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  • Washington: A Life
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4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
3,762 global ratings
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4 star
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Washington: A Life

Washington: A Life

byRon Chernow
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Top positive review

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Mark S. Robertson
5.0 out of 5 starsGreat book about an overall great man
Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2017
First Ron Chernow book that I have read. Great book. Learned so much about George Washington. Not sure how this book affected my opinion of George Washington though. It's still sinking in. If I had to say now it would be that I am more impressed by his leadership as a general in the French and Indian War and of course the Revolutionary War. The hardships and obstacles that he overcame seem humanly impossible today. He really did singularly forge our country into existence.
And was impressed with his role in bringing about the U.S. Constitution. His presence alone was a stabilizing factor for those tense few summer months in Philadelphia.
Am now probably less impressed with his Presidency. Seem to lean towards Hamilton's centralized government approach and view the Constitution as a living document. And his push for a national bank was troubling as well.
As far as personal character. It was very solid in his leadership roles and in his family life and seemingly in his marriage to Martha. Was bothered though by how he treated his slaves. He was very strict and even harsh at times and would track down those who escaped. Yes, it was a different time, but, along with the fact that he had slaves, his treatment of them was often nothing short of cruel, yet he was seeming close to some of his slaves and cared about them. A paradox.
And he was very harsh at times on the troops under him. Yes, these were very harsh times and situations and many of the troops fighting for the birth of the new country wanted to and often did abandon the battle. Washington used harsh measures to try to stop the loss of his troops.
Chernow does a great job telling us just who Washington was and how he thought and what he was made of. The poor relationship with his mother also gives us a look into who he was and how he was formed. It seems that many greats in history credit great mothers and/or fathers for making them the person they are. Washington had neither, yet he became a great historic figure with strong character and leadership abilities .Where did these qualities come from then? Though that may be a mystery, I think that I know the Father of Our Country much better than before I read it. Highly recommend it. Looking forward to getting and reading Grant book. I'm a slow reader, so it will be a while before I finish the 900 plus page book, but I hear it's great too.
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88 people found this helpful

Top critical review

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Sean Claycamp
3.0 out of 5 stars3.5 stars. Overly dense and dragged considerably at times
Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2018
I actually want to give this 3 1/2 stars but I’m not going to give it 4.
I loved Chernow’s bio of US Grant. And I liked Hamilton. This one just seemed overly dense and 800 pages to prove a point.
I can normally read a book of this length in 4-6 weeks. This took me 3+ months because it just really dragged along at times and got monotonous.
It is borderline blasphemy for me to make such statements. Clearly Chernow did his research and wrote with passion and detail.
Who am I to criticize!!
But trimming and tightening this book up by about 200 pages would be a good strategy. I don’t think the novice reader would make it through this one.
I have now read close to 100 bios some denser than this one so I was able to get through it. Clearly it’s the book to recommend on Washington but I think trimming and tightening it somewhat would help it reach a broader audience.
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56 people found this helpful

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From the United States

Mark S. Robertson
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book about an overall great man
Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2017
Verified Purchase
First Ron Chernow book that I have read. Great book. Learned so much about George Washington. Not sure how this book affected my opinion of George Washington though. It's still sinking in. If I had to say now it would be that I am more impressed by his leadership as a general in the French and Indian War and of course the Revolutionary War. The hardships and obstacles that he overcame seem humanly impossible today. He really did singularly forge our country into existence.
And was impressed with his role in bringing about the U.S. Constitution. His presence alone was a stabilizing factor for those tense few summer months in Philadelphia.
Am now probably less impressed with his Presidency. Seem to lean towards Hamilton's centralized government approach and view the Constitution as a living document. And his push for a national bank was troubling as well.
As far as personal character. It was very solid in his leadership roles and in his family life and seemingly in his marriage to Martha. Was bothered though by how he treated his slaves. He was very strict and even harsh at times and would track down those who escaped. Yes, it was a different time, but, along with the fact that he had slaves, his treatment of them was often nothing short of cruel, yet he was seeming close to some of his slaves and cared about them. A paradox.
And he was very harsh at times on the troops under him. Yes, these were very harsh times and situations and many of the troops fighting for the birth of the new country wanted to and often did abandon the battle. Washington used harsh measures to try to stop the loss of his troops.
Chernow does a great job telling us just who Washington was and how he thought and what he was made of. The poor relationship with his mother also gives us a look into who he was and how he was formed. It seems that many greats in history credit great mothers and/or fathers for making them the person they are. Washington had neither, yet he became a great historic figure with strong character and leadership abilities .Where did these qualities come from then? Though that may be a mystery, I think that I know the Father of Our Country much better than before I read it. Highly recommend it. Looking forward to getting and reading Grant book. I'm a slow reader, so it will be a while before I finish the 900 plus page book, but I hear it's great too.
88 people found this helpful
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Kai Lee
5.0 out of 5 stars A gold mine of information on many colorful personalities in early American history
Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2021
Verified Purchase
Everyone knows George Washington was the military leader who defeated the British in the American Revolutionary War and is regarded as the Father of the Country. Some may also be aware that he ranked near the best among all the US Presidents, but probably not much more about the life and work of George Washington. (How many know that Washington was also the Father of the American Mule?)

