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)

Mostly a biography

My only complaint is while the author hits occasionally on Lincoln’s political genius, it’s really just a biography of Lincoln with a focus on three members of his cabinet. By extension you learn more than you might ever want to about their lives. I’m sure Kate Chase was quite lively and engaging, but I did not find the wallpaper selection she made for her Dad’s house relevant. That is one of many countless diatribes that have little to do with politics. If you know Lincoln or the war well, you will be familiar with many of the circumstances and quotes. But it is highly readable (or easy to listen to), and I’d recommend it, especially if you don’t know much about Lincoln. It brings him to life.

Fascinating

By the end, I felt like I knew Lincoln. Goodwin is the definitive authority on Presidential history and this work is a masterpiece.

Majestic and wonderful.

A must-listen for anyone who's interested in the life and leadership of Abraham Lincoln. A truly superb work.

Thoroughly Thrilling

This book was amazing. The narration was hard to tolerate at first, but became tolerable, and eventually enjoyable by the end of the book. The content is compelling from the start, with biographical sketches of not just Lincoln but the whole cast of characters you follow through the history. The book left me inspired and I would highly recommend it.

Loved it!

This book was brilliantly written. You get to see the Civil War unfold through the eyes of the Presidential administration that led the U.S. through the crisis. Even though this book was over 40 hours, once it got going it felt like a page-turner all the way through.

Team of Rivals: Unrivaled Scholarship Delivers

Whether you're a lover of history or not, the power of this story will keep you enthralled. No mystery could have so many twists and turns.

Goodwin's phenomenally detailed story combined with the excellent reader's expression (without over dramatizing!) was superb!

The best Lincoln story on the market

This is a well written and narrated accounting of the political genius of Abraham Lincoln. Doris Learns Goodwin keep the reader well engaged. Do not let the length of this book intimidate you. When it is over you will be wanting more.

The Genius of Abraham Lincoln

This book and the wonderful narration invoke a wide range of emotions - admiration, awe, excitement, joy, laughter, sadness, tears, and so many more. I found myself holding my breath, laughing out loud, and near tears throughout this book. After listening to this book, I have even more respect for the wit, wisdom, intellect, political savvy, moral character, and genius of Abraham Lincoln. Prepare yourself for a roller coaster ride. I love history, and I learned so much from this great book. I recommend this to everyone, especially during this time in our history. I believe so much can be applied to the events of this current day. Great read and listen!

A great man, despite being an American

As the title indicates, I am not an American. That is why my knowledge of Lincoln was severly limited. Had it not been for the film, I would never have read this book. I never heard of his rivals, seen the memorial.
But even for a European from a small nation, this book proved to be exiting and the carecters captivating. Getting the feeling for theese men, from childhood and forward, was a great help for someone like me. That it is written in an exiting way, helps one get through, the less interestining pages. Surely a captivating book. That we get to Americas crossroad in this book, is of course a help. Unfortainly a president at time of war is quite exiting to read about. Truelly a great book, with descriptions of the people around Lincoln, with great deccriptions. Sometimes names get a little confused, for me, but as a rule, you get the picture very well.
If only politicians, yours and ours would be more like Lincoln, the world would be a better place.

It is said that democracy is based of collected wills. I disagrees. In a true crisis, it is importened to have a leader rise above the rest, taking charge. Making sure internal struggle does not rip us apart. Lincoln was such a man. A good man, in difficult times, raising above petty party politics to lead the country through the struggle.

Outstanding!

I have never read a more thoroughly enjoyable biography. Robert Caro's biographies of Johnson are the only comparable works I have had the pleasure of reading or listening to.