Alexander Hamilton's Guide to Life

by Jeff Wilser

The life and lessons of the Founding Father who mastered the arts of wit, war, and wealth, long before becoming the subject of Broadway's Hamilton: An American Musical

Two centuries after his death, Alexander Hamilton is shining once more under the world's spotlight and we need him now more than ever.

Hamilton was a self-starter. Scrappy. Orphaned as a child, he came to America with nothing but a code of honor and a hunger to work. He then went on to help win the Revolutionary War and ratify the Constitution, create the country's financial system, charm New York's most eligible ladies, and land his face on our $10 bill. The ultimate underdog, he combined a fearless, independent spirit with a much-needed dose of American optimism.

Hamilton died before he could teach us the lessons he learned, but Alexander Hamilton's Guide to Life unlocks his core principles intended for anyone interested in success, romance, money, or dueling. They include:
.Speak with Authority Even If You Have None (Career)
.Seduce with Your Strengths (Romance)
.Find Time for the Quills and the Bills (Money)
.Put the Father in Founding Father (Friends & Family)
.Being Right Trumps Being Popular (Leadership)

For history buffs and pop-culture addicts alike, this mix of biography, humor, and advice offers a fresh take on a nearly forgotten Founding Father, and will spark a revolution in your own life.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, Humor, Historical, Self Help, American History

336 pages, Hardcover

First published September 20, 2016

About the author

Jeff Wilser is the author of Alexander Hamilton's Guide to Life.

He's also the author of four other books, including The Good News About What’s Bad For You… and The Bad News About What’s Good For You, which was named an Amazon Best Book of the Month.

His writing has appeared in print or online in GQ, New York magazine, Time, Glamour, Cosmo, VH1, Esquire, mental_floss, MTV, Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune, Comstock’s, The Miami Herald, The Baltimore Sun, Detroit Free Press, and The Huffington Post.

The topics? It varies. He has written about health, relationships, film, travel, the folly of juice cleanses, hashtags, monks, architecture, books, fashion (not that he’s fashionable), sneak attacks of World War II, how to pick champagne, the intersection of math and magic, Finland’s school system, and the shortcomings of General Custer. He also collaborated with Marc Ecko, the fashion designer and founder of Complex media, on the book Unlabel: Selling You Without Selling Out.

Jeff is likely the only person alive to have written for both GQ and The Knot. His TV appearances, where he occasionally pops up as the token male, have ranged from BBC News to The View. Business and marketing stuff? Sure, he does that too, providing customer-segmentation insights to a +$1 billion publishing company. He’s also the founding editor of ThePlunge.com, the primary website for grooms. (Jeff has never been a groom.)

He can’t tan.

Reviews

[Jeff Wilser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Confession: My rating is a tad biased, in that I am the person who wrote the book.

[Alexander Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jeff Wilser expertly and hilariously relates a remarkable life that took place 200+ years ago to the readers of today. Hamilton’s letters and essays are certainly a treasure trove of information and knowledge; however, they can seem distant given the complexity of the language and the subjects covered. Wilser gives an intriguing look at what some may consider a boring subject (such as bonds, banks, and debt) and relates it to the 21st century reader.

Not only does he manage to bring 18th century aspects of life to the modern day, he gives his readers a few personal insights into the enigma that is Alexander Hamilton. There is certainly nothing uncomplicated about the nation’s first Treasury Secretary, but again Wilser manages to bring him down from his current exalted status and somehow simplify the tangled life and nuances of Hamilton.

Wilser never claims to have written a comprehensive book about the life of Alexander Hamilton, but instead ensures his readers that this is a book written for entertainment and hopefully a bit of fun. And indeed, I was quite entertained. The writing style from the very beginning was effortless and keeps the reader hooked while still somehow incorporating the most complex ideas and passages.

All in all, Hamilton’s Guide to Life is a marvelous book. I can only hope he had as much fun writing it as I had reading it.

[Syd (deertales) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars! (since my brother says I give out 5 stars too freely) I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone riding the Hamilton train right now, i.e. everyone I know minus a few key family members. Wilser does such a wonderful job of infusing modern humor, the Hamilton musical, and historical fun facts that the musical may have left out or brushed over. This was such an entertaining and moderately quick read, and I am really happy to have it in my Hamilton collection.

PLUS: Wilser shares some more awesome Hamilton accomplishments that history has forgotten. I am now thoroughly convinced A Ham is the most underrated founding father. poor guy.

