"Team of Rivals" by Doris Kearns Goodwin

I read this book last fall in anticipation of the movie Lincoln. It was spectacular and, in spite of its breadth, I read it quickly and with trouble putting it down. Goodwin spins a remarkable yarn on the life of Lincoln. Whereas the movie focused on a small portion of his presidency immediately leading up to the passage of the thirteenth amendment, the novel gives great depth to most portions of his life, referring generally to actual correspondence to and from the enigmatic president and, in large part, from the book by his assistants recalling their time in service of the president. It was revelatory to see how impressive so many members surrounding Lincoln were and how incredibly complex politics were, even so early in our country's history. This book captivated me, left me longing for more, and evolved my perception of both our former president and the complexity of our nation's political machinery.