Archive for August 17, 2018

Heroes of History: Alexander Hamilton

Written by Time Editors

While you’re listening to a recording of the musical, Hamilton, try reading this book from Time books. It’s packed with information about our first Treasury Secretary. However, you may want to take the details of the musical with a grain of salt. According to Time, “Historians point out that while the events depicted are real, the show emphasizes Hamilton’s abolitionist cred to an unrealistic degree. Hamilton was an abolitionist, but his priorities lay in creating a national bank….”

With numerous illustrations and photos and a lot of detail, the authors outline Hamilton’s short but productive life. Born on the Caribbean island of Nevis, Hamilton’s early life was anything but easy. In spite of his relatively humble beginnings, he managed to get a solid education. His grasp of economics was nothing short of astounding, especially considering economics as a field of study didn’t even exit in his time. His passions often landed him in trouble, however. From a falling out with his mentor, George Washington, to an ill-advised affair with a married woman with the help of her husband, he often forgot to think before he acted. Of course, that’s what ultimately caused him to pay the ultimate price – in a duel against Aaron Burr. He was a soldier, a writer, and single-handedly established the national bank.

There is definitely enough in this great little book to keep a reader entertained and enough solid information to spark further study.

  • HamiltonTitle: Heroes of History: Alexander Hamilton
  • Author: Editors
  • Published: Time Inc. Books, 2018
  • Reviewer: Sue Poduska
  • Format: Paperback, 144 pages
  • Grade Level: 6 Up
  • Genre: Nonfiction, History, Biography
  • ISBN: 978-1-68330-850-8
  • Extras: Table of Contents, In His Own Words (explanation of quotes and when he spoke or wrote them), The Life and Times of Alexander Hamilton (timeline), Index, Credits