This is an '100 essential Lincoln books' book. There are lots of good Lincoln essays in here, mostly from the viewpoint of W. H. Lamon, a close friend of Lincoln's. I understand that *some* of the stories may not be totally true, but you still get a nice personal feeling of what Lincoln was like as seen through the eyes of a friend. Many of the stories in this book have since been put into other biographies, but it is still important to read the original. This is not a biography, but more a series of essays covering specific areas of Lincoln's character. I really like the first-person perspective of Lamon, and it can really bring Lincoln to life. Highly recommended. ( )