I heard Goodwin talk about this book on NPR, and she sounded like she'd been an eyewitness to the events. Sold me the book.

On June 17th--I've been a hundred pages from the end for ten days. I don't want Abe to die.

July 17th -- Okay, I finally made myself finish. Abe's dead and I'm a wreck.

In this book Goodwin puts Abraham Lincoln in the context of his peers, many of whom ran against him for the first Republican nomination for president (remember they'd just invented that party) and one of whom, Stanton, had treated him with outright contempt in a law case years before. Seward accepted the job of Secretary of State thinking Lincoln would be his puppet, and Chase literally ran his second campaign for president out of the Department of the Treasury. Lincoln understood them all, tolerated them all, put them all to work for the nation that needed them so badly, and jollied, coaxed, cajoled and reasoned them all to victory. A reporter asked him how he could take all these vipers to his bosom and Lincoln replied that these were the best and most able men available and their country needed them, and that he wouldn't be doing his job if he didn't put them to work for it. There can't be anyone who has ever occupied the Oval Office more selfless than Abe.

This book is wonderfully written, accessible even to the most casual reader, full of humor and choler and kindness and vitriol, and wisdom. Goodwin has that ability known only to the best historians (David McCullough does, too) to pluck the exact quote necessary from the record to illuminate the scene she is describing, and make the transition from past to present seamless. Listen to Goodwin on Lincoln in his 1862 state of the union address (pp. 406-7):

...he closed his message with a graceful and irrefutable argument against the continuation of slavery in a democratic society, the very essence of which opened "the way to all," granted "hope to all," and advanced the "condition of all." In this "just, and generous, and prosperous system," he reasoned, "labor is prior to, and independent of, capital." Then, reflecting upon the vicissitudes of his own experience, Lincoln added: "The prudent, penniless beginner in the world, labors for wages awhile, saves a surplus with which to buy tools or land for himself; then labors on his own account another while, and at length hires another new beginner to help him." Clearly this upward mobility, the possibility of self-realization so central to the idea of America, was closed to the slave unless and until he became a free man.

The American Dream, articulated, in words guaranteed to be understood by everyone.

Impossible, after reading this book, not to wonder what our nation would look like had Lincoln survived his second term. Impossible not to grieve his loss.

At 750+ pages of text, this may be more than you want to know. But it moves right along, and Lincoln was a remarkable man. As were his "Team of Rivals." History would have been different, and very likely better, if he had lived and instituted the more-kindly Reconstruction of the South he hoped for.

I did skim from time to time -- there's a fair amount of peripheral stuff about women's fashions, interior decorating and such. But I read pretty much everything else. 4+ stars, and a must-read if you are interested in Lincoln and his era. And you have 7,000+ reviews here already, if you want more persuasion. Highly recommended.

This was a really fantastic book, albeit a bit of a door-stopper. If you're going to read a book about Lincoln, I'd say read this one. And you should really, really read a book about Lincoln - he's one of the "Great Figures of History" who I really think lives up to his billing. As Doris Kearns Goodwin clearly outlines in Team of Rivals, Lincoln's historical greatness is a product of his uncanny political sense, his almost unbelievable ability to look beyond his personal feelings about an issue to its strategic and policy implications, and his unflinching moral courage.

That's not to say Lincoln was right on all points - DKG is clear on Lincoln's initial ambivalence regarding abolition and his willingness to defend slave states' prerogatives in the short-run in order to maintain the Union over the longer run, based on his belief that eventually a United States founded on the principle that "all men are created equal" would outgrow the institution of slavery. Looking back, it strikes one as obvious that that position is easier to maintain when one and one's family and friends aren't currently subjected to slavery's horrors - the arc of justice may or may not bend toward justice, but it's easier to wait for it to bend when you're not currently the subject of hideous injustice.

That said, once Lincoln became convinced that a) the Union would not be saved by a containment approach to slavery, and b) that emancipation of slaves and a push for a constitutional prohibition would be politically tenable and aid in the reunification of the States, he never wavered on the rightness of his course. Given the rift in the country over the issue even well into the Civil War, it's astonishing how clear Lincoln's sense of purpose and rightness was, and how forthrightly he communicated it to the public. It's easy to imagine another leader testing the waters and quickly retreating on such a difficult issue, in much the way that anti-slavery American leaders had done in the past, mollifying their pro-slavery counterparts with compromises and papering over America's "original sin". Lincoln, once he took the step, never even hinted at looking back.

