Book Review: “Team of Rivals:The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln”

Reviewed by David Angeles

David Angeles

Abraham Lincoln’s life and the lives of those who worked closely with him are explored in Doris Kearns Goodwin’s tome "Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln."

From the beginning of the 1800’s to the Civil War, the origin, motives and actions of Lincoln in politics are revealed.

The content of "Team of Rivals" tells of a young nation severing itself and the efforts of several men to tether it together.

Without their efforts the United States would have become a totally different nation with a Confederacy in the South and a prolonged duel with slavery.

Every event, decision and conflict of the Civil War is totally elaborated in the book.

The importance of Lincoln’s cabinet members: Chase, Bates, and Seward, are explained.

He also explains in detail how decisions betwixt two men in Washington D.C. affected the lives of thousands of soldiers in the field.

 

The pages of archives, personalities, greatness and human humility are of interminable worth in the book.

The book is not intended for the faint of heart, as the volume contains several hundred pages with a hundred for annotations.

Putting the immensity of the book and the time required to read aside, I would recommend it and rate it five of five stars.

David Angeles is a junior in the academically gifted, talented music and talented art programs at Hahnville High School. He enjoys playing with the band and reading.

 

Editor’s note: Book reviews are published weekly during the summer in agreement with Hahnville High School gifted English teacher Deborah Unger in conjunction with the Brown Foundation Service Learning Program.