Vanderbilt: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty

This writing team have produced the best, most interesting and most human of the books that I have read about the super-rich American families of the 19th century. Mr Cooper's family insight is invaluable. A must for anyone interested in this period.

Enjoyed it. Thought he more business talk but is v people and character oriented.vaccinating and sad and some lovely writing

the style of writing and the eye for detsil of the history of the timr

It is of high quality

Very good book about gilded age.

Interesting book about the Vanderbilt family, however sometimes a bit too long and i would be interested in understanding more the key factors of the increase of wealth and then decrease

Biographies like this with so much historical content are made for audible. I wouldn’t even try to read a book like this so being able to hear Anderson - a born storyteller - read it is really awesome. The history of the time has always been of interest to me; the money, the lifestyle, the smells and atmosphere are all brought to life and I would recommend for that alone. I have seen Anderson on tv with his mum before she died they were sweet together with an easy way with each other and I think she would have been super pleased with the way the story of her family history has been told.

This book is all about how the Vanderbilt fortune was squandered by his progeny. But it is not a history of the rise of the family at all. You could get more detail from Wikipedia. As an exercise is how the latest in this line has come to terms with this humungous legacy it is interesting if superficial.

I downloaded the book from Amazon. I read the book "Gloria, Free at Last" when it was published year ago. I am an avid filler of Anderson Cooper's 360 on CNN. Living in this day and age it is nearly impossible to phantom The Builder Age. Lifestyles of the rich and famous is like a fairy tale. The book depicts that the mega wealth did not bring happiness to the Vanderbilts. It is unfortunate so much wealth was squandered building enormous mansions, trying to outdo each other, so enormous that following generations could not afford the upkeep on them. How sad that after going through millions of dollars, Anderson Cooper worked seven days a week to support her caregivers in the last year's of her life.

I certainly shows how the rich squander money. Gloria did well after such a miserable childhood, determination pays off. Merci

I strongly recommend Anderson Cooper's version of the Vanderbilts. Not only because of the great research work but for the point of view from which he visions his ancestors and their individual contribution to both America's and the world's social and trending evolution.

to be honest i was a little dissapointed.

Interesting reading recommended to everybody