: Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln

Rating: - Best Book in 30 Years
This book should be on the "must read" list for anyone who is either in a position of leadership, or would like to be. Having read this book I could completely understand how people make it their life's work, being a Lincoln scholar. While many have written of Lincoln, this author gives equal coverage to those critical to the success of his efforts, those who were so assured that they would be the presidencial nominee, that they did not even attend the convention. To learn how to work effectively with those who we may not necessarily like, is a lesson this country could stand to learn...quickly!

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Rating: - A closer look at Goodwin's upbeat take....
Professor Matthew Pinsker has an interesting (cautionary) critique of Goodwin's book, Op-Ed section 11/18/08 LA Times: "Lincoln and The Myth of Team of Rivals." He offers some good points to keep in mind while enjoying the book. The three stars are what Pinsker might have given, maybe four. See also Prof. James Oakes' piece in the NT Times, Op-Ed 11/20/08 for some further overdue de-hyping of Goodwin's book. Lincoln would recognize the names, but he probably would think the chemistry described by Goodwin never happened in his lab.

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Rating: - A fantastic president
We purchased this title as an audio book to listen on a driving trip we took this November. It proved to us what a great president and friend we all had in Abraham Lincoln, and what he did not just for this country but for mankind in general. I read a great deal of books about history and this one truly stands out.

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Rating: - Before I buy
I have yet to read Doris Kearns Goodwins Book Titled, " The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln ". As one who has read the three volume tome of Shelby Foote on the Civil War from end to end, I need not find that subject covered in this book, and with the title, certainly would not expect to find such information. I expect this book to supply details about the well documented, and often written about life of Our Greatest President, that others have overlooked. I seek to learn from this book whether Lincoln's political genius offers us any lessons we can apply to the national politics of 2008. I offer this before I read, and return to write an actual review because I look forward to the experience, and wondered at the somewhat clueless reviews with one star on them that all missed the point of a book with this title, from such a talented author as Doris Kearns Goodwin has already proven herself to be.

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Rating: - Fantastic read
I'm not a history buff, but I fell in love with this book. The author did a wonderful job describing how Lincoln built his cabinet with his political rivals, the complex relationships between the men and dynamic personalities... I learned a great deal about Lincoln's presidency, Civil War and the various leaders from that era. It's a great read!