I really enjoyed the Lincoln portion of this book. But, important to note that the title Team of Rivals isn't a mistake - this book is about much more than just Lincoln, his ascendancy to the presidency, his prosecution of the war, and his assassination. Instead, it's really a four-part parallel biography of the president and his main political rivals within the Republican party, three of whom (William Seward, Salmon Chase, Edward Bates) went on to serve in his cabinet and play key roles in the Union effort during the Civil War. I thought the format (20 pages or so of Lincoln, followed by parallel sections on each of Bates, Seward and Chase) was interesting and mostly useful, though I could have used less of the background on all the non-Lincoln characters.

But where this approach really shined, I thought, was in outlining the structure of Lincoln's life by comparison with the other prominent national politicians of his day. For instance, as DKG notes, each of these men had been born into relative obscurity, had gone west to "make their mark", had entered the practice of law, and had there forged policy views and personal relationships that would in many ways define their path for decades, including on the national stage. It provides a truly fascinating lens into the formation of the Republican party, which all four men were instrumental in founding, and deepens her insights into the strains that continued to pull at the infant party while Lincoln was in office. It makes Lincoln's leadership as head of the party even more impressive, when you understand the personalities who were behind various factions and their constant internecine squabbling.

These intraparty conflicts among Lincoln's "Team of Rivals" highlight the president's deeply unselfish attitude toward governing, his willingness to overlook personal slights and petty bickering and ask the question, "Which decision is best for the survival of the nation?" Would that all political leaders had the same attitude. What is equally interesting, though, is how willing Lincoln was to stand forward and shoulder the burden of decision-making, even when his decisions were unpopular among his cabinet or the people. Again, I feel like the modern history of the American presidency has few examples of such unequivocal leadership. And it's worth noting as well how frequently Lincoln was recorded making frank and public admissions of fault and apologizing for bad decisions. It's somehow become stigmatized for politicians to admit they were wrong about policy decisions, but Lincoln did it all the time, when he was convinced that he'd erred. Pretty remarkable.

So, I do feel like the book is a little on the hagiographic side, though obviously it's exhaustively researched. I would be interested to read a slightly more critical take on the Lincoln presidency, though maybe after a break - 900-odd pages of Lincoln has sated me for the moment! Nevertheless, I strongly recommend this book to anyone who wants to understand what was probably the most pivotal chapter in America's history, having had more impact, I think, on who we are today than any other moment, even including our nation's founding.

As a side note - I think DKG's point, at the end of the book, that Lincoln's assassination was the most devastating event to have befallen the states of the Confederacy, is spot-on. It's hard to know whether a more empowered president, which a second-term Lincoln clearly would have been, would have been able to reintegrate the rebellious states into the Union with less long-term bitterness (much of which later resurfaced in the reaction to Reconstruction, Jim Crow, the rise of the KKK, the "Lost Cause" view of the war, etc.), but it's hard to imagine someone more aptly suited to that task than Lincoln. Not to remove culpability for the subsequent crimes of whites against America's newly-freed black citizens, but the nature of race relations in the United States, including our understanding of the Civil War itself, might have been fundamentally different had Lincoln lived another three years. What a tragedy for the world.

Just finished this wonderful journey a few minutes ago... bittersweet, on one hand, proud of finishing it so quickly (for me) and on the other, it feels as if i've departed from some dear friends.

This book was simply wonderful, miss goodwin did an excellent/amazing job of writing about the journey of lincoln and his 'mixture of chaos' cabinet... each of these men had their own distintive voice/personality, Lincoln rallied them all together as only he could.

You got a brief but intimate glimpse into the lives of each person... it felt as though you were there with them through their tragedies, strife, happiness, I held my breath during the early days of the Administration when everyone was "learning" how to navigate through the War.... I was literally swept back in time to Washington :)

Also like that we got a better glimpse into Mary Lincoln, all I had known about her previously was that she had some mental problems, i was touched at the way she cared for the Union soldiers and didn't flaunt what she did... despite her faults, she tried her best to a good person (felt for her having migraines as well)... can't imagine the pain of losing one child, let alone two as she did. You can she and abe loved/cared for each other very much.

