Alexander Hamilton

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I spent Saturday afternoon in Chicago watching Hamilton, and like so many others, I loved it. The music captures the emotions of the story: sorrow, excitement, commitment, passion, longing, jealousy, longing, conflict, and more.

I came home and started reading Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow, the book that inspired the musical (731 pages plus six pages of acknowledgments and 49 pages of notes). Lin-Manuel Miranda, was reading this book on a vacation—I picture him in a hammock—and was inspired to write the songs for this play. So far, Chernow's book does paint a picture of an exceptional man. I can see how Miranda was moved, but being inspired to write a musical is indeed an exceptional response. Who could have predicted that a rap musical about one of the lesser-known founding-fathers would be so successful? (President Obama says rap is the language of revolution.) Miranda tells the story of our American history in a way that engages. He says, "You want to eliminate and distance between audience and your story." History teachers cannot teach history like Miranda does, but Hamilton reminds all teachers that a list of facts doesn't stick well. Hamilton provides emotional engagement that makes the facts of history relevant and important. And as a bonus, it's enjoyable.

This video shows President Obama introducing a presentation to Hamilton before it is performed at the white house. If the introduction is too long, you can skip to 8.3 to hear the introductory song. This one is a great interview with Miranda by Chris Hayes.