This is one of the most original, important Lincoln works of the young century--certain to provoke discussion and appreciation alike and add a crucial new layer to the Lincoln story. -- Harold Holzer, co-chairman, U.S. Lincoln Bicentennial CommissionShenk brilliantly peels away the onion of myth and sentiment to reveal the compelling, tortured soul beneath. -- Jonathan Alter, NewsweekDrawing on seven years of his own research and the work of other esteemed Lincoln scholars, Joshua Wolf Shenk reveals how the sixteenth president harnessed his depression to fuel his astonishing success. Lincoln found the solace and tactics he needed to deal with the nation's worst crisis in the coping strategies he had developed over a lifetime of persevering through depressive episodes and personal tragedies.Shenk relates Lincoln's symptoms, including at least two major breakdowns, and offers compelling evidence of the evolution of his disease, from major depression in his twenties and thirties to chronic depression later on. Shenk reveals the treatments Lincoln endured and his efforts to come to terms with his melancholy. By consciously shifting his goal away from personal contentment (which he realized he could not attain) and toward universal justice, Lincoln gained the strength and insight that he, and America, required to transcend profound darkness. Excerpted from Lincoln's Melancholy: How Depression Challenged a President and Fueled His Greatness by Joshua Wolf Shenk All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.
