"[A] thoroughly researched and delightfully written book.... A real thriller of a tale told with skill and authority."--Washington Times

"[A] fast-paced chronicle of Washington's presidency."--Publishers Weekly

"Truly enlightening insight into the earliest days of the U.S. government.... As eye-opening as it is fascinating."--San Francisco Book Review

Library Journal, 12/20/2013

"Written with spirit and some subtlety, this work demonstrates that George Washington's contributions to the character of federal executive powers have been nearly as influential as his military leadership. Recommended to readers in early American and presidential history and U.S. political science."

January Magazine, 12/4/2013

"A very good book...In his typically lucid and conversational style, Unger paints a never-before-seen portrait of Washington as a surprisingly beleaguered leader whose challenges in many ways echo those of the current occupier of the White House."

The Washington Lawyer, January 2014

"Unger [is] a leading historian of the revolutionary era."