Washington

A Life

By: Ron Chernow

Narrated by: Scott Brick

Length: 41 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

Pulitzer Prize, Biography/Autobiography, 2011

From National Book Award winner Ron Chernow, a landmark biography of George Washington.

In Washington: A Life celebrated biographer Ron Chernow provides a richly nuanced portrait of the father of our nation. With a breadth and depth matched by no other one-volume life of Washington, this crisply paced narrative carries the listener through his troubled boyhood, his precocious feats in the French and Indian War, his creation of Mount Vernon, his heroic exploits with the Continental Army, his presiding over the Constitutional Convention, and his magnificent performance as America's first president.

Despite the reverence his name inspires, Washington remains a lifeless waxwork for many Americans, worthy but dull. A laconic man of granite self-control, he often arouses more respect than affection. In this groundbreaking work, based on massive research, Chernow dashes forever the stereotype of a stolid, unemotional man.

A strapping six feet, Washington was a celebrated horseman, elegant dancer, and tireless hunter, with a fiercely guarded emotional life. Chernow brings to vivid life a dashing, passionate man of fiery opinions and many moods. Probing his private life, he explores his fraught relationship with his crusty mother, his youthful infatuation with the married Sally Fairfax, and his often conflicted feelings toward his adopted children and grandchildren. He also provides a lavishly detailed portrait of his marriage to Martha and his complex behavior as a slave master.

At the same time, Washington is an astute and surprising portrait of a canny political genius who knew how to inspire people. Not only did Washington gather around himself the foremost figures of the age, including James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson, but he also brilliantly orchestrated their actions to shape the new federal government, define the separation of powers, and establish the office of the presidency.

©2010 Ron Chernow (P)2010 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Tenaciously researched...This new portrait offers a fresh sense of what a groundbreaking role Washington played, not only in physically embodying his new nation's leadership but also in interpreting how its newly articulated constitutional principles would be applied...deeply rewarding.” ( New York Times)

"Just as he resuscitated Alexander Hamilton in a heralded 2004 biography, Ron Chernow now resurrects Washington...[A] remarkable book." ( Entertainment Weekly)

"Whether he's debunking the legend of Washington's wooden teeth (ivory that cracked and discolored over time) or the purely fictional tale of the cherry tree, the massive yet briskly paced Washington: A Life is a rollicking read, sure to redefine perceptions and correct assumptions." ( Kirkus Reviews)

A Must Read for Every American

An exhaustive story, it outlines the life of Washington in exquisite detail. Chernow paints a vivid picture of this very complex man, and his Founding Father allies. Besides getting deep insight into the inner thinking of Washington's character, the reader also gets a feel for the hostilities they faced with each other, the back-stabbing relationships, and the 1700's version of "fake-news" that was rampant in the press.

Great book!!

Wonderful book in exhaustive detail, well narrated and very interesting. I had just read Hamilton by Chernow so many facts dovetailed with what I had learned previously. I especially enjoyed the use of language by the luminaries of the era.

starts a little slow but overall very good

This is a very good biography and help you appreciate how much Washington did to not only lead us towards victory in the revolutionary war but more so after the colonies won.

Washington

The best book I have ever read about a great leader and the foundation of our country.

An engaging detailed histrionics of our nations greatest leader

Don’t be turned off by the length, it is worth every minute. A vast colorful trip through the life of President Washington beginning with his family tree, youth, military exploits and youthful relationships with the elite of Virginia Colony. All setting the stage and shaping young George for what would become decades of service as a nation figurehead. As Commander-in-Chief, President of the Constitutional Convention and First POTUS, George Washington have his life shaping the new country as only he could do, ensuring a fledgling government could meet the unknown challenges of times ahead.

Washington, a human being, a great man, leader, but just a man.

An amazing look into the life and times of a man. The Father of these United States. I liked the story of his life because it portrayed the good that he did and the mistakes that he made without judgement.The story of his life and the relationships with his family and peers was well documented.When the author added his opinion about the motives behind Washington's actions he did so fairly,looking at several possibilities for his actions. Every American should read this book! I wish there was a "junior version " of this great book so that young Americans could grow up knowing the real George Washington.

Chernow brought Washington to life

It was very well written and brought an historically stoic figure to life. One that we all can relate to. I can’t even imagine all of the research and time it took for this book to come to fruition. Well done!

V E R Y Long -- But Worth It

If you could sum up Washington: A Life in three words, what would they be?

Very, very long.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Washington: A Life?

Unfortunately, a negative one.

Chernow, for the most part, relies on his meticulous research in drawing conclusions about the "why" of what motivated Washington throughout his life.

He noted that Washington did not allow his two orphaned nephews to live at Mt. Vernon because of their bad behavior -- though he did pay for their education and upkeep. Chernow then made a conclusion that Washington must have changed his opinion because he left a substantial portion of his estate to them in his will.

I wonder how much consideration Chernow gave to the idea that Washington did so because they were nephews and not nieces. Would a female biographer have come to the same conclusion lacking any actual evidence of why he did so?

After this passage -- which really stuck with me -- I was more discerning as I finished the book.

What about Scott Brick’s performance did you like?

He didn't try to over hype every paragraph.

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

Not really, which is good, as a biography of such a long and complicated life shouldn't emphasize only one aspect of its subject.

Any additional comments?

I gained much more insight into why the citizens of the "South" (and their descendants) hold certain attitudes about their place in America. In fearing being pushed around by their more populous Northern neighbors -- and losing their slaves to abolitionists -- the Southerners brokered one of the worst deals for American prosperity and human rights right into the Constitution -- the makeup of the electoral college, which gives way too much power to the least populous states, at the expense of the the rest of the country.

heading is not optional

I enjoyed this book very much and Scott Brick is my favorite narator. Good representation.

I cried when it ended.

I'm unable to express my great gratitude for this man, and this author for bringing us the very detailed story of his life. What an impressive figure George Washington is and ever will be. This book is very long, which normally is not an issue for me, but with the great attention to detail it could get boring at times. So glad I read it though, and you should too!!!