Reads

Anyone reading anything new and exciting? It’s been since September since we've posted, someone's has to have read something they liked...
Myself I enjoyed Lincoln and his Admirals. Thought it was insightful, well written, and deserving of the awards that it has received. If you have not read it I recommend it.

Do you hear that?...echo, echo, echo...

Here are a couple of Lincoln-related books I've read recently that I both enjoyed and would recommend:

Our Lincoln, by Eric Foner

Copperheads, by Jennifer L. Weber

Vindicating Lincoln, by Thomas Kranawitter

Looking For Lincoln, by various Kunhardts

Jim

Thanks Jim,

What did you think of Kranawitter's Vindicating Lincoln? I am real curious about that one.

I read 'vindicating Lincoln' a few months ago. I don't recall it very well (not a good sign), but I remember not liking it all that much. Take that for what it is worth...

On the one hand, the initial premise is unnecessary. Lincoln does not need to be vindicated nor does he need to be defended. And the neo-confederates who take issue with Lincoln and his policies will never be convinced to see the error of their views.

On the other hand, I found it an interesting and insightful book (and this is coming from a guy who has read literally dozens of books about Lincoln). The author, with his calm and thoughtful analysis, does an excellent job of outlining the apparent contradictions surrounding Lincoln, as well as correcting many errors in views and interpretations of our nation's greatest president (he was a racist, he was a dictator, he favored big government, he ignored the Constitution, etc.). And, most important, rather than asserting Lincoln's views and opinions, he presents Lincoln's own words, letting them speak for themselves.

I highly recommend it for anyone interested in digging deeper into Lincoln, the man, his thought, and his presidency.

Hi all, good to see this group come alive again.
I started reading Crisis of the house divided by Harry Jaffa. But it's going slowly because of work and other books that I am reading and require less of an intellectual effort. Although this book appears to be very promising.