Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Alexander Hamilton
Book Review: Most Important Founding Father?
Summary: 5 Stars
Long, but almost reads like a suspense novel as the history of the early United States unfolds before your eyes. The brilliant Hamilton was heavily involved in the American Revolution as Washington's right hand man and in the Constitutional Convention as a primary organizer and contributor. He was a primary author of the Federalist papers and a primary apologist for the ratification of the Constitution (along with Madison on both counts). Most importantly he was the principle organizer of the new government during the Washington administration.
An unbelievably effective and creative implementer, he knew his job and everybody else's. If one of his colleagues just suggested an idea to him, he might show up with a 100 page plan of organization within a few days, gleaned from the latest books from Europe on military matters, economics, fiscal policy, manufacturing, or government. He eventually had more staff members in his department than the President and the rest of the cabinet members put together. After he left Washington the remaining cabinet members continued to rely on him. Adams kept Washington's cabinet and Hamilton's active influence continued into that administration while he maintaining a private law practice. His policies of US assumption of state war debt, central banking, standardized currency, a customs service with coast guard, federalization of import tax, manufacturing subsidies, and liberal constitutional interpretation (among many other things) were all interrelated, creating a stronger federal government than many wanted. Once established, it would have been difficult for anyone who followed him to break down this intermeshed system. When the opposition party of Jefferson finally took over, they discovered how well Hamilton's systems worked in the strong economy they had inherited. Tinkering with his systems lost its appeal and Hamilton's influence remained intact.
Unfortunately, Hamilton was not as good a politician. As charming and endearing as he was, he consistently made enemies, becoming a major adversary in the partisan insultfests of the era. He committed many outrageous errors in judgement, particularly when not subject to Washington's moderating supervision. His idealistic thinking eventually led to his tragic death at the hands of Aaron Burr, covered in great detail by Chernow.
The downside of this book is excessive hero worship by the author, particularly before Hamilton leaves the moderating influence of Washington. In the last half, Hamilton's faults are well-covered, but if the author is to be believed, the sheer talent and energy of this man are almost superhuman.
Washington comes off well, whereas Adams is portrayed as a completely ethical but marginally effective president, tormented by a cabinet controlled by the private citizen, Hamilton. Interestingly, Hamilton and Adams agreed on most things and could have made a strong team if either had exercised a modicum of diplomatic skills. Chernow's Jefferson was devious and partisan, but effective. The trio of Madison, Monroe, and Jefferson came off poorly, though - I think because these Virginians' views were so influenced by the politics dictated by their geography. The southern states were against a strong federal government for various stated and unstated reasons, mostly revolving around perpetuating their slave-dependent economy. No wonder they opposed Hamilton, who relentlessly strengthened the federal government. He and other former soldiers of the Revolution couldn't forget how weak the government was under the Articles of Confederation - so weak, the country couldn't afford to feed, clothe, or pay its troops...so why inflict another weak federal government on the fledgling country?
With complete attention to detail, perhaps more than the reader wants at times, Chernow slowly takes us through early US history, finishing with the duel and an epilogue about Hamilton's exceptional wife, who lived to be 97. This book is a fine chance to learn about the history of the period and the crucial influence of this easily forgotten Founding Father. While the others spent their golden years manicuring their legacies, he didn't live long enough to spruce up his image, yet the case could be made he was the most important one.
Book Review: Our least well known Founding Father
Summary: 5 Stars
I find tremendous inspiration in these stories of "dead white guys"(and I probably should read the bio of Frederick Douglass and others to round it out) who spent every minute of their adult life, up to their death, providing for their families AND building a country out of nothing. In addition, because of the lack of modern communication(phone/email_ as well as the lack of leisure time they journaled every thought and action they experienced in order that we may learn from them. Their idea of a fun event was maybe being at an inn while working and someone playing a fiddle as the hummed along. We need to get inside thier heads and find out what combination of mental, physical, and spiritual energy they experienced to undertake this monumental task when just staying alive and providing for a family took every waking moment of everyone's life.
Clearly the author grew to respect the role Hamilton played and felt that maybe the average reader may have been unaware(as I was) as to the various debates going on between Federalists and Republicans re: city v. country, farm v. industrialization, support of Britain v. France, etc.and Hamilton's influence (through Washington) on these events. He tried to capture the sense of adventure the young Hamilton experienced(in Nevis, then NYC, the catupulted into Washington's inner circle), the conflict between his family life(with Eliza who comes across very well here), and finally the events that drove his descent into a fatal resignation and eventually death.
