In early 2023, I read Anderson Cooper’s book, Vanderbilt: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty, because I am ever so curious about the Vanderbilt family. My interest in the Vanderbilts was planted during my childhood, with the very first time I visited Biltmore Estates in Asheville, North Carolina. My cousin saw my review of this book and immediately recommended I watch the television series, The Gilded Age, on HBO Max. I quickly found the show and had to restrain myself from binge watching the entire first season. I fell in love with the characters, beautiful mansions, amazing wardrobes, and tantalizing story line. I have now seen the first two seasons of the show, and anxiously anticipate another season. One of the characters in the show is Caroline Astor, “The Mrs. Astor.” Her role in the show is quite interesting, so when I learned Anderson Cooper and Katherine Howe had written a book about the famous Astor family, I was excited to read it. The trailer for season one of The Gilded Age is below for your entertainment.

Astor: The Rise and Fall of an American Fortune is perfectly written and excellently researched. Anderson’s family status provided him opportunities to interact with some of these legendary descendants. For instance, he opens the book with a personal story about some of his interactions with Booke Astor, “The Last Mrs. Astor.” Anderson then takes readers all the way back to the very beginning of the legendary Astor family, with the immigration of John Jacob Astor to the United States from Germany in 1783. Mr. Astor made his family fortune with beaver trapping to sell the furs. His entrepreneurial mindset evolved into Manhattan real estate. Anderson follows the Astor family tree, illustrating members of each generation for their contributions or strains on the family legacy. Every chapter was stimulating. Some of my favorite Astors discussed in the book are Caroline Astor, John Jacob Astor of the Titanic, Brooke Astor, and her son Anthony Marshall. As with most, if not all families, there are surprising and shocking details revealed. The history is captivating.  

Anderson writes with such authenticity and appropriately placed humor, which makes the story engaging and fascinating. In closing the book, he talked about how the Astor heritage continues to have a presence today’s society, and in locations such as the New York Public Library. I appreciate how Anderson identified that our current culture is not that different from the Gilded Age. We still have extremely wealthy people influencing our societies and spending their money extravagantly, while the rest of us stand by as observers. As I neared the end of the book, I felt such sadness for the Astor family and their struggles, especially for Brooke Astor. The ending of the Astor line is depressing and heartbreaking.

I purchased Astor: The Rise and Fall of an American Fortune with my Audible membership. Listening to Anderson Cooper narrate made for an outstanding listening experience.

My review for Anderson Cooper and Katherine Howe’s previous book is linked below:

Vanderbilt: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty

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