Lincoln's Melancholy: How Depression Challenged a President and Fueled His Greatness

I learned more about this damn disease from this book that anywhere else I've ever looked or inquired. How Shenk describes Lincoln's use of the tools this malady provides the victim to survive, indeed thrive, in the pressure-cooker scenario of a Civil War Presidency is unlike anything I've ever read on the subject, and is perhaps also dead on. I agree, never are the words of Nietzche "That which does not kill me makes me stronger" more apt than for the survivor of a major depressive disorder. I must say I was quite moved by the insights on how melancholy was viewed as a sort of respectable problem in the mid 1800's. Heck, you were 'deep', not crazy. How nice compared to the general view today.

Lincoln's melancholy has been referred to for years and glossed over attributing it to an unhappy marriage, loss of a child, stress of leadership and momentous times and any number of reasons. Looking back on Lincoln through the lens of today's better, though by no means complete biologic understanding of depression does 2 things that make this a very worthwhile read. 1. It puts Lincoln into a more sympathetic position recognizing the challenges that he faced and makes his accomplishments even more amazing. Lincoln has largely grown to mythological proportions following his death than how he was seen and understood in his own day. He is second only perhaps to Benjamin Franklin in that regard in American History. This helps to pierce the veil somewhat in a way that does nothing to diminish his accomplishments, but in so doing makes him more human and accessible. 2. The treatment of depression itself helps to bring Lincoln's disease into today in a way that hopefully will help those who read this to understand and extend more compassion to those who suffer from it. Those who suffer from it as well may find in this book handles to grasp that offer some hope and understanding. American society if anything, has become less compassionate and understanding of "weakness" in any form. In this work we see such "weakness" juxtaposed with the strength of an icon and it works well. A wonderful merger of biography, history and psychology that bears reading more than once!

Joshua Wolf Shenk's book is a must-read for anyone interested in biographies with depth and personality. Anyone can tell a story with dates, places, facts, figures and family trees, but this book draws out a fascinating side of one of history's most interesting and important figures. Gaining a more clear understanding of the human side of Abraham Lincoln gives us a greater sense of the human factors that drive politicians, businessmen, celebrities, and the everyday man in decision making and everyday living. Too often, especially in today's culture, we forget that "famous" people are actually human and have flaws. Sometimes, those flaws can have disastrous effects in a culture's idolatry of a person (hello, Paris Hilton), and other times those flaws can help us empathize with a situation or person's choices, and give us the proper perspective to help understand their path in life. I swore off biographies a few years ago because I felt as if most of them were written with the same boring formula and outline, and I didn't feel I was getting to know the person they were writing about. That's where this book is different. This is one of the best biographies -- best books, actually -- I have read in a long, long time. I look forward to reading other things Shenk has written and will write.

This is an excellent book on several counts. First, besides revisionist historians it is not known that Lincoln was a lifelong depressive. Second, the author advances that Lincoln's depression was more a source of insight than a mental flaw. In other words, Lincoln's character and intelligence seemed greater because of his depression it. That's a pretty radical concept in our modern "Prozac Nation" when depression at any level is considered a serious mental illness that should be eradicated at all costs. Lincoln lived in an era way before anti-depressants. But, just like John Nash of "A Beautiful Mind" fame who preserved his cognitive capabilities by not taking the drugs he was prescribed, Lincoln had no choice but to do without. And, according to the author the history of our Nation has been so much the better for it. The author describes how Lincoln through the ages managed his depression through several different stages, including: Fear, Engagement, Transcendence, Creativity, and Humility. While the first stage [Fear] had a familiar and serious clinical component including recurring suicidal thoughts, the other four stages lead Lincoln to greater self-actualization, philosophical insights, spirituality, and commitment to guide and save our Nation. The message from this original biography is powerful. By accepting one's humanity, we can actually grow. Some serious introspection even if painful is actually good for you. There is no need to medicate all your blues away. You may actually learn and grow for them. And, what Lincoln dealt with was not just the occasional blues. As depicted by the author, based on thorough historical research, he had a very serious case of depression. There is little doubt that nowadays he would be treated with anti-depressants. But, his life's achievements clearly question whether our modern psychiatric-pharmaceutical treatment is the best course. In our contemporary culture it is a prerequisite to be an optimist and deliver the most upbeat message to be electable. But, is this the best way to choose a President? The author suggests otherwise. Referring to historians' researches, he mentions that many of our greatest minds were afflicted by more than a temporal case of the blues. Charles Darwin being a case in point. The author also mentions psychological research on perception of reality between optimists and others (slightly depressed or pessimists). Invariably, the optimists tested poorly with a more delusional perception of reality than the others less upbeat individuals. If you like this book, I also strongly recommend Sylvia Nazar's "A Beautiful Mind" that depicts another luminary struggle with powerful mental illness. Also, "Howard Hughes: His Life and Madness" by Donald Barlett is an excellent biography. While Lincoln clearly overcame his depression without psychiatric assistance; the case of John Nash is more ambivalent. Did his psychiatric care help or hurt him? Meanwhile,

I purchased this book after reading the excerpt in The Atlantic magazine and have been very pleased. Shenk approaches this material in a fair, objective, and straightforward manner, and yet with a profound empathy for his subject that resonates with the reader. I found the book intelligent, thorough, and yet at the same time, insightful and easy to read. Perhaps most fascinating to me is the author's treatment of the reaction to (and acceptance of) Lincoln's society to such melancholy in others, and a general cultural understanding of the value and potential growth inherent in human suffering. I feel that this book will be interesting to Lincoln scholars, mental health professionals, and readers who have come to see depression as something that must be dealt with behind closed doors, away from public view.