All in all a LONG read (took me 3 weeks at 1-2 hours a day) but a worthwhile read.
Book Review: Phenomenal
Summary: 5 Stars
This book is easily one of the finest biographies published over the past decade and focuses on a subject that has long been neglected.
Chernow does a remarkable job of showing how Hamilton was the true visionary among the founding fathers. While Jefferson and Madison envisioned a nation of independent farmers, Hamilton had the foresight to recognize that the United States was to become the most economically and militarily powerful nation in the world through a highly sophisticated system of banking. While Jefferson's predictions about the future economic and political makeup of the US and his naiive and overly optimistic forecast regarding the French Revolution (he claimed that he'd allow himself to be stoned as a false prophet if the French Revolution did not turn out peacefully) never came to pass, Hamilton's vision has been validated by American history and experience, proving him to be the intellectual superior to his more famous counterpart from Virginia.
Chernow's book also helps to dispell many of the untruths and misconceptions floating around after John Adams' undeserved rehabilitation at the hands of McCullough. Adams was an ornery, cantankerous, and stubborn individual of ordinary talents, who managed to earn the enmity of nearly every one of his fellow founders (most notably Franklin, Hamilton, and Jefferson) and offend numerous foreign governments during his years as an ambassador. It is no surprise that of the early presidents, only he and his son John Quincy failed to serve two terms.
In the final analysis, Chernow's tour de force shows Hamilton for the visionary and man of integrity that he truly was (lest one forget, Hamilton was a vociferous opponent to slavery on moral grounds and, unlike hypocrites like Jefferson and Adams, never owned a slave). The America we inhabit to today, with all its economic, political, and military might is a Hamiltonian creation. For that, all Americans owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to this long overlooked Founding Father.
Book Review: Simply superb
Summary: 5 Stars
I finished David McCullough's biography of John Adams shortly before reading this book. McCullough's book was one of the finest biographies that I have ever read, but in my opinion this book is even better. To be fair to David McCullough, Ron Chernow had much more to work with, as Alexander Hamilton was a much more interesting character than John Adams.
Ron Chernow has produced a well-documented biography and an immensely rewarding book. In his hands, Hamilton's life reads as it was a work of fiction created by Charles Dickens, Horatio Alger and Joan Collins, as written by Samuel Elliot Morrison. Few men have started so low on the social ladder, with so many impediments to success but rose so far as Alexander Hamilton. While I knew the outline of Hamilton's early life, I did not realize the degree to which it was truly Dickensian and the degree to which he was a truly self-made man, in the mold of a character from a Horation Alger story. His life was plagued by scandal (mostly self inflicted) of the sort created by Jackie Collins.
I knew he was on George Washington's staff during the Revolutionary War, but I did not realize that he was in effect Washington's chief of staff. I knew that he was the first Secretary of the Treasury, but I did not realize the extent to which he created the financial structure of the United States. I knew of his involvement with the Federalist Party, but not that he was a driving force behind the party and that to some he was the Federalist Party. I knew that he experienced difficulties with Jefferson and John Adams (as well as with many others), but I did not understand the depths of these conflicts or their origins until I read this book.
While highly readable and immensely entertaining, the book is nonetheless a work of great scholarship. I expected a well-written book, but one that was based primarily on previous works, but the book is much more. It is rich in interpretation and analysis as well as interesting details. Also, as the lengthy acknowledgement section points out, Chernow did original research in the West Indies, Scotland and in various American archives, unearthing a considerable amount or original material.
I have one caveat, although a very minor one. This is a partisan biography (as are most) and some scholars may disagree with Chernow on some points. Chernow, does not, however, shy away from exposing Hamilton's faults and strives to paint a balanced although admittedly partisan picture.
Book Review: The Best of the Founding Father Biographies
Summary: 5 Stars
There is not much I can add to the other effusive reviews. This really is as good as biography gets. If you are a fan of McCullough and Ellis, you will love this book. Perhaps even more. I did. This is a near-800-page page-turner, that I simply could not put down. It is the best of the modern Founding Father biographies. And while you might differ if you are, say, a Jeffersonian, no matter your political perspective, you will inevitably find yourself saying "wow." I bought multiple copies in hardcover and gave them to all in my family.