Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin
(2006)
(944 pages)

Team of Rivals is simply one of the most enjoyable and informative books I've had the privilege to read. The book begins with the Republican candidates for President (to run in the 1960 election) awaiting the outcome of the republican convention. It then gives the background of these men, William H. Seward, Salmon P. Chase, Edward Bates, and Abraham Lincoln, and how they came to be candidates for the presidency. Once Lincoln is elected and wins the presidential election as well, the book shows how Lincoln chooses his rivals and the other men who made up his cabinet. Even though some of these men hated each other, Lincoln got them to serve together. This book shows the growth of Lincoln's political genius and how he grows in the esteem of those in his cabinet who, at first, weren't very impressed. This book is highly recommended for anyone interested in the presidency of Abraham Lincoln, his cabinet or the civil war.

Lincoln by David Herbert Donald
(1995)
(720 pages)

This book definitely lives up to it's glowing reviews. The author does an excellent job of humanizing an American icon. A. Lincoln was a man with faults who worked hard to become a great man and great president. He overcame many difficulties and overwhelming opposition. Today we look at him as the definitive success story but this book shows that that was not necessarily the consensus at the time he lived. His thought process and beliefs grew through much work and through time and maturing. Throughout this process he showed himself to be a man of integrity and honesty. For a biography of Abraham Lincoln you would be hard pressed to do better than David Herbert Donald's Lincoln.

June 2, 2010 11:18 PM

Book Reviews

Grant by Jean Edward Smith
(2002)
(784 pages)

I thought this was a very thorough, excellently written biography. The author does a great job of bringing us through U.S. Grants life displaying his strengths & weaknesses as well as his good fortune and (many) misfortunes. This was a riveting read. Especially through the Civil War. I found myself thinking very highly of Grant. His two greatest strengths as a general proved to be his biggest liabilities as a president as well as other areas of his life.
1) Grant was blindly loyal to his friends. As a general His loyalty helped to win the war. As a president, he refused to turn on his friends until he saw proof of their corruption. A truly admirable trait but it caused many to feel he was involved in the corruption when in fact he was honest. Actually, when he discovered proof of corruption he acted. Sometimes, as in the case of the gold crisis, over-reacted causing more trouble than necessary.
2) He was very independent in his decision making often making decisions on his own rather than seeking the advice of his staff. Again as a general, most of his decisions proved to be the right ones. As a president, some of his choices were excellent, others, well, could have been better had he taken advice from his council.
I highly recommend this book as an excellent biography on the life of Ulysses S. Grant.