Lincoln Books

I picked up A Guide Book of Lincoln Cents by Q. David Bowers last weekend and thought I would post a review of what I thought of it.

It starts off with a nice forward by Charles D. Daughtrey and moves into some very interesting sections. There is of course the history of the Lincoln Cent both wheat and memorial reverse. Then it moves into the minting process. After that it goes into the proofs and how they were made from 1909 to date.

The proof section I found very informative and interesting, after that it goes into grading Lincoln Cents, Mr. Bowers is very honest when it comes to third party grading services and provides some background on when they started.

It then moves into how to be a smart buyer, ways to collect, then finally analysis and market guide to Lincoln Cents. For each year he describes how the dies were that year, what was going on in the world of numismatics, some nice notes, striking and sharpness population reports for MS wheat coins and PF for memorials. There is also a price guide that is pretty close.

What I found interesting was how he took quotes, articles, and other things of interest from some other very popular Lincoln experts. He tried to offer both sides of the fence views and some issues. Take the 22 no "D", there is an quote from Chuck that explains how it is nothing more than a worn out die.

The book has nice color pictures for each year (I think they need to be a little larger)

Things I would change about the book would be- Larger pictures for the grading section, population reports for key dates that go before MS-65 and population reports for MS memorial cents and PF wheat cents.

All in all I would give this book a 9 on a scale of 1-10 and would recommend it to any Lincoln collector.

Coin collectors who are gathering Lincoln cents have lots to work with and understand: it's the country's longest-running coin series. This official guide covers its history, rarity, values, grading and many varieties as the coin nears its 100th anniversary and most importantly, discusses some of the greatest challenges to coin collecting. Tips on buying, selling, and grading a Lincoln cents collection makes for a fine market analysis for all dates and mintmarks, and even includes an appendix on error coins. Any library strong in coin collecting at any level must have this reference.

My kids just love Jamela. It is so good for kids to read about children in other countries. Children without hundreds of toys and endless pressure on them, but with a loving family and community where fun things happen. We also enjoyed "christmas" and Yebo Jamela.

my granddaughter and I have read this book a dozen times since Christmas, when Santa brought her the book. She has taken it to school to share with the other girls. It is a total joy. It would have been even better, it there would have been a little explanation of the country the story was taking place in.

When I was pregnant with my second child, this book (then called Welcome With Love) was our daughter's birthing prep book. We read it over and over again. Julie Vivas' illustrations are beautiful. When we homebirthed our second baby, our daughter knew a lot of what to expect because of the text that is written through a child's eyes. Definitely one of my favorites!

First, this book is beautifully illustrated and written. The text is calm and lyrical, almost like a poem. The pictures in pastel chalks are rich and warm. This is also the only 'new baby' book I was able to find that featured a home birth. We wanted to prepare our then 3-year-old daughter for the home birth of her sister, and help her understand what would be happening, if it turned out that she wanted to be there. This book is realistic without being graphic, and perfect for kids. I highly recommend this beautiful, touching story.

The pictures are imaginative.Zeldis does a terrific job of making the paintings come to live. The pictures alone tell a story. The words by Kunhardt make the story enjoyable and easy to understand. The book has real events that occured when lincoln was president. Children learn about history and the events that took place during Lincoln's term in office.

The perfect picture book biography about Lincoln. With bold, colorful illustrations the illustrator allows the author to cover dicey parts of Lincoln's story (ie., assassination) by portraying the subjects with folk-style looking characters. For example the scene where Lincoln is shot is appropriate for young kids to look at as it is not graphic nor bloody. Somehow, it works and allows for a discussion about how Lincoln died and why he died.Outstanding effort! Plus the book is bigger than average picture books!

At fourteen, I have to read many biographies about famous presidents, since I'm homeschooled and my dad is big on history. He gave me this book to read, and to my surprise, it was the only biography of Lincoln that I have ever read in which I found myself grieving that he was murdered. With every other biography, I was always glad when he finally got shot, just so the book would end already.

I read this book nearly 7 years ago and still remember a few of the anecdotes with fondness. At the time I was 13 and could appreciate the simple logic of Mr. Lincoln and his sparkling wit. I'd recommend this to anyone looking for a nostalgic read that won't confront you with questions about Lincoln's political ambitions or racial attitudes. It is simply about a man, famous though he may have been, he was also smart and funny. In an age when humor is all about hurtful, shock-value jokes, this reminds us that it takes far more to make someone laugh and be able to do so more than 100 years after you are gone.

