Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin

Ok, so usually I don't read 944 page books about history (yes, you read it right, 944 pages, but only like 730 of them are actually the book, the rest are notes and pictures), but my history teacher gave us the assignment to read it instead of the textbook (ug, worst textbook ever= American Pageant)  to learn about Lincoln and the Civil War.  This book follows Lincoln, starting at the Republican Convention where Lincoln is nominated for the Presidential Race in 1860, then goes back and describes not only his life before the election, but also his three rivals for the Republican Ticket, Salmon Chase, William Seward, and Edward Bates.  Each man very different, and very jealous when Lincoln gets the Republican Ticket.  And Lincoln, once elected, does an impossible thing, he pulls his old rivals in and creates his cabinet with these men, with a few others as well.  Seward is made his Secretary of State, Chase the Secretary of Treasury, and Bates the Secretary of the Interior.  Lincoln pulls Republicans, Democrats, and old Whigs into his cabinet at a time when the country is being torn apart.  Thrown into a great civil war, Lincoln must work with his old rivals as a team to save the Union.  And soon, many of them learn to respect his political genius, and find he is not the "long armed ape" they believed him to be.  This book shows the pure genius of Abraham Lincoln who is able to deal with bickering cabinet members, hateful generals, and a bloody and disastrous war that spelled death from the start.  You meet new characters from history you have never heard of before, but instantly learn to love and respect, like Kate Chase and Edwin Stanton.  You laugh at Lincoln's jokes and stories, and the last thing you want to happen is for it to end so tragically.  The best thing about the book is it is all true, Goodwin did an amazing job.  And a book I groaned about and thought I would hate has become one of my favorites, 10 out of 10, even an 11 out of 10.  Goodwin made history come alive and I learned so much about not only Lincoln, but about being a good person and leader.  I highly suggest that everyone should read Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln.  And don't give up on it, the beginning is a little dry, but it just gets better and better until you can't get enough.  I am truly thankful that my teacher had us read this and that I didn't just phone it in when reading it.  I suggest all history teachers teach Team of Rivals and everyone should read it.