sevenspiders -
Helpful Score: 6
I was interested in this book, but slightly daunted by its size. But I love american history so I picked it up anyway, and I'm so glad I did. It goes so much faster than you'd imagine and is really a fascinating account of the events surrounding Lincoln's nomination election and presidency. Fantastic book!
Helpful Score: 5
This book got its second wind when President-elect Obama endorsed some of the ideas explored herein. The focus here is on the relations among Abe and his cabinet and the relationships among the cabinet members. There's not much new, but Goodwin, above and beyond being a solid historian, is a great storyteller. There is nothing about this book to dislike and there is much to endorse.
Helpful Score: 4
This book was surprisingly interesting. I expected to get more bogged down in the details, which were extensive, but it kept a pretty good thread throughout. There were probably more details than necessary about the main characters backgrounds, but that helped me keep them straight in my head.
Lincoln's gift for logic over passion and his ability to give up credit to someone else for the sake of expediency and the good of the country, are beautifully portrayed. Overall, a good read that required my full mental focus throughout the whole book. Fascinating.
Lincoln's gift for logic over passion and his ability to give up credit to someone else for the sake of expediency and the good of the country, are beautifully portrayed. Overall, a good read that required my full mental focus throughout the whole book. Fascinating.
Michael T. reviewed Team of Rivals : The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln on + 14 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
This excellent portrayal of Lincoln's cabinet and how he got the members of his team of rivals to work together and save the nation shows the very meaning of great leadership.
Ken R. (robear61) reviewed Team of Rivals : The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln on + 3 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
Team of Rivals is the best inner study of Abraham Lincoln's political abilities and weaknesses. History has crowned him as the greatest president, but often these titles come from myth, timing, and given situation. Lincoln is all the novice in national politics, but this nativity may have made him so strong in this horrible period. Miss Goodwin beautifully records how Lincoln did everything wrong for all the right reasons. You will not only get a much deeper view and feel for Lincoln, but lesser political and military figures are "fleshed out". Team of Rivals will fill in countless gaps on how and why, but it will also really give you a fuller insight on why many view Lincoln the greatest of the American presidents.
