Welcome to Litsy!

I finished this on the treadmill this morning and it was a fascinating look at the gilded age and beyond. Told with love but not with blinders on, Cooper explores the faults and foibles, the triumphs and traumas, as he explores the rise and fall of the Vanderbilt dynasty. A nice companion to the #WhartonBuddyRead as it covers some of the same ground. A nice touch was the epilogue where he tells what stands now where the mansions once were.

My latest #treadmillBook. Read by Anderson Cooper, it‘s off to a great start.

I love nonfiction that reads like fiction! For the most part, I felt this book fits that bill. There were a couple of chapters that felt like they went off on tangents, but the main story was obviously how there is usually a hardworking ancestor who amasses a fortune that is ultimately squandered but those who follow. Looking forward to Astor!

I have always been fascinated by the Vanderbilt family. I loved listening to Anderson Cooper narration of his family. Katherine Howe did extensive research on his family to help him craft this story. There is so much more but it is still fascinating to learn about how such a rich family could lose it all. There were some parts that were a little slow but with so much to cover what might seem excessive helps to fully tell the history of this family

A no-holds barred look at “the story of the extraordinary rise and epic fall of the Vanderbilt Dynasty. This is the story of the greatest American fortune ever squandered.” Anderson is not pulling any of his punches here with his mother‘s side of the family. Spill the 🫖 Cooper.

I'm fascinated by history, especially the aspect of how and where people lived. Celebrity and fame are weird in how they don't always equate to wealth. There were moments in this book when I felt like it was expected I would already know the story. At times, the clichés and adjectives at a 2 for one special nearly made me close the book. I needed a sketched family tree to keep track of whose who. It was a sweet tribute to a complicated mom.

This is the summer of crochet all day. Lots of doc visits. So far, most tests are neg, but my son has symptoms of MS. So I'm a basket case. Our internet is pooping out, not helpful. I've spent so much time on hold, and if one more jerk asks me to do a survey, I might lose my mind. Reading is happening in spurts. It's hard to concentrate. 2 surprize 🌧 showers today make for a lazy day. I'm 🙂 grateful for that. Floods & 🔥 everywhere else.

It was okay. It's sad that when Cornelius died in 1877, the Vanderbilt fortune was over $100 million. By the time Gloria Vanderbilt, his great-great- granddaughter died in 2019 less than $1.5 million left.

#BookSpinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

My Audiobook I started today.

"This is the story of the greatest American fortune ever squandered."

#FirstLineFridays
@ShyBookOwl

Audiobook I am starting today, when I walk my boys 🐶🐾🚶

I haven‘t had time to walk all week. Finally made it out this morning and was rewarded with spring flowers and this book in a Little Free Library.

From the shores of New Amsterdam to present day NYC, the book follows some of the more interesting, famous and infamous members of the Vanderbilt family and their social circle through significant historical moments. I especially enjoyed the section on The Gilded Age — if it sounds like something from an Edith Wharton novel, that‘s because it is!

I loved Anderson Cooper‘s narration of the audiobook.

Anderson provides an in-depth history of the intriguing Vanderbilt family. He covers the beginning of the family tree with Cornelius Vanderbilt. Then how the family grew and lived on Staten Island and built mansions on Fifth Avenue. My heart broke as he shared about Alice of the summer home, The Breakers, in Rhode Island. It was fascinating to learn about the lives and tragic deaths of the Vanderbilts.

Full review https://abookandadog.com

Loving this historical picture of the Vanderbilt Family. What a bunch of eccentrics😁Photos from the 1883 Vanderbilt Ball in NYC. Yes, that‘s actually a cat that was taxidermy and worn on the head of Kate strong. The overskirt was made entirely of white cats‘ tails sewed on a dark background. The bodice was formed of rows of white cats‘ heads and the headdress was a stiffened white cat‘s skin. Her necklace read PUSS in diamonds. WTF 😳

My audio hold came in yesterday and I just finished another audio today ( Nanette - still thinking about my feelings on that one) Anyway, I‘m curious to learn about Cornelius, the “Commodore” Vanderbilt and the making of his vast fortune and large brood. Might be able to use for #52Books23 #RoaringTwenties 😁

“This is the story of the extraordinary rise and epic fall of the Vanderbilt Dynasty. This is the story of the greatest American fortune ever squandered.”

Anderson is not pulling any of his punches here. 🫖

This was a fascinating exploration of the Vanderbilt family from their arrival in America until now. Anderson Cooper‘s perspective was honest, measured, and personal and I learned more than I would have expected about the Gilded Age in NYC. I love history and really loved this book! And is is great on #audio, read by Anderson Cooper. #BookspinBingo @TheAromaofBooks #NovelNovember @Andrew65

My weekly audiobook, I found this interesting. I wish Cooper had included some about George Vanderbilt (Biltmore). My favorite chapter was about the Lusitania because I‘ve always heard of it but didn‘t know what happened. Warning—I was driving 3 hrs back from visiting a friend, got tired about halfway through, then realized that Anderson‘s soothing voice was contributing to that. So, don‘t listen late at night on a quiet interstate 😉

I finished this today doing some errands ( including buying myself some flowers from a local flower farm) I loved learning the background on the Vanderbilt family and hearing how NYC changed over the years ( reminding me of some other historical fiction I‘ve read ) having it read by Anderson Cooper was awesome

