Lincoln Books

I have had this book for a couple years and still never get tired of looking at it..The pictures are that fun to look at. It shows the year to year changes of details and options for every beetle from the 30's to 1979. This book got me hooked on VWS and i'm currently fixing my 70 beetle up. Buy it now!

Although the basic shape of the Volkswagen didn't change over the years, many detail changes were made. This book does a good job of documenting them. There isn't much text, but the book if full of detail photos showing the small (and sometimes not-so-small) changes from year to year. If you're restoring your Volkswagen to 100% stock condition, you want to know how to tell a '65 Beetle from a '66, or you just like Volkswagens, this book is a good read.

This is a great book for noting the year-to-year changes in the Bug. Almost every change is photographed and documented so that you can see it. There isn't much in the way of writing, but mainly pictures and explanations of the VW's and the yearly changes, including the various dealer installed options. This is a great book, especialy for identifying what is original or how something is supposed to look.

mwstone@aol.com



This book is a must for all those interested in Abraham Lincoln, the Civil War and the Reconstruction period which followed it.

Its theme is the "pre-history" of Reconstruction, dealing with the attempts by Lincoln, whilst the war was still in progress, to re-establish loyal governments in various southern states. Some of this, notably the well-known Louisiana experiment, has been written about before, but much is included which will be new to the general reader. For instance, Tennessee and Arkansas, both of which have been rather neglected in comparison to Louisiana, get a fairer share of attention in this work. The Tennessee chapter is particularly interesting as it includes some of the prehistory of Andrew Johnson, and perhaps illuminates some of the personality traits which helped to land him in trouble as President. Better still, there are whole chapters devoted to the more obscure Reconstruction projects in Florida and North Carolina, of which I had vaguely heard but about which I knew virtually nothing. All in all, a valuable addition to my education on a subject which has always interested me.

Also, this book registers a firm, and (in my opinion at any rate) long overdue, note of scepticism about the picture, grown fashionable in recent years, of Lincoln as a sort of "closet" Radical Reconstructionist, who by the end of his life was all set to move away from his former policies, and adopt much if not all of the Radical Republican programme. Professor Harris demonstrates, to my satisfaction at any rate, that the evidence for this is somewhere between slim and none, and that whilst Lincoln's approach to Reconstruction, had he lived, would not have been identical with that of Andrew Johnson, it would have been a good deal closer to that of Johnson than of, say, Thaddeus Stevens.

As always, there is room for the odd gripe. In particular, I wonder whether the epilogue, at times, is perhaps a shade overoptimistic about Lincoln's ability to get what he wanted. Harris expresses confidence that had Lincoln been in charge, the Southern Senators and Representatives would have been admitted in 1865. I wonder if this doesn't underestimate Congressional stubbornness. However, this is quibbling. If the Civil War and related matters appeal to you, then you need to read this book, sooner rather than later. Enjoy.

