I finished reading "Team of Rivals" by Doris Kearns Goodwin.
Goodwin is winner of Pulitzer prize. This book was written in 2005 but didn't get much attention until Spielberg's movie "Lincoln" loosely based the book came out 2012.
I have read that there are over 15000 biographies of Lincoln.
The movie focuses on just one aspect, Lincoln's backroom dealing to get the 13th amendment (abolition of slavery) to the US constitution.
The book "Team of Rivals" is much more than that. Goodwin probes into the 1960 primary campaign and delves deeply into the characters of Lincoln and his primary rivals and then goes into, again deeply, into his presidency, civil war, his reelection, and ultimately his assassination. I found 100s of pages on the characters in the 1960 campaign hard to read but found out it is essential to understand the political genius of Lincoln, particularly, in his years as President. Lincoln brings in all three of his primary rivals into his cabinet and they merrily continue the rivalry between them and even continue plotting against Lincoln to win the Presidency themselves.
What I found astounding is how Lincoln put up with his treasury secretary Salmon Chase who exhibited openly his raging jealousy of Lincoln becoming the President. He retained Chase because Chase was hardworking and accomplished in his job though Lincoln knew Chase's never ending plots against him. There are thousands of little stories in the book which allow you to understand Lincoln as the greatest humanist, kindest, gentlest soul with strong moral character.
I cried many times while reading through the book. Nothing touches you as the story of Lincoln. I cannot think of another human being other than Gandhi who comes equal to Lincoln in terms of being the purest soul. Perhaps you have to go back thousands of years of human history to the age of Christ and Buddha to find his equal.
Please read this outstanding book.
Goodwin is winner of Pulitzer prize. This book was written in 2005 but didn't get much attention until Spielberg's movie "Lincoln" loosely based the book came out 2012.
I have read that there are over 15000 biographies of Lincoln.
The movie focuses on just one aspect, Lincoln's backroom dealing to get the 13th amendment (abolition of slavery) to the US constitution.
The book "Team of Rivals" is much more than that. Goodwin probes into the 1960 primary campaign and delves deeply into the characters of Lincoln and his primary rivals and then goes into, again deeply, into his presidency, civil war, his reelection, and ultimately his assassination. I found 100s of pages on the characters in the 1960 campaign hard to read but found out it is essential to understand the political genius of Lincoln, particularly, in his years as President. Lincoln brings in all three of his primary rivals into his cabinet and they merrily continue the rivalry between them and even continue plotting against Lincoln to win the Presidency themselves.
What I found astounding is how Lincoln put up with his treasury secretary Salmon Chase who exhibited openly his raging jealousy of Lincoln becoming the President. He retained Chase because Chase was hardworking and accomplished in his job though Lincoln knew Chase's never ending plots against him. There are thousands of little stories in the book which allow you to understand Lincoln as the greatest humanist, kindest, gentlest soul with strong moral character.
I cried many times while reading through the book. Nothing touches you as the story of Lincoln. I cannot think of another human being other than Gandhi who comes equal to Lincoln in terms of being the purest soul. Perhaps you have to go back thousands of years of human history to the age of Christ and Buddha to find his equal.
Please read this outstanding book.
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