Alexander Hamilton

By: Ron Chernow

Narrated by: Scott Brick

The inspiration for the hit Broadway musical Hamilton! In the first full-length biography of Alexander Hamilton in decades, National Book Award winner Ron Chernow tells the riveting story of a man who overcame all odds to shape, inspire, and scandalize the newborn America.

According to historian Joseph Ellis, Alexander Hamilton is “a robust full-length portrait, in my view the best ever written, of the most brilliant, charismatic and dangerous founder of them all.”

Few figures in American history have been more hotly debated or more grossly misunderstood than Alexander Hamilton. Chernow’s biography gives Hamilton his due and sets the record straight, deftly illustrating that the political and economic greatness of today’s America is the result of Hamilton’s countless sacrifices to champion ideas that were often wildly disputed during his time.

“To repudiate his legacy,” Chernow writes, “is, in many ways, to repudiate the modern world.” Chernow here recounts Hamilton’s turbulent life: an illegitimate, largely self-taught orphan from the Caribbean, he came out of nowhere to take America by storm, rising to become George Washington’s aide-de-camp in the Continental Army, coauthoring The Federalist Papers, founding the Bank of New York, leading the Federalist Party, and becoming the first Treasury Secretary of the United States.

Historians have long told the story of America’s birth as the triumph of Jefferson’s democratic ideals over the aristocratic intentions of Hamilton. Chernow presents an entirely different man, whose legendary ambitions were motivated not merely by self-interest but by passionate patriotism and a stubborn will to build the foundations of American prosperity and power. His is a Hamilton far more human than we’ve encountered before—from his shame about his birth to his fiery aspirations, from his intimate relationships with childhood friends to his titanic feuds with Jefferson, Madison, Adams, Monroe, and Burr, and from his highly public affair with Maria Reynolds to his loving marriage to his loyal wife Eliza. And never before has there been a more vivid account of Hamilton’s famous and mysterious death in a duel with Aaron Burr in July of 1804.

Chernow’s biography is not just a portrait of Hamilton, but the story of America’s birth seen through its most central figure. At a critical time to look back to our roots, Alexander Hamilton will remind readers of the purpose of our institutions and our heritage as Americans.

©2004 Ron Chernow (P)2004 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

• George Washington Book Prize Winner, 2005

"Comprehensive and superbly written." (Booklist)
"This is a fine work that captures Hamilton's life with judiciousness and verve." (Publishers Weekly)
"Literate and full of engaging historical asides. By far the best of the many lives of Hamilton now in print." (Kirkus Reviews)
"Scott Brick delivers a highly professional, straightforward narration that holds one's interest throughout. Straight narrative can become boring, and Brick is never that. Nor does he become lazy in the course of 36 hours. His voice and evident interest are fresh throughout." (AudioFile)

Exhausting but worth it

I subscribe to the comments of another reviewer that this just may be the perfect biography. This epic (and I do not use the word lightly) tome is less about Hamilton than it is about the era in which he lived. Chernow's talent is to place his character in context. I learned more about the revolutionary period than I ever expected. In the end, I was conflicted about the subject. Hamilton, at least as chronicled here, was not a particularly admirable character. In some ways I was content to say that I would rather have lived with my own preconceived notions. But at the same time, Chernow recreates a vanished world that is uncomfortably familiar; perhaps too much so. Like many of the principles in Hamilton's own life, I was left with a profound combination of pity and admiration for the man. But in retrospect, the most amazing thing about this story is that Hamilton did all that he did and yet is a relatively obscure character in American history. Although Chernow amply explains all of the reasons Hamilton is not lionized today, one is still left with a sense of personal guilt that we have not done more to recognize the contradictory brilliance of Alexander Hamilton.
I agree that this piece reads like a novel. It is a classic "page-turner". But the rages and torments of Hamilton's life eventually began to wear me down. Perhaps that was Chernow's plan? By the closing chapters of the book I found myself more than ready to see Hamilton's demise. His self-destructive antics could not lead to anything else.
In the end, this is a tragedy; and a damn fine one at that. Ron Chernow may just be responsible for rewriting a big chunk of American history. The test of the influence of this biography will be if we see the construction of a Hamilton Monument in Washingtton, D.C. If anyone is going to jumpstart that long-overdue kudo, it is Chernow and this amazing piece of literature.

Always my favorite founder, well read

I have always admired A.H., and empathized with him most closely of all the founding farthers. This is a well read and terrifically written biography. The perspective is very generous to him, and a little malicious on his rivals; however, balance is still maintained and the flawed but brilliant patriot shines through.

As an aside, my respect for the leadership capabilities of George Washington (often underated) are increased from this book. Once his leadership is missing the collective brillance of his team seems to wayne.

Great Book

This book was great. First audiobook I read and I loved it. Life of Hamilton read like a fiction novel. Narrater is outstanding.

Excellent

This was a very enjoyable listen. There are many great things to be said about the book that have already been noted here. My only concern is that I did not get a good enough idea of why Hamilton was so despised by the Jeffersonians. Perhaps this book wouldn't be the right the place for it, but I would have benefitted from a more objective discussion of the Jeffersonian ideals that conflicted so much with Hamilton and the Federalists. What this book provides instead is an extended illumination of Jefferson's hypocrasies, which, while fascinating and mind-opening, does not really address the ideaological differences between the men sufficiently.

Anyway, a good book should lead you to others, and I'll now seek out a better understanding of all this. This was well worth the listen and fully worthy of 5 stars!

RISE UP! TIME TO TAKE A SHOT!

