Team of Rivals cover art

Team of Rivals

The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln

Preview
LIMITED TIME OFFER

3 Months Free

£5.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly.
Get this deal
Offer ends on 15 July 2026 at 11:59 BST.
More purchase options

Team of Rivals

By: Doris Kearns Goodwin
Narrated by: Suzanne Toren
Get this deal

£5.99/mo after 3 months. Cancel monthly.

Buy Now for £15.24

Buy Now for £15.24

Brought to you by Penguin.

The bestselling and prize-winning study of one of the most legendary American Presidents in history, Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin is the book that inspired Barack Obama in his presidency.

When Barack Obama was asked which book he could not live without in the White House, his answer was instant: Team of Rivals. This monumental and brilliant work has given Obama the model for his presidency, showing how Abraham Lincoln saved America by appointing his fiercest rival to key cabinet positions. As well as a thrilling piece of narrative history, it's an inspiring study of one of the greatest leaders the world has ever seen.

'A wonderful book . . . a remarkable study in leadership' Barack Obama

'A portrait of Lincoln as a virtuosic politician and managerial genius' The New York Times

'I have not enjoyed a history book as much for years' Robert Harris


Doris Kearns Goodwin is the doyenne of US presidential historians, and one of the most acclaimed non-fiction authors in the world. Her works include Lyndon Johnson and the American Dream, The Fitzgeralds and the Kennedys: An American Saga, and No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, for which she won the Pulitzer Prize for History in 1995.

© Doris Kearns Goodwin 2009 (P) Penguin Audio 2021

Politics & Activism Presidents & Heads of State Abraham Lincoln War Civil War Thought-Provoking Inspiring Suspenseful Biography Suffrage
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1

Critic reviews

A wonderful book ... a remarkable study in leadership (Barack Obama)
The most uplifting book that I have read in the last two decades. Sensational (Jon Snow)
I have not enjoyed a history book as much for years (Robert Harris)
A fabulously engrossing, exciting narrative in the grand old style ... overflowing with colour and character (Dominic Sandbrook)
A brilliant book ... I couldn't get enough of it (Alex Ferguson)
Goodwin's narrative abilities are on full display here. A portrait of Lincoln as a virtuosic politician and managerial genius (Michiko Kakutani)
All stars
Most relevant
Main points

Close to customers
External rather than internally focused
Long term over short term
Influence instead of power
Not allowing oneself to be emotionally hijacked
Empathy for other roles
Constant communication
Vision
Simple language and analogues as communication

Best Product Management book on the market

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

This in depth study of Abraham Lincoln, American politics and the Civil War is insightful and refreshing. I could not stop listening.

Riviting, in depth study of Lincoln

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Good book, good reader. Dorris writes an insightful novel that covers Lincoln’s life. Much easier on audience than the physical book

Insightful

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

I have been frustrated by the lack of an audio version of this book for a long time. I was so keen to hear it that I emailed the author and publisher and was extremely excited when it landed on Audible.
Having just finished it I can honestly say that it exceeded my wildest expectations. It is fascinating, inspiring, moving and sometimes even funny.
It is, essentially, a biography of Lincoln but it is so much more. Anyone who leads people or faces challenges should listen or read this. Obama cites it as one of his inspirations and I really understand why.
Listen, learn, laugh and cry. You will be glad you did.

Truly amazing and should be compulsory listening

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

Lincoln was a genius and this book underlines that fact superbly. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

A brilliant read

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

See more reviews