This was my first biography of Abraham Lincoln and I learned quite a bit. Though this book chronicled the entirety of Lincoln's life, the presidency was the majority of this book. It was well written and Meachen wove primary sources throughout the text in an easy to digest manner. It was not clunky like some biographies. If you are looking to learn more about the Lincoln presidency as well as his thoughts on many of the days important views this will serve as a good read.

And there was Light is written by Jon Meacham. Lincoln is one of the most written about US presidents. However, this book is one of the best ones that I have read. The author portrays Lincoln in a positive way. This is not only a biography of Lincoln, but also his values. I always love reading about Lincoln's beginnings and the challenges that he overcame to become President. Lincoln dealt with a lot in his life. The nation was divided, loss of his children. I really like how the author wrote about some of Lincoln's moral judgements and inner thoughts.
Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read a copy of this book - all thoughts are my own.

As someone who is highly fascinated by American politics and its nation’s character, this was a fenomonal read. Jon Meacham was able to present a complicated part of American history in an accessible way. We get to take a peak inside the life of Abraham Lincoln that I have not seen before, it was very well done! We get to know what drove him, what his character was made of and we get to understand how he dealt with a very polarized nation. I cannot recommend this book enough.

And There was Light has made me really think about slavery and the civil war in a whole new light. I always thought that Lincoln was striving for equal rights and it sounds like that was not the case. Lincoln was against slavery, that one man should not own another, but not for equal rights.

History books have always told us that the family of Lincoln was poor. But this book told me so much more about his family and how it impacted his life. How his family shaped his views on religion, moral philosophies and slavery. This book tells us that Lincoln's top priority was saving the Union and then abolishing slavery.

Lincoln was a political figure that was willing to lose to stand for what he thought was right at the time. This book is such an interesting look at a great man from our history that most of us think we know. I bought the audiobook to listen to in the future.

Once again Mr. Meacham has done wonders with his writing and insight into the spirituality of Lincoln. Having read many Books on Lincoln.. Meacham’s research and new material in And There Was Light amazes! I can’t wait for his next book! Well done.

A great work on the life of Lincoln. I am always impressed with each new biography of Lincoln is presented. To see Jon Meacham tackle this as well as he has covered other subjects he has published is deeply satisfying. I would recommend this to any other Lincoln aficionado.

Many thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this new work. I am a huge fan of this author so this review is absolutely biased. I have read more than 10 Lincoln books and would not likely have read this if by any other author. I am amazed at the never-ending slew of new books on Lincoln. Meacham is such a fine writer (and speaker) that I could not resist this. This was a joy to read (as are ALL of his other books). Yes, I learned many new things about Lincoln while on this journey but I mainly enjoyed the ride. Meacham is such a thinker that I just went along with this for the experience of seeing my favorite author tackle one of the most important Presidents. Definitely recommend this one.

Jon Meacham has provided us with a great biography of Abraham Lincoln. It is especially good and timely because of the many divisions in the United States. Our country is more divided than any time since the Civil War. And learning about Lincoln and the evolution of his beliefs could yield a few useful lessons that could help us through the current situation.

The full title is "And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle" by Jon Meacham. First, I should thank Netgalley for the chance to read an ARC before publication. I did actually start it before publication but it took a while to read the book and write a review.

According to Amazon the hardcover version is 720 pages. So it is a long book. But according to my Kindle about half on the ARC was references. So it is not overly long. But it is a biography with much to think about so it did take me a while to read it.

Jon Meacham is an expert American historian and biographer. He is also a fine writer. I particularly liked the way he explained the development of his ideas and how he implemented them during his Presidency.

It is a great book and an important book. I highly recommend this biography of Abraham Lincoln.

This is THE book you need to read to clear up any question about Abraham Lincoln’s feelings on and actions against slavery. Not surprisingly, people on both ends of the political spectrum accuse Lincoln of being a racist, being more concerned with politics than slavery, etc. Some identify themselves with his political party while simultaneously believing in the “The Lost Cause.” Quotes of Lincoln’s are taken out of context and out of the time and culture in which they were spoken and compared to current standards. One thing that is certain is that the people who do this don’t know what they are talking about and have likely never cracked a history book. Jon Meacham knows what he is talking about. Meacham invests himself fully in telling the story of Abraham Lincoln from start to finish, and placing him in THE CORRECT HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE.

It has been pointed out that although Meacham includes formative events in Lincoln’s life that many things are left out. True. But then this text is focused on Lincoln’s faith and his feelings toward slavery. That is set forth forcefully with quotes and anecdotes that show clearly that even though Lincon may not have used 21st century appropriate language, his feelings towards the enslaved were humane and his distaste for the hideous practice is clear.