Reviewing a historical biography can be a difficult task, a genre for which the writing can veer to the monotonous. Here, Ron Chernow does a kingly job with his impeccable research and suaveloquent writing. More significantly of late, this bio served as the basis for the fantastic new blockbuster Broadway musical Hamilton. I'll step back and let Lin-Manuel Miranda's daedal lyrics give you the players and a sketch of part of the story. And well, you know how it ends. It's history, after all.

You want answers to the question?
"How does a bastard, orphan, son of a whore and a Scotsman, dropped in the middle of a forgotten spot in the Caribbean by providence, impoverished, in squalor, grow up to be a hero and a scholar?"

Answers:
For one, go into everything exclaiming, "Hey yo, I'm just like my country, I'm young, scrappy and hungry, and I'm not throwing away my shot!" "When are these colonies gonna rise up?" "We're gonna rise up! Time to take a shot!"

Acquaints himself with two beautiful New York women of Dutch origin. The Schuyler Sisters. Angelica: "I've been reading Common Sense by Thomas Paine. So men say that I'm intense or I'm insane. You want a revolution? I want a revelation. So listen to my declaration: "We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal."

The sister he marries, Eliza: "Grab[s] my sister, and whisper[s], "Yo, this one's mine. My sister made her way across the room to you and I got nervous thinking 'What's she gonna do?' She grabbed you by the arm, I'm thinkin' 'I'm through.' Then you look back at me and suddenly I'm Helpless!"

Fighting a King who proclaims, "You'll be back, like before. I will fight the fight and win the war for your love, for your praise, and I'll love you till my dying days. When you're gone I'll go mad, so don't throw away this thing we had. Cuz when push comes to shove, I will kill your friends and family to remind you of my love."

Get close to a General who, with 32,000 troops in New York harbor surrounded by British ships, barks, "We are outgunned, outmanned, outnumbered, outplanned. We gotta make an all out stand. Ayo, I'm gonna need a right hand man. ... Can I be real a second?... Let down my guard and tell the people how I feel a second? Now I'm the model of a modern major general, the venerated Virginian veteran whose men are all lining up, to put me up on a pedestal, writin' letters to relatives embellishin' my elegance and eloquence, but the elephant is in the room, the truth is in ya face when ya hear the British cannons go... BOOM!"

Though, beware the seeds of resentment planted in Aaron Burr, your arch-enemy:
"Death doesn't discriminate between the sinners and the saints, it takes and it takes and it takes and we keep living anyway. We rise and we fall and we break and we make our mistakes. And if there's a reason I'm still alive when everyone who loves me has died. I'm willing to wait for it....
I am the one thing in life I can control. I am inimitable. I am an original. I'm not falling behind or running late. I'm not standing still, I am lying in wait.
Hamilton faces an endless uphill climb. He has something to prove. He has nothing to lose. Hamilton's pace is relentless he wastes no time.
What's it like in his shoes? Hamilton doesn't hesitate. He exhibits no restraint. He takes and he takes and he takes and he keeps winning anyway. He changes the game. He plays and he raises the stakes. And if there's a reason he seems to thrive when so few survive, then GD- I'm willing to wait for it."


And, in the Battle of Yorktown, 1781, make a move:
"HAMILTON: I imagine death so much it feels more like a memory. This is where it gets me: on my feet, the enemy ahead of me. If this is the end of me, at least I have a friend with me, weapon in my hand, a command, and my men with me. Then I remember my Eliza’s expecting me... Not only that, my Eliza’s expecting. We gotta go, gotta get the job done. Gotta start a new nation, gotta meet my son! Take the bullets out your gun!
We move under cover and we move as one through the night. We have one shot to live another day. We cannot let a stray gunshot give us away. We will fight up close, seize the moment and stay in it. It’s either that or meet the business end of a bayonet. The code word is ‘Rochambeau,’ dig me?
You have your orders now, go, man, go! And so the American experiment begins with my friends all scattered to the winds..."

Quotations to lyrics from HAMILTON, AN AMERICAN MUSICAL, lyrics written by Lin-Manuel Miranda, from songs, in order of quotes, "Alexander Hamilton," "My Shot," "The Schuyler Sisters," "Helpless," "You'll Be Back," "Right Hand Man," "Wait for It," and "Yorktown (The World Turned Upside Down)."


And, that's only half the story.

Highly recommended for a historical biography.

Not Much Has Changed

AH would have loved today's big government. Fortunately, Jefferson and his compatriots held it off for many years.The more things change, the more they stay the same. Politics and politicians haven't changed much in 200 years. Hamilton was a true innovator and would have loved the way things turned out.
The book is an excellent analysis of a man, who rose above a questionable upbringing, and his accomplishments, whether you agree with the results or not.
I can only fantisize with glee how wonderful it would be should current day politicians settle their differences with duels as was done in Hamilton's day.
Typical top-of-the-line reading by Scott Brick.

Hamilton the man

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Definitely . He is my FAVORITE founding father. Brilliant man. Flawed like the rest of us. But aMUCH nobler and ethical man than Washington Jefferson or Madison

What was one of the most memorable moments of Alexander Hamilton?

His admission to an affair

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

His days as a soldier.

Any additional comments?

Lots of anecdotes and a great perspective on a great man. Would have rather met Hamilton more than any founding father. A best buy

A Super Read!

Best biography of one of the founding fathers I've read. Rich in detail, fantastic at capturing character not only of Hamilton, but all the major figures that touched his life.

This was a good one

I have read other bios by this author and I chose this audio book based on his past books not because of any interest in the subject. I was pleased again......outstanding

Good but long.

The book starts and ends strong, but the middle is the same story over and over of our founding fathers being passive aggressive, petty, and childish, constantly throwing shade at each other behind pseudonyms. It got old.