What is the best book on Lincoln?

2,318 Views | 17 Replies | Last: 16 yr ago by BQ78
Spaceship
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I'm fascinated with Lincoln's story, his wisdom, his quotes, and that time in US history. What Lincoln titles would you recommend? I would prefer something pretty readable, non-dense and not extremely long. Thanks.
jeffk
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I enjoyed "Team of Rivals."
chick79
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I'm currently reading "A. Lincoln" by Ronald White.... great read so far!
OldArmy71
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I enjoyed Stephen Oates' "Abraham Lincoln."
Aggies Revenge
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ibt Lincoln was a racist comments
huisache
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william herndon was lincoln's law partner for years and his book is still in print and as good a look as you will get unless you go to Nicolay and Hays' multi volume work; they were his secretaries in the White House and saw everything first hand.

I have heard good things about the Goodwin book but she got caught plagiarizing other peoples' work a few years ago.

James McPherson is considered the best Lincoln scholar around by the pros and he has written a couple of very short, readable books.
BQ78
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David Donald's biography is considered the definitive biography but I am hearing White's new book may eclipse it in some people's eyes.

An interesting concept biography is Gerry Prokopowicz's Did Lincoln own Slaves?, which is based on the questions he was asked as historian of the Lincoln Museum in Fort Wayne, IN. He organized it in such a way that it takes his life chronologically, is very short and can almost be read in a day with many interesting facts.
chick79
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Just finished A. Lincoln ...... great read!! I highly recommend it.... I came away with a new found respect for Lincoln............
tarrantcountyag
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Team of Rivals
Aggie Infantry
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The Real Lincoln: A New Look at Abraham Lincoln, His Agenda, and an Unnecessary War

[This message has been edited by Aggie Infantry (edited 4/29/2009 10:35a).]
BQ78
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AI:

The only thing good about that book is the honesty in the title, that it is a "new" revisionist view of Lincoln based on the author's political views and not Lincoln's or any of his contemporaries.
Aggies Revenge
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BQ78 I believe the PC phraseology for that is "neo-revisionist historian"
tamu80
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I like this story



OK, OK, just kiding!
Clavell
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"Lincoln" by Gore Vidal
BQ78
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Clavell:

Although it is a good read, Vidal's book is an historical novel not history.
jkag89
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With Malice Toward None: A Life of Abraham Lincoln by Stephen B. Oates

Abraham Lincoln and the Second American Revolution by James M. McPherson

The Last Best Hope of Earth - Abraham Lincoln and the Promise of America by Mark E. Neely

Any good collection of his speeches & writings is a must.
Clavell
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I believe it meets all the criteria given:
quote:
I'm fascinated with Lincoln's story, his wisdom, his quotes, and that time in US history. What Lincoln titles would you recommend? I would prefer something pretty readable, non-dense and not extremely long. Thanks.

BQ78
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If you like made up stuff, yes it does.
BQ78
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The author of the best biography of Lincoln died today:

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/19/books/19donald.html?_r=2&hpw
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