Winner of the Lincoln Prize

Acclaimed historian Doris Kearns Goodwin illuminates Abraham Lincoln's political genius in this highly original work, as the one-term congressman and prairie lawyer rises from obscurity to prevail over three gifted rivals of national reputation to become president.

On May 18, 1860, William H. Seward, Salmon P. Chase, Edward Bates, and Abraham Lincoln waited in their hometowns for the results from the Republican National Convention in Chicago. When Lincoln emerged as the victor, his rivals were dismayed and angry.

Throughout the turbulent 1850s, each had energetically sought the presidency as the conflict over slavery was leading inexorably to secession and civil war. That Lincoln succeeded, Goodwin demonstrates, was the result of a character that had been forged by experiences that raised him above his more privileged and accomplished rivals. He won because he possessed an extraordinary ability to put himself in the place of other men, to experience what they were feeling, to understand their motives and desires.

It was this capacity that enabled Lincoln as president to bring his disgruntled opponents together, create the most unusual cabinet in history, and marshal their talents to the task of preserving the Union and winning the war.

We view the long, horrifying struggle from the vantage of the White House as Lincoln copes with incompetent generals, hostile congressmen, and his raucous cabinet. He overcomes these obstacles by winning the respect of his former competitors, and in the case of Seward, finds a loyal and crucial friend to see him through.

This brilliant multiple biography is centered on Lincoln's mastery of men and how it shaped the most significant presidency in the nation's history.

Length: 945 pages	Word Wise: Enabled	Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled
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Product details

File Size: 53530 KB
Print Length: 945 pages
Publisher: Simon & Schuster; Media Tie-In edition (December 8, 2006)
Publication Date: October 25, 2005
Sold by: Simon and Schuster Digital Sales Inc
Language: English
ASIN: B000N2HBSO
Text-to-Speech: Enabled

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Enabled

Word Wise: Enabled
Lending: Not Enabled
Screen Reader: Supported

Enhanced Typesetting: Enabled

Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #16,085 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
- #5 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > History > Americas > United States > Civil War > Abolition
- #6 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Nonfiction > Politics & Social Sciences > Politics & Government > Elections & Political Process > Practical Politics
- #12 in Kindle Store > Kindle eBooks > Teen & Young Adult > Biography

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Maalika Manoharan

A must read for anyone who aspires to make an ...

January 20, 2018

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

A must read for anyone who aspires to make an impact in the world and leave a legacy. Lincoln shows us how can be humble, true, kind, and yet politically astute and persuasive. The position of United States in the world and what it stands for is made all that stronger thanks to Lincoln. I learnt a lot from this book, especially about being non-judgmental, patient and thoughtful. The amount of time Lincoln took to write all his speeches, and the care and thought behind each word - yes, they deserve to be enshrined and read over and over by millions of people.

10 people found this helpful

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Betsy Robinson

Great Book--some Kindle drawbacks

September 27, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

A wonderful nuanced book that resonates mightily with and informs what is going on today. Read it if you want to understand any kind of historical basis for what is now happening in the U.S. Read it if you love the minutia of history—every conversation ever recorded during the Lincoln period, every permutation and convolution of the Civil War, the complex emotional motivations behind the factions—or if you feel as if you need to learn U.S. history.

Regarding Kindle version:
Pros: It is lightweight, which is a lot easier than reading a 900 page book.

Cons: The search function is not enabled in the Kindle version. The back-of-the-book Index has hyperlinks, but you have to manually page through it to find what you want to search for. This is a real drawback in a book of so many characters that you often want to be reminded about who somebody is.

9 people found this helpful

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Judith L. Todd

In-depth story of President Lincoln and the politics of the Civil War era

October 14, 2016

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Excellent reading. A complete story of the genius of Abraham Lincoln and how he assembled a cabinet from his political rivals to lead the country through the Civil War. Goodwin, through extensive research of not only Lincoln's writings and speeches, but those of Secretary of State Seward and Secretary of War Stanton and many others,, profiles historic figures of the era. She paints a picture of Lincoln's personality and his ability to use humor and magnanimity to repair the Union and secure freedom from slavery for its citizens. He also married one of my relatives, Mary Todd, and Goodwin offers a sympathetic view of Mrs. Lincoln.

8 people found this helpful

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30clone

Lincoln knows how to manage his rivals.

September 27, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

When you think of Lincoln, you think of the Lincoln-Douglass debates, the Emancipation Proclamation, the Gettysburg Address, and his tragic assassination. (Sorry, not a Vampire Hunter). You think of him as an example for leadership.

But how many people realize he was one of the best managers in the world by asking three of his political rivals to serve underneath him and get great results? Or how balanced he was in balancing political allies who were each other's political or personal rivals?