David M. Silver was a student of the famous Lincoln scholar Dr. James G. Randall at the University of Illinois. Seeking further information on Constitutional issues encountered by Lincoln during his presidency, Dr. Randall encouraged my father to write this book. He also supervised much of the research. A hardcover copy of Lincoln's Supreme Court was published by the University of Illinois Press in 1956.

On March 4, 1861, the Chicago Tribune expressed the view that no Republican victory was complete until a national convention could be called and a constitutional amendment enacted to modify the power of a Supreme Court that had enunciated the "evil" principles of the Dred Scott decision. It proposed reconstructing the Court "by dropping off a few of its members, and the appointment of better men in their places." A few weeks later, the New York Tribune published a similar message and proposed increasing the size of the Court to 13. On December 4, 1861, the day after Lincoln's first annual message to Congress, Radicals led by Senator John P. Hale of New Hampshire introduced a resolution that proposed "to inquire into the expediency and propriety of abolishing the present Supreme Court" and establish a new one. Senator Hale charged that the Court had failed in its duty to the nation and that it lacked the confidence and respect of the people. Shortly thereafter, the New York Tribune renewed its call to reform the Court by stating "The present rebellion...is due quite as much to an unsound and unwise decision of the Supreme Court as to any other single cause."

In response to Brian McGinty's review posted below, it should be noted that President Lincoln appointed four associate justices (Noah H. Swayne, Samuel F. Miller, David Davis and Stephen J. Field) to the Supreme Court. The Field appointment increased the size of the Court to 10 and ensured that a majority of the Court would be sympathetic to the Lincoln administration. In addition, Lincoln appointed Salmon P. Chase to replace Chief Justice Roger B. Taney, who died on October 12, 1864.

President Lincoln and Chief Justice Taney disagreed on the scope of the president's powers in a time of war. It was a bitter controversy involving civil liberties and the suspension of the writ of habeas corpus (the Vallandigham case) and continued until the aged Taney died in 1864. Sources indicate the Lincoln administration delayed the famous Prize Cases, dealing with Lincoln's presidential powers, until he had made three appointments to fill Court vacancies. The validity of the blockade along the coast of the Confederate states, ordered by Lincoln in April 1861, was at stake. The cases were argued before the Court on February 10-25, 1863. Lincoln expected his three appointees to join other loyal members of the Court to uphold his policy, which they did.

On February 20, 1863, while the Prize Cases were being argued, Milton S. Latham of California introduced into the Senate a bill to provide for a tenth circuit consisting of California and Oregon. Believing that swift action was necessary, the Senate passed the bill on February 26, and the House concurred shortly thereafter. The bill creating a tenth justice was signed by House Speaker Galusha A. Grow on March 3 and sent to President Lincoln, who approved it the same day, exactly one week before the decision in the Prize Cases (a vote of 5 to 4 in Lincoln's favor) was announced. By increasing the size of the Court from 9 to 10, the largest it has ever been, President Lincoln and Congress were sending a clear message to the Court. A tenth justice increased the margin of safety necessary to ensure that Lincoln administration policies were sustained. Above all, President Lincoln was devoted to the restoration of the Union. He was willing to use judicial appointments and emergency powers in a time of war to his advantage. To say it was Lincoln's Supreme Court is, indeed, appropriate and correct.

Reissued in 1998, this 50-year-old work is an excellent overview of the makeup, decisions, and controversies revolving around President Lincoln and his Supreme Court. The battles between Lincoln and Chief Justice Roger B. Taney, especially in the Prize cases, Lincoln's suspension of habeus corpus, the Merryman case, and the issuance of paper money, were bitterly contested, with the ability of the government to rule and maintain itself during civil war at issue. Taney was a hated man throughout the country ever since his decision in the Dred Scott case, and the reader can almost here the sigh of relief (even glee in some quarters) when he died in October of 1864 at age 87. Lincoln's habeus corpus suspensions, especially in the case of former Representative Clement Vallandigham, brought much criticism down on the president's head, though, as Silver makes clear, Lincoln was against certain people using "the rights and privileges of the Constitution in order to undermine the authority of the Federal Union." Lincoln "packing the court" and the fact that each Supreme Court justice had to ride a circuit court (something I didn't know) are also deftly discussed. The book is a handsome introduction to the subject, which is an important and often neglected one: indeed, some of Lincoln's Supreme Court battles were as critical to the fate of the Union as Antietam or Gettysburg.