With the secession of the Southern States after the election of Abraham Lincoln in 1860, and the subsequent secession of the upper South after firing on Fort Sumter in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, reconstruction, or restoration as William Harris claims, was underway. Lincoln upon his inauguration extended an olive branch to his "dissatisfied fellow countrymen" promising them that the Federal Government, nor he, would assail them or their institutions if they agreed to return to the Union. Lincoln did everything in his power as president of the United States to keep the Southern states intact and a part of the United States of America. It was the decision of the Southern states to pursue war and not that of Lincoln.
William C. Harris, a professor of history at North Carolina State University, chronicles Lincoln's many attempts at restoring the nation to avoid war, and eventually to try and shorten the war in his fine work With Charity for All: Lincoln and the Restoration of the Union. (1997) Harris starts out analyzing Lincoln's first inaugural address and points out Lincoln's belief that the Southern states could not secede from the Union. Lincoln believed that the Union was inseparable and thus there was no legitimacy to the Confederate States of America, and their illegal government. Lincoln felt that individuals and not states had rebelled against the United States Government. Thus, Lincoln's task was clear, he had to suppress the rebellion and restore loyal governments in the South. Harris shows how Lincoln never wavered from this theory throughout his work. The states were indestructible and it was his job as president to return them to there "proper practical relationship with the Union." Everything that Lincoln did during his administration focused on this premise according to Harris.
Harris breaks down Lincoln's actions, from appointing military governors, proclamations, and other means that Lincoln employed trying to entice Southerners into rejoining the Union. As stated earlier the first attempt at restoration was during the inaugural address, in which Lincoln made it evident that Southerners had nothing to fear from him as president. Lincoln had no desire to ban slavery in the South, although personally he was opposed to it based on human dignity.
The second thing that Lincoln tried was the appointment of military governors in Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Louisiana. In this attempt, Lincoln was hoping that the loyal Union men in these states would reestablish governments that were loyal to the Federal government and the Union. For the most part this proved to be somewhat unsuccessful because these states were partially occupied by Confederate forces. Men such as Andrew Johnson of Tennessee, Francis H. Pierpont of Virginia and Edward Stanly of North Carolina served as military governors at one point or another in their respective states. Pierpont is responsible for the addition of the new state of West Virginia, because most men living in this part of Virginia were staunch Union men and did not own slaves nor support the slaveholding elite. Andrew Johnson served as military governor in Tennessee and later became Lincoln's second vice-president in 1864, eventually replacing Lincoln after his assassination.
Harris goes into great detail about the Emancipation Proclamation in which Lincoln declared that all slaves would be forever free on January 1, 1863 if the states that they lived in were still in rebellion on such date. Harris points out that Lincoln would have left slavery intact if the states had agreed to rejoining the Union before this date. The Emancipation Proclamation was another carrot offered in an attempt to end the war.
Harris continues detailing Lincoln's ten-percent plan in which he stated that if ten percent of the voters from the last Federal election took an oath of loyalty to the Union cause that they would be allowed to hold elections and restore state governments. The politics involved in this process are well explained and comprehensive. Not everyone was in total agreement over the restoration of states that had rebelled. Charles Sumner wanted the states punished for their insurrection, by relegating them back to territorial status. This flew in the face of Lincoln's premise that the states could not secede and therefore were never out of the Union. Harris makes this fact clear, and that Lincoln vigorously objected to this train of thought.
Harris also defends Lincoln's pocket veto of the Wade-Davis bill that would further erode Lincoln's policy towards restoration of the Union by taking power out of his hands, and placing it in the hands of the Congress, this too was totally unacceptable to Lincoln.
There is little doubt that Lincoln's plans for the restoration of the Union was a well thought out policy, however with Lincoln's untimely death and no one sure just what he would have done had he lived, Reconstruction turned into one of the most controversial periods in our history. If the Civil War was the defining point of who we were as a people, than Reconstruction in the hands of Johnson and later the Congress was the wedge that nearly split us apart again.
With Charity for All is a tremendous look at Lincoln's efforts to bind the nation back together in the face of trying circumstances to say the least. Harris has created a magnificent book that is current, comprehensive and thought provoking. His straightforward approach to a sometimes-controversial topic is refreshing and greatly appreciated. Many times historians try to waffle around subjects that are controversial in subject, but Harris is clear in his thesis and never veers from his point of view. The materials that he uses fully support his premise that Lincoln pursued his policy based on the fact that he felt that the Southern states had never really left the Union nor could they do so. With Charity for All is a welcome edition to the ongoing scholarship on the life and times of Abraham Lincoln.

