Customer Reviews

101 Things You Didn't Know About Lincoln: Loves And Losses! Political Power Plays! White House Hauntings!

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This book was a great read. I found that in nearly one of the 101 chapters (Thornton wrote a mini-chapter for each "thing you didn't know") I learned something new. It addresses nearly aspect of Lincoln's life, including his political savvy, his presidency, his life (including whether or not he was really born in a log cabin), as well as the much debated question of whether Lincoln was gay. It's a fun read, with a very readable style. Thornton has a good sense of humor, making this much better than some of the typical history tomes. I recommend it highly!

When I was given a copy of Brian Thornton's 101 Things You Didn't Know About Lincoln, I was pretty smug. I thought, I'll know just about everything in here. All modesty aside, I know lots about Abe. I know what the inscription is on the inside of Mary Todd Lincoln's ring. I know about his poetry. I know the quote about his ambition. I think the Gettysburg Address is nearly perfect.
Once again, I was kicked in the shin, hard, by hubris. Did I know Lincoln? You bet. Did I know as much as Mr. Thornton? Not even close. His knowledge of Lincoln runs the gamut from A to Zed and back again. I would use the word `encyclopedic' except that, for me, encyclopedic denotes a rather dry recitation of fact, and this book is anything but dry.
The format itself is interesting, and has set me a-ponderin'...by addressing faqs does one get a true, soul and elbows picture of Lincoln? After all, Mr. Thornton himself states that this is his intention, to make us see the man. Does he succeed? You bet, and how. But I still wonder if the format would work so completely without Mr. Thornton's obvious passion for the subject and his engaging, informative writing style. So I've asked a question I can't answer, because I'm smitten with the writing itself.
But I suspect it does work. One can't answer discourse on subjects like Lincoln's shifting views of abolition ( #53), the South Carolina Secession Crisis (#73) or Congressional Spot Resolutions (#43) without going into detail. And in giving the reader all sorts of fascinating tidbits such as; was Mary Todd Lincoln crazy? Who was the other Mary in Abe's life? What was Abe's middle name? Abe Lincoln's patent, what was that? How did Abe's assassin's brother save Abe's son's life? , Brian Thornton fleshes out the rather iconic image we have branded in the forecourts of our brains.
I never knew that Lincoln refused the governorship of the Oregon Territory. He refused because he thought that Oregon was not an ideal springboard for a leap onto the national political scene and he refused because he feared his son's weak chest might not survive such a move. He cited a third reason for his refusal. I found in this tidbit the quintessential Lincoln, the ambitious man who loved his family but who remained always, even inexplicably, private.
Historians and writers of history often seem to feel that they are not doing their job unless they produce a thick, dense prose (no matter how slim the volume) that reminds this reader of slogging up a steep incline of mud, wearing ice skates. Mr. Thornton's words live on the page; they are lively, informative, and entertaining. I just lent this book to an eighteen year old college freshman who loved it, I just bought it for my eleven year old nephew. My husband is slated for it next. The point is, it is accessible to almost everyone, and yet scholarly enough to be taken seriously.
I recommend it highly. If you like Lincoln, love Lincoln, or feel you should know something of the man who is arguably our greatest President, dive right in. You won't be sorry.

This book is small - 6"x6"x1" - but it packs a wallop. It covers the entirety of Abe Lincoln's life, providing fascinating glimpses into the forces that shaped his character and made him one of America's most effective and beloved presidents.

Author Brian Thornton is not out to create hagiography. He lets us in on fascinating secrets of Lincoln's life, such as his distance from his father, his poison-pen pranking that landed him in a duel with an opponent, his tragic first love and his emotional aloofness from his high-strung wife, Mary Todd Lincoln. Along the way, Thornton addresses myths of Lincoln's supposed homosexuality (people, he just rented one side of a bed!) and his purported ownership of slaves. Lincoln's rise from abject poverty to fame as a litigator is laid out pretty well, as are the national crises (The Kansas-Nebraska Act and the Dred Scott decision) that shaped his views and his destiny.

"101 Things" is always fresh, always level-headed, and always informative. It's a book that is very hard to put down, and (inch for inch) is a great way to learn about the breadth of Lincoln's life and influence.

I have read many books about Abraham Lincoln, but I am learning a lot of facts and stories that are filling in the gaps in my knowledge. Easy, informative, and entertaining to read. It also illuminates on the life and times of the America of this era. This is a very worthy read.

One hundred and fifty years after his death, Abraham Lincoln continues to fascinate. It's fair to say that more books have been written on our 16th President than any other American historic figure; new titles appearing year after year. Dyed-in-the-wool Lincoln fans and newcomers alike will enjoy this new volume covering various aspects of Lincoln's life and times.

Author Brian Thornton's goal is to separate the man from the myth. He takes us through Lincoln's life in 101 mini-chapters, examining Lincoln matters big and small - how Lincoln got Mary Todd to marry him, his changing views of abolition, Lincoln's relationship with his father, his brief military career, the impact of the Lincoln-Douglas debates, why he grew a beard, his personal relationships, how John Wilkes Booth's brother saved one of Lincoln's sons from death, his legacy and so on.

There is a great deal of fascinating information packed in the book's 231 pages. One section I found especially interesting contained comparisons of Lincoln with Washington, Jefferson, Jackson, Buchanan, Henry Clay, Stephen Douglas and Jefferson Davis.

I have read a number of books on Lincoln but still found pleasures anew in this book from Adams Media. Nicely priced at $9.95, it's a great introduction to "father Abraham."