The February Readable: George Washington, A Life by Ron Chernow

March 28, 2017

For those who saw my list of Top Books for 2016, or my review of Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow, you know I was a huge fan. While reading Hamilton, I became more and more intrigued with our first president, George Washington. So much so that I decided to pick of Chernow's follow up to Hamilton, a biography of George Washington.

The more I read about the Revolution and the beginning of the American experiment, the more I realize how close it was to failing. It seems like the collection of our founding fathers all in one place at one time was pure destiny. Without each and every one of them things would be very different. Washington sat at the top of that group, a group riddled with bitter disagreement. He was completely essential in America’s formation as well as in maintaining civility among the founding fathers.

The book spans from his early days as a land prospector and a gentlemen farmer running a plantation with over 300 slaves, to his days fighting the Revolution against overwhelming odds and eventually reluctantly taking the job as our first president. Every part of this book is interesting, and it does a great job of not only bringing the man to life, but drawing a picture of the times as well. Every decision Washington made set the precedent for future Presidents. His decisions on how to lead still empower and restrict our current president today.

It’s a long book, yes, but it has to be. I got so much out of it. Every American should read this one. Available here on Amazon

Written by Kyle Barrett, Founder Bighorn 

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