Even though I knew what was going to happen, i was still on the edges of my seat.. racing through the pages, I wanted to reach through the pages to warn Abraham not oto go to Fords :( Tears were welling up in my eyes when the grief of Lincoln's circle and the nation were described. The 'epilogue' at the end was a nice touch, briefly outlining what happened to everyone afterwards.

They were the best men of their time, come together at just the right moments to win back the nation... they were truly fit to the times they born into. If I could travel back in time, these men would the first I would want to meet (though Chase and me would not get along haha).

The size of the book made me blink and I was a little afraid the book would be dull/dry in the writing but Doris Kearns Goodwin's "narrative abilities" (to quote another reviewer) are lyrical;/flowing/passionate, you can tell she loves what she writes about and that really helps the reader.

Lincoln was a complex, amazing ordinary man... a true inspiration... you don't have to agree with his politics to know was a great man, who never gave up and cared deeply about his country and her people.

a truly compelling read... definitely worth your time... don't be put off by the size of the book (754 pages' before author's notes), its become near and dear to my heart, can't recommend it high enough :) Definitely worth your hard-earned time... will definitely be looking up other members of the Cabinet as well :).

Review edited on 2/21/13 (stupid computer problems), ignore typos please haha

This is a wonderful nuanced book that resonates mightily with and informs what is going on today. Read it if you want to understand any kind of historical basis for what is now happening in the U.S. Read it if you love the minutia of history—every conversation ever recorded during the Lincoln period, every permutation and convolution of the Civil War, the complex emotional motivations behind the factions (a lot of people fought more for preservation of the union than out of any conviction about slavery)—or if you feel as if you need to learn U.S. history. This book has garnered enormous public attention as well as an award-winning movie based on it, so I am not going to write more commentary on what is in it. Instead, here are some opinions about the very important content that is missing.

At more than 900 pages, the book was so heavy, I broke down and bought a wretched Kindle version so that I could read without straining my tendons. But still, it was too short. Why?

In all the discussion about the virulent disagreement about the morality of slavery—whether it was constitutional for man to enslave man, whether the ever-expanding U.S. territories should be allowed to have legal slavery, whether people who had spent “blood and treasure” to settle the South and whose economy depended on slavery had any right to this abominable practice even though they had outlawed the slave trade as piracy—in all this, there was a complete absence of concern for, let alone awareness of, the existence of Native Americans who were being systematically killed and herded off their land in order for white people to create settlements, territories, and eventually states that would argue about the morality of person abuse and economy vs. morality and eventually erupt into civil war.

As I read through Goodwin’s flowing prose, I longed to go back in time and personally demand of Lincoln: “What about the Natives? Are you concerned about man killing man (women and children)? Are they not people also? What about our Declaration of Independence’s only reference to them as ‘savages'? Is that how you feel? What about George Washington’s famous letter of 1790 stating 'the Government of the United States gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance, requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens, in giving it on all occasions their effectual support.'? You ethically opposed the Mexican American war, insisting that we had attacked peaceful Mexican settlements and thereby stole land. You are a wise and deeply good man who has known firsthand suffering and degradation and who consistently subsumed your substantial ambition and ego impulses, choosing what was just and most likely to result in the greater good. Tell me your thoughts.”

Here is a map of the inhabited American continent that is never in the history books:
See it full-size here

. . . native peoples are central to the nation’s history. As late as 1750—some 150 years after Britain established Jamestown and fully 250 years after Europeans first set foot in the continent—they constituted a majority of the population in North America, a fact not adequately reflected in textbooks. Even a century later, in 1850, they still retained formal possession of much of the western half of the continent.
—Claudio Saunt, associate director of the Institute of Native American Studies at the University of Georgia. From his book West of the Revolution (2014) [excerpted in the link]

Native Americans participated on both sides of the Civil War and, according to Wikipedia, “Historians claim they were hardest hit of all who participated in the War.”

I am ashamed that I didn’t know about this distortion of history until about sixteen years ago when I worked for a magazine that was involved with indigenous communities and issues. Until we are willing to look at the whole truth of our past and ongoing history, until it too is included in tomes about our Civil War, until it is fully acknowledged when somebody writes about spending “blood and treasure” to create new American settlements, we are doomed to repeat it by demonizing, ignoring, and/or erasing “inconvenient populations.”