Many years ago, I had read the books “1776” by David McCullough and “His Excellency – George Washington“ by Joseph Ellis. However, with the passage of time, whatever I learned have faded from memory. Recently, after reading “Team of Rivals” by Doris Kearns Goodwin and “Jefferson” by Jon Meacham, I thought I should read “Washington – A Life” by Ron Chernow. The page numbers of these books are 754, 505, and 817 respectively, not including footnotes. They are long, but thankfully they all are engrossing page-turners and are easy to read.

I thought all three books are excellent. In particular, I believe that anyone who invests the time to read “Washington – A Life” will be rewarded with much information not only about George and Martha Washington but also a number of interesting events and colorful personalities in early American History. To wet the reader’s appetite, below is a sample of what I learned.

- The name Mount Vernon was given in honor of the British Admiral Edward Vernon, whom George Washington’s half-brother, Lawrence served under, while he was in the Colonial “Regiment of Foot” (Infantry). “Thus the name of a forgotten British admiral would implausibly grace America’s secular shrine to the revolt against British rule,” stated the author.

- The bravery of George Washington in battles was well established during the French and Indian War. To his brother Jack, Washington speculated that he was still alive “by the miraculous care of Providence that protected me beyond all human expectation. I had 4 bullets through my coat and two horses shot under and yet escaped unhurt.” In the battle of Fort Necessity, a young doctor named James Craik, observed: “I expected every moment to see him fall. His duty and station exposed him to every danger. Nothing but the superintending care of Providence could have saved him from the fate of all around him.” Washington’s daring even fostered a lasting mystique among the Indians. A folk belief existed among some North American tribes that certain warriors enjoyed supernatural protection from death in battle, and this mythic statue was projected onto Washington. It was his legendary bravery that enabled his military reputation to keep rising despite losing the battles of Fort Necessity and Fort Monongahela.

- The strategy that resulted in the Victory at Yorktown against the British which ended the Revolutionary War was actually originated by the French Lt. Gen. Comte de Rochambeau. Washington’s plan was to retake New York, which was repeatedly not agreed to by the French. That Lt. Gen. Comte de Rochambeau hesitated to go along with Washington’s plan turned out to be a blessing for America.

- The first suggestion of what eventually became the structure of the new American Government came from a letter to Washington from John Jay in early 1787, which stated: “Let congress legislate, let others execute, let others judge.” Jay was then serving as Secretary of Foreign Affairs, appointed by Congress of the Confederation. (Jay later served as the 1st Chief Justice of the United States).

- When Benjamin Franklin died on April 17, 1790, America was curiously devoid of public eulogy to this founding father. The French outdid the U.S. Congress by the eloquent homage to “the genius who liberated America and poured upon Europe torrents of light.”

