A review by milandeep
Lincoln's Melancholy: How Depression Challenged a President and Fueled His Greatness by Joshua Wolf Shenk

3.0

This book by Joshua Wolf Shenk was good in parts. The parts which cover Lincoln's melancholy and how melancholy was perceived during his times were quite engaging. The author gives a brief history of depression and mental illness and how it was treated by ‘doctors’ in the mid-nineteenth century. Sadness was quite common and quite acceptable in Lincoln’s era. None of his friends considered his sad temperament to be a disabling factor in social or political aspects. Where the book falters is when the author tries to link Lincoln's melancholy with religion and Christianity. Trying to show how religious Abe was based on how frequently he utters the word 'God' was quite annoying.

Let us also not forget that Lincoln always enjoyed telling jokes and stories. He always enjoyed humor and was always ready to poke fun at himself or read jokes made on him.

The author also shows how depression can fuel creativity when channeled properly as was done by Abe. At the end of the book, the author shows how the perception of Lincoln has changed over the years and how his different biographers have treated him by ignoring some facts and highlighting others.. This is not a biography but a way to look at Lincoln from a different lens. Recommended for anyone who has an interest in Lincoln once they have read an actual biography first.