There has been so much written on Hamilton that I can’t add a whole lot here, except to say that I would not delay on reading Ron Chernow’s masterful biography of the man. Just a brilliant book, combining voluminous research with engaging, lively writing. Hamilton’s life story lends itself to such an epic scope, and I can see why it has captivated so many. It’s not often someone rises from absolutely nothing to the highest levels of fame and power.

Whatever your thoughts on Hamilton, whatever you already know about him, I would give my highest recommendation to Chernow’s book. A few years back I read his Grant biography, which was a similar tour-de-force, and kept me so eager to read more, despite its massive size.

I’m looking for other summer things to read, and am eyeing Chernow’s Washington, which won the Pultizer in 2011. I may have to dive into that next. Such a fine writer, really doing a great public service by helping us better understand these early years of our country.

My summer reading list is large and always too ambitious. I have a few other big ones I might read, will have to see what strikes my fancy. But I was considering Pynchon’s Against the Day, which I’ve never read, as well as some other history books (I recently got Bruce Catton’s civil war trilogy) and a few fantasy novels. As always, there are so many great things to read, and so little time!