"how much energy do we waste on venom? so the next time you get in a fender bender and it's the other guy's fault, first address him as 'my dear sir.' and if things escalate and you have to call the cops, remind him that you remain, as always, his obedient servant."

[Kierstin Carnahan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is amazing. The year isn't over yet but I can almost guarantee that it will be my favorite one of 2016. I learned so much from this book in a fun and interesting way. I really enjoyed reading this book while visiting NYC to see the musical Hamilton. It provided so much insight into Hamilton's life and connections to the musical. I found myself laughing in multiple parts which I enjoyed. Wilser writes "like he's running out of time" with so much passion for Hamilton and The United States Hamilton helped to create. I am in awe of the founding fathers' accomplishments and appreciate the legacy of Alexander Hamilton that we now all get to know about.

A definite must read for anyone who loves Hamilton and a perfect companion to those seeing the muscial.

[Megs 📚 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so perfect! I love reading about Hamilton, he was such an interesting and inspiring man, and any information about him is amazing, but the way this book is written is next level! I loved how it was split into advice, it was funny and it was also so so informative about everything to do with him! It provided information I never knew, and really let me get more into the person that is Alexander Hamilton - but in such a nice way, that you can even learn from him even after all these years! Jeff did a perfect job and I would recommend this to everyone! A nearly forgotten Founding Father is once again brought to life!

[Alyssa Lentz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a quick, fun read that puts Hamilton's life into a modern perspective with a lot of good humor and context. I expected it to be sort of witty and tongue-in-cheek (which it was), but I also managed to learn quite a bit from it along the way! A great option if you want some background on the guy in the musical but can't quite bring yourself to tackle Chernow. :)

[Cynthia Egbert · Rating 4 out of 5]

While none of the Founding Fathers were perfect, they were intensely fascinating characters and Alexander Hamilton may be the most intense of them all. Let me just go ahead and make a few enemies here, I do not care for the musical and I was secretly delighted that, while it was the the musical that caused the author to write this book, he has to spend a fair amount of time admitting where the musical gets the history wrong. While I did not care for the extra efforts he took to make some of the other Founding Fathers look bad, but I can also understand the emotion behind these attacks. This is a well organized and historically sound look at some of the traits that made up this rather enigmatic man and I do recommend it. I must add, for the record, that Aaron Burr was truly one of the most despicable human beings who ever walked the planet.

I am not going to be able to list all of the quotes I marked, but I do have to offer up a few.

"None of this would have happened if Hamilton kept his poems to himself, doodling in his journal, too shy to share. We can learn from this. Indulge in your hobbies. Get good. Have confidence. Then unleash your hobbies onto the world."

"It was his habit to retire at dawn to the quiet of a nearby cemetery, where he was often seen preparing his lessons for the next day."

"The sacred rights of mankind are not to be rummaged for among old parchments or musty records. They are written, as with a sun beam, in the whole volume of human nature by the hand of divinity itself and can never be erased or obscured by mortal power."

"You get the sense that Hamilton was put on this planet for this very moment. No precedent bound him. He could finally unleash all the plans, theories, and financial models that he had doodled in his army journal. As one historian put it, Hamilton was an 'administrative genius' who 'assumed an influence in Washington's cabinet which is unmatched in the annals of the American cabinet system."

"Many years later, shortly before he died, one night he heard a knock on the door. He opened the it to see an old friend who, heavily in debt, needed an emergency loan. Hamilton was short on funds himself, but he somehow cobbled together $10,000. The old friend was Aaron Burr."

"Still loyal to their fallen leader, a group of Federalists donated $80,000 to the Eliza estate in secret, to preserve the Hamilton family's dignity. (Amazingly, this secret was kept until 1937.)

"Why do men get away with this kind of thing? Many years earlier, when accused of adultery, Hamilton's mother was locked in a dungeon. Yet when a man has an affair it's a 'lapse in judgment'. A female character gets a scarlet 'A'; a male cheater gets an eye-roll and a second chance. It's Gender Inequality #3,407."

"There are strong minds in every walk of life that will rise superior to the disadvantages of situation and will command the tribute due to their merit. The door ought to be equally open to all."

"Hamilton preferred to let the work speak for itself, which is useful advice for anyone. It's better to get the job right than to get the credit. He knew the truth, and that was enough."

