Richard Carwardine

Richard Carwardine’s book is an entertaining and perceptive look at the role that humor played in the life of the 16th president. That Lincoln enjoyed telling jokes and stories is hardly new, as it was part of his appeal to his contemporaries. What Carwardine does is analyze the various ways in which he used humor and the insights it provides into his personality. Thanks to an extraordinarily retentive memory, Lincoln had a seemingly inexhaustible fund of anecdotes, tall tales, and jokes show more which he used throughout his career. Telling jokes drew people to Lincoln, making him a popular figure on the legal circuit and on the stump. How Lincoln used humor evolved over time, as he toned down the sometimes harsh satirical attacks of his youth to develop a broader and less insulting form by the time he reached the presidency. Carwardine sees Lincoln’s love of humor as a tool for coping with depression, though his frequent resort to it became a point of criticism during the Civil War as many – including members of his own administration – often interpreted it as a lack of seriousness about his responsibilities. Readers of Carwardine’s book have a more sophisticated understanding of the subject thanks to this discerning study, which with its frequent recounting of the jokes Lincoln employed is a pleasure to read. show less

This is a really well-written and well-researched book about Lincoln. I feel we see a softer side of him at times, a side that struggled to do the right thing, but always worrying about the consequences or the timing. We see pressure applied to him from both sides politically and religiously. The side who wants to abolish slavers and demands he do so immediately. The side who wants to uphold slavery and uses the Bible to argue its right to do so. This was probably the hardest time to be show more president as his goal was not to destroy the United States, but reunite its people. But the challenge was how to do so AND abolish slavery, a moral wrong. His faith was important to him and he leaned on it greatly as he made decisions. I can’t imagine being pummeled from both sides, angrily making demands, knowing that whatever decision you make, someone is not going to be happy. But also knowing that this war cannot go on forever, that lives are being lost by the thousands as each day passes. Many people lean heavily on their faith for various issues and needs, but never has one man’s faith been so vital to the life of a nation. I received an advance copy of this book and my opinions are my own. show less

I finished reading Richard Carwardine's Lincoln: A Life of Purpose and Power, a solid 4-star biography. While the facts of Lincoln’s personal and political are not dramatically altered, the lens by which Lincoln is viewed is interesting. Lincoln's journey is highlighted by his use of an immature and developing Republican Party structure, which during Lincoln's political career consisted of a variety of disparate groups often at odds with each other from abolitionists, to Evangelical show more Protestants, nativist groups such as the know nothings, anti-slavery democrats, former Whigs, immigrants.

Lincoln had an early political career as a representative in the Illinois State House, followed by one term as U.S. Congressman and a losing bid for the U.S. Senate highlighted by his debates with Democrat Stephen A. Douglas.

He had a lifelong transition in his feelings towards slavery highlighted by his support of the Wilmot Proviso to exclude territory acquired by The Mexican American War, his Cooper Union Speech, his stand against the Kansas Nebraska Act, his continuing evolution while President culminating in the initial Emancipation Proclamation and final Proclamation, and the platform for his reelection calling for an Amendment Abolishing Slavery.

Lincoln was a master political strategist who never lost his connection to the common man who used his early political stumping and traveling the circuit as a lawyer. His reading of numerous newspapers while in office, meeting with soldiers, and meeting with clergymen of various denominations.

It was Lincoln's political savvy, his touch with the common man, and masterful use of the Republican political machine to get elected, reelected, and his political agenda passed. He used an increasing political power and centralization of executive powers brought in by the Civil War expertly, but not with capriciousness.

A novel approach most like David Reynolds recent biography Abe: Abraham Lincoln in His Times. An excellent biography which I heartily endorse for those interested in a interesting biography on Lincoln. show less

I actually listened to this book while I was reading another more straight- forward biography. This author focused on Lincoln's strong political skills, his almost perfect sense of timing, his ambition, his ability to form coalitions, and his use of a burgeoning evangelical Christian movement to help him mobilize the country in support of the war despite his own beliefs which were more deist than Christian. The author did say, however, that Lincoln seemed to become more religious rather than show more just spiritual as his presidency progressed and people saw him as an instrument of god. show less