+- Lincoln Discussion Symposium (https://rogerjnorton.com/LincolnDiscussionSymposium)
+-- Forum: Lincoln Discussion Symposium (/forum-1.html)
+--- Forum: Books - over 15,000 to discuss (/forum-6.html)
+--- Thread: What did you read in 2024? (/thread-5016.html)
What did you read in 2024? - Rob Wick - 01-01-2025 01:46 PM
Just curious as to your favorite reads of 2024, either Lincoln-related or not. The best book I read last year was The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson, which is a history of the Great Migration from the South to the North and came out in 2010. Wilkerson combines a detailed history of the movement along with the personal stories of three of those involved. It was a fascinating story.
Also high on my list was Robert Caro's Master of the Senate, the third volume of his mammoth biography of Lyndon Johnson which came out in 2005. I am listening to it on audio (three parts, totaling 52 hours) and haven't quite finished it yet, but since the bulk of it was done in 2024, I am counting it.
As for Lincoln books, I have yet to finish Jon Meacham's book And There Was Light. To be honest, I am having a difficult time with this. I am a huge fan of Meacham, but for some reason, this book is very easy for me to put down. I will finish it this year, but it won't rank as high as some other books. The one I did finish was Lincoln in Private (2021), which I reviewed here earlier.
I only finished 24 books this year, which is disappointing since I finished 36 last year. Hopefully, I will do better this year.
Best
Rob
RE: What did you read in 2024? - RJNorton - 01-01-2025 04:46 PM
I recently re-read A. Lincoln: His Last 24 Hours by W. Emerson Reck. This book is extremely well-researched and difficult to put down once started. I believe the author approaches the topic as a true historian because he follows the trail of facts, not his own opinions. When he's not sure, he mentions both sides of the dilemma. Example: he cites both the evidence Laura Keene was in the box and the smaller amount of evidence that she wasn't.