- It seemed that Washington was short of cash most of the time and his estates in Mount Vernon and neighboring counties were not financially profitable. When he was elected as the first president of the US, he had to borrow money to make it to New York City for his own inauguration in 1789. Washington was beset by health problems from time to time, ranging from dysentery, thigh tumor to pneumonia. In particular, he had bad teeth. Indeed, in his first Presidential Inauguration in April 30, 1789 he had only one good tooth remained. Martha Washington suffered an inordinate number of family deaths - two husband including Washington, four children and seven siblings. Nevertheless, neither George nor Martha ever reacted to grave setbacks in a maudlin, self-pitying manner. Both believed in a world replete with suffering in which one muddled through with as much dignity and grace as one could muster.

- Thomas Jefferson once boasted that “If I could not go to heaven but with a (political) party, I would not go there at all”. Yet, Jefferson and his supporters were founders of the Republican Party, which fought fiercely with the Federalist Party led by Alexander Hamilton. The intensity of the political infighting as narrated in the book is evidence that the political bickering and partisanship we witness today date all the way back to the earliest days of the Republic. In the book “Jefferson” by Jon Meacham, Hamilton appeared to be a scheming politician. In the present book, on the other hand, Hamilton appeared to be extremely intelligent and it was Jefferson and James Madison who were cunning and duplicitous. Washington was on the side of Hamilton.

- Many interesting characters appeared in the book, including Patrick Henry, Thomas Paine, the arrogant but brilliant French Architect Pierre Charles L'Enfant, who conceived the architectural layout of the new capitol Washington, D. C. A most interesting personality was Marquis Layette, who is “considered a national hero in both America and France”.

The quote about Washington which appeared in the front of the book was that by Abigail Adams: “Simple truth is his best, his greatest eulogy.”

The more famous eulogy of George Washington, given at his funeral by Henry Lee, did not appear until the end of the book: "First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen."

After reading the book, the reader will better understand the rationale and context of these quotes. He/she can then decide whether the sentiments expressed therein resonate.

Lastly, did you know that Henry Lee was the father of famous Civil War Confederate General Robert E. Lee? What an irony that he was the close friend of George Washington and author of the famous eulogy.
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Joanne T. Lewis
5.0 out of 5 stars The Birth of our Country
Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2019
Verified Purchase
While this book is rich at over 800 pages, I found it engrossing at the turn of every page. Chernow is obviously a master of the biography and doesn't need my review to add to his popularity. However, I feel compelled to add my voice as I enjoyed "Washington, A Life" immensely. In reading about the father of our country, I learned about the birth of our country. I most enjoyed the nuances of Washington's being, most notably the behind-the-scenes interpretation by Chernow of what the stoic Washington was really thinking. While there was a degree of speculation on the author's part, I liked learning what Washington thought on a subject and then further enjoyed the one-sided debate I had with Chernow as to whether I agreed with his interpretation. All the letters Washington left behind have certainly been a long-lasting gift from our first president to us. I also liked that Washington's shortcomings were front and center as much as his talents, i.e. his insecurities about his lack of education, his appearance (teeth), his health, and his call to serve his country which constantly usurped his desire to be at Mount Vernon. The biggest disappointment is Washington's stance on slavery. Chernow presents it (as supported by Washington's letters) as if he opposed slavery but made no outward move to end slavery at Mount Vernon or in the country. The irony of slaves helping to build the capitol in D.C. was not missed.

