4.0
Team of Rivals
ByPublisher Description
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.
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.
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Meet readers like you in the Fable For You feed, designed to build bookish communities1160 Reviews
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“Reading Team of Rivals was a truly moving experience. As a Canadian with a keen interest in American history, I found this book both eye-opening and deeply inspiring. Doris Kearns Goodwin presents not just a biography of Abraham Lincoln, but a tale of great leadership and political skill during one of the craziest times in American history.
What struck me most was Lincoln’s journey—from his humble beginnings in Kentucky to becoming President during the nation’s most defining crisis. I knew the broad facts before reading, but this book filled in the immense human detail: the man who rose from obscurity, faced unimaginable national division, and still had the wisdom and humility to lead with compassion.
One of the central themes of the book is Lincoln’s remarkable ability to bring people together—including political opponents. His cabinet, famously made up of rivals turned friends Steward, Chase, and Bates (It’s important to note too that this book goes into great detail about these men), could easily have broken under the pressures of war, but Lincoln’s patience, intelligence, and ability to listen held it together. That goes for the union army’s leadership as well. He didn’t lead with his ego, but with his principles. That’s what makes his story so captivating—not just about his victories, but his character.
The book also brought to light the scale of the challenges he faced: a nation completely divided, the toll of the Civil War, the complexities of emancipation, and the personal heartbreak of his assassination. It’s impossible to finish this book without gaining a deep respect for Lincoln’s leadership and his legacy given what the man went through because, to put it mildly, it was a lot…
For anyone interested in feeling inspired, to learn a thing or two about great leadership, and important human history, this book is for you. It’s a long read so be prepared. I would say Team of Rivals is more than just a historical account of honest Abe’s life—it’s a study in integrity, resilience, and vision. I walked away with a greater understanding of American history and an even deeper admiration for one of, if not the greatest, presidents the US has ever had. Where has that inspirational leadership gone?”
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About Doris Kearns Goodwin
Doris Kearns Goodwin’s work for President Johnson inspired her career as a presidential historian. Her first book was Lyndon Johnson and the American Dream. She followed up with the Pulitzer Prize–winning No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Homefront in World War II. She earned the Lincoln Prize for Team of Rivals, in part the basis for Steven Spielberg’s film Lincoln, and the Carnegie Medal for The Bully Pulpit, about the friendship between Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft. Her bestselling Leadership: In Turbulent Times was the inspiration for the History Channel docuseries on Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, and Franklin Roosevelt, which she executive produced. Her most recent book, An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s, provides a front-row seat to the pivotal people—JFK, LBJ, RFK, and MLK—and events of this momentous decade.
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