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A. Lincoln  By  cover art

A. Lincoln

By: Ronald C. White Jr.
Narrated by: Bill Weideman
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Publisher's summary

In this important new biography, Ronald C. White, Jr. offers a fresh and fascinating definition of Lincoln as a man of integrity - what today's commentators are calling "authenticity" - whose internal moral compass is the key to understanding his life. Through meticulous research, utilizing recently discovered Lincoln letters, legal papers, and photographs, White depicts Lincoln as a person of intellectual curiosity, comfortable with ambiguity, and capable of changing his mind.

The reader is treated to an exploration of Lincoln's compelling words, his changing ideas on slavery, the shaping of the modern role of Commander-in-Chief, and his surprising religious odyssey.

A. Lincoln, so titled for the way Lincoln signed his name, sheds an innovative and profound light on our nation's most beloved leader for a new generation of Americans.

©2009 Ronald C. White, Jr. (P)2009 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Ronald C. White's A. Lincoln is the best biography of Lincoln since David Donald's Lincoln (1995)... Amid all the books on Lincoln that will be published during the coming year, this one will stand out as one of the best." (James M. McPherson, author of Battle Cry of Freedom, and winner of the Pulitzer Prize)

What listeners say about A. Lincoln

Average customer ratings
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  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Insight into Lincoln

This was an interesting study of a great man as seen through the eyes of those who knew him best, as well as through his personal writings and letters. The book was fact based, informative and surprisingly humorous at times, as Lincoln did indeed, have quite a sense of humor. Lincoln was able to find the light side and humor, even among harsh circumstances. Interestingly, as President, he had an open door policy and hardly anyone was ever turned away. He was a common man, self-taught who learned by doing, for he was not formally schooled. He was a self made made man that carried with him-a sense of humor, genuine common sense and a vision for our country.
A wonderful book for someone who desires a greater understanding of Lincoln's life, which begins with him as a child. Although slow moving and dry at times, the insight into Lincoln as a man and as The President was well worth my listening time.

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26 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A Powerful Rendering of Lincoln's Life

I could not put this book down. It is well written and narrated. I have listened or read books on Lincoln but this is by far one of the best I have listened to. I highly recommend it.

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18 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Slow, Slow, Slow.

The history behind this great man is fascinating but the book tended to draw too much on the details of the Illinois Legislature, and the US Congress rather than Lincoln the man. Certainly a good book if you want to the details of congress, but if you're looking to hear about Lincoln as a man, father, husband, and beloved President, you might want to get another opinion.

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16 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Future Unsure, Truly Human Lincoln Made Many Errs

It's odd that when I look back, it seems the end of slavery was inevitable and that Lincoln was always a solid, steady embodiment of leadership.

Reading this book, struggling step by step with Lincoln as he makes mistakes, feels regret and anxiety, as he watches failure after failure on the battlefield, history seems very different.

Lincoln has also always felt too far from me in time and space, but this book makes me feel like I'm walking with him, talking with him, seeing him as an ordinary person, and feeling the pains of his failures and frustrations.

This book is so vivid and clear, so detailed and expressive. I forget I'm listening to a "educational" audiobook, because the storytelling nature of the narration is so fluid.

This is just a wonderful book - great literary quality as well as bringing history to the listener/reader. Great work.

This book was well-read and well-produced. The ideas flowed seamless into my mind.

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13 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars

Disappointed in lack of depth

I was hoping for a historical novel more along the lines of the Last Lion biography of Winston Churchill. But this was more like a children's history lesson. There was very little analysis or tying cause and events together. Just a listing of relative unrelated occurances. I listened up to when he ran for president and was very disappointed on the lack of insight as to how a relative unknown, unpopular man came to be elected as such a pivotal time. Very little analysis of how torn the country was at the time of the election. My son's Jr. High history book had more depth.

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12 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great Man - Very Interesting

Great biography of a great man.
Inspiring book.
Though it is very long and VERY detailed, at times too detailed, it is likely that Lincoln, the man of facts and details would have liked it. It starts very slowly and takes time to get into the story, but again, it was probably very typical of Lincoln to be this way.
Recommended.

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9 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Thorough biography

Very well written and narrated story of A. Lincoln's life from birth to assassination.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Abraham Lincoln is such a fascinating person.

The book is fact-heavy about Abe Lincoln's early years, which gets things off to a slow start. But later it is fact-heavy about the years leading up to and during his two terms as a wartime president which is really very interesting.

One particularly noteworthy thing about this author's Lincoln biography is his dissection of some of Lincoln's more important speeches. I found that much more interesting than I would have guessed and really enjoyed it.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars

Average review of Lincoln's life

This book was a three. It was not strong, it was not weak, it presented the facts in an acceptable manner. I would go somewhere else and look for the same facts being presented in a more interesting and entertaining manner.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Loving Lincoln!

It was interesting and enjoyable to understand more about Lincoln's relationships and interaction with the people around him and this book does a great job exploring those relationships. Once again I feel this would be a better read than listen, right now there is a part I would like to 're-read' but on the Kindle I cannot imagine how long locating it would take.

The book underscores Lincoln's careful attention to details and prefection. His constant soul searching is impressive. I suppose most of all is his ability to change and reconsider. We, as Americans, are lucky he was in the right place at a time that lead him to become one of our heros. I am glad I listened but this is not a book I could recommend.

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5 people found this helpful