Team of Rivals

The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln

By: Doris Kearns Goodwin

Narrated by: Suzanne Toren

Length: 41 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

On May 18, 1860, William H. Seward, Salmon P. Chase, Edward Bates, and Abraham Lincoln waited in their hometowns for the results from the Republican National Convention in Chicago. When Lincoln emerged as the victor, his rivals were dismayed and angry.

Throughout the turbulent 1850s, each had energetically sought the presidency as the conflict over slavery was leading inexorably to secession and civil war. That Lincoln succeeded was the result of a character that had been forged by life experiences that raised him above his more privileged and accomplished rivals. He won because hepossessed an extraordinary ability to put himself in the place of other men, to experience what they were feeling, to understand their motives and desires.

This capacity enabled President Lincoln to bring his disgruntled opponents together, create the most unusual cabinet in history, and marshal their talents to preserve the Union and win the war.

©2006 Doris Kearns Goodwin (P)2011 Simon & Schuster

Critic reviews

"An elegant, incisive study....Goodwin has brilliantly described how Lincoln forged a team that preserved a nation and freed America from the curse of slavery." (James M. McPherson, The New York Times Book Review)

"Goodwin's narrative abilities...are on full display here, and she does an enthralling job of dramatizing...crucial moments in Lincoln's life....A portrait of Lincoln as a virtuosic politician and managerial genius." (Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times)

"Splendid, beautifully written....Goodwin has brilliantly woven scores of contemporary accounts...into a fluid narrative....This is the most richly detailed account of the Civil War presidency to appear in many years." (John Rhodehamel, Los Angeles Times)

One of the best I've come across.

Every person should read this book. Lincoln is one of the great leaders in the history of the western civilization.

Great and thorough book!

Book:
The book is not just one about Lincoln. You're basically getting complete biographies of Lincoln and several members of his cabinet, not to mention Mary Lincoln. There's also great information on the key players in the civil war. A wonderful, wonderful book!

The performance:
The narrator seems a bit stilted in places, but she does very well with a demanding task. She successfully differentiates between the various characters without "acting them out." She also very subtly indicates when Goodwin is writing and when she is quoting a brief word or phrase.

Well worth the investment of time and money.

Excellent

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Would recommend. Very thorough. Told in such a way that one could feel what Lincoln felt.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Lincoln

A Great President & Human Being

Although this is a VERY long audio book, it is worth the time invested. It does a very thorough job of covering the political genius of our 16th president chronicling his ups and down politically. At times one is prone to get aggravated at Lincoln for his forgiving spirit but one cannot argue with the results it produced even in extraordinary circumstances.
I thought some more time might have been spent getting more sentiment from his cabinet following the president assassination but after all that went on previously in the book, it does wrap up nicely.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS TEXT.

Very thorough

Unable to speak to historical accuracy but assuming based on the about of quotes and citations that it is based on true accounts. Lots of small details and events that I was unaware of.
Overall performance was well done but contained more mispronunciation than was expected.

Exceptional Book!

I loved this book! The author is exceptional! The narrator was awesome! I have and would seek more books by this author and narrator.

Abraham Lincoln and his selflessness for his country

I found this book very interesting to learn about Abraham Lincoln and his cabinet how he put together the best people regardless of their party affiliation to do what was best for the country I also found it disheartening to find out that the political partisanship existed as strongly then as it does today

Hero of Humans

I have read and loved many works about Lincoln. This has been the best. If America should in the end have but one Lincoln and one Washington, yet we are the most blessed of nations in its leaders among nations.

Great listen

The story is excellent and inspiring. Not so great were the narrator's intonations, which were distracting. For example, the way she pronounced the name "Mary"...

huge book. unbelievably riveting. I couldn't stop

you don't expect such a large book so riveting. I could not stop thinking about the book. Every problem that Lincoln ran into I found myself wondering how in the world he was going to solve that problem. it was like every page was a cliffhanger. never read a book like it.