A Self-Made Man

The Political Life of Abraham Lincoln, 1809 – 1849

By: Sidney Blumenthal

Narrated by: Arthur Morey

The first in a sweeping, multi-volume history of Abraham Lincoln—from his obscure beginnings to his presidency, death, and the overthrow of his post-Civil War plan of reconciliation—“engaging and informative and…thought-provoking” (The Christian Science Monitor).

From his youth as a voracious newspaper reader, Abraham Lincoln became a free thinker, reading Tom Paine, as well as Shakespeare and the Bible. In the “fascinating” (Booklist, starred review) A Self-Made Man, Sidney Blumenthal reveals how Lincoln’s antislavery thinking began in his childhood in backwoods Kentucky and Indiana. Intensely ambitious, he held political aspirations from his earliest years. Yet he was a socially awkward suitor who had a nervous breakdown over his inability to deal with the opposite sex. His marriage to the upper class Mary Todd was crucial to his social aspirations and his political career. “The Lincoln of Blumenthal’s pen is…a brave progressive facing racist assaults on his religion, ethnicity, and very legitimacy that echo the anti-Obama birther movement….Blumenthal takes the wily pol of Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln and Doris Kearns Goodwin’s Team of Rivals and goes deeper, finding a Vulcan logic and House of Cards ruthlessness” (The Washingtonian).

Based on prodigious research of Lincoln’s record, and of the period and its main players, Blumenthal’s robust biography reflects both Lincoln’s time and the struggle that consumes our own political debate. This first volume traces Lincoln from his birth in 1809 through his education in the political arts, rise to the Congress, and fall into the wilderness from which he emerged as the man we recognize as Abraham Lincoln. “Splendid…no one can come away from reading A Self-Made Man…without eagerly anticipating the ensuing volumes.” (Washington Monthly).

Waiting for Volume II on Audible

Where does A Self-Made Man rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is without doubt in my top 10.

What did you like best about this story?

It is not a narrative on the course of Lincoln's life. It is an examination of his evolution as a politician and his political philosophy. The book is the story of Lincoln's life in politics.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No I listen to all my audible books in the car coming and going from work.

Any additional comments?

Please make volume II available on Audible soon.

excellent book, wonderful narration

Great read! I learned many things about Mr Lincoln's life and early career that I did not know. The second volume is equally enthralling. I am hoping the publisher creates an audio edition of it with Mr Morey as the narrator.

Excellent Book on the Early Life of Lincoln

I thought this was a great book. The book provides not just a biography of the early part of Lincoln's life but also sketches the historical, social, and political milieu needed to really understand 18th century American history, the roots of the Civil War, and the persistent racial conflicts in the USA. One comes away with a greater admiration for Lincoln's ultimate achievements. The parts of the book that focus on the intricacies of 18th century Whig party politics are a little boring if you are not a professional historian but the book provides great background information on John C. Calhoun, Jefferson Davis, Andrew Jackson, and the Abolitionists. The narration is excellent.

I Can't Wait for Volume II!

What an outstanding biography. Abraham Lincoln and the men and women who shared his life and times are as alive in this book as they can be. Most of the chapters I listened to several times before moving on because they were so dense with information. The narration by Arthur Morey was excellent.

STELLAR review of history

I was expecting to get a semi-monotonous but thorough review of Lincoln’s life down to the tiny insignificant details. Instead I got a thorough and exciting review of American politics from the years 1824-48, and a detailed account of how it all shaped Lincoln. I can’t wait to read the next 2 books!