A New Look at Abraham Lincoln, His Agenda, and an Unnecessary War
Most Americans consider Abraham Lincoln to be the greatest president in... read full description
Most Americans consider Abraham Lincoln to be the greatest president in... read full description
reviews
Jun 21, 2008
Christopher
rated it: 
Why was the United States the only country in the world to fight a war to end slavery?
Because the war wasn't about slavery. Like all other wars, it was fought over money and power.
Lincoln, the American Hitler, was the man who single-handedly shredded the Constitution and fathered "Big Government."
The "Church of Lincoln" has distorted facts and history to paint a picture of Lincoln in total contradiction of his real self and motives.
More...
Because the war wasn't about slavery. Like all other wars, it was fought over money and power.
Lincoln, the American Hitler, was the man who single-handedly shredded the Constitution and fathered "Big Government."
The "Church of Lincoln" has distorted facts and history to paint a picture of Lincoln in total contradiction of his real self and motives.
More...
14 comments
like
(3 people liked it)
Mar 17, 2008
zikafus
rated it:
Everything you know about Lincoln is wrong... trust me.
This is another one of those books that takes a look at one of America's "heroes", tears off the mask of patriotic romanticism revealing a scoundrel beneath...
Lincoln was likely the worst President in United States history... sound insane? Read the book... you'll be left with zero complaints...
The Civil War initially had NOTHING to do with slavery (which would have been the only justifiable reason to wage it), it More...
This is another one of those books that takes a look at one of America's "heroes", tears off the mask of patriotic romanticism revealing a scoundrel beneath...
Lincoln was likely the worst President in United States history... sound insane? Read the book... you'll be left with zero complaints...
The Civil War initially had NOTHING to do with slavery (which would have been the only justifiable reason to wage it), it More...
0 comments
like
(3 people liked it)
Oct 14, 2007
Mark
rated it: 
Disturbing book. The states had a right to secede from the union. This was accepted at the time. Constitutional amendments were proposed to prevent the right of secession. The right of secession is in fact a key to controlling the powers of a central government.
Lincoln entered the war without congressional approval, calling it a "rebellion". He blockaded the south, something that could only be done against a country with which we were at war. He suspended the writ of More...
Lincoln entered the war without congressional approval, calling it a "rebellion". He blockaded the south, something that could only be done against a country with which we were at war. He suspended the writ of More...
4 comments
like
(4 people liked it)
Jan 21, 2009
Monica
rated it: 
I give it a three for being sensationalistic but it really is a must read. From here you can conduct a more academic investigation but it helps you shake off the brainwashing of the history that was written by the winners.
0 comments
like
(3 people liked it)
Feb 08, 2011
David
rated it:
DiLorenzo himself sums the book up well in his conclusion: "Despite an unspeakably bloody war, the demolition of constitutional liberties, and the conquest and subjugation of the South for twelve years after the war, Lincoln and his party still failed to completely destroy federalism and states' rights. Because the ideas were so ingrained in the American psyche, something of a revolt against centralized government authority occurred in the postwar years, personified by the presidency of Gro
More...
Mar 25, 2011
Elena
rated it:
"I have no interest to introduce political and social equality between the white and black races....I...am in favor of the race to which I belong having the superior position. I have never said anything to the contrary."
~Abraham Lincoln, 1858 from The Real Lincoln by Thomas J. DiLorenzo.
Every nation has its myths; we Americans certainly have our share. I think that national myths fulfill the purpose of making people feel better about ugly episodes in histo More...
~Abraham Lincoln, 1858 from The Real Lincoln by Thomas J. DiLorenzo.
Every nation has its myths; we Americans certainly have our share. I think that national myths fulfill the purpose of making people feel better about ugly episodes in histo More...
Feb 06, 2011
Wakefield
rated it:
Rarely these days do books force the issue of having to reassess the milkwater pap we learned in the public schools or pull from the mythos of common culture.
The Real Lincoln is one of those rare books.
Writing on the rise of the enigmatic but always honored and beloved Abraham Lincoln to national level politics, and the events that led to the most tragic and destructive war America ever fought--the so-called "Civil War"--historian and economist Thomas DiLorenzo More...
The Real Lincoln is one of those rare books.
Writing on the rise of the enigmatic but always honored and beloved Abraham Lincoln to national level politics, and the events that led to the most tragic and destructive war America ever fought--the so-called "Civil War"--historian and economist Thomas DiLorenzo More...
Dec 12, 2009
Kevin
rated it:
Excellent book. It's sad how blatant the propaganda I have been subjected to has been. I am angry at how I have been taught throughout my life that Abraham Lincoln is a white as snow saint. He was an awful man who butchered hundreds of thousands of people to secure his political power. There are no facts and figures in this book that could have been falsely portrayed to get me to think this. All I had to do was take a step back and think.
Why was it okay for us to secede from Britain More...
Why was it okay for us to secede from Britain More...
