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The Price of Greatness

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The Price of Greatness

By: Jay Cost
Narrated by: Dan Woren
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An incisive account of the tumultuous relationship between Alexander Hamilton and James Madison and of the origins of our wealthy yet highly unequal nation

In the history of American politics there are few stories as enigmatic as that of Alexander Hamilton and James Madison's bitterly personal falling out. Together they helped bring the Constitution into being, yet soon after the new republic was born they broke over the meaning of its founding document. Hamilton emphasized economic growth, Madison the importance of republican principles. Jay Cost is the first to argue that both men were right - and that their quarrel reveals a fundamental paradox at the heart of the American experiment. He shows that each man in his own way came to accept corruption as a necessary cost of growth.

The Price of Greatness reveals the trade-off that made the United States the richest nation in human history, and that continues to fracture our politics to this day.

©2018 Jay Cost (P)2018 Hachette Audio Americas Historical History & Theory Ideologies & Doctrines Political Science Politicians Politics & Activism Politics & Government Revolution & Founding United States Capitalism Taxation Socialism US Constitution War of 1812

Critic reviews

"Jay Cost has managed to do the unthinkable. He's written an insightful account of the principles and practices of two great founding fathers, Alexander Hamilton and James Madison, without savaging one or the other. This terrific book is destined to reshape our thinking about the key events of the early republic including the tragic break between Hamilton and Madison.... A must-read for those interested in a deeper understanding of two giants whose principles animate America's conflicted soul." (Stephen F. Knott, author of Alexander Hamilton and the Persistence of Myth)

"Thoughtful people differ concerning why so many of today's most talented writers on American history practice their craft outside academia. Thoughtful people agree, and this book demonstrates, that Jay Cost is among those writers." (George F. Will, Washington Post columnist)

"Jay Cost brings alive the profound dispute between Madison's republicanism and Hamilton's nationalism and helps us see why it still matters. At once a discerning scholar of political theory and a perceptive student of political practice, he is the perfect guide to this rich story." (Yuval Levin, author of The Fractured Republic and editor of National Affairs)
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An informative book on the competing ideas and policies of Hamilton and Madison and how they both shaped and continue to shape the government of the United States of America. It primarily covers the period of their political careers from their participation in continental congress under the Articles of Confederation through to the presidency of Andrew Jackson when the aged Madison took up his pen against Nullification and the the 2nd National Bank encapsulated the combined legacies of both Madison and Hamilton.

It is clearly a well researched book and written by someone who is interested and passionate about his subjects and their ideas. I found the writing style clear and easy to follow, but it is more an informative read than a fun read, so I think a reader’s enjoyment of the work will depend on their level of interest on the subject. Personally, I love reading about this period of American history. I also enjoy thinking about political philosophies and ideas, so much of the book was enjoyable; however, I don’t usually read about economics which meant the chapters that went in depth into Hamilton’s economic policies were a slog for me. My mixed emotional enjoyment almost led me to give it fewer stars, but since the goal of the book is to inform on certain aspects of American and I think it accomplishes that goal well, 4 stars it is. Indeed I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the political legacies of Hamilton and/or Madison, the early formation of the USA’s government, or political & economic history & ideas in general.

Also the audiobook narrator is excellent. He definitely helped the book be more engaging and his voice added a sense of intelligent authority to the material.

Information Work in the Early American Government and 2 of Its Key Figures With Excellent Narration

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The principles of nationalism, liberalism and republicanism are each held dearly by Americans. However, these three can often act in conflict with each other. Cost does a superb job of showing how Madison and Hamilton disagreed on how to strike the appropriate balance between these principles, and how we can work toward finding that balance today. This is a fresh new take on the relationship between two highly important founders.

Principles in Tension

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The performance was very good. This book explains the few main competing concepts from the early republic that formed the ongoing balancing act that defines America's political soul still today.

concise explanation of how America's core formed

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The book was able to explain the relationship of Madison and Hamilton as two founders weith different visions of the Republic.

A Better Understanding

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The narrator is good, but not very emotive. The research is great and very detailed without being boring. Hamilton and Madison both come off a incredibly human and yet so much more principled than so many politicians of today.

Detailed history of a formative time

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This is a great opportunity to pull back from the noise of the present and review some big, deep issues. I think Madison deserves popular attention at least as much as Hamilton got lately (through a distorted pop lens). Madison is the conscience, the balancing and fair-play voice vital to the survival (or not) of our republic today (and I am not discounting Hamilton's perspective either). Each gets his hearing here. This work towers above the sniping, partisan, one-dimensional, factional trash often seen on the bookshelves.

I especially like, alongside the focus on big ideas, the story starting mid-book of the financial particulars of getting the USA on its feet in the early days, with plenty of reference to those big ideas working (or not) along the way. Hamilton at one stage comes off as an elitist hanging out with some dodgy folks with serious conflicts of interest (as highlighted by Madison in their split). But then, the tides of history move a bit, and even Republican icon Madison, as President, winds up realizing by tough lessons some of the virtues of what Hamilton (by then dead) had been setting in motion.

Calm, clear, on deep issues we face now

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