That said, Team of Rivals stunningly makes you appreciate our country and our history, makes the past come alive and feel quite present, makes you cry with joy at the passage of the antislavery Thirteen Amendment and sob at Lincoln’s death. (A million times I’ve looked at this statue of a Union soldier from New York in Central Park, but after reading this book, I see him!)
n  n
My wanting more truth is a testament to the healthy hunger for truth aroused by this book. I want truth about our hypocrisies through heartfelt stories that are hard to hear, but whose fullness makes us all feel what Lincoln called “the better angels of our nature” as well as our culpability. If white people can feel both these extremes, perhaps somewhere in the middle we can know we are all the same, that we are sorry, and that we will now commit to acknowledge and therefore be able to correct our present and past wrongs. If we can admit the wrongs of our ancestors, we will do better, slaying delusions of righteous superiority with the light of exposure.

Explaining Lincoln’s worldwide legacy and the love he evoked in people, Goodwin quotes Tolstoy’s conclusion that “Lincoln was a humanitarian as broad as the world. He was bigger than his country—bigger than all the presidents together.” So I can’t help thinking he would agree with me and encourage the greatest truths we can tolerate.

***
10/12/17 Addendum:
Russell Brand posted this video, a postcard to America, where he makes the same point I make in this review about the importance of acknowledging our true history--we are a country founded via genocide (to acquire the land) and slavery (to enable our economy). It's not pretty. But if we can acknowledge this for the part it plays in the picture with all the magnificent things we have produced, including Lincoln, maybe we will stop having what we deny erupt from its inborn craving to be seen and reaction to the pressure of being denied.

Goodwin finds just the right balance in supporting her thesis and giving us reason to appreciate the strengths and weaknesses that each of his key cabinet members brought to Lincoln's Administration. Plenty of great details about Lincoln's day-to-day concerns and tactics.

really makes you wonder what Abraham Lincoln would say if he saw the US today. probably "what is wifi? and why are there asian people?"

I've read a lot of Civil War-era books, and inevitably whenever Lincoln shows up in them it ends up being the best part of the book. Just about everything he said and did was so kind, smart, funny, wise, and engaging that it makes you want to know him personally. What made Ron Chernow's Grant so great wasn't just that the writing was so good and that Grant lived such an interesting life, but that Lincoln kept popping in and stealing the show.

I've read several books about his assassination, a book about his aides Hay and Nicholay, a travel book about Lincoln locations to visit (Land of Lincoln by Andrew Ferguson, which I really enjoyed), and my favorite Civil War book of all-time - 1861 by Adam Goodheart features a great Lincoln moment, so I've read a lot of books where Lincoln is around. But somehow I've never read a book centered on the man himself. So I knew it was finally time to dig into this one and I'm glad I did. I loved it.

Ostensibly this is a book about how Lincoln masterfully built a cabinet of rivals that guided America through the war, but once the cabinet is put together you realize they weren't exactly an all-star team. They weren't really a "team" at all. Lincoln is the hero of this book, he is the engine that wins the war, he is the personality that keeps the machine running, and he is a master of moving men around as he needs and wants them. And that's the prism the story is told through.

The biographies of Seward, Chase, and Bates are all excellent and seeing the 1860 convention through their perspectives was great. There’s a part in the book where all of these guys who had all ran for president against each other and were nationally famous and didn’t know each other are now all at the White House at 3 am, eating snacks and making big war decisions. So cool.

Notes:
- Goodwin is, as other reviewers have noted, too sympathetic to Mary Lincoln. But I think it's because she's trying to see her through the eyes of Abe, and through Abe's eyes there are no villains. He literally saw the best in everyone.
- Speaking of villains, there is no better villain in American history than George McClellan. He was a failure at everything but thought he was the greatest man to ever live, and it's fun to read about people like that.
- I had never heard of the "Reaper" trial (173), but what a great story. Lincoln's first interaction with Stanton, and also a great window into what Lincoln was like as a man.
- Goodwin does a great job of explaining the brilliance of Lincoln's views on the founding documents, and how they tied into his views on slavery.
- Stephen Douglas and Wendell Wilkie were a lot alike. They both ran against and disagreed with war-time presidents, and then immediately supported those presidents for the good of the country once the elections were lost.
- Reading about a plot forming to seize the capitol around the time of Lincoln's inauguration just days after what happened on January 6th of 2021 was surreal.
- Enjoyed reading about some of the family members, especially Willie and Tad Lincoln and Kate Chase.
- Goodwin doesn’t get into the Johnson presidency, but her description of his swearing in as vice-president is wild. It’s so sad that the country was left in the hands of one of the worst presidents during what was still such a perilous time.
- I thought the Vallandigham treason story (522) was very funny.
- Seward and Chase are both on the right side of history, but Seward was a great guy and Chase was a jerk.