Jul 24, 2009
Will
rated it:
This is an excellent book for folks who like history. DiLorenzo is an economist who teaches at a Maryland University, and a civil war history buff. His research on the war prompted him to write this. It tells of the real reasons the war was started and depicts ,what he claims to be, the honest, unexaggerated or omitted portrait of Abe Lincoln: A man who was apathetic about slavery at best and more concerned with consolidating government power.
From his presidential debate speeches ( th More...
From his presidential debate speeches ( th More...
Dec 26, 2008
Chet
rated it:
The author makes a good case that Lincoln violated civil liberties in a massive way. The Constitution at the time apparently prohibited insurrection, but not secession. The southerners fired the first shot, but the northern soldiers were in their territory. Lincoln apparently suspended habeas corpus and jailed thousands of northerners without due process because they criticized him. Apparently slaves were freed in other countries without civil wars. Lincoln started a national bank and print
More...
Jan 15, 2009
drake
rated it: 
Author Thomas DiLorenzo is a scholar at the League of the South Institute. He is also listed as an ideologue to watch out for on the Southern Poverty Law Center website. It seems to me the book is part of a body of "scholarship" whose ultimate goal is for the South to secede again, and possibly to return to its antebellum social structure. Although no author should be wholly disregarded based on ad hominem attack alone, these facts likely influence my view of the book.
It More...
It More...
Apr 22, 2010
John
rated it:
This is DiLorenzo's first book on Lincoln, and is better than his second, Lincoln Unmasked. The historical context in this book is more complete than his other book. Lincoln and his legacy are highly esteemed, but DiLorenzo demonstrates that Lincoln's presidency were ruinous to the nation and left a legacy of centralized power, leaving the states and the people unable to check federal power.
Lincoln, rather than being the Great Emancipator, was the Great Centralizer. He was also More...
Lincoln, rather than being the Great Emancipator, was the Great Centralizer. He was also More...
Feb 23, 2009
Bliss
rated it:
In 2008 I read this book. It's important that Americans take a hard look at the man behind the war that most changed America, the War Between the States, that so centralized power in the federal government. Lincoln, a Whig, then a Republican, was a believer in protectionism for his cronies in big business enterprises such as railroads. Understanding the fact that Secession was a "right" derived from the Declaration of Independence, but not an American Right recognized by Abraham Lincol
More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Sep 04, 2010
Jim
rated it:
The book is worth reading, but it leaves you wishing that it had been written by an author more intent on fleshing out the scholarship than one interested in bashing Lincoln. What are the actual statistics on how much of U.S. revenue was supplied by tariffs? Maybe a graph to show how this was split between the North and the South would have been useful. Could the author have spent a bit more time fleshing out the background of the 'American System' favored by Lincoln and his sponsors? There are
More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Oct 25, 2010
K
rated it:
2.5 Stars.
I find this to be the case with so many non-fiction books. They have a powerful start and then the book fades into repetition. About 170 pages in and I just couldn't go on. The first part of the book was fascinating, particularly focusing on the political climate and the events leading up to the Civil War. But he did such a good overview that by the time he got to really focusing on Lincoln, I felt like I had read it all before.
I will say that I enjoy seeing L More...
I find this to be the case with so many non-fiction books. They have a powerful start and then the book fades into repetition. About 170 pages in and I just couldn't go on. The first part of the book was fascinating, particularly focusing on the political climate and the events leading up to the Civil War. But he did such a good overview that by the time he got to really focusing on Lincoln, I felt like I had read it all before.
I will say that I enjoy seeing L More...
0 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Jan 26, 2012
Furb
rated it:
I wrote a review in the style of a travelogue here: http://heathersharmony.typepad.com/heath...
Just finished this. This was certainly an eye opener. I didn't know much more about Lincoln than what I'd been told about him in skew, um, I mean school. This cites a lot of different sources. Perhaps what I liked most was DiLorenzo's refutation of his detractors in the afterward. That made me laugh. The rest of it is, sadly, tragic history.
This was December 2011's Book of More...
Just finished this. This was certainly an eye opener. I didn't know much more about Lincoln than what I'd been told about him in skew, um, I mean school. This cites a lot of different sources. Perhaps what I liked most was DiLorenzo's refutation of his detractors in the afterward. That made me laugh. The rest of it is, sadly, tragic history.
This was December 2011's Book of More...
Aug 15, 2011
Todd
rated it:
I have often stated that the "truth is somewhere in the middle" regarding the study of history thus this book reminded me of how vital it is to read books from various perspectives of a subject. Since there is no shortage of "Lincoln saved the USA" biographies DiLorenzo's contrarian book which paints Lincoln as a dictator focused on centralizing power is an important read for historians.
Having read this book some basic questions come to mind:
1.) Wh More...
Having read this book some basic questions come to mind:
1.) Wh More...
Jan 23, 2009
Cavalier973
rated it:
This book is much better the first time you read it than on subsequent attempts, especially if you read some of the criticisms of Dilorenzo's mistakes and misquotes. He defends himself in articles against some of the criticisms (google DiLorenzo) but then you're stuck in a he said/she said situation (especially if you don't have the time or resource to search out and evaluate the primary sources yourself).
