From the author of Alexander Hamilton, the New York Times bestselling biography that inspired the musical, comes a gripping portrait of the first president of the United States.Winner of the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for Biography“Truly magnificent . . . [a] well-researched, well-written and absolutely definitive biography” —Andrew Roberts, The Wall Street Journal“Until recently, I’d never believed … Street Journal
“Until recently, I’d never believed that there could be such a thing as a truly gripping biography of George Washington . . . Well, I was wrong. I can’t recommend it highly enough—as history, as epic, and, not least, as entertainment.” —Hendrik Hertzberg, The New Yorker
Celebrated biographer Ron Chernow provides a richly nuanced portrait of the father of our nation and the first president of the United States. With a breadth and depth matched by no other one volume biography of George Washington, this crisply paced narrative carries the reader through his adventurous early years, his heroic exploits with the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War, his presiding over the Constitutional Convention, and his magnificent performance as America’s first president. In this groundbreaking work, based on massive research, Chernow shatters forever the stereotype of George Washington as a stolid, unemotional figure and brings to vivid life a dashing, passionate man of fiery opinions and many moods.
Lin-Manuel Miranda’s smash Broadway musical Hamilton has sparked new interest in the Revolutionary War and the Founding Fathers. In addition to Alexander Hamilton, the production also features George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, Aaron Burr, Lafayette, and many more.
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Really good bio of Washington. Lot’s of detail helping to understand the man behind the legends.
This is a book every American should read!
After reading Hamilton, I had to read Washington! So many things have been written about George Washington which I remember from grade school where you saw him on his white horse looking so serious that he became a Godlike figure. As I grew older more was revealed about his character. Ron has made Washington come alive and I liked that about his book.
A fantastic book about an excellent man. He is what America needed to become a great democracy. He wasn’t perfect, but he was fair and considered the future. He knew the parties “they are likely, in the course of time and things, to become potent engines by such cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people” which is what is happening to us today. We need another George Washington!
Liked it, but it’s really long. It also took me almost a year to finish it as I had to take long breaks from it.
This book is outstanding. It offers so much information on Washington and the political climate of the times.
I’m glad I took the time to read this book. It held my interest and I learned a lot about George Washington and some of our founding fathers. I was amazed at how much they were willing to sacrifice to be free and independent.
Excellent research done to provide an incredible level of detail. A great read!
What great biographical storytelling.
I really enjoyed the book. It gave me a greater appreciation for our first American President.
Reads like a text book
Ron Chernow is a great writer.
A great historical account of George Washington, father of our country.
masterly done as Chernow also did with Hamilton
Enjoyed most of the book but somehow it seemed not to get the essence of Washington. I did get that he had a chiseled chin.
Comprehensive. This book gave a good sense of Washington as a person. I admire him, flaws and all, even more after reading this.
Good book —- recommended for history lovers!!1
The author certainly has done his research, but he loses a lot by wading through excessive detail. Do I really care about the details of Washington’s wardrobe, or the management of Mount Vernon? In this case, less would have been more.
One of the best biographies I have ever read. I have recommended it many times. It is wonderful!
I loved this book
It was the best American history I have ever read. I learned so many things that weren’t taught in U.S. History courses. The entire focus was on the great George Washington, his wife and family, his struggles with slavery, and the birth pains of America. I highly recommend this book. It will certainly teach you many things about the establishment of the USA Government.