Alexander Hamilton's Guide to Life - by Jeff Wilser (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

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.

Review Quotes

"These days, everyone wants to learn more about founding father Alexander Hamilton. In this light-hearted biography, Jeff Wilser tells Hamilton's extraordinary story in a way that's both historically accurate and extremely entertaining--plus Wilser highlights the lessons that we can all learn from Hamilton's example."
-Gretchen Rubin, New York Times bestselling author of The Happiness Project and Better Than Before

"Hugely useful for everyone out there who is starting their own country--or just trying to be better at work, love, friendship and family."
-A.J. Jacobs, New York Times bestselling author of The Year of Living Biblically and Drop Dead Healthy

"Hamilton packed a lot into his short life. Jeff Wilser unpacks it and shows us how to make use of it. Hamilton rode horses and wrote with a quill pen, but he grappled with work, money, love, guts, and doing the right thing. Read, enjoy, learn."
-Richard Brookhiser, author of Alexander Hamilton, American

"Author Jeff Wilser has done his homework; he *gets* the real Alexander Hamilton, then he reveals the gems that guided his extraordinary life. Filled with levity and humor, and packaged in a concise, enjoyable format, the guide is very relevant to today's world and challenges. If you are interested in learning what made Hamilton successful, this book is for you... and for those you care about the most."
-Rand Scholet, President and Founder, The Alexander Hamilton Awareness Society

"We raise a glass to Jeff Wilser on "Alexander Hamilton's Guide to Life"! It is as fun as it is informative. Wilser's writing articulately explains a very complicated man in a funny and relatable way. Whether your interest has been piqued by Hamilton the Musical, you've been a Hamilfan for years, or you just want to read something well-written and informative, you won't go wrong with this book."
-Gillian Pensavalle and Bianca Soto of "The Hamilcast: A Hamilton Podcast"

"Jeff Wilser did not throw away his shot. He has written a remarkably fun and informative account of the brilliant 'bastard' from the Caribbean who created modern America. We still have much to learn from this remarkable founding father, and we owe Wilser a debt of gratitude for translating Hamilton's 'life lessons' into such an insightful and entertaining book."
-Stephen Knott, co-author, Washington and Hamilton: The Alliance That Forged America

"I have long thought that a book was needed to link Hamilton's real-life experiences to present-day situations. In Alexander Hamilton's Guide to Life, Jeff Wilser finally offers just that. Using a 21st century sensibility to bring 18th century history to life, Wilser has written a modern-day guide that's both entertaining and effective. I enjoyed this book as a baby boomer and think that Generation X, Y, and Z readers will love it as well."
-Douglas Hamilton, the fifth great-grandson of Alexander Hamilton

"Why see Hamilton when you can be Hamilton? Jeff Wilser's funny, smart take on the best President who was never President covers all the details the musical leaves out. Readers will learn how to "go to war for your promotion" "sprinkle in the charm" "close with a flourish" and other life lessons that prove every bit as useful today as they were 300 years ago."
-Jennifer Wright, author of It Ended Badly and Get Well Soon

"As a history teacher, I find that my students often have a difficult time understanding the Founding Fathers, with their white wigs and passion against a king so far away. But in Jeff Wilser's Alexander Hamilton's Guide to Life I've finally found a way to relate history to my students. It is by far the best book I've ever seen to teach Hamilton, as well as the establishment of our government. Students will learn how Hamilton's thoughts and ideas can be used in their own lives, and for the first time, they actually will be able to understand a Founding Father. And they'll enjoy the humor along the way!"
-Jennifer Norato, State Chairman, Community Classroom Committee, New Jersey Daughters of the American Revolution

About the Author

JEFF WILSER is the author of four books, including The Good News About What's Bad for You...The Bad News About What's Good for You, named by Amazon as one of the Best Books of the Month in both Nonfiction and Humor. His work has appeared in print or online at GQ, Esquire, New York magazine, Glamour, Cosmo, Mental Floss, MTV, and The Huffington Post. His TV appearances have ranged from BBC News to The View. He lives in New York.