While it's obvious that he has an agenda, he makes a compelling and multi-face More...
While it's obvious that he has an agenda, he makes a compelling and multi-face More...
Jul 11, 2011
Adam
rated it:
It starts as a decent rebuttal to the deeds of Abraham Lincoln. I don't disagree with the book. The US lost a lot of ground in states rights, economic policy, and constitutional freedom in order for Lincoln to "save the union". The author gradually loses control throughout the book; taking Lincoln's presidency well out of context, repetitive, sensationalized and furious armchair quarterbacking much like you would see on the cable news programs.
I certainly would not wan More...
I certainly would not wan More...
Mar 30, 2010
Gary
rated it:
This book tells the little known facts about Lincoln NEVER, EVER put into school textbooks or into most books on his life. It is well documented with primary sources. It talks about Lincoln's real thoughts and actions on slavery and African Americans. It talks about Lincoln's connections to the Northern corporations who wanted to keep their profits from the South. It talks about the Constitutional right of every state to secede if they want to.
Aug 02, 2010
Christopher
rated it:
This book made me want to blast Lincoln's face off of Mount Rushmore and desecrate his temple in Washington.
He was a politician, who held illogical and tyrannical ideas, and he enforced his ideas upon the nation by force of war.
He did more than any man to destroy the union of free and sovereign states that our Founding Fathers established.
He was a racist Hamiltonian, and not the God that our public schools and politicians teach us to worship.
He was a politician, who held illogical and tyrannical ideas, and he enforced his ideas upon the nation by force of war.
He did more than any man to destroy the union of free and sovereign states that our Founding Fathers established.
He was a racist Hamiltonian, and not the God that our public schools and politicians teach us to worship.
4 comments
like
(1 person liked it)
Apr 15, 2010
Michael
rated it:
You will never look at Abraham Lincoln and the War for Southern Independence the same way again. Dilorenzo does a great job illustrating the real motivations of Lincoln and the Republican party during the fight for "the Union". Killing innocent civilians including women and children, burning entire southern towns to the ground, imprisoning reporters and newspaper heads without trial for being critical of him, Lincoln surely was one of the most dangerous figures in American history. Cal
More...
Sep 14, 2009
Dean
rated it:
Coming from a family that revered Lincoln (my father was born on his b'day for crying out loud) I was always suspicious of the cult like status that surounds this president. After delving deeper into civil war history before reading this book, I was somewhat prepared, but was shocked to the existent of Lincoln's depravity.
Be prepared to take this man off the pedestal. He simply doesn't deserve it.
Be prepared to take this man off the pedestal. He simply doesn't deserve it.
Jul 09, 2009
Greg
rated it:
think you know Lincoln? All of that stuff they taught you in school (edited by Random House no doubt) is false. Considering Lincoln's complete contempt for the Constitution, suspension of habeous corpus, spying on "enemies", and waging a bloody unnecessary war, I'd have to believe GW Bush was most likely a student of Abe (that is assuming W could be a student of anything
Oct 24, 2008
Kenley
rated it:
In this book, Thomas Dilorenzo digs into the myths surrounding Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln believed in the ideas of Henry Clay, who championed "the American System", which promoted big government and internal improvement project financed by the taxpayers. The book contends that Lincoln invaded a sovereign nation (The Confederate States of America) without the authorization of Congress, not to make slavery illegal but to punish the South for its constitutional right to secede from the Un
More...
Feb 05, 2010
Gary
rated it:
My family wonders why 5-dollar bills and pennies aren't allowed in the house anymore. They've yet to read this book. In all seriousness though, this tore down a lot of my presumptions about Abraham. More than anything else I think, the book helped illustrate how this ginormous monstrosity called the Federal Govt was hatched.
May 29, 2009
Megan
rated it:
Much like we eventually learn Columbus was no saint, so too should people realize that Lincoln was far from the deity we are tought about throughout the years in school. We can all thank Lincoln for the huge, overbearing goverment we enjoy today...and that's just the tip of the iceberg. A well-written, thought-provoking read.
Dec 10, 2009
Peter
rated it:
I liked this book a lot. It only took me about 3 days to finish it. My whole opinion of Lincoln is changed now because of this book. I thought he was our greatest president in history. But after reading this book, I think he surely ranks as one of our worst presidents in history. Dilorenzo's writing style is clear nad easy to understand.
Apr 18, 2010
Rick
rated it:
The information in this book is invaluable for reversing the brainwashing that the public schools have instilled in students for over a hundred years. Fact after fact, source after source, is thrown at the reader showing that history is much more complicated than we've all been led to believe (as is always the case). This wasn't the most well-written book I've ever read. DiLorenzo's prose is pretty dry at times. However, I suppose rhetorical flourish isn't what one expects from a book primarily
More...
Jan 18, 2009
Benjamin
rated it:
This book has forever changed my outlook on "Honest" Abe. If you learned "American" history from the public school system, then you must read this book. Lincoln is yet another war-monger who lit the path for future presidents to follow (e.g., Wilson, FDR, Johnson, Clinton, Bush)...