I enjoyed this book a lot because the author looks at not just Lincoln, but the other persons with their own aspirations - Seward, Stanton, Bates, Chase, and other politically powerful families like the Blairs, and some of them have very big egos. Yet all of them were humbled and realized just how much wiser and stronger Lincoln was. There would be no powers behind the throne. Lincoln alone was the boss, but he depended on rivals turned friends to do their job to run the Union during the Civil War.

Former President Barack Obama really liked this book and seemed to have been inspired by Lincoln and this book to form his first presidential cabinet. While Obama and I firmly disagree on his view on religion, the military, healthcare, and domestic policy, liking this book is one thing we have in common. Overall, I can see why Goodwin deserves her accolades and tells a powerful story of a humble, kind, but determined man to rise above his peers and serve his country in its darkest hour.

2 people found this helpful

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Z1815

Long but such a good read

May 12, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

I absolutely adore this book. It gives such a vivid picture of Lincoln and the people around him, and the time they lived. The book is well rounded, showing the thoughts of a variety of people including many important women and men including Fredrick Douglas and Herman Melville . It's great reading of these historical figures who are contemporaries, who may not always be learned about together so I didn't think about how they were alive together. I highly recommend this book.

4 people found this helpful

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Dad

Another great book from a great writerly

October 7, 2015

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

Make no mistake at 750 pages and another 150 pages of footnotes, this is a project. Having said that it is a very well written and interesting book. I have read many Civil War books, but most, like Brice Catton's And Shelby Foote's books, focus on the Generals and Battles. This book focuses on Lincoln and the politics of the time, which made it especially interesting. Goodwin is a great writer and she does not disappoint with this book. If you are a Lincoln and Civil War buff this book is for you. If you know little of either this is a must read. These events of over 150 years ago still reverberates to this day. I highly recommend.

6 people found this helpful

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Zackary D. Barron

Absolutely incredibly written book

September 22, 2017

Format: Kindle EditionVerified Purchase

I've read plenty of civil war books and biographies of Lincoln, but this is the first one that not only gives nearly full biographies on the significant cabinet members of the Lincoln Administrations, but leaves the reader with such a vivid picture of the times. Ms.Goodwin writes in such a precise manner as to bring the reader into the emotions of the actors. Quite possibly the best book I've read in at least 5 years.

3 people found this helpful

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Kem White

Excellent Narrative History

November 17, 2016

Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase

"Team of Rivals" is a masterpiece of narrative history. Goodwin creates a wonderful epic describing not only Lincoln but Seward, Stanton, Chase, and Bates. (Plus Nicolay, Hay, Mary Lincoln, Montgomery Blair, and others.) Goodwin is a true historian but also a gifted writer. The stories of these men leading up to and during the Civil War are enthralling, the pace lively, the detail immense. This is the third history/biography I've read about Lincoln and his accomplishments always amaze, his death always saddens. This is not a history of the War, nor is it about the south. The reader gets an intimate tapestry of ordinary and not-so-ordinary men during America's greatest trial. (Seward, in particular, would have been a boon companion for anyone.) Highly recommended for all Americans.

2 people found this helpful

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Most recent customer reviews

M.C. Buyer

THE BEST BOOK ON THE POLITICS DURING THE LINCOLN YEARS

This book is one of the most fascinating books about Lincoln that I have ever read. Goodwin keeps your interest peaked and one can see how this "team of rivals" worked so...Read more

Published 5 days ago

Long, but brilliant

As an Australian with an interest in US politics, I found this book enthralling. It gave great context not only to the Civil War and Lincoln, but the ethos and history of the US...Read more

Published 8 days ago

Wilmi

Awesome read!

I am fascinated with this book. Reading it is like reading a coherent story; like a novel. Though it is longer than any other book I ever read, I cant stop reading it.Read more

Published 11 days ago

Scamper

Highly recommended.

Well researched and well written.

Published 14 days ago

William Birney

Great Story

I am about a quarter of the way through the book. I loved the film Lincoln and wanted to learn more. This book does a deep dive into the lives of Lincoln and his cabinet.Read more

Published 22 days ago

Ruben Castor

Worth it

Very detailed, well researched accounting.

Published 25 days ago

David Duncan

It’s like being in the room. Get this book!!

Richard Thomas does a masterful job as narrator. The information about Lincoln and his presidency is so interesting. Even the little mundane things are fascinating.

Published 28 days ago

Amazon Customer

An amazing man beautifully described

Thoroughly enjoyed and challenged by this portrait of Lincoln and his cabinet. Ms. Kearns Goodwin writes in a style that is both accessible and substantive.

Published 1 month ago

David Maniccia

Must Read

I could not put this book down.

Published 1 month ago

Robert M

history in amazing depth

This is a deeply revealing book about The political divide of the country, particularly throughout the north And the genius of Lincoln to find the right time to move the Civil War...Read more

Published 1 month ago

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