just give the story's gorey details, and after the first 100 or so pages it is a pleasure to read.

Lastly, please beware that after reading this book you will become a rabid Hamilton admirer. Jefferson, who I thought had a pretty good rep (I'm just getting interested in reading about the founding of the US), comes out looking like a total jerk. It becomes hard to imagine how Jefferson got his face on a nickel.