One thing that stood out explicitly for me was that Lincoln knew what persuaded the voters of his time. He sometimes hedged his bet and placated people who didn’t want change, who didn’t want an end to slavery. But he had the end game in sight. He needed to have political power to make the changes he could see were necessary: freeing the slaves while keeping the Union intact. To be capable of freeing slaves, that intact Union first needed to elect him to a position of power, and then he had to hold the Union together during and after emancipation. An almost Sisyphean task. He could not let the ambitious South expand into an empire that went southward through the Caribbean, across Mexico, and into South America, as well as to the islands of the Pacific. What a scary thought: an empire of slaves across the hemisphere.

Meacham extensively examines Lincon’s faith; it is faith in God and knowledge of the Bible, along with tough life lessons that formed the core of Lincoln’s morals. The author gives us examples of ministers preaching on both sides of the slavery issue while invoking God’s name just as lay people did. And both sides of the divide were certain that God was with them and them alone.

I read an electronic version of this book so I don’t know exact numbers, but about 400 pages is devoted to the narrative, and around 300 pages are endnotes. I haven’t seen that many endnotes since I was on law review! If you love history about Abraham Lincoln, the U.S. Civil War, and the history of slavery/race relations in the U.S., the footnotes are pure gold. I always read the footnotes and this book was no exception. Amidst the footnotes are little-known facts; there is so much that I learned about Lincoln and his contemporaries.

A big thank you to author Jon Meacham, publisher Random House, and NetGalley for a pre-publication eGalley. My opinions are my own and I received nothing for this review.

This book delivers on the promise you would expect when one of the most noteworthy historian and presidential biographer writes a biography on arguably our greatest ever president. It is meticulous and therefore understandably long, and perhaps therefore manages to deliver unique perspectives, even even for someone like me who has read a lot about a Lincoln. I feel like many Lincoln books focus on him navigating through his presidency, and somewhat on his earlier political career and presidential campaigns, but this is a complete picture of Lincoln's life that really delves into his earlier years as well, which are largely mythologized in the common paradigm on Lincoln. Even in his writing about Lincoln's presidency Meacham provides unique insights into Lincoln's thought processes and historical moments that in many ways aren't all that different from our current times. Therefore, while this is a biography and not a leadership book, like others written about Lincoln, the leadership lessons are also subtlety there. If you are a fan of Lincoln, history, or Meacham you will not be disappointed with this book, but I would also recommend it to others that might like to glean hope for how we might rise out of our current time of political turmoil.

“Lincoln’s acceptance of the moral case against slavery and his rejection of the passivity of Calvinistic predestination would help determine the course of his life, and of the nation’s.”

“In life, Lincoln’s motives were moral as well as political – a reminder that our finest presidents are those committed to bringing a flawed nation closer to the light, a mission that requires an understanding that politics divorced from conscience is fatal to the American experiment in liberty under law.”

This is an extensively researched account of an American president faced with a polarized nation. It explores how he grew as a man as his principles, conscience and religious beliefs coalesced. I have read other Lincoln biographies so I was familiar with a lot of this material, but this book took a slightly different approach to Lincoln’s complicated story. He was melancholy, shy, brilliant, ambitious, tender hearted and (fortunately for the country) amazingly steadfast in the face of opposition. “The world shall know that I will keep my faith to friends & enemies, come what will.”

I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher. I also listened to the audiobook (excellently narrated by the author), which ended at about the 41% point of the ebook. The rest of the ebook contains Source Notes and a Bibliography.

Jon Meacham is the highly regarded author of a number of biographies; among these are books on Jefferson, John Lewis and Andrew Jackson. Now Meacham has turned his attention to one of the country’s best known presidents. Here is a fascinating look back at Lincoln and his divisive times. Oh, so many, wish that we had a leader like him now.

This book is long and one that a reader may approach in a slow and steady manner. There is so much to savor here. There are many Lincolns within these pages; thre is a public man of strong morals who got to the presidency from what many saw as inauspicious beginnings. Lincoln was also a private man; his wife was a complex woman and so was his marriage. In addition, Lincoln knew private grief through the death of his son. Lincoln was a leader in wartime, a man who kept a battered country together. There is so much that can be learned from him. I am aware that I am just skimming the surface here. Read this book to learn more for yourself.

Those who enjoy autobiography and those who want to reflect on other troubled times in U.S. history, will want to have this book on their shelves.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this title. All opinions are my own.

Jon Meacham is the master of Presidential Historical Biographies and this book shows it. And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle is the book everyone needs to read this fall and is the perfect dad gift.

This book was incredibly interesting as Jon Meacham normally captures moments in history with such a well-researched lens. I feel like I learned a lot even though I feel like this space in the book world can be pretty saturated. I loved it.

Jon Meacham is a master storyteller. He brings every subject that he tells to life. And There Was Life is filled with so many details about Abraham Lincoln’s life. Meacham’s writing style is easy to read and keeps the reader eager to learn more. I highly recommend this book.

