Reread it after finishing a couple Chernow’s work.

That was a lot of hours in my car with George Washington and Scott Brick (who also was a compelling narrator on Chernow’s Hamilton). This book is long, but thorough and fascinating. We’ve idolized George Washington so much in our history books, but Chernow shows that he was indeed flawed and human. Washington was obsessed with his legacy, agonized by his teeth, a flirt with the ladies, a failure on the battlefield, and not always kind (as he is often portrayed) to his slaves. He also had a terrible relationship with his mother and I was amused by their exchanges. Yet, Washington was a strong leader in spite of loses and was a crucial player in the foundation of the United States, and Chernow details Washington’s role at every step. It’s a very real, honest portrait of the first President and Chernow as a historian can make me laugh and cry like no other.

We (my family and I) used to live in the county where George Washington had his seat in the House of Burgesses. I knew some things about him, but reading Chernow's biography of Hamilton made me want to learn more. Washington was absolutely complex, shining, admirable, disappointing, and this book made me want to know even more. I will never understand how a man who so clearly knew slavery was wrong only freed the people he owned after his death--well, he meant to keep them until after Martha's death. But there's also no doubt that we wouldn't be who we are without his very calm hand at the wheel, acknowledging that he had much to learn, forcing people who were far better educated than he to slow down and eye a problem from all sides, not just their own. It was an uncomfortable read and also--enthralling.