"Bleeding, in agony, Hamilton remained calm as the others scramble in horror. 'Take care of that pistol,' Hamilton warned them, somehow speaking through the pain. 'It may go off and do harm.'"

"In one of Hamilton's final lucid moments, he said, 'I have no ill will against Colonel Burr...I met him with a fixed resolution to do him no harm. I forgive all that happened.'"

"The final words of Alexander Hamilton, 'If they break this union, they will break my heart.'"

"Remember Plutarch: 'The virtues of these great men serve me in a sort of looking glass, in which I may see how to adjust and adorn my own life.'"

(Yes, I really did narrow this down!)

[Wyldrabbit · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book. It is fascinating look into a man who helped shape America. If I could go back in time and meet one person, I think Alexander Hamilton would be at the top of my list. I was never a history buff. Anyone who went to school with me, knows a basically fell asleep in class during the lectures and I never did well on the assignments. I was a horrible student. Bored out of my mind. I struggled to pick up a C average. School just sucked, and it brought to light the fear I was as dumb as a stump. It was hard work for me and my brain had little retention no matter how many notebooks I filled with facts and lecture notes. I felt embarrassingly stupid, shy, and afraid someone would notice. But, I read like the wind when I found something I liked, and I retained it. If they would have assigned this baby, I would have been a much better student. I feel robbed, in a way.

The book is more exciting than any fiction, and Jeff Wilser does an absolutely fantastic job putting the book together. I will not only recommend this book, I will be quoting it.



*I was given an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. #‎BookAdvocatesUnite‬

[Sarah - All The Book Blog Names Are Taken · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read. On track to be one of my favorite books of 2016. I picked this one up because as the show became so popular, I realized how little I actually knew about Alexander Hamilton. This book does wonders to remedy that. Full review to come. Highly recommended.

[Greg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I quite liked the author's lighthearted writing style, but towards the end of the book I became a little frustrated with the portrayal of James Madison and Thomas Jefferson as these sort of incompetent boobs. I get that he was trying to make them seem like Hamilton's enemies, but I think that it lacked some valuable historical context. Many of the founding fathers had some pretty serious and oftentimes acerbic disagreements, but they also frequently moved from one dispute to another and fell in and out of favor with one another. Discussions in the book of slavery and women's rights also seem to analyze those topics under a contemporary societal lens, which paints everyone of the time period as an awful person, and again I think misguided. All in all I'd still recommend it, but the items I mentioned above knock it down a bit.

[Collette · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Alexander Hamilton's Guide to Life" was truly a wonderful read. Inspired by the musical, I picked up this book hoping for more background information on Hamilton's life, and was pleasantly surprised. I found that the book not only gave me tips on how to ensure I have strong friendships and am successful in whichever career I choose, but it also taught me to be a good, strong person who leads by example, is honest, and has integrity. In addition to learning how to be a better person based off of Alexander Hamilton's advice, this book teaches you the things we can learn from his mistakes, as well. I highly recommend this book to anyone, whether you're a hardcore "Hamilton" fan like me, or someone looking for some insight on Alexander Hamilton's life.

[Pamela Sweezy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an informative and fun read. The only reason I gave it four stars instead of five is because, in the attempt to be entertaining and funny, the author made several jokes that are very generation specific and I think may limit it’s lasting-power. The book made me feel like the author was joking around and talking to me as a friend who is approximately his age. I get it and it was cute, but this is a book that older people would be annoyed by because of the pop culture references. Still, it was a good way to keep the reader entertained and engaged even though we know (hopefully) that there was no Facebook (or whatever) in AH’s lifetime. I wish that my high school history teachers had been as much fun as this writer.

[Madeleine Pelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing look into Hamilton's life outside of his famous story! I thought it might just be spitting out the same facts I'd heard in the musical, but it had surprisingly new facts and made me love Hamilton even more. he was pretty badass and the epitome of honor, not to mention an abolitionist in a time that slavery wasn't talked about?! I got to read who he was as a real person, not just historical figure, and I loved him even more afterward.