Very well written. Just what I had hoped it would be. I plan to buy other books by the same author

Derek Fell does it again! Amazing photography combined with very well researched and written text, sprinkled with occasional glimpses of the original paintings. However, it and "Monet's Garden" are very similar. I personally liked the latter so much I bought several other of his works, and they all are exceptional.

I found the book an enjoyable and interesting account about a unique group of VIPs. Their individual and collective views provided a dichodemy of approaches/resolutions to saving the Union, abolishing slavery, mending the Nations socio-economic system, etc.
The authors address to "assimilation: remains a key to social progress, even to this day.
At first glimpse, I had reservations that the essence of one of our nations most important and longest lasting issues could be captured with such brevity.
The book is thought provoking and cuts to the chase; I can only hope continued progress is forthcoming.
I highly recommend this book, especially because it is a quick read.

I highly recommend "In Lincoln's Shadow". I found it enjoyable, enlightening and easy to read. The author's own insight and delicate telling of these unique historical figures helps transform pure facts into an informative recounting that is rare. The author paints a picture for each period of history to set the tone and delivers personal points that move the historic figures to a level that quickly captures the reader's empathy, illuminating the struggles and conflicts that existed. The author's ideal of "bronzing of America" is a hopeful challenge to us in the present time that I hope one day becomes a reality. It's a quick read that leaves a lasting impression.

Shirer writes a wonderful, exciting memoir of what it was like to be in Europe as Hitler began his rise to power.

As I read, I became aware that Hitler could have been stopped many times before the U.S. became involved. Had the French or the British acted in a timely manner, Hitler could have been squashed like a bug before all the destruction and loss of life. But politics got in the way and everyone seemed afraid to call Hitler on his obvious, transparent lies and bold treaty violations. Churchill had his number, but he was criticized strongly. Everyone believed Hitler's lies, they closed their eyes and allowed him to grow powerful. He bluffed everyone.

I enjoyed the book and found it good reading. Now I am reading Shirer's Rise and Fall of the Third Reich. I recommend The Nightmare Years as a good preface.

In this superb memoir, William L. Shirer describes life inside Nazi Germany from his six-year perch (1934-1940) as a foreign correspondent for newspapers and CBS radio. Readers get a feel for everyday life in Nazi Germany as Hitler consolidated his power, crushed (or killed) his opponents, and put the jobless to work building a war machine for future conquest.

Shirer begins by describing his days in Vienna, Afghanistan, Spain, and France, but the book's heart comes with his posting to Berlin in 1934. Readers learn about Gestapo terror, prewar rearmament, increasing anti-Semitism, and the devotion of many (but not all) Germans to their violent Fuehrer. Shirer also examines the inexplicable appeasement policies of France and Britain - policies that leave one as baffled today as in the 1930's. The author recounts joining Ed Murrow at CBS Radio in 1938 and then broadcasting events such as the Anchluss (takeover) of Austria, the betrayal at Munich, and the German invasion of Poland. Shirer also recounts traveling with the German army as it tore through Belgium in 1940, seeing Paris under Nazi rule, and broadcasting the French surrender. The book's nicely readable prose vividly recreates the stifling atmosphere and the unfolding, utterly preventable tragedy.

Journalist-author William L. Shirer (1904-93) wrote superbly readable eye-witness accounts of 20th Century history. This 1984 memoir was his final bestseller on Nazi Germany, and every bit as readable as the earlier two, BERLIN DIARY (1941) and RISE AND FALL OF THE THIRD REICH (1960).

you can finish this book in one sitting, if you are so inclined. it is the first hand account of thomas jones, who hid and cared for booth and herold in a pine thicket for 5 days and 4 nights before he launched them off into the potomac for virginia. another person put into a situation by booth. he makes no excuses. it is what it is.

If you like Lincoln you will love this book.Long title but its excellent reading.Best book on Lincoln Ive read in a long time.