Team of Rivals

The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln

One of the most influential books of the past fifty years, Team of Rivals is Pulitzer Prize–winning author and esteemed presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin’s modern classic about the political genius of Abraham Lincoln, his unlikely presidency, and his cabinet of former political foes.

Winner of the prestigious Lincoln Prize and the inspiration for the Oscar Award winning–film Lincoln, starring Daniel Day-Lewis, directed by Steven Spielberg, and written by Tony Kushner.

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, Goodwin demonstrates, was the result of a character that had been forged by experiences that raised him above his more privileged and accomplished rivals. He won because he possessed an extraordinary ability to put himself in the place of other men, to experience what they were feeling, to understand their motives and desires.

It was this capacity that enabled Lincoln as president to bring his disgruntled opponents together, create the most unusual cabinet in history, and marshal their talents to the task of preserving the Union and winning the war.

We view the long, horrifying struggle from the vantage of the White House as Lincoln copes with incompetent generals, hostile congressmen, and his raucous cabinet. He overcomes these obstacles by winning the respect of his former competitors, and in the case of Seward, finds a loyal and crucial friend to see him through.

This brilliant multiple biography is centered on Lincoln's mastery of men and how it shaped the most significant presidency in the nation's history.

Superb book, narration troublesome.

The content of the book is perfect, moving, and always fascinating. The narrator tried hard, but with most all characters being men, the narrator,should have been a man. We also know that Lincoln's voice was high and could even be a bit "squeaky." She portrays his voice, as many actors have, as deep. This often interrupted my enjoyment of the book as an audible story. I do highly recommend the book, however. It is one of the very best about Lincoln.,

Just not enough stars available

Would you consider the audio edition of Team of Rivals to be better than the print version?

I absolutely loved the print version of this book, and I would hesitate to say that this audio version is better, but it really was better, I think. The narrator's presentation made it exquisitely and palpably rich in a way that my visual reading did not, though, again, I loved reading the visual version.

What did you like best about this story?

Doris Kearns Goodwin brings Lincoln and those about him to life. She writes history with as much richness as others write novels. These characters are fully fleshed and richly alive.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

At over 40 hours of listening, this book was, perhaps, a little daunting to begin, but that changed in the first chapter, I think; and now that it is finished, I am in grief that I won't be returning to it; 40 hours wasn't long enough. This is a book to savor on the journey of its unfoldment.

Any additional comments?

I am glad to have read the book in its visual format, and profoundly glad that I followed that up (several years later) with reading it in this absolutely perfect audio format.The narrator, by the way, could not have been better.

A moving portrait of a legendary leader

This story brought to life the leadership skills of an amazing man. His compassion for others is exemplary.

Epic journey into the mind and life of old Abe

What did you love best about Team of Rivals?

Epic journey through the life and times of Old Abe. I was enthralled with this multi-faceted portrait of this man of the ages. The book weaves through the lives, writings, thoughts and perceptions held of Lincoln by his rivals, contemporaries, their wives, daughters and civil rights leaders fighting for liberty and justice. The political journey and transformation is riveting; one wades through the civil discourse, finally appreciating the epic historical implications of specific decisions and actions... what a masterful navigation of Lincoln's brilliance and humanity.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Team of Rivals?

Too many to depict, but of the personal tragedies endured by Lincoln and Mary, of Chase among others... anytime children come into the scene it impacted me all the more

What aspect of Suzanne Toren’s performance would you have changed?

She's a consistent reader - great overall but there are about 8 words that she literally does not know how to pronounce. If there are indeed editors who listen or help with engineering, this should have been caught and re-recorded. It just sounds bizarre and given the elocution of our subjects, all the more critical that the reader be massively endowed with faultless English.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

Revel in this masterful navigation of Lincoln's brilliance and humanity!

Any additional comments?

I will also say this... this will easily take 100 odd hours to read, it's mammoth. But we could all do with an infusion of some seriously eloquent English. I yearn for the days of letter writing, no texting and emoticons but just good old fashioned reading, writing, elocution, grammar and beauty in thinking before speaking!

so good

simply excellent. From start to finish a true joy. I would definitely read it again and I enjoyed every minute of it.