Who would have thought that at such a late date, a historian could produce a work that so brilliantly and sharply alters our perceptions of the thinking and policies of Abraham Lincoln, one of the most written-about figures in history? Harris makes the reader realize that previous scholars have not been methodical or rigorous enough in examining Lincon's reconstuction policy. Given Lincon's immense prestige, contemporaries and historians have struggled to make his opinions match theirs. After Lincoln's death, Radical Republicans who bitterly opposed his reconstruction policy keenly felt the need to convince the public (and perhaps themselves) that Lincoln, before his death, had begun to come around to their way of thinking. Too many historians have mistakenly accepted this deceptive assertion. As Harris powerfully demonstrates, Lincoln's reconstruction policies were extremely consistent, and one must also say, very conservative. Due to his desire to prevent anarchy and restore order and stable, "republican" (with a lowercase r) government, Lincoln was willing to allow "loyal" Southern whites an almost free hand in reestablishing state governments, as long as they abolished slavery and granted African Americans minimal legal rights. Contrary to the later assertions of the Radicals, Lincoln evidently never determined to insist on voting rights, or perhaps even full legal equality, for African Americans. (He may have been willing to accept discriminatory "Black codes" or even a slavery-like apprentice system). Given Lincoln's immense prestige, it is more than a little disturbing to consider what the results of his policies would have been if implemented. As Professor Harris points out in his well-reasoned conclusion, however, one should not assume that Lincoln would have stood idly by and let white Southerners brutally and lawlessly reimpose white supremacy, as actually happened. Faced with such a situation, given his undoubted humanitarian instincts, he may well have concluded that only full, federally supported legal equality could salvage the situation in the South, and if he had decided this, he alone had the ability and influence to impose such a policy.

A superb biography of a complicated person who was not only a key figure in the development of ballet in America, but a cultural leader in a wide sweep of artistic endeavors over most of the last century. While his creative partnership with George Balanchine is central to this book, Lincoln Kirstein also had important early roles in introducing many modern painters to the public and with various fine literary endeavors.

The author, Mr. Duberman, does not flinch from Mr. Kirstein's "own varied sexual-affectionate history." Potential readers should know this is an unusually candid account of a notable person's private life.

While not a high-lighted part of this book, I especially admire Mr. Kirstein's service in World War II as one of the "Monuments Men", who helped save a large part of European art at the end of World War II. Readers interested in this overall effort might wish to read "Rescuing Da Vinci" by Edsel.

(The book's jacket design by Chip Kidd is first rate.)

Anyone attending performances of New York City Ballet will benefit from reading Martin Duberman's book. The Worlds of Lincoln Kirstein details the history and the development of the company and illuminates Lincoln's contribution to City Ballet's standing as one of the best dance companies in the world.

The Worlds of Lincoln Kirstein is terrifically detailed and sweeps the reader into the best years of New York, especially. I could not put it down and walked around carrying this massive tome everywhere because I could not be parted from it. He truly crossed paths with EVERYONE, and it was enthralling to realize how one did that then. Duberman is frank and honest about the material that causes unease, particularly about fascism and social ambitions of some of Kirstein's colleagues over the years. His life was so layered, like a mille-fleur pastry, that Duberman has to keep sweeping back across the same period of months again and again to get it all, which takes some getting used to, but, by 1934, seems as natural a way as any to make the portrait complete.

It is April, 1865, the Civil War has just ended and Abe Lincoln is sitting in the White House waiting for his wife, Mary, to finish dressing. This is a happy night and the Lincoln's are going to Ford's Theater to see a play. As Lincoln patiently waits, he thinks back over his life, his simple upbringing and how he made his way to the presidency...from the small log cabin in Kentucky with only one window, to his love of learning and going to law school, to entering politics and finally becoming president, to believing in one country, whole, not half slave, half free..... Ann Warren Turner's eloquently written "fictional biography" and Wendell Minor's beautifully expressive and detailed artwork combine to capture your youngster's imagination with poignant, quiet emotion and moving, understated text. Historical notes at the end fill in the rest of the story, including Lincoln's assassination and can be used to augment lessons and enhance discussions. Abe Lincoln Remembers is a beautifully written, thoughtful story, perfect for youngsters 5-9 and makes a wonderful addition to all home libraries.

This is a wonderful biography for children, especially for children who are already familiar with Lincoln's story. The illustrations are superb, the best since the Daulaire's Caldecott Medal-winning biography of 1957. Wendell Minor's paintings humanize Lincoln without sacrificing that essentail iconic quality we usually expect in a Lincoln portrait.

I have been studying Abraham Lincoln for nearly 40 years. Many Lincoln scholars consider ABRAHAM LINCOLN: A BIOGRAPHY by Benjamin P. Thomas to be one of the three best one-volume biographies of Lincoln written to date. The other two books are LINCOLN by David Herbert Donald and WITH MALICE TOWARD NONE by Stephen B. Oates.

