And There Was Light: Lincoln was written by Jon Meachem and published by Random House in 2022. You can purchase it on Amazon/Kindle and you can visit the author on Amazon and on social media.
This is a gem of a book, reaching into the depth and soul of a man who has intrigued millions since his horrific assassination in 1865.
In the pages of this book, we are told the story of Lincoln from his birth on the Kentucky frontier in 1809, onward through his life to his leadership during the civil war years and lastly to the events that led up to his tragic assassination in 1865. We learn about his love of books, his self-education, his family history, his bouts of depression, his political failures, his deepening faith, and his continuing belief that slavery must end in order for the union to survive. This is a story about a man who anguishes over politics, the state of the nation and our democracy, and how he struggles to find solace and solutions in a time when he is both loved and hated by the citizens of America. Jon Meachem has delivered a gem of a book, reaching into the depth and soul of a man who has intrigued millions since his horrific assassination in 1865. We live in difficult times, and I think it is important and wise to sometimes look back into our history in order that we might find insight into some of our long standing and troubling issues. I have learned that Abraham Lincoln dealt with some of the very same problems that exist today: Racism, poverty, depression, a troubled marriage and he even lived through a plot to overthrow his election; an attempt to destroy ballots that were legally cast. Meachem delves into the mind of Lincoln throughout the book, offering up the Presidents thoughts and ideas on how he governed in extremely hard and dangerous times and how his faith served him: "Lincoln’s own faith in the unseen was elusive but real. In 1862, Lincoln closed a message to Congress by speaking of “my great responsibility to my God, and to my country”—a sign that the two were connected in the president’s mind and heart." "'I may advance slowly,' the president reputedly said, 'but I don’t walk backward.'” This is an exceptional book. It should be read by any American who cares deeply for his country and yearns for a leader, despite his or her flaws, who can lead and love just in the same way that Lincoln did. This is a must read!
I give And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln 5 out of 5 stars.