 Heavily Researched, Brimming With Details About Our Greatest President
I've been meaning to read this book for several years (having enjoyed Ms. Kearns-Goodwin previous works of history), but at 800 pages, I was reluctant to plunge into such a long book. It eventually took me about a week to read, but the wait was well worthwhile! I read it in anticipation of my upcoming visit to Lincoln's Presidential Museum and Library in Springfield, IL - an excellent and interactive musuem. I was singularly impressed with the level of detail in the book, and Mrs. Goodwin's ability to measure the political histories and ambitions of Lincoln's cabinet (his team of rivals who ran against him for president). Many previous foes grew to love him like a brother, such as Seward and his Secretary of War, Edwin Stanton. I learned many things about the life of a president in those days - such as the public receptions each week in the White House, and the lack of any real security measures taken to protect the president. He visited the battlefields of the Civil War many times during that bloody siege, and the horror of it must have truly weighed upon him heavily. Abraham Lincoln was an extremely complex man, vulnerable to chronic depressions, probably owing the many deaths of loved ones while he was young. But his outwardly cheerful personality, his great story-telling abilities,his modesty and candor, his uncanny ability to find compromise with many head-strong politicians of the day, and his sheer brilliance and oratory skills undoubtedly would impress many as the "perfect storm" of qualities desired in our nation's leader. Many think that Obama read this book before he was elected, and Hillary Clinton probably owes her Secretary of State position to this book. In my opinion, unquestionably the best researched and written book ever about Lincoln.
 Worth Reading
After rereading Gore Vidal's Lincoln, surely one of the great books of all time, I decided it was time I read Goodwin's book to see how it compared. I wondered how well Vidal's judgement of all the crucial characters would hold up. My conclusion is that Vidal and Goodwin picture just about every character in a very similar manner. Goodwin's book provides more detail and is written in a very readable style, but it does not entirely avoid the problem of many such massive tomes - getting excessively bogged down in detail. While I can't help but praise her effort and knowledge, it takes more than twice as much time to read her book as Vidal's. I would recommend that anyone wishing to understand Lincoln begin by reading Vidal's book; and then, if they want to delve more deeply, take on Goodwin's book.
Loved this Book
I just completed reading this book and it was terrific. Kearns really takes you back in time and you get a great sense of how all these men developed into the men that would serve Lincoln. The amount of tragedy and perseverance this men and the families went through is almost impossible to believe.
Lincoln was continually underestimated and treated a "country bumpkin" but yet, time and time again proved to his supporters, critics, and rivals that he knew what he was doing. Again, Kearns paints a vivid picture of this time period and of how Lincoln was able to keep the nation together, even though he had to work with some pretty uncooperative folks.
Great read and I highly recommend it.
Great
I am so glad another Lincold admirer suggested reading this book and I am glad I bought my copy from Amazon. Really fine book; quick delivery ... I am very satisfied with my purchase.
Team of Rivals
This is a long read but well worth it for the amount of history it contains. This isn't Lincoln gossip. It's a look at how Lincoln thought and worked. I had been a Lincoln fan, but, after this book, I felt I understood his presidency and its burdens more thoroughly and admired him in a whole new way.
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