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Alexander Hamilton
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Alexander Hamilton
Unavailable
Alexander Hamilton
Audiobook (abridged)11 hours

Alexander Hamilton

Written by Ron Chernow

Narrated by Grover Gardner

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

4.5/5

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Currently unavailable

Currently unavailable

About this audiobook

New York Times Bestseller, and the inspiration for the hit Broadway musical Hamilton!

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Ron Chernow presents a landmark biography of Alexander Hamilton, the Founding Father who galvanized, inspired, scandalized, and shaped the newborn nation.


In the first full-length biography of Alexander Hamilton in decades, 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.

"Nobody has captured Hamilton better than Chernow" -The New York Times Book Review 

From the Trade Paperback edition.

Editor's Note

Smashing every expectation…

This biography of the Founding Father without a father inspired the hottest musical currently running on Broadway. Chernow maps how young, scrappy, and hungry Hamilton became an integral part of American politics.

LanguageEnglish
Release dateOct 10, 2004
ISBN9780786553600
Unavailable
Alexander Hamilton
Author

Ron Chernow

Ron Chernow is the Pulitzer prize-winning author of Washington: A Life. Alexander Hamilton and Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr were both nominated for the National Book Critics Circle Award in biography. Chernow lives in New York.

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Reviews for Alexander Hamilton

Rating: 4.379814527817404 out of 5 stars
4.5/5

1,402 ratings91 reviews

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  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Another well researched tome from the master of early American history biography.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Read this book if you are planning to see the play!!!
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    Taking on a massive biography like this is no simple task. I wasn't sure I needed or wanted to know all about that was here on Hamilton. But having gotten through it I was glad I did. Chernow delivers on not only a detailed account of this great man's life, but a remarkable assessment of his character and what drove him to greatness. But we also get the foibles and weaknesses of the man which led to his failures, and gives a complete picture on what he was really all about.Along with personal caricature the book also is a virtual historical textbook and then some on how he fit in such a key way with so many important events and decisions that shaped our great country. Hamilton maybe as much or more than any other man we find was instrumental in not only the founding of our country but to an extent what it is today.Many of the great figures he interacted with, collaborated with, and squared off against are all profiled in remarkable detail. I was rather taken but the bitterness of the rivalries and differences depicted primarily with the opposition Republicans, our today Democrats. The enmity and passions reminded me so much of today's political scene.At times the long nature of detailed political points and contentions got a bit boring but it was made up for with the descriptive personalities and failings of personal conduct. The tragic conclusion with his final confrontation with Burr was very dramatic. Also the aftermath of his wife, Eliza's life completed what was a remarkable biography.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I started this monster more than six months ago after the Hamilton musical piqued my curiosity. I checked it out of the library over and over again, reading 50 to 100 pages at a time. I would have finished sooner but this thick tome is impossible to read with one hand while walking the dog (my best reading time).

    Chernow is persuasive in fingering Hamilton as one of the most important of our Founding Fathers. The volume is rich in detail and very readable. It's easy to see how Chernow's portrait of Hamilton could fascinate Lin-Manuel Miranda and inspire him to create his wonderful musical.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    a fabulous biography that i viewed through the lens of bias because i was also listening to the musical at the same time. quick moving - there is never a dull moment during the revolution - snappy and well written. totally enjoyable and a staggering book for me to finish over a three day sojourn to new york city on a whim.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This is another one of my favorite works of non-fiction. Ron Chernow is an author I had not read before, but I have since read this book twice. Hamilton is a fascinating character and one that is too often overlooked in American History. His influence on Washington and on the early economics of the country shaped the path of American History for generations. His brilliance cannot be overstated, and the fact that he came from such a difficult background makes it all the more amazing. His personality was also larger than life and is what ultimately got him into trouble and has since tarnished his image. I recommend this book to anyone who likes history, although the parts about his economic policies do drag a bit if you have no interest in the area.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Shockingly readable for how dense it was. Quite enjoyable and certainly informative. A must-read for anyone interested in the founding of the country.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Epic. What an amazing life and legacy.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    I have absolutely no idea how Lin-Manuel Miranda found a musical in this, but I guess that's why he has won Tony awards and I have not. I did enjoy it, mind. It just didn't scream "genius soundtrack of American history" to me. Again, no Tony awards.
  • Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
    3/5
    The book documented the intertwine of Alexander Hamilton and various founding fathers of the USA. It is intriguing, but the reading of the audio-book does not keep my attention as well as other audio-book.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Excellent biography. Chernow argues that if Washington was the father of the country, Madison the father of the Constitution, then Hamilton was largely the father of our government. It was his work that really cemented the the three branches of our government and institutionalized our economy.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    Wow. This was a really incredible book and life. Yes, I admit, listening to the musical is what brought me to read it, but I am so glad I did. There were so many details that just were't expanded upon in the show and it is interesting to compare how these historical figures are portrayed differently. For example, at the end, there was a chapter about the aftermath of the duel in Aaron Burr's life. In the musical, a lot of sympathy was given towards Burr. And sure, he did have a rough life, with many deaths around him and failures in his own life. But the fact that he showed little to no remorse about killing Hamilton is very indicative of his character in my head. I have less sympathy for him now, after hearing more about him and the way he lived.

