The Warburgs

The Twentieth-Century Odyssey of a Remarkable Jewish Family

By: Ron Chernow

Narrated by: Jonathan Reese

Bankers, philanthropists, scholars, socialites, artists, and politicians, the Warburgs stood at the pinnacle of German (and, later, of German-American) Jewry. They forged economic dynasties, built mansions and estates, assembled libraries, endowed charities, and advised a German kaiser and two American presidents. But their very success made the Warburgs lightning rods for anti-Semitism, and their sense of patriotism became increasingly dangerous in a Germany that had declared Jews the enemy.

Ron Chernow's hugely fascinating history is a group portrait of a clan whose members were renowned for their brilliance, culture, and personal energy yet tragically vulnerable to the dark and irrational currents of the twentieth century.

Critic reviews

"Splendid.... Chernow does a wonderful job fleshing out the lives of the major characters in this family drama."

-- Wall Street Journal

"[Ron Chernow] has surpassed himself in this absorbing chronicle."

-- The New Yorker

"This is grand-scale scholarship .... It is all here, along with so much of the painful, tumultuous history of our time, all in one splendid book."

-- David McCullough, author of Truman

A sense of déjà-vu

Another not so interesting saga of the trials and tribulations of a billionaire Jewish family.

Fascinating read

While I knew the name, I was ignorant as to the family story. Very interesting book.

Excellent history of the Warburg and the times they lived in.

This an excellent history book for serious students of the Warburg family and their times. It is not light reading but very rewarding for those who will invest their time.

The Warburgs

The narrator’s pronunciations. I’m a southerner who at times butchers the English language. However, I realized too often the wrong person was chosen to narrate. Too bad since the information was outstanding.

Great Story!

Chernow writes a fascinating account of a fascinating family. The read is interesting all the way through and the 2023 reader is left to wonder about the family since the book’s 1993 publication.