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cmbohn's review
3.0
I received this free in exchange for a honest review. My views, however, are my own.
Title: Alexander Hamilton's Revolution: His Vital Role as Washington's Chief of Staff
Author: Philip Thomas Tucker
"Sell-out crowds every night enjoy the smash hit Hamilton on Broadway, which presents a fact-filled and entertaining glimpse into the patriot’s life. But very few of us know about Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Hamilton, General George Washington’s trusted military advisor."
If you thought Rob Chernow's masterpiece Hamilton was just not detailed enough, then this book is for you. I'm a major fan of Alexander Hamilton - the guy was a genius and I'm glad to see him finally getting the credit he deserves. But even I was a little daunted by the level of detail in this new book by Turner.
I agree with his basic premise - we focus a lot of what Hamilton accomplished before and after the revolution, but sometimes overlook what he did while he was serving. This book deals mainly with the extraordinary relationship between Washington and Hamilton. They became an amazing team who Got. It. Done.
But while the book was insightful and like I say, I love the idea, the writing was often repetitive. He'd wind up saying things three times in one chapter. I don't need that. I can remember what you just said. And then the level of detail - naming so many names, for instance - was really just too much. I would recommend this one for serious readers of American History and advise others to pass.
Title: Alexander Hamilton's Revolution: His Vital Role as Washington's Chief of Staff
Author: Philip Thomas Tucker
"Sell-out crowds every night enjoy the smash hit Hamilton on Broadway, which presents a fact-filled and entertaining glimpse into the patriot’s life. But very few of us know about Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Hamilton, General George Washington’s trusted military advisor."
If you thought Rob Chernow's masterpiece Hamilton was just not detailed enough, then this book is for you. I'm a major fan of Alexander Hamilton - the guy was a genius and I'm glad to see him finally getting the credit he deserves. But even I was a little daunted by the level of detail in this new book by Turner.
I agree with his basic premise - we focus a lot of what Hamilton accomplished before and after the revolution, but sometimes overlook what he did while he was serving. This book deals mainly with the extraordinary relationship between Washington and Hamilton. They became an amazing team who Got. It. Done.
But while the book was insightful and like I say, I love the idea, the writing was often repetitive. He'd wind up saying things three times in one chapter. I don't need that. I can remember what you just said. And then the level of detail - naming so many names, for instance - was really just too much. I would recommend this one for serious readers of American History and advise others to pass.
alexander1776's review
Filled with incorrect information, and many spelling errors. The author is also quite repetitive with his words.
brainyheroine's review
5.0
Definitely a 4.5 star book, taking away a smidge just because there are times where Tucker repeats himself repeating himself with repetition, but the information is great! If you're one for history or biographies this is one for you! Or if you're obsessed with a certain rapping broadway star, this will give you some more insight into who Hamilton was, or more really, a packed few years that really helped form his personality and beliefs as well as his relationship with Washington. You won't get the whole Chernow version of Hamilton, but Tucker brings some insight into the passion that made the man.
emesskay's review
2.0
Ok, ,so first let me start with my biases. I have always found United States history boring. I like history but for whatever reason, reading US history has always been a slog for me. With all the interest in Alexander Hamilton (mostly brought about the musical "Hamilton") I thought perhaps this biography of Hamilton would be the book to change my bias towards US History.
Nope.
Reading the prologue and introduction, I thought to myself "this author is a serious Hamilton fanboy." That is generally not something you want to think about a history author. Everyone has a point of view, but you don't want to feel like the author is so infatuated with the subject that he or she is unable to be unbiased.
So there is that. And the author repeats himself A LOT. I lost track of the number of times I was informed of what a boy genius that Hamilton was (he truly was an exceptional person, I won't take that away from him, I just don't need to be reminded of it every couple of pages). It wasn't just that which was repeated, it was other facts along the way. I kept telling the book "you just told me that in the previous chapter, you don't need to tell me that again." The author also had a habit of adding parenthetical statements that don't add anything to the content (kind of like what I am doing here, sort of).
The biography covers Hamilton's early life up through his emigration to the then colonies, and involvement in the revolutionary war, highlighting the important role Hamilton played as one of General Washington's aides de camp.
In general the subject was interesting, but kind of had the life sucked out of it by the writing style.
Nope.
Reading the prologue and introduction, I thought to myself "this author is a serious Hamilton fanboy." That is generally not something you want to think about a history author. Everyone has a point of view, but you don't want to feel like the author is so infatuated with the subject that he or she is unable to be unbiased.
So there is that. And the author repeats himself A LOT. I lost track of the number of times I was informed of what a boy genius that Hamilton was (he truly was an exceptional person, I won't take that away from him, I just don't need to be reminded of it every couple of pages). It wasn't just that which was repeated, it was other facts along the way. I kept telling the book "you just told me that in the previous chapter, you don't need to tell me that again." The author also had a habit of adding parenthetical statements that don't add anything to the content (kind of like what I am doing here, sort of).
The biography covers Hamilton's early life up through his emigration to the then colonies, and involvement in the revolutionary war, highlighting the important role Hamilton played as one of General Washington's aides de camp.
In general the subject was interesting, but kind of had the life sucked out of it by the writing style.
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