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Lincoln Lessons: Reflections on America's Greatest Leader
In Lincoln Lessons, seventeen of today’s most respected academics, historians, lawyers, and politicians provide candid reflections on the importance of Abraham Lincoln in their intellectual lives. Their essays, gathered by editors Frank J. Williams and William D. Pederson, shed new light on this political icon’s remarkable ability to lead and inspire two hundred years after his birth.
Collected here are glimpses into Lincoln’s unique ability to transform enemies into steadfast allies, his deeply ingrained sense of morality and intuitive understanding of humanity, his civil deification as the first assassinated American president, and his controversial suspension of habeas corpus during the Civil War. The contributors also discuss Lincoln’s influence on today’s emerging democracies, his lasting impact on African American history, and his often-overlooked international legend—his power to instigate change beyond the boundaries of his native nation. While some contributors provide a scholarly look at Lincoln and some take a more personal approach, all explore his formative influence in their lives. What emerges is the true history of his legacy in the form of first-person testaments from those whom he has touched deeply.
Lincoln Lessons brings together some of the best voices of our time in a unique combination of memoir and history. This singular volume of original essays is a tribute to the enduring inspirational powers of an extraordinary man whose courage and leadership continue to change lives today.
Contributors
Jean H. Baker
Mario M. Cuomo
Joan L. Flinspach
Sara Vaughn Gabbard
Doris Kearns Goodwin
Harold Holzer
Harry V. Jaffa
John F. Marszalek
James M. McPherson
Edna Greene Medford
Sandra Day O’Connor
Mackubin Thomas Owens
William D. Pederson
Edward Steers Jr.
Craig L. Symonds
Thomas Reed Turner
Frank J. Williams
Collected here are glimpses into Lincoln’s unique ability to transform enemies into steadfast allies, his deeply ingrained sense of morality and intuitive understanding of humanity, his civil deification as the first assassinated American president, and his controversial suspension of habeas corpus during the Civil War. The contributors also discuss Lincoln’s influence on today’s emerging democracies, his lasting impact on African American history, and his often-overlooked international legend—his power to instigate change beyond the boundaries of his native nation. While some contributors provide a scholarly look at Lincoln and some take a more personal approach, all explore his formative influence in their lives. What emerges is the true history of his legacy in the form of first-person testaments from those whom he has touched deeply.
Lincoln Lessons brings together some of the best voices of our time in a unique combination of memoir and history. This singular volume of original essays is a tribute to the enduring inspirational powers of an extraordinary man whose courage and leadership continue to change lives today.
Contributors
Jean H. Baker
Mario M. Cuomo
Joan L. Flinspach
Sara Vaughn Gabbard
Doris Kearns Goodwin
Harold Holzer
Harry V. Jaffa
John F. Marszalek
James M. McPherson
Edna Greene Medford
Sandra Day O’Connor
Mackubin Thomas Owens
William D. Pederson
Edward Steers Jr.
Craig L. Symonds
Thomas Reed Turner
Frank J. Williams
192 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 14, 2009
In this book, seventeen highly esteemed Lincoln scholars write autobiographical descriptions of how they came to be interested in Lincoln and describe the lessons they have learned from years of Lincoln study. Among the scholars are Jean H. Baker, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Sandra Day O'Connor, Harold Holzer, Harry Jaffa, John Marszalek, James McPherson, Edna Greene Medford, Edward Steers, Jr., Craig Symonds, and Frank Williams. The autobiographical stories from these authors were fascinating. For example, Edward Steers's story of his search for the lost pages from Booth's diary was like reading a riveting novel. Mackubin Thomas Owens described how he was converted from the "Lost Cause" beliefs of his southern upbringing to his current high regard for Abraham Lincoln. I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about the personal histories of these fabulous authors, some of whom I've met at the Lincoln Forum. In addition, the Lincoln lessons are amazing distillations of concepts that could easily serve as topics for entire books . . . and have, by these very authors. James McPherson's chapter, in particular, is remarkable. Happily, the book has introduced me to new avenues of Lincoln study.
July 23, 2022
2.5 stars.
2013 I had an opportunity to spend a week at Snow College learning about the Civil War. It was a fabulous week. I'm fairly certain I picked this book up there, since one of the professors was a contributor to this.
I was pretty excited for the book, but when I started it, I seriously wondered what the point of it was. Based on the title Lincoln Lessons, I thought the contributors were going to be telling what wonderful things they had learned from Lincoln. The first several just talked about their journeys getting to know Lincoln, but nothing ABOUT him. I almost stopped reading it, but there were some names coming up of people I recognized like Doris Kearns Goodwin and Sandra Day O'Connor, so I continued reading. Some of the contributors actually DID talk about Lincoln and I thoroughly enjoyed those articles. Those were the reasons I rounded up. It's pretty easy to see which ones I liked and which ones I didn't based on the tabs I put in the book for future reference. After the first few articles in the book, I skimmed the ones where the authors talked about themselves rather than Lincoln.
It's not a book I would really recommend to anyone -- certain articles, yes, but the book itself isn't worth getting for those few articles.
2013 I had an opportunity to spend a week at Snow College learning about the Civil War. It was a fabulous week. I'm fairly certain I picked this book up there, since one of the professors was a contributor to this.