What to be Like.

I came to read this book after seeing the critical acclaim it has received where it appeared to be a defining book of Abraham Lincoln and his political philosophy. From reading it I have found Doris Kearns Goodwin has created a masterful exploration of leadership, character, and collaboration, centered on one of America’s most celebrated presidents. Published in 2005, the book is both a detailed biography of Lincoln and an insightful study of his political acumen, particularly his ability to unify a deeply divided country during the Civil War.

The narrative revolves around Lincoln’s decision to bring his former political rivals, William H. Seward, Salmon P. Chase, and Edward Bates into his cabinet. These men had been contenders for the Republican presidential nomination in 1860, and each considered themselves superior to Lincoln. Goodwin meticulously details how Lincoln’s humility, empathy, and emotional intelligence enabled him to navigate their ambitions and egos, ultimately forging a team that contributed to his presidency’s successes. Goodwin’s prose is both accessible and deeply engaging. She weaves personal anecdotes, historical context, and political strategy into a compelling narrative. The book paints a vivid portrait of Lincoln not only as a shrewd politician but also as a man of great moral depth, who sought unity and justice even at tremendous personal cost.

One of the book’s most striking features is its focus on relationships. Goodwin highlights how Lincoln’s ability to listen, compromise, and earn the respect of those who initially doubted him was central to his leadership. She contrasts Lincoln’s approach with the more rigid and self-serving attitudes of some of his contemporaries, underscoring the importance of adaptability and collaboration in governance. We see how and why he brought these figures around to follow and respect him. For example, in the case of Salmon P. Chase who initially believed Lincoln to be indecisive but later saw him as being very fair. William
H. Steward who saw him as an outsider and later acknowledged Lincoln’s genius in managing the complexity of the war. Or most impressively Frederick Douglass who initially criticised Lincoln for not being aggressive enough against the South or prioritising emancipation. However came to see the picture was much more complicated and recognised Lincoln was a great man. All of this of course did not happen over night.

However, the book’s richness can sometimes feel overwhelming. The level of detail about the personal lives and motivations of the cabinet members may slow the narrative for readers more interested in Lincoln’s actions as president. Nonetheless, this depth is a strength for those seeking a comprehensive understanding of the era. Overall, ‘Team of Rivals’ is a remarkable achievement in historical scholarship. It provides timeless lessons on leadership, particularly in divided times, making it as relevant today as it is illuminating of the past. For anyone interested in history, politics, or the art of leadership, Goodwin’s work is essential reading. It has inspired politicians around the world and no doubt will continue to do so in the future.

In high school, I was really obsessed with the Lincoln assassination. I read all the books I could get my hands on and wrote a 36 page research paper. And then I kind of burnt out on Lincoln and decided this tome could wait.
But boy, am I glad I picked it up. This is a truly intriguing and engaging biography about the men Lincoln surrounded himself with in his cabinet. It aptly highlights the political genius of Lincoln and how he navigated the often larger-than-life personalities of the men of his day. I walked away feeling inspired and more knowledgeable. And after that, what more can you ask?

Just an absolutely fabulous read. Kearns Goodwin follows Lincoln and each of his Cabinet members through their formative years and into the White House. The Cabinet members come to life through richly revealing memoirs and diaries. Lincoln, coming from a more impoverished background comes to life mostly through the loving recollection of others. The fascinating spine of the book is how Lincoln is continually misjudged by everyone he encounters. Most simply dismiss him as a hick getting by on bumkin luck. But eventually, those who dismiss, dislike or even despise him are ultimately won over. His charm and good humor are well known, but what won over his doubters was the determined nature of his kindness, never holding a grudge and consideration of the big picture vs. our individual conceits. This admiration of others brings the book to a devastating conclusion when the inevitable assasination occurs. The heartbreak felt by those close to him and the nation at large has been wonderfully set up by the previous 700 pages.

Incredibly moving! Abraham Lincoln was an extraordinary person: generous of spirit, kind, quick to forgive, and a remarkable and canny leader. Anyone would be inspired by his good example. And Goodwin brings him to life, so that you really feel like you know him by the end. Simply marvelous.