Both were (physically) lined with aspects of sadness and hardship, but were also simultaneously filled with wit and an endless supply of stories and jokes. One of the most striking connections I found was a similarity between Lincoln and Albus Dumbledore from the Harry Potter series. While reading the book, I found myself making a few random connections between the characters in Team of Rivals and fictional characters. One of the greatest qualities of his leadership was his moral character - his empathy, his mangaminity, his kind-heartedness, his ability to connect with the common people, his ability to forgo grudges and create connections with all kinds of people. From walking many miles in his childhood to procure books, to mastering subjects ranging from geometry to law late at night during his time traveling with the law circuits, he was always trying to “catch up” on the learning he missed out on as a child. Compared to his contemporary rivals, he had to rely on himself from an early age for anything and for everything. I found Lincoln’s story very compelling and inspiring. She did a fantastic job highlighting the political genius of Lincoln. Goodwin organized the book in such a way that I felt fully immersed in the story and life of Lincoln, and I did not feel bogged down by a barrage of indigestible facts. Goodwin's comparative storytelling was very clever (widening the lens to tell not just Lincoln's story, but also the story of his closest family members, friends, and political rivals) and I think a more instructive, valuable, and well-rounded story than if she had only focused on Lincoln and his achievements. However, it was really worth my time and I learned a lot about Lincoln's personality, leadership, and character. The book is very long and dense and thus took me a really long time to finish it. I learned so much from it and thoroughly enjoyed Goodwin’s writing. “What Lincoln lacked in preparation and guidance, he made up for with his duanting concentration, phenomenal memory, acute reasoning faculties, and interpretive penetration” (54) Overall

Lincoln cabinet of rivals