Lincoln

By: David Herbert Donald

Narrated by: Dick Estell

Length: 30 hrs and 21 mins

Publisher's summary

In the best-selling tradition of Truman, two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning biographer David Herbert Donald offers a new classic in American history and biography - a masterly account of how one man's extraordinary political acumen steered the Union to victory in the Civil War, and of how his soaring rhetoric gave meaning to that agonizing struggle for nationhood and equality.

Donald spent 50 years studying Lincoln, tracing his rise from humble origins to the pinnacle of the presidency. He reveals the development of the future president's character and shows how Lincoln's enormous capacity for growth enabled one of the least experienced men ever elected to high office to become a giant in the annals of American politics. And he depicts a man who was basically passive by nature, yet ambitious enough to take enormous risks and overcome repeated defeats.

Much more than a political biography, Lincoln seats us behind the desk of a president who was both a master of ambiguity and expediency and a great moral leader, as he makes the decisions that preserved the Union and shaped modern America.

©2011 David Herbert Donald (P)2012 Simon & Schuster

Critic reviews

"A grand work - the Lincoln biography for this generation." (Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.)

" Lincoln immediately takes its place among the best of the genre, and it is unlikely that it will be surpassed in elegance, incisiveness and originality in this century.... A book of investigative tenacity, interpretive boldness and almost acrobatic balance." ( Chicago Tribune)

"Eagerly awaited, Lincoln fulfills expectations. Donald writes with lucidity and elegance." ( The Atlantic)

Excellent listen!

I really liked that they devoted several chs to Lincoln’s childhood & how he was a self taught lawyer. It also tells of how he dealt with a divided country. Good coverage of Gettysburg & second inaugural address. Two favorites of mine. Disregard the other reviews of the reader. DE was fine. Several issues with the speed of the text but even that didnt ruin my enjoyment of the book/listen. If you want to know about AL, this is the one that will do. (I’ve read a few.)

Excellent content, some audio issues

I enjoyed this book immensely. It tries, and mostly succeeds, to follow along with what Lincoln knew at the time, rather than looking back with the benefits of hindsight.

The narrator was good, not great. There are several spots where sections sounded dramatically different. Like a section had to be re-recorded on completely different equipment in a completely different environment.

must read

one of the best books I've ever read in my entire life. couldn't recommend more

The story of a great leader

so much detail of the man I had never known. highly recommended, an important history

Dry and Technical but Excellent

This is, at times, a dry and technical read and at other times becomes touching or funny. Overall I was very satisfied. This biography of Lincoln seems to be quite unbiased and follows the facts wherever they lead. The author tries to present a history based upon what Lincoln actually knew at the time, leaving out facts that we now know, but Lincoln had no way of knowing. This book has a lot of peripheral information that places other historical facts in context (for example how big Lincoln’s house was compared with the average in the area). This history presents Lincoln as a hero, but as an imperfect, ambiguous, and human hero. Although this was a bit of a less fun read then Team of Rivals, overall I found this the more satisfying history.

Amazingly detailed coverage

Personally, I like the narrator's classic 1950s radio voice. The detailed speeches and letters are highly relevant today on contemporary subjects not only on the subject of equal rights between races but also immigration, protective tariffs, and public education, to name a few. No movie could capture all the details described. I highly recommend this audiobook.

It's like you're there.

May never be topped. Loved the narrator and all the details. I actually cried 4 times throughout the book.

Very well written political biography

Any additional comments?

This is an excellent book. It is a political biography that takes you through Lincoln's political career. I thought the author had a very unique way of approaching the subject -- by putting the reader (for the most part) in the position of Lincoln as he was making decisions -- making it clear what Lincoln would have known at various points instead of incorporating a historical view onto events. The political aspect of this cannot be over-emphasized. This is not a book on military strategy.

Good book, bad production

The narration was good, but sound quality and editing were very poor, too the point of being distracting.

Good life story

I’ve finished this book twice on Audible. The books covers Lincoln’s lifespan with valuable insight to his study habits, periods of disappointment, political career from infancy and some of his biases.

The narrator is a little boring. There is a second narrator who occasionally takes over from the first. The second narrator is extremely boring. Overall the production is good though.