48 pages • 1 hour read
Anderson Cooper, Katherine HoweVanderbilt: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty
Nonfiction | Biography | Adult | Published in 2021A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Vanderbilt: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty by Anderson Cooper and Katherine Howe chronicles the rise of Cornelius Vanderbilt in the 19th-century shipping and railroad industries, his son Billy's success in doubling the family fortune, and the subsequent generations' struggles with wealth, infighting, and declining influence. It explores the Vanderbilt family's impact on American capitalism and the Gilded Age while blending biography, history, and memoir, particularly through Cooper's reflections in the final chapter. The book includes discussions of suicide.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
In Vanderbilt, Anderson Cooper and Katherine Howe deliver a compelling exploration of the Vanderbilt family's rise and fall. The book is praised for its engaging storytelling and well-researched historical context. However, some reviewers feel it occasionally sacrifices depth for readability. Overall, it is an insightful and captivating read on American aristocracy.
Who Should Read Vanderbilt?
Fans of American history, high society, and family sagas will relish Vanderbilt by Anderson Cooper and Katherine Howe. This book appeals to readers of The House of Morgan by Ron Chernow and The Social Graces by Renée Rosen, targeting those intrigued by the rise and fall of the Vanderbilt dynasty.