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Alexander Hamilton: A Life

Alexander Hamilton: A Life

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Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A good book about a great man.....
Review: After years without a one-volume biography on Hamilton, it was quite exciting to learn that Randall had written this book. Randall is an accessible and supremely entertaining author, and he does right by his subject. He never blows him out of proportion or resorts to distortions; he presents the subject in a fair and balanced way, while understanding his central importance in our nation's history. I learned quite a bit from the book, even though I have read several other less comprehensive works. As far as detail regarding Hamilton's early life and critical years as aide-de-camp to George Washington, few books measure up to Randall's volume. Still, I was left wanting more in terms of Hamilton's later years (primarily 1794-1804). There is little on the Hamilton/Jefferson rivalry, nor is there much of substance regarding the Burr relationship. True, other books have covered these matters in greater depth (and the "duel" is a vast subject on its own), but it seemed a bit irresponsible to devote so much to Hamilton's early years yet resolve the last ten years of his life in less than 100 pages. Because of this, I felt the book was "rushed" near the end, almost as if the author felt compelled to finish while maintaining a marketable length. The books could have easily been 150-200 more pages, I believe.

Still, the book is a fine read and even the economic discussions are treated with care, never becoming too difficult or out of reach for the layman. Still, all lovers of American history should combine readings of McCullough's "John Adams" and Ellis' "Founding Brothers" to get a more complete picture of the times.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Poorly written
Review: As I struggled to finish this book, my only thought was to tell other people what a horrible book this was. It is very poorly written. The focus changes within a few paragraphs and the author goes back and forth in time in ways that is very confusing. Having read Joseph Ellis' Founding Brothers and David McCullough's John Adams in recent years, I was curious about Hamilton and how he antognized these two political opposites. But, as another reviewer pointed out, there is very little written about his last 10 years. There is a few paragraphs about Jefferson and Madison funding a Philadelphia newspaper to rival Hamilton's newspaper -- but there is never any mention of his starting or writing anything for that paper. His starting the New York Post rates only a sentence. I'm afraid I will need to seek out another biography of Hamilton to learn anything (besides his affairs) that occured after the Revolutionary War.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Hamilton's foundation
Review: By examining Hamilton's early life, Randall helps explain why Hamilton accomplished so much. As a youth, Hamilton overcame severe handicaps through energy, intelligence and creativity. Randall shows Hamilton's confidence and strength increasing. He was soon speeding past his peers. A tragedy that his life was cut short.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Good Read, but the author flatters Hamilton
Review: I have given Willard Sterne Randall's biography of Hamilton five stars because it is a good read---and after all, we read for fun. However, having recommended that you read it, and I do recommend you read it, I have to take a moment to create enmity in the author. I'm sorry, it's what I do.

Mr. Randall's weakness is that he likes Hamilton too much. Hamilton was evil. Hamilton is responsible for our large federal bureaucracy, for our muscular judiciary and our weak Congress. Hamilton hated the legislatures of the States, hated Congress, and sought to concentrate power in the hands of a few powerful federal officials who could control the vagaries of the masses. If America is an anemic democracy, it's primarily Hamilton's fault.

Everybody who was anybody in the formation of our nation hated Hamilton. The 10th Amendment in the Bill of Rights was drafted to restrain Hamilton's desire to concentrate power in the hands of the federal government. The Constitutional requirement that the President be born in the United States was inserted so that Hamilton would never become President. Hamilton was talented, Hamilton was a war hero, Hamilton was Washington's fair-haired boy, but Hamilton was a toady, a sycophant, and a self-important braggart.

Randall's love for Hamilton shows, for example, in his account of Hamilton's death after a duel with Aaron Burr. There were only two eyewitnesses (other than Burr) to the event and the subject of who fired first has been the subject of historical speculation ever since it occurred 200 years ago. Randall accepts the Hamiltonian version that Hamilton, the "man of peace" who for four years raked the Hessians and British with grape shot from his artillery company, fired his shot harmlessly in the air, after which he was mortally gunned down by the wicked Burr. According to the Burr version, Hamilton fired first and missed, after which Burr was perfectly within his rights under the dueling code in aiming carefully and killing Hamilton.

However, Randall has also plowed new ground in this biography. His research into, and suggestion of an affair between Hamilton and his wife's sister, fits with Hamilton's reputation as a womanizer. It is perhaps fitting that he is killed with a dueling pistol which he borrowed from his brother-in-law.

If the diminutive (5' 4", 140 lb.) Madison is the "Father of the Constitution", he became so by convincing the other members of the Constitutional Convention to vote for a plan which Hamilton drafted, but which Hamilton, with his abrasive, New York lawyer-like personality, could never have gotten passed.

Hamilton shouldn't even be honored on the $10 bill. But Randall loves him, and others must have, or else he wouldn't be there. So read this book. Decide for yourself whether you like this guy, or hate him. Pay particular attention to how Hamilton's view of government has become so prevalent today, and decide whether you think its the way things ought to be.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Good Read, but the author flatters Hamilton
Review: I have given Willard Sterne Randall's biography of Hamilton five stars because it is a good read---and after all, we read for fun. However, having recommended that you read it, and I do recommend you read it, I have to take a moment to create enmity in the author. I'm sorry, it's what I do.

Mr. Randall's weakness is that he likes Hamilton too much. Hamilton was evil. Hamilton is responsible for our large federal bureaucracy, for our muscular judiciary and our weak Congress. Hamilton hated the legislatures of the States, hated Congress, and sought to concentrate power in the hands of a few powerful federal officials who could control the vagaries of the masses. If America is an anemic democracy, it's primarily Hamilton's fault.

