Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

It feels inappropriate to give a work of such magnitude and research 2 stars. “Washington” is chalked full of accolades and five star reviews. Chernow is academic to the highest degree. His knowledge is expansive and his writing is paired with an incredible vocabulary which is exceedingly fluid and enjoyable to read. The primary problem I had with this work was that Chernow more often assumes the role of a psychologist than that of a historian. While it is expected that some "analysis of the psyche" be done by a biographer, Chernow puts too great an effort to get inside the head of Washington. Page after page is spent trying to discern Washington’s ambitions, his love life, his temper, his feelings, his emotions—the real Washington. Ironically this seems to only further obscure this figure to me. Too often Chernow assumes what should be left to the reader to conclude. Sentences begin with statements as: “Surely this is due to Washington’s inner…”or “Washington’s insecurities were no doubt influenced by…” This is not history; it is the narrator’s voice getting to loud. I would rather Chernow had simplified his biography by stating the facts as they happened. Upon painting the picture, he could have presented--with far less dogmatism--various opinions (including his own) as to the inner mysteries of Washington. Chernow did his homework on this book and much of his recounting is enlightening. He is a talented author and a great historian, and I learned a lot throughout this biography. It is a shame he spent so much of it speculating who Washington REALLY was, instead of simply stating who Washington was—and leaving the finer mysteries for the reader to decide.