Just an absolutely fabulous read. Kearns Goodwin follows Lincoln and each of his Cabinet members through their formative years and into the White House. The Cabinet members come to life through richly revealing memoirs and diaries. Lincoln, coming from a more impoverished background comes to life mostly through the loving recollection of others. The fascinating spine of the book is how Lincoln is continually misjudged by everyone he encounters. Most simply dismiss him as a hick getting by on bumkin luck. But eventually, those who dismiss, dislike or even despise him are ultimately won over. His charm and good humor are well known, but what won over his doubters was the determined nature of his kindness, never holding a grudge and consideration of the big picture vs. our individual conceits. This admiration of others brings the book to a devastating conclusion when the inevitable assasination occurs. The heartbreak felt by those close to him and the nation at large has been wonderfully set up by the previous 700 pages.