[Leslie Goddard · Rating 4 out of 5]

A snappy, fun, read that is both a biography of Hamilton (in a way -- it's not heavily detailed but you do get a good, solid, basic story of his life) and a set of lessons to be learned from how he lived. The greatest strength of this book is Wilser's delightful, modern, funny writing style (in the first sentence, he writes that Hamilton was "a Founding Father, a war hero, the creator of the modern economy and the winner of a silver medal for '2nd place in Dueling.'"). It's delightful to read his take on things, especially when he draws modern comparisons to issues that Hamilton faced. The only reason I don't give it five stars (although I almost did) is that I think the organization, which is chronological to give a timeline story of Hamilton's life, overwhelms the goal of drawing lessons from Hamilton's life. There are so many lessons here that after a while, I stopped paying attention to the life lessons to be learned and just followed the biographical story. There are nearly 70 life lessons/chapters, which were so many it was hard for me to remember them, and some of them seem a bit contrived. I finished the book feeling like I had read a refreshingly entertaining, nicely summarized biography of Hamilton. I would easily recommend this fun, readable book for anyone with an interest in Hamilton's life who doesn't have the time or inclination to read a massive biography.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick read, very enjoyable. He worked hard for everything - was not born with a silver spoon in his mouth. He made mistakes, but really was the genius behind setting up the USA and why we are as stable as we are now - 200 plus years later.

[Quentin Larcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed the wisdom, thumbs up! I keep reading about folks who go shot. I can't help but wonder that perhaps I should also look into folks who made it out without people killing them! lol

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entertaining, informative, inspirational, motivational. Good for play obsessors, history buffs and any reader looking for a worthy investment.

[Karen]

I really enjoyed this book. It offers Hamilton's words organized by events in his life. An interesting and fun read, especially for a historical book.

[María Zoé · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Turn grit into genius, hide nothing, move quick, say what you believe (no matter the cost) value what’s right over what’s popular, and close with a flourish.”

[Abby Charlton · Rating 5 out of 5]

RIP Alexander Hamilton. He would’ve love BRAT by Charli XCX. The OG diva, he was.

Also 5/5. I was laughing my ass off the entire time.

[megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Scholars and politicians have spent decades and centuries, of course, debating the pros and cons of a muscular federal government, and the fiery debate will rage as long as there is a United States. Yet, it was Hamilton who lit the match. (And gathered the kindling and arranged the logs and then wrote a 500-page instruction manual on campfire safety.)

If this quote doesn't sum up our late Founding Father perfectly, I don't know what does. Hamilton did an unreliable amount of work for our country and it fills with me with joy that he is finally getting the recognition he deserves because of Lin. It sucks that it's centuries after his death, but isn't that how it usually goes?

This book is separated into sections of Hammie's life and gives life advice based on how he handled situations. For example, when he worked as a clerk for his first job in St. Croix he learned tons of other things such as different types of currency, inventory control, and the art of negotiation. Most people would just do their simple task of sweeping and avoid putting more work into the job, but Alexander made sure to observe what was going on around him and gain knowledge from it because he constantly wanted to rise up and better himself.

The beginning of this book immediately sucked me in and it's written so well and humorously that I honestly laughed out loud multiple times. I wasn't expecting such a funny voice from Wilser, but I was pleasantly surprised because it made the book feel less non-fiction like and boring. The middle was where my one star deduction comes in. This might just be because I don't really like talking about money and economics and all that, but I also just felt like it dragged more than the other sections of the book in its length, humor, and description. The ending picked up again and the last couple chapters were beautifully executed and wrapped up the story of Alexander Hamilton flawlessly.

I'm so glad that more books are being written about Hamilton after the rise of the musical because I plan to read them all eventually. This man is so flawed and interesting and brilliant. I hope that everyone takes the time to read up on his life eventually because it will make you feel worthless and stupid at times, but it will mostly inspire you to use the most of your time here because nothing is guarantee, which is evident from his untimely death.

[Chelsea Baute · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read the 900+ page A.Ham biography, so nothing in this book was new. But the writing was great and it was pretty funny. Anyone who feels overwhelmed by the Chernow biography or wants to approach Hamilton's life from a different perspective should check this out.

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was great! A nice, funny look into Hamilton's life that is relevant and not as daunting as the Chernow doorstop. My favourite chapter was 'Leisue' - ACTUALLY cackled out loud!

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not an in depth biography of the Father of our Treasury but it was not intended to be. Using the many highly thought of biographies of the man as well as his letters and interviews with descendants and members of various Hamiltonian groups, Jeff Wilser has compiled snippets of Hamilton's life and his attitudes on various subjects. He has also added some asides that are both humorous and timely. Just a most enjoyable little book about a truly amazing man--never a President but one who battled them with his words and bested them every time. As Wilser puts it: " Hamilton 4 Presidents 0 " And in the words of George Will--" Jefferson got a monument--America lives in the world Hamilton created."

