Hip-hop ‘Hamilton’ inspires

Maybe you’re sick of hearing about Broadway’s “Hamilton.”

But when I think back to the book or article or TV show or movie or other piece of what the media executives call “content” that affected and entertained and enlightened me most in 2015, it was clearly Lin-Manuel Miranda’s retelling of founding father Alexander Hamilton’s rise, fall and tragic death.

Since the cast album came out in September, our family has had it on pretty much constant rotation until it was time to start up the Christmas playlist.

We weren’t alone in this obsession. That cast album was still at No. 41 on the Billboard 200 last time I checked. My circle of friends is rife with “Hamilton” fanatics who discuss when they’re going to see it again. Tickets for the show start at $400 on StubHub, and are more than $1,000 if you want really good seats.

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So what is it about “Hamilton”? There are lots and lots of things, but I’ll offer three:

n It’s a complete, original, dazzling work of art. Yes, “Hamilton” is based on Ron Chernow’s great biography. But Miranda and his co-conspirators tweaked and embroidered and massaged and eventually transformed that source material into something bracingly new. It’s not that it’s perfect. But with “Hamilton,” it isn’t clear what could be improved without making some other part worse off.

n It’s about America, and America can be really interesting. Much has been made of the musical’s cast of Founding Fathers who don’t look anything like the Founding Fathers. This isn’t a stunt. Miranda is clearly in love with the United States of America, past and present, and much of the genius of his creation lies in how it makes the personalities and conflicts of the late 1700s feel fresh and relevant today. Hamilton came to New York from the Caribbean as an impoverished teenager, so it doesn’t feel like a great leap to see him portrayed by a guy (Miranda) whose parents both came to New York from Puerto Rico.

n It’s one big motivational tract. I can’t think of any recent book, movie, play or other work that celebrates ambition, hard work and accomplishment as unironically and infectiously as “Hamilton” does. Every time I listen to the cast recording I start making plans and resolutions to accomplish great things.

You go spend your money on a Stephen Covey book or a David Allen seminar. I’ll just listen to “Hamilton” again. •

Justin Fox is a Bloomberg View columnist.

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