Very readable one volume life of Lincoln. Pulled things together in a way Sandburg's six volume masterpeice could not. A case of not being able to see the forest for the trees. And made utterly clear exactly what Lincoln was fighting for: that democracy as evidenced by the people's vote at the ballot box might survive as an example to the world. If all the states had voted in elections to let the succeeding states go, then OK. But there was no such election. It was always the Union, never slavery, that was his purpose, although he understood slavery to be at the heart of the matter.

I must agree with another reviewer who stated that this is probabl one of the best biographies of Abraham Lincoln for young people available today. This one has indeed been out for a while but it is certainly none the worse for wear. The book is very well researched, the text is easy to follow and the author's contunual use of direct quotes makes the reader feel apart of the story. I truely feel that the understanding of the great men and women of our past goes along way in developing good, solid and useful adults when studied by the young. Books such as this go along way in making that happen. Of the several biographies written for this age group addressing Lincoln, this is by far the best. I highly recommend this one.

"More books have been written about Lincoln than any other American," says Sullivan in his biography of our sixteenth President. Not all of them are well done - but this one is excellent and deserves a place on the shelf next to Freedman's Caldecott award-wining Lincoln: A Photobiography (Houghton Mifflin, 1987). Sullivan defines primary and secondary sources, then describes the life and times of Lincoln with a liberal sprinkling of quotes from the President and those who knew him. Excerpts from Lincoln's speeches, letters, and other writings are included, explained, and set into context. The Gettysburg address is reproduced in its brief but effective entirety. The book also gives relates the major events of the Civil War.
The writing is simple and uncluttered, and the oversized text and well-spaced lines make for easy reading. Photos and illustrations add to the narrative without distracting. Chapters are tight and concise, and the design (a mix of contemporary borders with Lincoln's handwriting gracing new chapters) is the perfect blend of old and new.
The book meets the usual 100 page requirement for biographies for middle school reports; teachers who may be turned off by the large print and compact size will appreciate the attention to detail as well as the scholarly chronology, bibliography, further reading, photo credits, and index. Pair this fine example of citing sources, acknowledging other points of view and relaying research from primary sources with Holzer's Abraham Lincoln the Writer (Boyds Mill Press 2000).

This is a very difficult book to pigeonhole. It isn't really a "biography" in the typical sense, and yet it does indeed tell the story of Lincoln in a unique, fascinating, and clever way, that is, Anastaplo explains Lincoln in terms of his philosophy, mindset, and outlook as these evolved over the course of his life as seen through the lens of his words and actions. To me there is no better way to explain or know somebody than identifying and understanding what philosophical underpinnings guided their words and actions. We are all guided ultimately, whether we admit it or not, by our worldview (i.e. the collective sum of our beliefs, opinions, and perceptions of reality). What a person believes about any number of foundational questions of human existence (existence of God, human value, equality, morality, etc.) defines who they are, and it is these things that guides ones words and actions, and it is consequently these words and actions that Anastaplo brings to the fore to give us an engrossing account of one of the most fascinating and brilliant human beings in history. Anastaplo never says the equivalent of, "Lincoln believed such and such...", but rather lets you glean that for yourself based on Lincoln's evolution of thought and word. Although Anastaplo does help "frame" the discussion of Lincoln in a philosophical context by providing some helpful background info and by culling the pertinent details of Lincoln's life such that the reader has a firm foundation from which to ponder Lincoln's mindset and how that mindset provoked his subsequent words and actions, he (Anastaplo) never attempts to spoon-feed or dogmatize.

Ever wonder: So what's the big deal with Lincoln? Anastaplo gives the answer. You cannot help but come away with an almost reverential regard for Lincoln, not because he was so "good" or because he was so much better than anybody else, but because you see in Lincoln all the flaws, contradictions, and insecurities that plague us all. Lincoln was by no means perfect, as none of us are, but despite his flaws Lincoln shows us a profound picture of greatness in his patience, eloquence, and ability to learn from and reflect upon life and use the gifts we've been given to strive for good. In short, its all the things that make a hero a hero. A hero isn't a hero because he/she is perfect but because they are great despite imperfection. But I digress...

