Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham LincolnTeam of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln
Score Modern
What it's about
In 1860, Abraham Lincoln, a little-known lawyer from Illinois, won the Republican nomination over three better-known rivals: William Seward, Salmon Chase and Edward Bates. Then he did something unprecedented: he made all three part of his cabinet. Doris Kearns Goodwin tells the story of how Lincoln managed these proud, ambitious men, and won most of them over, while leading the country through the Civil War.
Why it's worth reading
It was a #1 New York Times bestseller, won the Lincoln Prize, and was a basis for Steven Spielberg's film Lincoln. It's a masterful portrait of Lincoln's political genius.
You'll love it if you liked
Grant
Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom
No Ordinary TimeGood to know
It's long, about 900 pages, but reads easily.
By the numbers
- Readers89 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics21 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller67 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #44 of the 198 history books we rank
- #45 of the 290 memoirs and biographies we rank
- #121 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #241 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story
More by Doris Kearns Goodwin
No Ordinary Time
An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s
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Quick answers
Is Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln worth reading?
Yes. It was a #1 New York Times bestseller, won the Lincoln Prize, and was a basis for Steven Spielberg's film Lincoln. It ranks #241 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 82.7 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln about?
In 1860, Abraham Lincoln, a little-known lawyer from Illinois, won the Republican nomination over three better-known rivals: William Seward, Salmon Chase and Edward Bates. Then he did something unprecedented: he made all three part of his cabinet. Doris Kearns Goodwin tells the story of how Lincoln managed these proud, ambitious men, and won most of them over, while leading the country through the Civil War.
How long does it take to read Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln?
About 24 hours (944 pages), or about 7 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln?
If you liked it, try Grant by Ron Chernow, Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom by David W. Blight or No Ordinary Time by Doris Kearns Goodwin.