This book is about the famous Vanderbilt family. The book is written by Anderson Cooper, who is a member of the Vanderbilt family. If you get the Audible version, he also narrates it. I knew a decent amount of information about Cornelius Vanderbilt prior to reading this, but I learned a lot more about his sons and grandsons from this book. There were some details about various family members that didn't really add much to the story, but if you take each person in the dynasty as a cog in the machine, it makes sense. I have seen reviews that called this book boring, and I think they must have been bored during the places were there wasn't some scandal being discussed. I really enjoyed the way the book was written, and learning about the members of the family from the perspective of one who is truly in the know. I would like to learn more about Gloria Vanderbilt, and will have to pick up a different book about her.

I bought this book because I am on a famous family dynasty reading kick, and also because the Gilded Age is interesting to me. I have been lucky enough to visit Biltmore mansion in North Carolina, and I have read other books about the house and some members of the family. (Some advice: Do not visit Biltmore in the summer. They have no air, it is exceptionally hot, and it is a long walk from the parking area when you are sweltering in July. I also went when there was a mask mandate, and the suffocation...) This was well worth the time and energy to read. I learned a lot about several members of the family, especially Consuelo and Gloria Vanderbilt, about which I had not learned much prior to reading this book.