A master class in rhetoric from the man himself

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This recorded course from the spectacular Great Courses series serves as both a master class in the art of rhetoric, and a deep dive into the evolving philosophies of Abraham Lincoln through his remarkable career. Listening to this course will forever change your view about the 16th president, the civil war, and the state of the union and racism in the mid-19th century.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Abraham Lincoln: In His Own Words?

Perhaps it's because my interest was more about the latter than the former, but I will admit that I didn't really get seriously into this course until about halfway through, when we got to Lincoln's presidency, the Civil War, and his most famous speeches.

The Lincoln Douglas debates during his early Senatorial race are fascinating, but they took up a lot of this course and the discussion around them was as much about Lincoln's debating style and tactics as it was about the substance of his developing philosophy. All that being said, I must admit that understanding how his philosophies developed over time is critical to understanding the man in his later years (and critical for understanding how his 1858 "House Divided" speech was misunderstood then and still today).

What about Professor David Zarefsky’s performance did you like?

Professor Zarefsky is passionate about the subject and is clearly among the foremost Lincoln scholars.

Any additional comments?

It is worth noting that this course is one of the oldest of The Great Courses recordings, dating back to the 1990s. It's introduced as "The Great Courses on Tape"(!) and Professor Zarefsky can actually be heard flipping pages of notes as he speaks. This of course takes nothing from the excellent presentation of the material.

14 people found this helpful

political leader, in the best sense of the word

? do you have an enduring fascination with abraham lincoln
? do today's modern political candidates seem cheap by comparison
? would it be helpful to know the origins of lincoln's words and thoughts

david zarefsky been a university professor of lincoln's rhetoric for a generation
it's probably very appropriate that he teaches at Northwestern in Chicago, Illinois
his insightful familiarity with all of lincoln's writings and speeches is self-evident

zarefsky's examination of the term rhetoric was, for me, particularly useful
rhetoric, by its' very nature, is speech that tries to convince or persuade
it keeps in mind, at all times, the nature and prejudices of its' intended audience

lincoln's emancipation and inaugural and gettysburg addresses are familiar
but, the memorable themes of those speeches are found in his earlier discourses
zarefsky has the ability to connect those dots in a profound and indelible way

4 people found this helpful

We should never forget this president

This course is very enlightening to say the least.
The professor is engaging and interesting to listen to. I enjoyed his enthusiasm for the text.
his dissection of the Lincoln speeches and Lincoln's own words are not to be missed. we will all learn more about President Lincoln and the situation of the Civil War by listening to this course. Lincoln should be considered the greatest orator this nation has ever seen.

3 people found this helpful

First Great Courses experience; highly recommend!

What other book might you compare Abraham Lincoln: In His Own Words to and why?

I listened to this after reading Team of Rivals, which made this quite a bit more enjoyable. It was a great listen and I thoroughly enjoyed the content and deliver.

3 people found this helpful

A New Perspective of an American Icon

I thought I knew about Abraham Lincoln. After all, I was schooled in this country where Lincoln was extolled for "freeing the slaves" and "saving the Union." I had read some fairly long, detailed books covering his life and aspects of his personality. So I was shocked at how totally ignorant I was about many of his beliefs, especially those pertaining to slavery and the rights of the enslaved.

Today, Lincoln would be considered by most to be a racist. He did not believe in true equality, and he opposed the extension of slavery into new territories because he wanted those areas reserved for "free white men." Wow!! While deploring the institution of slavery, he opposed the Abolitionists and instead fiercely supported colonization of former slaves to Africa or Central and South America. He did not believe that the "races" could live together in this country in harmony and equality. And he campaigned on and supported these beliefs throughout most of his life; he reconsidered these positions only during his final year when he grudgingly allowed that the right to vote might be extended to "intelligent Blacks" and those who had fought for the Union during the war.

Professor Zarefsky presented Lincoln to listeners through his speeches from the time he was 28 years old until days just prior to his assassination in April of 1865, but he did this while providing historical and cultural context for them. I came to see Lincoln not as an idealist icon but as a skilled orator and politician--one who was very much in tune with his audiences and with the people he sought to lead. I experienced Lincoln's evolution of thought and belief as events unfolded and as he dealt with the horrors of a long and bloody war.

To be honest, I found the section dealing with the Lincoln/Douglas debates a bit tedious, and yet those speeches were important for my understanding the Gestalt of the times and Lincoln himself. I am rating this course 5 stars, not because I was always absorbed by every lecture, but because, as a whole, it taught me so much so well. And because it changed my perception of perhaps the most significant president in our country's history.

Lincoln had feet of clay, but conceivably his human frailty, as well as his ability to persevere and evolve, were the very qualities that made him great. This is the Lincoln I should have been presented with in high school rather than the model of perfection I remember. We do our young people a disservice when we do not teach them the truth about our national heroes. With appropriate context, they are capable of handling reality, and they would be more engaged in our history than I was in school.

4 people found this helpful

Intimate insight into the mind of Lincoln

Zarefsky approaches this with an even mix of history and rhetorician, analyzing the way Lincoln speaks and spending time on the subtleties and parallels of his speeches. You wouldn't get this quality of lecture or series from a pure history professor, and paying attention to speeches rather than events highlights the tools Lincoln uses and their applicability today

1 person found this helpful

informative and Entertaining

I listened to this twice. there are great lessons within that teach us much not only about history but also about how we ought to approach problems

1 person found this helpful

Great insights into Lincoln and American history

Fantastic course! There is a lot of info on Lincoln here that you won't get taught in diluted high school curricula. One of the most interesting figures in human history and one of its greatest speakers, brought to light through his own words. Way beyond the simplistic "he freed the slaves" line.

1 person found this helpful

Excellent Presentation

This was an excellent presentation of Lincoln in his own words. I learned far more about Lincoln than previously had known and have a much better understanding of Lincoln, his times and his significance in the history of our nation.

1 person found this helpful