I loved this book. Chernow was extremely thorough . I learned a lot about Alexander Hamilton's amazing contributions to our great country as well as his relationships with his family, other founders and key figures figures of the time. Hamilton's contributions were as significant, if not more, than any President. He was responsible for the winning of some key battles in the revolutionary war including the battle of Yorktown. He was also instrumental to the passing of the constitution by authoring more of the Federalist Papers (51 of the 85 plus co-authored even more) than any other. Additionally, he was critical to staving off another war with Great Britain and was solely responsible for creating our financial system. He accomplished all of this and much more, despite extremely humble beginnings, including being essentially orphaned by age 13. He was an extraordinary self made man. 
 Chernow writes with an appropriate admiration but not adulation. He seems to give a very fair portrait of the brilliant passionate man, by not hiding some character flaws that got him into trouble. No one is perfect and portrait without flaws would not do justice to anyone. 
 I had heard some rumblings of this book being a "white wash". Sadly, I think that's just people being hyper political and sensitive. If I'm going to read about an important figure in American history, I don't want it to have a negative bent. That is just inappropriate unless the person is a clear despot. If you've made up your mind on someone, why waste your time reading about them? 
 Yes this book is a somewhat negative towards Jefferson, who many people admire. It's also moderately negative about Adams and very negative about & Burr, & Clinton. Chernow isn't writing a book about any of those people here. They are mentioned only as to their relationship with Hamilton. Those relationships were rife with conflict, and deference is appropriately given to the person who is the main subject of the book. Why would anyone want to read or write a book about someone from the perspective of their nemeses? I probably won't read a book about Burr or Clinton (maybe my mind is made up about those scoundrels), but I'll read one about Jefferson and Adams that will give them their due. I can only hope that those books will be as fair and give as balanced portraits as this one.