As I endeavor to read biographies of all our presidents (I am taking a detour to read Isaacson's "Benjamin Franklin, An American Life" before I move on to John Adams), "Washington, A Life" was a perfect start to my history lesson.
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Sean Claycamp
3.0 out of 5 stars 3.5 stars. Overly dense and dragged considerably at times
Reviewed in the United States on October 11, 2018
Verified Purchase
I actually want to give this 3 1/2 stars but I’m not going to give it 4.
I loved Chernow’s bio of US Grant. And I liked Hamilton. This one just seemed overly dense and 800 pages to prove a point.
I can normally read a book of this length in 4-6 weeks. This took me 3+ months because it just really dragged along at times and got monotonous.
It is borderline blasphemy for me to make such statements. Clearly Chernow did his research and wrote with passion and detail.
Who am I to criticize!!
But trimming and tightening this book up by about 200 pages would be a good strategy. I don’t think the novice reader would make it through this one.
I have now read close to 100 bios some denser than this one so I was able to get through it. Clearly it’s the book to recommend on Washington but I think trimming and tightening it somewhat would help it reach a broader audience.
56 people found this helpful
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D. Vaughan
5.0 out of 5 stars Invaluable look at Founding Father(s)
Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2018
Verified Purchase
There is a tendency in this country to venerate the Founding Fathers as some kind of noble savants but really they were just people. Like today, some more self-interested and churlish than others; others more dedicated to the future of the country and at least trying to get it right; none perfect. I had read Chernow's Hamilton first, three times over, because it is that good. It made me think how certain craven personalities are found in politics over and over again. All the same BS that goes on today, went on back then, just without videos and Twitter. So I was always going to read Chernow's Washington. Very glad I did. I got the picture of a man of distinct history and personality, trying his best, getting crapped on sometimes, not perfect, but really America was lucky to have him at its birth. If not for Washington and his unique vitae and style brought to the table, I don't know where America would be right now. We could sure use a guy like him right now.
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David Allen
5.0 out of 5 stars awesome book about an awesome man
Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2020
Verified Purchase
a wonderful book about the founder. I was afraid there would be too much "fluff" of useless info. But there is a great amount of great info in here.

very well written.
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David Allen
5.0 out of 5 stars awesome book about an awesome man
Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2020
a wonderful book about the founder. I was afraid there would be too much "fluff" of useless info. But there is a great amount of great info in here.

very well written.
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antman
5.0 out of 5 stars Great reading, learn a lot
Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2021
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I think Chernow's Washington, A Life, is a better book than his biography of U.S. Grant. I enjoyed reading Grant's biography very much, but I learned much more about the founding of our country by reading this earlier work on Washington. I strongly recommend this book for those who wish to understand our history and the many conflicts Washington faced throughout his life both personally and politically. Washington's life is the story of the life of the United States' origins, even though there were many other founders who contributed greatly to the enterprise. I think the book is even handed in his treatment of the real Washington, and you come away with amazed with all he accomplished. An incredible journey, an incredible, an incredible biographer.
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harpswell139
5.0 out of 5 stars A well balanced biography of the Father of our Nation
Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2020
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This biography provided a great deal of important information about the life of one of the most significant of our founding fathers. Chernow did a particularly good job of presenting Washington's struggle with the issues surrounding slavery and owning slaves. This far removed it is easy for us to make a quick "moral judgment"; Chernow made it clear the matter was far more complicated than we understand. I particularly liked his discussion of Washington's belief that slavery was a poor "business model". The author brought to life in flesh and blood one of history's most important actors. A question I will have to further investigate: shortly after I finished the book a friend told me that in a biography he had read Washington had died of malignant throat cancer. Chernow never mentions this. Wonder who is right?
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sknight
5.0 out of 5 stars THIS IS AN IMPORTANT BOOK
Reviewed in the United States on April 21, 2021
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I first purchased this book on Kindle and felt it's so important to have that I also bought a hard copy. I was afraid, with all the political "cancelling" going on, it would be taken off of my Kindle, so I wanted to have hard copies. In fact, I'm buying hard copies of all important books that I only have on my Kindle, especially books about our former presidents, and writers and signers of our Consitution and Declaration of Independance. I love history. I would like to know about it before the liberal/far left cancel/rewrite all of our history.
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Applewhite MinyardTop Contributor: Pets
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent one volume biography
Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2016
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One of the best biographies of Washington in a compact one-volume book. Chernow is a fine author, with an extensive vocabulary and an informed background on his subject, including what previous biographers have said. He does have an irritating habit of using "one" as a subject, such as "One wonders what Washington would have thought had he known." The "one," of course, is Chernow himself, but he wants to avoid the self-conscious "I wonder." Instead, he could have said something like, "It is interesting to speculate what Washington would have thought," or something similar. Otherwise, I found it a fascinating read, very authoritative even though the occasional slip back and forward in the timeline caused me to check dates to make sure I understood. He might be discussing something in 1789, for instance, and then mention something that happened in 1787 and then go back to 1789. This is handled pretty well, and is unavoidable in some cases, and if you check, you can see that he is conscientious about it, but it does require the reader to pay attention, not a bad thing, but something many forget to take some responsibility for.
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