I have read many books on our greatest president not only because he was such a great leader but also because was a very interesting man. I also happen to share his birthday, another honor. This edition by David Reynolds is one of the better volumes I have come across.

Mr. Reynolds covers so many aspects of the character and the challenges this man faced in his lifetime, just an amazing story. He relates many instances which bring out the real nature of who and what Abraham Lincoln was all about. The balancing act he had to pull off being pulled in so many direction was truly remarkable.

He covers pretty much every part of his life and does a wonderful job of mixing the political with personal to give us a very well rounded portrait. He does not get into the heavy details of the war itself and the battles, but more the political side in how President Lincoln shrewdly handled the competing politicians and their viewpoints along with the series of incompetent generals.

The last portion gets into the machinations of the Emancipation Proclamation and how heavily it factored into the outcome of the conflict. He spends quite a bit of time examining the issue of race and the prevalent racism that was widespread north and south. It clarified for me why we still deal with this matter to this day. ( )