Some chapters are very interesting, others felt over-long and almost irrelevant. The jumping around in time also made it very confusing to follow on audio, though I understand he was trying to follow different branches to cover the whole family.

Ultimately it is definitely worth a read if you have any kind of interested in the Gilded Age families.

While interesting to learn about the Astor family and their place in America, this was somewhat underwhelming. Just three stars for me.

Narrated by Anderson cooper- great! Story was good

The infamous Astor family, we have all heard of them in one way or another. Whether it be via their estates/historical sites on the east coast or through pop culture moments, like The Gilded Age or Titanic. But who really knows why the Astor name was so prominent through New York's social scene? Anderson Cooper (a descendant of the Vanderbilts) took a close look as to how the Astor family built their names, business, and lost it all. Cooper starts with the man who started it all: John Jacob Astor Sr. and his beginnings as a fur dealer. From there, we see the Astor name grow businesses, estates, and nonprofits. However, with great fortune comes terrible tragedies. The death of John Jacob Aster IV on the Titanic, family feuds over inheritance, and in most recent memory: The trial of Anthony Marshall. Anderson Cooper does an amazing job detailing the life of key family members and how their wealth impacted America. It is definitely one to read if you love family drama that is not your own. – Alyssa C.

So I admit I was thoroughly entertained by this account of the Astors, their history, and their foibles.