Team of Rivals

The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln

By: Doris Kearns Goodwin

Narrated by: Suzanne Toren

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.

Beautifully written, narration inadequate

This is a great book, beautifully researched and written. I wish, however, that I had bought the hard copy. The narrator's style was cold and uninvolving, although at the beginning I was hoping to get used to it. After 40 hours, unfortunately, I did not; she lacked all passion for her subject. Doris Kearns Goodwin would have been a much better choice as reader. It didn't matter to me that Toren was a woman, and she has a beautiful speaking voice. This brilliant book deserved better.

America's greatest American, for sure.

What made the experience of listening to Team of Rivals the most enjoyable?

What a marvelous endeavor by Doris Kearns Goodwin. The research, the dialogue and history make it seem like it is happening in the present time. Makes you wish that we had individuals like Lincoln in these days of challenge.

Who was your favorite character and why?

of course, Abraham Lincoln. It is all about him.

What about Suzanne Toren’s performance did you like?

at first I thought she sounded like a grammar school principal. But her rich delivery and strong commitment to the story over the more than 41 hours made me a believer in her dedication and excellence.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

too many to choose one.

Very good history

Great read, this book is very good non-fiction. The narrator does a pretty good job, but the regular mispronunciations of words like "schism," "consummate," and others I found to be annoying, especially in a scholarly work. Otherwise the narrator does a good job, and the detailed biographies of Lincon's cabinet and the political context and history detailed leading up to the Civil War make the book very interesting and exciting.

Extraordinary history eloquently told

Events unfold in both logical and intriguing manner. One grasps the historic Impact on our country even today. Thoroughly engaging such that the length is of no concern. The listener is drawn into the story through all the twists and turns and it doesn’t detract that we know how the Lincoln presidency ended. Inspired me as a leader.

Deserving of its prize

This book was so well researched, the topic so thoroughly covered, and the style so engaging that I couldn't imagine reading a book about Lincoln and his tenure being more vivid and it's helpful for me to understand who he was in the world he lived in.