Astor by Anderson Cooper and Katherine Howe offers a compelling blend of historical research and narrative flair, capturing the rise and fall of the Astor family. Critics praise its meticulous detail and engaging storytelling; however, some find the pacing uneven and the focus shifting too frequently. Overall, it's a well-researched and insightful read for history enthusiasts.

A reader who enjoys Astor by Anderson Cooper and Katherine Howe is likely fascinated by American history and society, similar to fans of The House of Morgan by Ron Chernow and Vanderbilt by Anderson Cooper. They appreciate meticulously researched biographies that explore the complexities of influential families and their legacies.

Astor: The Rise and Fall of an American Fortune details the vast wealth, influence, and inner turmoil of the New York Astors, from fur trader John Jacob Astor to philanthropist Brooke Astor and the scandal of her son's alleged elder abuse. Cooper and Howe reveal how the family's American Dream masked exploitation and personal strife. This book contains descriptions of abuse and discrimination against older adults, among other sensitive topics.

**Anderson Cooper**  
A prolific journalist and television personality with strong roots in New York’s elite society through his Vanderbilt lineage, bringing both personal and professional insights to the Astor family narrative.

**Katherine Howe**  
A novelist and historian known for blending historical fiction with contemporary storytelling, who collaborates with Cooper to weave historical accuracy with engaging narratives about the Astor family.

**John Jacob Astor**  
An ambitious and ruthless immigrant who built the Astor fortune through the fur trade and later real estate, establishing the family's wealth in America.

**William Backhouse Astor Sr.**  
Successor to John Jacob Astor, characterized by his quieter demeanor and religious devotion, maintaining and expanding the family’s real estate wealth without his father’s bold methods.

**Caroline Webster Schermerhorn Astor**  
The social arbiter of her time, known as "Mrs. Astor," who defined New York high society’s elite circle and fiercely protected the family’s social standing.

**John Jacob "Jack" Astor IV**  
A wealthy and privileged Astor, known for his tragic death on the Titanic and his luxurious lifestyle, as well as for the social controversies surrounding his personal life.

**William Waldorf "Will" Astor**  
An Astor who sought to escape American high society for a European life, contributing to the family’s transatlantic legacy by primarily relocating to Britain.

**John Armstrong "Archie" Chanler**  
A member of a minor branch of the Astor family with a tumultuous personal life, punctuated by mental health struggles and a controversial belief in psychic abilities.

**William Vincent Astor**  
The last prominent US Astor heir, who grappled with personal insecurities and confounding family legacies, ultimately dedicating much of his wealth to philanthropy.

**Roberta Brooke Russell Astor**  
Renowned for her social influence in New York, she rose from middle-class origins to become the last great hostess of the Astor name, with a complex personal and family life.

**Anthony "Tony" Marshall**  
The only son of Brooke Astor, who faced familial tensions and legal controversies surrounding his inheritance and management of his mother’s estate in her later years.

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Book Brief

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Background

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Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1: “Rise”

Introduction-Part 1, Chapter 3

Astor Introduction-Part 1, Chapter 3 Summary & Analysis

Part 1, Chapters 4-6

Astor Part 1, Chapters 4-6 Summary & Analysis

Part 2: “Fall”

Part 2, Chapters 7-9

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Part 2, Chapter 10-Epilogue

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Essay Topics

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Anderson Cooper

Katherine Howe

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Astor: The Rise and Fall of an American Fortune

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