This unabridged production of Ron Chernow’s Alexander Hamilton, narrated by Scott Brick, consists of 29 CDs amounting to about 36 hours of listening time. Diane and I started listening to Alexander Hamilton back in October when we learned our daughter Katie had purchased two tickets to the musical Alexander Hamilton as a thank-you gift for helping her buy her condo. Needless to say, we only reached DISC 16 before we had to catch our flight to Boston to visit Katie and her condo…and attend Alexander Hamilton.
The first 16 discs covered about the first act of Alexander Hamilton. With our trip to New Orleans, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc. listening to Alexander Hamilton was sporadic. But, this week we finally finished it. Ron Chernow wrote a masterful biography of Hamilton. Sure, the man had flaws and weaknesses. But, Hamilton also possessed a drive and genius that helped establish the country we enjoy today. The Kelley household was a grim and quiet place when narrator Scott Brick related the circumstances of the duel between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr. A senseless killing left Eliza Hamilton without her husband and their seven children without their father. And, the United States owes a huge debt of thankfulness to the man who helped write The Federalist and set up our financial system. Do you listen to audio books? GRADE: A
Sounds like a fine work, but I’ll probably try the book rather than the CD.
Dan, HAMILTION is nearly 1000 pages long. Worth reading every page!
@ Dan: You can get it on ebook if you want to avoid the weight of it.
I used to listen but now instead I listen to podcasts. They hold my attention better. And Phil can’t listen at all.
Patti, I listen to podcasts, too. But, Diane and I are listening to more audio books. Of course, it depends on the narrator.
No. I used to, but I’d be doing something else and lose the track and have to go back. Maybe if we listened in the car (when I can drive again) it might work.
Best I listened to:
Frank McCourt reading ANGELA’s ASHES
The audiobook of MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL
Interestingly, I read both books as well as listening to the audio books, which definitely helped.
Jeff, Diane and I always have the printed book nearby when we’re listening to audio books. Many times we’ve encountered skips and flaws on the Library discs. We simply read the section affected and move on to the section.
Re Hamilton:
I have to admit that I hadn’t read his name until george mentioned the musical – in Europe we didn’t hear/read much about American history …
Re ebooks:
I also have to admit that I still prefer reading – often in the background we have some 60s/70s rock running. Right now it’s Kooper and Bloomfield’s Super Session.
That has the advantage of both of us reading different stuff …
And when I’m driving I don’t want to be distracted by an ebook – a few minutes of news is enough distraction!
PS and rather OT:
My wife just started reading a collection by Kurt Vonnegut after asking me first whether it was good … 🙂
She hadn’t heard his name before!
Wolf, Vonnegut is best known for SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIVE, not his science fiction.
Wolf, psychiatrists over here give their patients this advice: “Don’t watch or listen to the news!”
I’m not surprised you liked it. I have the book, and the ebook both, but have read only 30-40 pages. I have listened to the CDs of the play several times and love that.
I’m not a big fan of audiobooks, If I just concentrate and listen, then I’m just sitting there staring into space, which seems a waste. If I try to listen and do other things, I lose track of the story. So, not, not much. Maybe when the weather is nice and I’m taking a walk. I’m surprised you just didn’t read the book, but I guess you wanted to listen to it together. That must have been a lot of library renewals if it took that long!
note: My copy of the book is 730 pages, not counting all the appendices.
Rick, you’re right about the page count. But I was interested in the appendices, too, which are not included as part of the audio book.