First published 2023
Abraham Lincoln understood that democracy required engaging with opponents. In 1855, he wrote to his best friend, a Kentucky slaveowner's son, rebuking him for not opposing slavery while promising they would remain friends forever. This willingness to disagree shaped Lincoln's entire political career. Steve Inskeep examines Lincoln's life through sixteen encounters with people who opposed him. Each interaction reveals how Lincoln learned to make his beliefs actionable through careful political maneuvering. He told jokes, used sarcasm, and chose his words strategically. He worked with critics when possible and outwitted them when necessary. Many of his greatest achievements emerged from these disagreements. Lincoln held firm to his moral compass while navigating between hostile political factions. He began as a minority party politician and succeeded in uniting a fractured nation. Inskeep brings his experience as NPR Morning Edition host to analyze how Lincoln bridged divides and built constructive debate, showing how the sixteenth president became the leader history remembers.
Genres: biography, history, 20th-century, american, 19th-century, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Period: 1855
352 pages · Hardcover · Penguin Press