A review by mvancamp
Abraham Lincoln by James M. McPherson

4.0

As a fan of the 1000+ page presidential biographies, I have to admit I was a bit skeptical when I first saw this slim volume: a mere 65 pages after factoring in end matter. I did not think such a tiny book would be more than a slightly expanded encyclopedia entry on our 16th president. My initial judgment proved accurate for the first few pages. There is not much here other than standard biological facts. Where McPherson shines is in the passages highlighting Lincoln's political career and presidency. In very few words, he is able to present the reader with clear and concise historical perspectives on potentially convoluted issues/incidents. While I would not suggest this to someone who already has extensive knowledge of Lincoln, it certainly fits the bill for someone interested in starting to learn more in the coming bicentennial of the birth of one of our greatest and justifiably most beloved presidents.