Abraham Lincoln as a Man of Ideas

One of those small print (circulation) university press publications that by nature are expensive - a slender hardback volume costing $29.95. In this case eminently worth it. Anyone else besides me who loves to understand something of the elements of thought and discipline formative in Lincoln's rise to the Presidency and in the ideas behind the exercise of his Presidential powers but fatigued by the overflow of Lincoln material steadily coming to the market? Guelzo is the antidote to the Lincoln overkill. If I were to keep a half dozen Lincoln books on my library shelf Guelzo's intellectual biography, Abraham Lincoln: Redeemer President and this present volume, Lincoln As A Man of Ideas, would be two of them.Steady yourself: this is not a biographical narrative that makes for quick reading but instead is a series of extended essays that fall into the category of intellectual history. Because each chapter is a thematic unit standing on its own, it makes for a well callibrated discussion that is extensive enough to cover significant ground yet relieves one of the burden of reading through a couple of hundred pages to achieve important understanding.What I appreciate so much in reading Guelzo's analysis of Lincoln distinctives is the easily attained sense that he is definitively unwrapping the man and his religious/philosphical/political/economic convictions in a manner that is true to Lincoln himself. This anaylsis is free of any effort to shove Lincoln into a "school" of interpretation or form of psychological analysis or to judge the man outside the standards of his own time and society. Instead, with good reason, you feel that you have come to understand Lincoln as he actually was. A very valuable little book. And rendered in a clearly written and argued prose style that makes Lincoln accessible to me. Put it on your short list of "must reads" if interest in the Lincoln presidency is part of your intelllectual curosity or especially if you find yourself employed in actually having to explain Lincoln to other people. Invaluable.

A wonderful series of essays on important topics. Well written and researched, a pleasure to read. Guelzo again delivers an outstanding volumn. Bravo!