Of the more than 20 Lincoln biographies that I have read, this is my favorite. Goodwin paints a wonderful portrait of how Lincoln was able to set aside personal considerations for what was best for the Union. Lincoln rarely allowed insults or political pressures to divert him from seeing what was the right thing to do. The author describes the personalities with fine detail. Her description of the evolving relationship of Henry Seward and the President is, perhaps, the most compelling part of this book.