As a child I remember driving by the monument on the cliffs overlooking the Hudson River and my Dad saying " That is where Aaron Burr shot Alexander Hamilton." I knew both names and a little about them but I always felt so sad because I liked what I knew about Hamilton and really didn't know much about Burr. I learned to dislike him then and nothing I've learned since has redeemed him in my eyes. I wonder if the cliffs in Weehauken are so built up now that it would be difficult to find that little monument, marking a very important spot for both men--early leaders of our Nation.

I received this review copy of this book from Blogging for Books.

[Emily Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

I originally received this book as a Christmas gift and it stood out from my normal books because it was a guide to life “by” Hamilton, who was a widely forgotten person until the rise of the musical with the same name. I was instantly intrigued because Hamilton died about 200 years ago and I wondered “how can someone who never lived to see the invention of the television be able to give a guide as to how to live life in this day and age?” I got my answer as soon as I began reading.

This book was very interesting and I absolutely loved it. There was advice on lots of things, but at the same time, I was learning about Alexander Hamilton's life. It was definitely a different style than I was used to, but it was an amazing book. There was advice on everything, ranging from how to act at work and how to keep control of your social life.

I really liked how the book also told about Hamilton’s life, because it explained why each tip helped him in life or how if he had done something as the book suggests, he would’ve been better off (*cough cough* ...maybe if he didn’t cheat on his wife with Maria Reynolds, he would’ve had less problems). Anyways, the book was funny at times and I enjoyed reading it.

I recommend this book to anyone, but especially those who like history or Hamilton.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars for this excellent little tome. This is a wonderful blend of history, humor, and great life lessons. Jeff Wilser neatly summarizes the life of Alexander Hamilton, and takes some of his best quotes and stories and turns them real life applications - sometimes on what NOT to do. Although we are being inundated with Hamilton this and Hamilton that right now, I really enjoyed this book. It's a quick, easy read, punctuated with great humor. I learned a few new things about the genius of Hamilton, I laughed, I teared up. Great little book. One of the few books I actually want in hardback instead of an ebook version. It's that good! Many thanks to Blogging for Books for letting me read this gem in exchange for an honest review.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a funny look into the biography of Alexander Hamilton's life and really added to the story of the man who basically created The United States. I thought this book was so witty and told in such a way that anyone would enjoy it. It's not complicated, it lays out the facts of Hamilton's life by putting it in the frame of humor and what Alexander would have to say as his guides to living life. It was so interesting to read and was such a quick read. The chapters are short but they are all interesting and gave a great insight into Hamilton's life. If you love Hamilton, either studying him or the musical or your curious or all three, I would suggest reading this book for a fun take on Alexander Hamilton and his life.

[Patrick Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an interesting book, not your typical Hamilton book. It is full of all the information you would expect and more but it is formatted in short chapters that make it very easy to read. Each of these chapters is used to teach a lesson about something relevant to a person's character by looking at how Hamilton handled similar, or same, situations.

The author also kept the book interesting and flowing by inserting humor. But comparing the event and Hamilton's handling of it to some event today. Even though the events could be totally different it gave context to the historical event and still left you chuckling a bit to yourself.

This book could be easily read by teens or adults and I recommend that folks give it a read.

[PowdyrdWyg · Rating 2 out of 5]

I suspect that, prior to the release of the musical, the author had never given a thought to Alexander Hamilton save to concede that “yes, yes, he really should be removed from the $10 bill,” when that cause was the cause du jour. The popularity of the musical changed those sentiments. He raves about it ad nauseum. Between the author’s pervasive appeals to Miranda’s “genius” and his meager attempts to tie in any of a sundry of causes du jour via sparse, hip one-liners, it was difficult to enjoy this cash grab.

If you are interested in learning about one of the most formidable men in history, pick up Chernow. You owe it to Hamilton, and you owe it to yourself.

[Dolly · Rating 5 out of 5]

How I loved reading Alexander Hamilton's Guide to Life by Jeff Wilser! This book is the smart, funny, quick read many of us are craving right now. A well-researched but light-hearted biography that will leave you thinking that Hamilton was as modern as we are. I have read Chernow’s book, seen Miranda’s show, and I listen to the cast album (every day), but Wilser’s book has its own unique zing. Perfect for those who are already Hamilfans AND for those wondering what all the fuss is about. I learned so much and laughed even more.