Ultimately, one of the major tests for a work of non-fiction is whether it rings true and can teach the reader something new. Meacham's And There Was Light passes the test.

The book can be a bit long and dense. The author's unabashed admiration for his subject is obvious. His belief in Lincoln as an ardent abolitionist is one of the strongest I have read. But Meacham makes a strong case and is not just credible but also convincing in making his case. The book is well researched and fully documented.

This reader has studied and read extensively about Lincoln over many years. But this book contained new material and brought evidence as well as logic I have not seen elsewhere. It is a worthy addition to any bookshelf, especially one steeped in American history.

Meacham does it again! I have read several books on Lincoln, and I wonder what else authors can have to say on this man about whom so much has been written. Yet, Meacham again shows his scholarship and attention to research to portray Lincoln from a fresh angle. Through Meacham's writing, I gained new respect for Lincoln as a critical thinker who examined all sides of an issue before making a decision. Lincoln knew his actions would affect posterity, and Meacham analyzes how Lincoln weighed and calculated his decisions to do what was best for the unity of a nation. Meacham has written a book that tells the history of a past era, but in doing so, he provides an example of a man who really had unity foremost in his mind. This book should be read not only by the average American, but those who represent us in government as well. In doing so, we could all reap lessons and work together for a more perfect union.

A very light biography of Lincoln with the usual rehashing of the often told tales. Meacham is attempting to ex;ind on other themes as evidenced by his sidebars, which detract from the essence of Lincoln.
When discussing Lincoln’s heritage, I was a bit surprised to read his assertion that Lincoln spoke quite harshly about his mother. I looked at his sources and he relies solely on William Herndon’s book, which in and of itself is problematic.
If you’re just beginning on you’re Lincoln ride, this book offers a cursory look, but there are so many other volumes to select. .

Pulitzer prize winning biographer Jon Meacham has chosen Abraham Lincoln as the subject of his newest book "And There Was Light." I am a long time reader of Meacham's books, as they are always well researched and beautifully written.
Much has been written about Lincoln, but Meacham quotes Bram Stoker as saying that no one in the future can ever really know Lincoln. Yet we continue to try.
Meacham's contribution to our continued study of Lincoln the man and the politican shows readers that Lincoln was not a perfect person, but one who had to work within the system he lived in, sometimes acting strictly for political reasons, as politicians have always had to do.
Meacham makes many references to Lincoln's early life and what influenced his moral and religious beliefs. His relationship with his religion and with God evolved throughout Lincoln's life, especially after the death of his son Willie.
Meacham cites W.E.B. DuBois in 1922 saying about Lincoln, " 'I love him not because he was perfect but because he was not and yet triumphed'."

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy for review. "And There Was Light" is a very readable addition to our study of Abraham Lincoln.

This is the second book of Meacham's that I have read. I requested a review copy of this book because I had enjoyed Franklin & Winston so much. That book was an intimate portrait of a friendship between Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill, providing a detailed look into the character of each man and how the two became close during World War II. So when I saw he was writing about Abraham Lincoln, I jumped at the chance.

Unlike Franklin & Winston, this book reads more like a philosophical treatise. I did enjoy learning how Lincoln's religious, moral, and political philosophies developed over his lifetime-particularly with respect to the fundamental issue of his time: slavery, and in turn, liberty and equality. From his youth in poverty in the midwest countryside to his career as a lawyer in Illinois, to, of course, the presidency, we are given a painstakingly detailed view of how Lincoln toed the line between his personal religious and moral view of slavery with political expediency. We read about how Lincoln grappled with how to save the Union, and how to bring the American people, who were overwhelmingly (of course) so prejudiced toward the slaves and generally unwilling to sacrifice their lives to end slavery, along with him into concluding that the end of slavery was just, and the realization of the self-evident truths contained in the Declaration of Independence that all men are created equal was a cause worth dying for.

Where this fell short for me, however, was the length and repetitiveness. Meacham repeats the main premise over, and over, and over again: Lincoln wasn't perfect, he wasn't willing to say that the races were equal, but then he wanted to end slavery, but not while sacrificing peace, he was driven by the words of the Declaration of Independence, and so on and so forth, almost ad nauseum. Yes, Lincoln's religious, moral, and political views changed over time, but we are told some of the same views repeatedly. I think this narrative would have been better served in demonstrating how Lincoln achieved (or failed) in changing the hearts and minds of his fellow Americans. This is touched on in the text, but in my opinion, not enough. And the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment itself is almost glossed over entirely (approximately two or three paragraphs in total!!). But overall I think this an interesting entry into the vast array of writings on Lincoln because of its focus on Lincoln's personal moral philosophy and how he attempted to translate those philosophies into action, even when at times he appeared to stand alone.