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manish25's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
jmd862000's review against another edition
4.0
This is a monumental biography of Lincoln. Told from the vantage point of Lincoln and his rivals turned colleagues, Goodwin builds a masterful narrative, meticulously documented and thoroughly enjoyable. One of the best biographies I've read. Lincoln is a complex character, and this book paints a vivid portrait of the man and his time.
bdukes's review against another edition
4.0
Over 700 pages of fascinating insights into Lincoln and the circumstances around his life and the civil war. A little difficult to work through the whole thing and keep track of all of the cast of characters around him, but definitely worth it.
erickibler4's review against another edition
5.0
When you survey the political landscape of today, it's remarkable that such a man as Lincoln could even exist, let alone that he should rise to the Presidency in the hour of the country's greatest need. Setting aside the question of whether any Biblical or other religious figures actually existed, or whether they actually lived the lives and represented the things as portrayed, we know one thing: Abraham Lincoln was an actual man. Wise, empathetic, magnanimous, decisive, strong. A brilliant writer and speaker who could shepherd the country in the direction "the better angels of our nature" could take us. A comedian who could tell funny stories and entertain a roomful of people, or who could win over a hostile delegation of angry senators. A friend to individuals and to all humanity. A true humanitarian.
Doris Kearns Goodwin is to be commended. She brings Lincoln and his cabinet to life. I've never been so emotionally affected by a work of history or biography. I know in the coming days, I'm going to miss Lincoln. Maybe I'll tackle the longer biographies by his secretaries Nicolay & Hay, or the one by Sandburg. I need more Lincoln in my life! We all do!
Doris Kearns Goodwin is to be commended. She brings Lincoln and his cabinet to life. I've never been so emotionally affected by a work of history or biography. I know in the coming days, I'm going to miss Lincoln. Maybe I'll tackle the longer biographies by his secretaries Nicolay & Hay, or the one by Sandburg. I need more Lincoln in my life! We all do!
tombimbodil's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.5
brandidean's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 - It was good and did make me like Lincoln even more, but I wouldn’t say there was any particularly surprising information in it. I would have liked to hear more of Lincoln’s thoughts, but I assume that if they existed (in the form of a journal or similar) she would have used them.
rhoelle's review against another edition
4.0
While the sad and magical Lincoln is endlessly fascinating -- often very droll -- the same cannot be said, with the possible exception of Seward, for the rest of the rivals. The book is much better before the 1860 election, during which it maintains a firm focus. The rest seems like a different book, wandering from topic to topic, mostly it seems in search of good anecdotes and with little will to cover matters thoroughly, especially with respect to the war, most of which is silently omitted. The book ends with Lincoln's assassination, providing periscope endings for the rest of the rivals. I would have handled this part differently, discussing Seward later and in more detail, as befits his status and contributions.
donnapickel's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent read! Taught me so much of just how amazing Lincoln was.