Errand running while the audio book plays and a mani/pedi to continue celebrating not biting my nails. At some point budget constraints are going to have to come into play 🤣🤣 but this was a birthday gift card so not today 👏🏻👏🏻

It‘s overcast so I‘m back to doing a section of my Starry Night Lego build

Started listening to this today while I was out doing errands. I‘m quite captivated already

A history of the Vanderbilts but it is also a history of how “high society“ developed in the United States, how people in that group defined it and redefined it to make sure they and their heirs stayed “high society“ - it also, indirectly, explains how a name can allow someone without money to continue living an extravagant lifestyle.
(See comment below)

Finished book 2 for July #BookSpinBingo -

Make a great day everyone - 🙂

#WeekendReading @Andrew65

Working on all 3 - hope to finish 2 by end of week 🙂

Make a great day everyone -

Did some more rock painting over the past two days while home with shingles.

The top two rocks are businesses local to the Frankfort, MI area where I will be vacationing at the end of the month. The Stay Puft Marshmallow Man is for my 4 yr old nephew who loves Ghostbusters.

#audiocrafting #rockpainting #litsycrafters

I wanted to love this book, but unfortunately I just didn‘t. I think the issue for me was that it felt like a lot of information of names and dates, but at the same time it would spend a whole chapter on one particular thing. I wanted this book to be bigger-picture, explaining the “why” behind the rise and fall of the family. I think it was more of the “what,” though, which is why it just wasn‘t quite what I was looking for.

I didn't enjoy this as much as I thought I would. I adore Anderson Cooper.

This wasn‘t as enjoyable as I‘d thought it would be, considering the author‘s proximity to the family it is about. Often, the story jumped around, and some stories were told in a way that didn‘t seem to reflect an insider‘s knowledge; in one instance referencing scenes in a movie about the story, making it seem as though the author didn‘t have any more insight to what happened than those who made the movie.

I knew bits and bobs about some of the Vanderbilts, but not a whole lot so this was really interesting to me – even before the personal aspect that Cooper‘s own connection to the story adds. If you‘ve got an interest in this sort of history, it‘s definitely worth a look – even if it‘s not the most comprehensive account and may well leave you wanting to read more about some of the characters you meet. But that‘s never a bad thing really is it?

🌟🌟🌟 1/2

Somewhat interesting from a historical perspective about how these Uber rich squandered all their wealth. I was disappointed that we didn‘t learn more about Gloria Vanderbilt as she doesn‘t show up until the last third of the book.

Christmas book!

In spite of the title, this is not a comprehensive history of the Vanderbilts. The main author is Anderson Cooper, although his coauthor is listed first here. It starts with the Commodore, then a couple of people from the next generations, then spends a lot of time on Gloria (not surprising). Some interesting parts and some boring parts.

Loved this! Anderson Cooper looks back a family he once didn‘t claim in this fascinating historical account. He and Howe take snapshots in the lives of some family members such as one who sank in the Lusitania and another who threw a $64 million party. He reserves three chapters for his mother, including her fraught childhood and adult life in high society NYC. He includes a bit how her lavish spending made him frugal. Go #audiobook!

I liked this. It‘s not a linear family history but more a series of stories about selected family members. The one I was looking forward to reading was Gloria, but I enjoyed others too. Each is also a story of the impact of their wealth, the role of money and that was interesting too. The writing is a soft, gentle dialogue. 3/5

I‘ve paid attention to this family over the years and was curious to read how Anderson would frame this history for his his son. I‘m impressed that he can see the Vanderbilt flaws without feeling he was somehow cheated of an inheritance …And again with Truman Capote and how he fills a room! But, after all, Anderson, if in vitro, did attend Truman‘s historical Black&White Ball.

“Her costume consisted of a gown made of white cat tails with a bodice of skinned cat heads and was topped with a hat made of a taxidermied white cat curled up and perched upon her heaps of blonde curls.” (Pic of Miss Kate Fearing Strong)

It really is true that you don't know what you don't know. I knew Anderson Cooper was the son of Gloria Vanderbilt. But except for the bits I had already learned from their book together I had no idea the insanity that was the Vanderbilt legacy. I suspect this book only scratches the surface.

Absolutely fantastic. Isn't it odd that we can be so intrigued by people long gone but whose legacy remains. Goodness, it's not even my family but the entire time I was reading could picture this or that and then view it though a lense of "...if that happened today..." Wow. Wow. Wow. The amount of money is something to behold. Very grateful that they often aquatinted it with currently inflation but still more than I could ever imagine.

Have read 3 books Vanderbilts. The special sauce here is that it‘s told by an honest family member. There‘s something to be said for how family memory stretches the narrative with little details that aren‘t deemed worthy of being placed into history but which provide the background fabric for the embroidery of Big History moments. A good read if you like this topic, otherwise details of the Vanderbilt ball that broke the Astors will be a snore.

#currentlyreading The Breakers in Newport RI summer home built in 1895 for Cornelius Vanderbilt II. I can‘t imagine having that kind of wealth.

I absolutely adore Anderson Cooper and can‘t wait to dive right in to this Barnes and Noble special edition of his new book ❤️ #barnesandnoble #signededition #bookhaul #andersoncooperisbae

Got some book mail from my mom.

What a nice surprise 💖

Book events on Zoom are great! Yay , Anderson Cooper !

Added to my list of wants 😂