Everybody who was anybody in the formation of our nation hated Hamilton. The 10th Amendment in the Bill of Rights was drafted to restrain Hamilton's desire to concentrate power in the hands of the federal government. The Constitutional requirement that the President be born in the United States was inserted so that Hamilton would never become President. Hamilton was talented, Hamilton was a war hero, Hamilton was Washington's fair-haired boy, but Hamilton was a toady, a sycophant, and a self-important braggart.

Randall's love for Hamilton shows, for example, in his account of Hamilton's death after a duel with Aaron Burr. There were only two eyewitnesses (other than Burr) to the event and the subject of who fired first has been the subject of historical speculation ever since it occurred 200 years ago. Randall accepts the Hamiltonian version that Hamilton, the "man of peace" who for four years raked the Hessians and British with grape shot from his artillery company, fired his shot harmlessly in the air, after which he was mortally gunned down by the wicked Burr. According to the Burr version, Hamilton fired first and missed, after which Burr was perfectly within his rights under the dueling code in aiming carefully and killing Hamilton.

However, Randall has also plowed new ground in this biography. His research into, and suggestion of an affair between Hamilton and his wife's sister, fits with Hamilton's reputation as a womanizer. It is perhaps fitting that he is killed with a dueling pistol which he borrowed from his brother-in-law.

If the diminutive (5' 4", 140 lb.) Madison is the "Father of the Constitution", he became so by convincing the other members of the Constitutional Convention to vote for a plan which Hamilton drafted, but which Hamilton, with his abrasive, New York lawyer-like personality, could never have gotten passed.

Hamilton shouldn't even be honored on the $10 bill. But Randall loves him, and others must have, or else he wouldn't be there. So read this book. Decide for yourself whether you like this guy, or hate him. Pay particular attention to how Hamilton's view of government has become so prevalent today, and decide whether you think its the way things ought to be.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: A promising biography
Review: I was very much looking forward to reading this book, and the first two thirds of it did an excellent job of describing Hamilton's youth and his service in the Revolutionary War. However, like most of the other reviewers, I was disappointed with the inadequate coverage of Hamilton's pivotal role in creating the new country. I agree that it appears that the book seems to have been planned as something twice as long (which would have been a pleasure to read). For whatever reason, the author had to rush ahead with an insubstantial overview of the great events of Hamilton's life after the war. It's too bad that the second part of the book can't deliver on what the first part promises. Such a fascinating character deserves more.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Simply another Genius in the Revolution
Review: If one studies American history, particularly the years leading to the Revolution, one is struck at the concentration of genius at a single point in time. The American Revolution was totally unique in that it was guided by ideas and ideals. There were no hated Jews or bourgeois or Hutus or "infidels". It was an event inspired by unique individuals, one of whom this book is about.

I agree with other reviewers that the last few years are rushed. (Perhaps a two-volume series would have been preferable.) But, if this is supposed to be about the man, his origins, his ideas and his actions - it succeeds brilliantly.

ALexander Hamilton, the self-made man of illigetimate origins, made so many monumental contributions that simply stating them is breathtaking. He was a brave fighter, he created the current financial system of debt, credit, sound money and banking, he was an abolitionist who fought slavery his entire life, his moderate views on treatment of prisoners was advanced. His legal writings were mandatory reading for New York law students; His authorship of the Federalist Papers secured his place in history as did his organization of the finances of the country.

He practically instituted the idea of judicial review, his memo to Washington on the decorum of the Presidency remains relevant today. The book is detailed (vast research) with quotes from letters of the times. Hamilton excelled at both theoretical and practical subject. He was a master of organization, a speaker so powerful that opponents prevented him from presentin in person his plans for handling debt and organizing Treasury.

His marriage proved unhappy and he had affairs, yet his wife remained loyal for 50 years after his death. A great read, the only drawback being the abbreviated later years.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: correcting erosfaust
Review: In his review, erosfaust (who seems to like any book provided it espouses a view of life to the right of Ghengis Khan) makes a serious error.

He claims the residency requirement was placed in the US Constitution to prevent Hamilton from being elected to that post. The US Constitution, in fact, says you must have been born in the country, OR BEEN A CITIZEN AT THE TIME OF RATIFICATION. Hamilton was always eligible for the Presidency.

Oh, and he wasn't "hated by anyone who had anything to do with the founding" of this country, unless you want to eliminate George Washington from that number.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Alexander Hamilton, Interrupted
Review: Randall's biography is eminently readable, but curiously organized. It starts well. Randall does a nice job of subtly suggesting how Hamilton's early life traumas, the death of his mother, abandonment by his alcoholic father, and impoverishment, drove his restless ambition and questing for surrogate fathers, such as Washington and Philip Schuyler. After this, about half the book is devoted to Hamilton's military career in the Revolutionary War, as propagandist, artillery officer, aide-de-camp of Washington, and hero of the battle of Yorktown. It is refreshing to see this side of Hamilton, the man of action; other biographers tend to portray him as a horny financial and legal wizard. This section of the book feels most complete. The rest of the book feels compressed and strangely truncated; only about a hundred pages are devoted to Hamilton's mammoth contributions to the constitutional debate and the development of the US Treasury, and a mere ten pages to the tumults, enigmas and disasters of the last ten years of Hamilton's life! It seems as if Randall had originally intended to write a 700-800 page biography, then had to scale back his conception due to boredom or publisher's deadlines.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Randall on Hamilton
Review: Randall's book is exhaustive in its coverage of Hamilton's life, development and texture. But the result is skimpy coverage of his greatest contributions. Hamilton's finger prints are all over American political economy.
Fascinating glimces into St Croix childhood and developing anthipathy for slavery. Women's rights, too. Interesting but exhausting detal about the Revolution: walked the reader through each season from 1776 to 1781. Likely duplicating work Randall did for his Washington biography. Cop out. Hamilton was also first secretary of the Navy; a tidbit but no meat.


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