Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln

An exceptional look into Lincoln's political mastery. I ‘read' this through Audible, with the exceptional narration of Suzanne Toren. Being from Illinois, a love of Lincoln was part of the package growing up, but I had never realized the depth of greatness Lincoln really could pull from. His magnanimity, calmness, and self-confidence blending into something very one of a kind. In the closing chapters, as the war draws to a close and the amendment is pursued, one is left with extreme sadness at the thought: “what would our country be like today if Lincoln's Reconstruction had continued?”

I originally read the book, or large parts of it, in 2013, but was interrupted by moves and was never able to return to it. I was able to get the audiobook in 2018 and was halfway through it when distracted by schooling. Finally able to return for the second half, it's a book I think is worthy of another, complete, readthrough in the future.