    I listened to this as an audiobook and it ended up taking me almost 4 months. It is a long book but worthwhile. No biographer is perfect, but I think Chernow, while partial to Hamilton, was fair to those who opposed him. He showed that no one involved in the revolution and foundation of America was perfect and they all had major flaws. While one can accomplish many things in life, no one is without fault.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    A fascinating story - definitely worth the time it takes to read. It shows that the origins of our government were not without dissenters. The current friction between those who want individual (states) rights as opposed to a strong central government was definitely present right from the beginning.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    If you think politicians were nobler and more honest in the past, read this work. An amazing work, I do sense a basis toward Hamilton, not that his contemporaries were angels.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Not one to read American history, this became interesting because of the musical. I downloaded a sample on the Kindle and was hooked. Easy to read, interesting in detail, and historically very well researched, I learned a lot about one of the Founding Fathers. Hamilton was born to a divorced woman in the West Indies. His life was hard and he learned fast that he had to take care of himself. Later as an orphan, he found himself working on the docks doing clerical work. His ability soon impressed several people and he was able to come to America to study. Although he tried to get into Princeton, he couldn't but as able to get into King's College (later Columbia). Here he devoted himself to study and improving himself. Due to a meeting of a New York tailor, Hercules Mulligan, Hamilton was introduced into New York society. He could easily meet people and had an interesting charm.As the rumors of trouble began with Great Britain, there was much writing pro and con. Hamilton believed America owed its loyalty to Britain, to the King, but not Parliament and he wrote several tracts or articles expressing a clear stand on the issues. After the Battle of Lexington, he felt he needed to join a militia and he was soon known for his attention to detail. Eventually, he became an aide to General George Washington. Hamilton continued to write and speak on many issues and often spoke or wrote for Washington, who apparently was a man of few words.As the war drew on, Hamilton always worried about what would happen after the war as he had a great distrust of the "rabble" of the common people. He believed that government needed to be led by the elite, the educated, and those that understood the importance of rank. After the war, Hamilton studied to be a lawyer and married into an aristocratic family, the Schuylers; he married Eliza but also seemed in love with her sister Angelica.New York was the center of Tory activity and there were many there that wanted to remain a part of Britain. After the war, a new government needed to be created and Hamilton wrote what became the Federalist papers outlining a strong federal government. Many, particularly those from the South and Virginia especially stood for the power of the individual states. Thomas Jefferson was one of the most outspoken. As Washington was inaugurated, Hamilton was appointed the first Secretary of the Treasury where he was able to set up the federal bank. The times were extremely turbulent and Hamilton was often accused of using the bank for his own financial benefit, but it was his ideas that led to a solid economy for the country. He served Washington both terms but faced much opposition from the Republicans who accused him of being a monarchist. An affair with a woman, Maria Reynolds added complications as her husband blackmailed him. Eliza, his wife, remained by his side and was supportive always as he was an attentive husband and father.As Adams became the second president, the same cabinet remained, but caused nothing but trouble for the presidency as there was continued struggle between the Federalists and the Republicans, whom Hamilton and Jefferson represented. Much political intrigue, angry newspaper articles, and continual unrest made governing difficult. Aaron Burr, a New York lawyer with his own political aspirations appeared in and out of Hamilton's life. Sometimes on the same side, sometimes opposing. But it was an angry display of name calling that eventually led to the dual that killed Hamilton who was supposedly planned to not actually aim at Burr, but Burr shot him directly and Hamilton died several days later. The funeral in New York was massive as he was beloved there. He left no fortune in spite of the accusations that he was benefiting from the bank.The complicated life of his interesting man is told in such a way that one wants to know more. Filled with quotes and many excerpts of letters, the life and times of the Founding Fathers were certainly not simple; there was enough blame and praise to go around on all sides.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Excellent, well researched narrative. Mr. Chernow does an excellent job weaving all the view points through primary sources and narrative. This work provides a great counter to much of the Jeffersonian hagiography that we have been taught in school.