I was pretty excited for the book, but when I started it, I seriously wondered what the point of it was. Based on the title Lincoln Lessons, I thought the contributors were going to be telling what wonderful things they had learned from Lincoln. The first several just talked about their journeys getting to know Lincoln, but nothing ABOUT him. I almost stopped reading it, but there were some names coming up of people I recognized like Doris Kearns Goodwin and Sandra Day O'Connor, so I continued reading. Some of the contributors actually DID talk about Lincoln and I thoroughly enjoyed those articles. Those were the reasons I rounded up. It's pretty easy to see which ones I liked and which ones I didn't based on the tabs I put in the book for future reference. After the first few articles in the book, I skimmed the ones where the authors talked about themselves rather than Lincoln.
It's not a book I would really recommend to anyone -- certain articles, yes, but the book itself isn't worth getting for those few articles.
September 5, 2016
This book offers a unique look not just at Abraham Lincoln, but at the scholars who have been influenced by Lincoln. Among them are such luminaries in the Lincoln field as Doris Kearns Goodwin, Harold Holzer, Frank J. Williams, Mario Cuomo, Harry V. Jaffa, James McPherson, Edna Greene Medford, Craig Symonds, and Edward Steers. Joining them are perhaps lesser known but important contributors as Jean Baker, William Pederson, Thomas Reed Turner, and others.
Each of the authors contributes an essay, within which they provide some insight into why they got into Lincoln studies. Some of these insights are short, including the occasional "Editors Note" prefacing the submitted chapter when the author didn't provide enough personal insight. Most of these are fascinating. Harold Holzer talks of his early introduction to Lincoln on a youthful trip to Washington DC with his father, which included a visit to the Library of Congress. Craig Symonds started even younger, as a four-year-old kindergarten student looking up at a "sixteen foot tall" statue of Lincoln in front of the Lincoln Elementary School that he attended in Anaheim, California. Others provide equally interesting windows into their "first time," some early, but others much later in life. All show how they were first inspired to study Lincoln.
But the book doesn't stop there. Along with these personal stories come professional insights that only historians can provide. Mackubin Thomas Owens, for example, tells of his growing up in a "Lost Cause" household, the revisionist history that says the South seceded for states rights and not for slavery. Only after getting greater exposure to history did he come to learn that the Civil War was fought because of slavery and slavery alone, as Southern leaders of the time clearly stated. He goes on to define Lincoln and the meaning of equality that makes it clear where our sixteenth president stood and the choices the South was making.
Likewise, William D. Pederson brings both a Southern and international perspective. Teaching at Louisiana State University in Shrevesport, Pederson introduces a broader (and more accurate) history of Lincoln while also expanding outward to describe how foreign countries, e.g., Argentina, Latin America, and Cuba, related to Lincoln. Doris Kearns Goodwin, author of "Team of Rivals" discusses how Lincoln was able to bring political rivals and differing views into his cabinet in order to find the best path forward for maintaining the Union. Edna Greene Medford provides insights into the broad range of feelings held by the African-American community, both at the time and throughout the study of Lincoln. Other chapter authors provide equally insightful examinations without their specific expertise.
Because of this format there isn't anything incredibly new to the Lincoln lexicon, but that's okay. The book tells us as much about the Lincoln scholars as it does about Lincoln. The combination allows us to peer through the window and (not quite) voyeuristically watch what excites "Lincoln people."
Each of the authors contributes an essay, within which they provide some insight into why they got into Lincoln studies. Some of these insights are short, including the occasional "Editors Note" prefacing the submitted chapter when the author didn't provide enough personal insight. Most of these are fascinating. Harold Holzer talks of his early introduction to Lincoln on a youthful trip to Washington DC with his father, which included a visit to the Library of Congress. Craig Symonds started even younger, as a four-year-old kindergarten student looking up at a "sixteen foot tall" statue of Lincoln in front of the Lincoln Elementary School that he attended in Anaheim, California. Others provide equally interesting windows into their "first time," some early, but others much later in life. All show how they were first inspired to study Lincoln.
But the book doesn't stop there. Along with these personal stories come professional insights that only historians can provide. Mackubin Thomas Owens, for example, tells of his growing up in a "Lost Cause" household, the revisionist history that says the South seceded for states rights and not for slavery. Only after getting greater exposure to history did he come to learn that the Civil War was fought because of slavery and slavery alone, as Southern leaders of the time clearly stated. He goes on to define Lincoln and the meaning of equality that makes it clear where our sixteenth president stood and the choices the South was making.
Likewise, William D. Pederson brings both a Southern and international perspective. Teaching at Louisiana State University in Shrevesport, Pederson introduces a broader (and more accurate) history of Lincoln while also expanding outward to describe how foreign countries, e.g., Argentina, Latin America, and Cuba, related to Lincoln. Doris Kearns Goodwin, author of "Team of Rivals" discusses how Lincoln was able to bring political rivals and differing views into his cabinet in order to find the best path forward for maintaining the Union. Edna Greene Medford provides insights into the broad range of feelings held by the African-American community, both at the time and throughout the study of Lincoln. Other chapter authors provide equally insightful examinations without their specific expertise.
Because of this format there isn't anything incredibly new to the Lincoln lexicon, but that's okay. The book tells us as much about the Lincoln scholars as it does about Lincoln. The combination allows us to peer through the window and (not quite) voyeuristically watch what excites "Lincoln people."
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews