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 LISTEN

Great listen and lesson. History and collaboration create an exciting listen. Recommend to everyone, especially those who love history.

Thank You for the Education

Thank you for the extensive research that must have been required to pool this cast amount of our nation’s history into a single volume. There were so many facets of America’s early days that I was completely unaware of and was somewhat astonished to learn. The details pulled from the intimate letters of our nation’s founding members was eye opening.

Wanted the full story behind “Hamilton” and couldn’t be happier

As with many others, I saw the musical “Hamilton” on Disney+ this summer and was enthralled. I had to learn more about him. What better way than to listen to the book that inspired Lin-Manuel Miranda?

The history of Hamilton and many of the founding fathers is fascinating. It’s exactly what I wanted to learn. And if you think you know it all because you saw the musical, not at all. There is so much more than what could fit in the musical and much of the musical is overly simplified retelling of the much more amazing true story behind the musical.

At 38ish hours, this audiobook takes a commitment but the reader is excellent and it’s worth the time to learn so much more about Hamilton’s substantial role in how our country came to be.

Well written and well read

I thought this was great. it was heavy handed and didn't bog me down. it was interesting and really brought to life a historical figure I didn't know much about. I am excited to purchase more of the author's biographies.

Fantastic!

Hamilton is such a forgotten treasure. This book is a must read, or in this case, a must listen.

The audio seemed to change from chapter to chapter, maybe it was in my head, but I found it annoying.

Great read and excellent performance

From watching the musical, I was guided to its source, here, and was impressed. The story was outstanding and the performance the same.
I recommend this to anyone casually interested in developing your own internal map of history, as this book touches on the great moments and highlights them with details. This is a very long book, so I encourage getting through the whole story. It is very much worth the commitment.

A vivid story

Chernow’s writing style, coupled with Brick’s reading, paint a captivating and vivid image of the late 18th century and the life of both Hamilton and those revolutionary figures who orbited an often misunderstood member of the Founding Generation.

A Great Biography!!!!

This could be the best biography I’ve ever read/heard. Scott Brick is a great narrator and Ron Chernow deserves all the accolades he has received for this book. Alexander Hamilton lived an extraordinary life and Chernow tells his story in an insightful and heartbreaking way.

Powerful!

Very informative and engaging biography of one of the most influential founding fathers. I was not aware of how much we owe to Hamilton for the stability of this great nation. He was most certainly a flawed individual, but oh what a life he led.

Scott Brick did a wonderful job in narrating. His voice was crisp and clear throughout. It was truly a pleasure from beginning to end.

in awe of AH

***** I am in complete awe of Alexander Hamilton. This is the best audiobook I have ever listened to. Sign me up for the Scott Brick fan club!