Alexander Hamilton

By: Ron Chernow

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 35 hrs and 58 mins

Publisher's summary

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)

Great history

I learned a lot about Alexander Hamilton. He lived a life that should inspire us all to work harder to reach our full potential

I was amazed by the author, narrator and story...

An extensive view into the ancestry and journey of Hamilton. I especially enjoyed how the author relayed what was document proof vs myth or opinion(even his own). Definitely recommend.

Intense!

If you want to know about Alexander Hamilton this is your book. The life of Hamilton is filled with twists and turns that could easily be taken for fiction instead of the truth. Learning about his early childhood really helps you understand the man he came to be. It is ovious the author is a big fan of Hamilton's as well since the book is written in a hero worship type format but it is still an excellent book that offers a great wealth of insight into a man that helped shape our country. Well worth your time.

Thoroughly enjoyable

A thorough look at Hamilton's life and its impact on America. Lots of detail on other figures of the Revolution and the time following it.

Better than musical

It says a lot that the musical is phenomenal yet still quite inferior to the book and information it provides.

A Great Biography of a little know founding father.

Chernow's biography of Alexander Hamilton is a great book. Giving a rich and detailed story of the life of Alexander Hamilton, from his birth to his end at the hands of a friend, Arron Burr. Paralleling the story of Hamilton we are given the story of the man who would later take his life, giving great contexts behind one of the greatest political battles in American history. This extra sub-biography doesn't feel tacked on or weighted down but flows well through the entire work.
Bricks's reading of the work is pleasant and soothing without being boring or making you want to fall asleep. Keeping your attention for the length of the work.
Would recommend to anyone who wants a great biographical read or wants to learn about one of the forgotten founders.

Brilliant memoriam to a forgotten father and the love of his life

This book is so well researched and detailed that you can't help but to fall deep into the world of Alexander Hamilton, his fierce and loyal wife Eliza, and all the women and men surrounding the founding of this nation. You must read this book if you have any love of your country and want to be inspired and filled with hope about the promises this country held and continues to hold.

short review

The book was really long, but well written and well read. Great job to Chernow and Brick both.

Best book Ive read/listened to in a very long time

It's good that "Hamilton" is so long because I loved every minute of it, especially those monents I rewound over and over. The reading is brilliant and the writing, I can't say enough about it. Such a pity that Hamilton was so brilliant and generous yet criticized and undermined until his premature death, at which time he was justifiably honored as the statesman that he was. We would not be the United States without him. George Washington would not have been George Washington without him.

I learned so much from this book, and my opinion confirmed that the South has always been a danger to our Union, and held us back and continues to.

Best of Audiobooks, Best of Biographies

Very thorough biography of Hamilton as well as in depth context of surrounding characters and events which shaped his life. The story of his supportive wife, Eliza, was touching. Well done narration by Scott Brick kept me engaged through this large book.