How Alexander Hamilton Screwed Up America

By: Brion McClanahan

Narrated by: Thomas Rosenfeld

He is the star of a hit Broadway musical, the face on the 10-dollar bill, and a central figure among the founding fathers. But do you really know Alexander Hamilton?

Rather than lionize Hamilton, Americans should carefully consider his most significant and ultimately detrimental contribution to modern society: the shredding of the United States Constitution.

Connecting the dots between Hamilton's invention of implied powers in 1791 to transgender bathrooms and same-sex marriage two centuries later, Brion McClanahan shows the origins of our modern federal leviathan.

©2017 Brion McClanahan (P)2017 Audible, Inc.

As long as he could hold a pen, he was a threat

The popularity of the musical "Hamilton", featuring many people who looked nothing like the historical people they portrayed, brought Alexander Hamilton back into the forefront of popular conversation. Having never seen the musical, I can not attest to its quality. What I can attest to is the quality of this book...and it is considerable.

McClanahan is good writer, and obviously a very intelligent and educated man. This both works for and against the average reader of this book. The book is full of carnage Hamilton left of what started as a compact of sovereign states, and has been transformed into a monolithic imperial superstate, largely following the playbook Hamilton laid out before his death in 1804.

McClanahan spends considerable time discussing events that took place after Hamilton left the scene, including the actions of the odious John Marshall. When discussing the details of court cases that developed such ideas as incorporation of the Bill of Rights, the proposition nation myth, and other landmarks...the book can get a little dry. And for the life of me, I cannot understand how narrators can read a book and mispronounce words. Not names, common words. Doesn't anyone listen to these books before they are put on the site? It's annoying.

All in all, a recommended book that isn't as good as "9 Presidents Who Screwed Up America", but is a worthwhile book in its own right.

Not in the 3x5 card of allowable opinion

The true United States was supposed to be a diverse group of sovereign states answerable to their respective diverse populations. Nationalism has not only destroyed that state sovereignty, but also the liberties of its citizens. With an out-of-control swamp of corruption in DC using divide and conquer tactics to take revenge on the disenfranchised every election cycle, the outcome of nationalism is clear: We traded one tyrant 3,000 miles away for 3,000 tyrants one mile away. The Constitution has been unable to prevent the perversions foisted upon it.

The USA can be great again

This book is one of many that describes the original intent of the US Constitution and how that has been distorted by history and politicians to subdue the States and their citizens. A good read.

awesome

very well narrated and written. very insightful. awesome! i would reccomend to all that this be listened to or read.

Exposing the Snake in the Grass

Dr. McClanahan's exposition of how and by whom the American general government began its downhill slide to what it is today is an absolutely riveting listen. Especially powerful is the book in conjunction with the companion course offered through McClanahan Academy. Hamilton set the precedent that would be embraced, followed, and magnified by one president after another, leading to today's imperial presidency and the general government's almost total dominion over nearly every facet and minutiae of an individual's life.