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New York Times bestselling author and journalist Anderson Cooper teams with New York Times bestselling historian and novelist Katherine Howe to chronicle the rise and fall of a legendary American dynasty—his mother’s family, the Vanderbilts.

When eleven-year-old Cornelius Vanderbilt began to work on his father’s small boat ferrying supplies in New York Harbor at the beginning of the nineteenth century, no one could have imagined that one day he would, through ruthlessness, cunning, and a pathological desire for money, build two empires—one in shipping and another in railroads—that would make him the richest man in America. His staggering fortune was fought over by his heirs after his death in 1877, sowing familial discord that would never fully heal. Though his son Billy doubled the money left by “the Commodore,” subsequent generations competed to find new and ever more extraordinary ways of spending it. By 2018, when the last Vanderbilt was forced out of The Breakers—the seventy-room summer estate in Newport, Rhode Island, that Cornelius’s grandson and namesake had built—the family would have been unrecognizable to the tycoon who started it all.

Now, the Commodore’s great-great-great-grandson Anderson Cooper, joins with historian Katherine Howe to explore the story of his legendary family and their outsized influence. Cooper and Howe breathe life into the ancestors who built the family’s empire, basked in the Commodore’s wealth, hosted lavish galas, and became synonymous with unfettered American capitalism and high society. Moving from the hardscrabble wharves of old Manhattan to the lavish drawing rooms of Gilded Age Fifth Avenue, from the ornate summer palaces of Newport to the courts of Europe, and all the way to modern-day New York, Cooper and Howe wryly recount the triumphs and tragedies of an American dynasty unlike any other.

Written with a unique insider’s viewpoint, this is a rollicking, quintessentially American history as remarkable as the family it so vividly captures.

Journey through the extraordinary saga of the Vanderbilt family, a dynasty that epitomized the American Dream and the excesses of the Gilded Age. Anderson Cooper's "Vanderbilt: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty" is a captivating narrative that chronicles the family's spectacular ascent from humble beginnings to unimaginable wealth and influence.

From Cornelius Vanderbilt, the ambitious steamboat magnate who built a shipping empire, to his son William Henry Vanderbilt, who expanded the family's fortune through railroads, the Vanderbilts became synonymous with power and opulence. Their luxurious mansions, lavish parties, and extravagant lifestyles made them the talk of the town, capturing the imagination of the nation.

But behind the glamour and grandeur, the Vanderbilts faced challenges and personal tragedies. The family's vast wealth became a source of division and conflict, leading to bitter rivalries, scandalous divorces, and heart-wrenching estrangements. The pursuit of power and social status often came at a great personal cost.

Cooper's book delves into the complex relationships within the Vanderbilt family, shedding light on their triumphs and tribulations. He explores the lives of key figures like Alva Vanderbilt, the ambitious and determined matriarch, and her son, Harold Vanderbilt, who dedicated his life to preserving the family's legacy.

Through meticulous research and vivid storytelling, Cooper brings to life the era of the robber barons and the transformative changes that shaped America in the 19th and early 20th centuries. "Vanderbilt: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty" is a must-read for anyone interested in American history, wealth, and the enduring fascination with the lives of the rich and powerful.

Immerse yourself in the captivating tale of the Vanderbilts, a family that left an indelible mark on American history. Anderson Cooper's "Vanderbilt: The Rise and Fall of an American Dynasty" offers a captivating glimpse into their extraordinary journey, revealing the triumphs, tragedies, and enduring legacy of one of America's most prominent families.