    Like many biographies, Mr. Chernow does a good job detailing the lives of those who interacted with Alexander Hamilton. There is even an excellent epilogue for his wife Eliza, and her contributions to his legacy after his untimely death at the young age of 47.
  • Rating: 1 out of 5 stars
    1/5
    I typically love biographies and auto-biographies. I pretty much hated every minute of this very long book. I can't quite figure out why I hated it so much. Another biography that was written with as great depth is Helen and Teacher by Joseph P Lash, and I simply adored it. I suppose the answer for my dislike of Chernow's work is that it focuses on a politician, and my like of Lash's work must be because its focus is upon a teacher and her subject.
  • Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    4/5
    As one of those obsessive Hamilton fans, I picked up Chernow's biography of Alexander Hamilton to get a sense of the bigger picture of the life that inspired the musical. I was not disappointed. The biography is well written and Hamilton's life is fascinating. Chernow does an excellent job of both recounting Hamilton's life, describing the larger context for events, and also providing well-balanced speculation on particular events or relationships where concrete support is unavailable. Additionally, as a Canadian my familiarity with the American Revolutionary period is pretty scant and the book provides enough detail that I didn't feel lost in an unfamiliar history. A solid biography that's a worthwhile reading experience whether you're a fan of the musical or just interested in this fascinating American founding father.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    In what I'm sure is a pretty standard story, I came to this book through the musical. As a tragic piece of Hamiltrash in regional Australia, it can be difficult to get access to Hamilton experiences and I do love me a book.This is a fascinating story told in a deeply engaging way. Chernow's style of writing is engrossing. He reminds us that historical figures are real people, more than their myths and reputations. Hamilton's life was filled with triumphs and tragedies, love and struggles, some of the latter of his own making. Despite his obvious brilliance, Hamilton was often paranoid, reckless and lacking in discretion. Obviously, we know how this story ends but the journey is a remarkable one, filled with incredible moments and phenomenal people, shown in all their glory and gore. It feels nowhere near as long a book as it is; I can understand how Lin-Manuel Miranda came out of this read so inspired by Alexander Hamilton.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    So this was definitely not a thing I'd planned to do when I thought about what I'd read in 2016.Of course, I also hadn't planned on falling head-over-heels for a hip-hop musical about the least-known founding father, so clearly my scouting for the year wasn't the best.This book was, honestly, fantastic. You know how you are flipping channels, and you see PBS is showing Ken Burns' "The Civil War", and you think, "Oh, yeah, that's supposed to be good. I can watch an episode, and maybe if I like it I'll look it up on Netflix later or something", and then the next thing you know it's 4 hours later and you're trying to find a kleenix because you're crying about a confederate soldier, and you don't even know what's happening except you have to keep going because how can history ever be this compelling?? Yeah, it's that kind of good.Chernow uses an immense number of primary sources, and spends pages and pages on things like the formation of the US banking system, and manages to make none of it seem dry or boring or lecturing. I would venture to guess that Chernow is a fan of Alexander Hamilton (because how could he not be?), but he doesn't shy away from exploring Hamilton's weaknesses (pride; impulsivity; inability to keep his mouth shut) while also showing what an incredible man he truly was. This is fascinating history, and I'm thankful I took the plunge into this amazing beast of a biography. Highly recommended.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This is an abridged version of Ron Chernow’s Hamilton biography. Of course, it is well done and the reader does a very nice job of his presentation. As a graduate student of American History, I was very pleased with this audiobook. My wife bought a hard copy of Chernow’s Hamilton biography and it is in the house. I was sufficiently pleased with the abridged audiobook that I doubt I will pick up the hard copy.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    por que no esta en español? crying in spanish why????
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    It’s an objective while emotional master piece about the Founder Father without a father.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Fabulous! I enjoyed every minute of listening! Highly suggest it.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    The author and his story telling ability . Since books can enrich our souls, this is one to add to your list.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Superb. Voice of narrator very pleasant and history accurate and engaging
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Outstandingly researched and written. I found myself really admiring Hamilton more and Jefferson less after this.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Fascinating read (listen). Its amazing what an opportunity will do for ones life if its not squandered. Alexander Hamilton though he had the faults of many men, was a brilliant mind. Ron Chernow kept the text flowing and gave this man life.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    This biography was written very well where the reader doesn't get bogged down in the tale of Alexander Hamilton. It keeps you at the edge of your seat.
  • Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
    5/5
    Insightful for our turbulent beginnings. St Jefferson is shown to be. Wise and Wiley