This book is essentially a collection of essays Anastaplo wrote and lectured on over the course of his career. But don't let that dissuade you from reading. There is undeniable continuity and cohesion such that the essays seem to flow naturally into one another without unnecessarily overlapping or regurgitating other portions of the the book. I will warn however, that while this book isn't terribly long it is dense and requires effort. I found myself having to focus with an unusual amount of concentration, not because Anastaplo is cumbersome or because what he says is so difficult to understand, but because the nature of the material prompts and requires a huge amount of thought and reflection...and I LOVED it.

Of all the books I've ever read this one remains in my top ten and I have no doubt that I will dip into it again and again over the course of my life, and in fact already have. If you are a seeker and love American history, do yourself a favor and read this book. You will be challenged and you will learn as much about yourself as about Abraham Lincoln.

Despite the fact that this book is in fact a compilation of essays written over a nearly forty year period, it possesses a unity and coherence that would put many other works of "scholarship' to shame. Anastaplo is an amazingly learned, thoughtful,and spiritually sensitive man. He is also that rarity, an INTELLIGENT patriot. One cannot help but think, reading his reflections on Lincoln and the founding, that he would have made a superb addition to the Supreme Court, despite the fact that he The Illinois State Bar , deeming him a 'security risk"(!!), refused to grant him permission to practice law back during the McCarthy era. He certainly understands the constitution better than several of the Justices.

This book - like Janis Herbert's previous works - strongly recognizes the "learn by doing" educational method. The activities, while simple and straightforward, challenge, teach and provide a fun-filled approach to appreciating this great American president.

The Civil War for Kids: A History with 21 Activities (For Kids series)

I have all of the books written by Janis Herbert in this "... for Kids" series ("Leonardo da Vinci...," "Lewis & Clark...," "Civil War...," "Marco Polo..." and "American Revolution..."). Each of these books is excellent, so I had high expectations when I learned that a new one was coming out. And I was not disappointed in the least!

"Abraham Lincoln for Kids" is interesting, informative, entertaining, well-written and beautifully illustrated. And I can't imagine that there is any limit to the audience for this book. Clearly, it will be useful for classroom teachers, homeschoolers, and parents looking for a book for their children to read and/or to provide them with educational activities. But Janis Herbert's particular gift is that the content of her books and her writing style are totally accessible to and fun for children, but sophisticated enough to engage and enlighten adults as well -- and even those without children!

The timing of the publication of this book is also fortuitous. 2009 is the 200th anniversary of Lincoln's birth, and there will certainly be much discussion of, and numerous events celebrating, him, his life and his accomplishments before and during that Bicentennial year. Reading this book now will enable you and/or your children to enjoy fully and participate informedly in these discussions and events.

This book reveals a side about Abraham Lincoln with direct quotes that isn't politcally correct today. I studied history at state university and became a librarian and am thrilled to see the personal faith of Lincoln in this book. This man believes in God. This book should be reprinted in hardback for all libraries. Highly recommended.

Abraham Lincoln: The Christian leaves no doubt in the mind where Mr. Lincoln's heart was. Fundamentally sound faith is evident in Mr. Lincoln's writings and speeches. One of the greatest books on one of our finest presidents

History, a great story and an authentic historical craft! Not only that, but just the right size for girl-sized hands. A+++++++ Cannot be beat!

This is a short story in the American Girls Short Stories series about Addy Walker, a ten-year-old African-American girl living in the America of 1865. After the joy of celebrating the end of the Civil War, Addy's world is thrown into confusion when she receives the news the President Abraham Lincoln was shot. All her hopes for a better future seem gone. However, just when things look their darkest, Addy finds reason to hope.

The final chapter is a historical look at Lincoln's death and its aftermath, and then a nice quiz on Mr. Lincoln. (My eleven-year-old daughter got 8 out of 8!) Once again, Connie Porter has produced a great Addy book, one that shows what life was really like, and teaches a lesson. We highly recommend this book!