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Lincoln's Mentors
Book

Lincoln's Mentors

The Education of a Leader

Custom House, 2021
First Edition: 2021 more...


Editorial Rating

9

Qualities

  • Analytical
  • Background
  • Concrete Examples

Recommendation

Abraham Lincoln lives in the common imagination as a political savant. However, his political success came about largely because he read avidly and selected and studied powerful role models including Henry Clay, Andrew Jackson, Zachary Taylor, John Todd Stuart and Orville Browning. Born in a log cabin, Lincoln received little formal education.A voracious reader, he turned to a chosen few leaders for guidance. By the time he won the presidential election in 1860, Lincoln –thanks in part to his mentors – had risen far above his humble beginnings.

Take-Aways

  • Abraham Lincoln set out to be one of America’s greatest presidents.
  • Lincoln mentored himself from an early age.
  • Henry Clay’s ideal of the self-made man inspired Lincoln.

About the Author

Michael Gerhardt is the Burton Craige Distinguished Professor of Jurisprudence at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.