Gideon Welles; the Connecticut journalist-politician who served as Lincoln’s secretary of the navy; was not only an architect of Union victory but also a shrewd observer of people; issues; and events. Fortunately for posterity; he recorded many of his observations in his extensive diary. A Connecticut Yankee in Lincoln’s Cabinet brings together 250 of the most important and interesting excerpts from the diary; dealing with topics as varied as the issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation; the Marine Band’s concerts in Washington’s Lafayette Square; Lincoln’s sense of humor; rivalries among cabinet members; Welles’s often caustic opinions of prominent politicians and military leaders; demands for creation of a navy yard in his home state; the challenge of blockading 3;500 miles of Confederate coastline; the struggle against rebel commerce raiders; the battles of Antietam and Gettysburg; the Fort Pillow massacre of African American troops; and Lincoln’s assassination. Together; the excerpts provide a candid insider’s view of the Civil War as it unfolded; and an introduction provides the reader with context. Published by the Acorn Club.
#252138 in Books 2000-11-07 2000-11-07Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 7.90 x .45 x 5.20l; .50 #File Name: 0609805363202 pages
Review
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Simply a must read for anyone questioning where we are and where we are going.By J. DolanAfter reading Quinn's Ishmael novels and The Story of B; Beyond Civilization pulls it all together. Here; he outlines clearly and concisely the themes of the fiction; how they relate to our real world problems; and what "We" collectively will do about it eventually. Mr. Quinn makes a powerful case that what has happened before will happen again because it works; tribes of humans work and large scale civilization doesn't yet work in a stable system long term so we are left with two choices:1. Fix the system we are in by adapting it and redirecting it. Unfortunately all large civilizations have failed to do in order for it to survive before so there is no expectation or evidence we can or will do any better this time.2. Leave the system that is failing and create new; smaller; tighter localized communities that share a common value set and form new cultures. In the simplest terms; eventually a mass of people will "walk away" from what doesn't work regardless of laws or obstacles put in the way by authorities. At that point; the system fails; and many new ones will spring up just as they always have because that is what works.It is an easy read in a Q and A style format and my copy is jammed full of sticky notes for references. Ishmael changed my world perspective and Beyond Civilization cemented the new ideas together.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Academic approachBy CJ in BuffaloThis is a more academic approach to the messages Quinn introduced in his previous book (where fiction modeled loosely on the Platonic dialogues does the teaching). I enjoyed it but it isn't for everyone. Start with Ishmael and proceed accordingly! Quinn is definitely an author this world needs.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Be prepared to escape the confines of your established mindBy Ingrid MartineI've read all of DQ's books. Read this one after the trilogy. Beyond Civilization is a big relief. Having been exposed to this extraordinary mind; I knew he would not take us back; but I couldn't envision the "forward;" the beyond civilization. And yet; it's entirely do-able. I need no prescription. What is clear to me is that the change we must have can only come from changed minds. The case DQ makes clearly; fiercely;courageously; inexorably in all his books for changed minds leaves us never with the WHAT in doubt; only with the HOW. This book just deepens the experience of certainty. DQ convinces the reader who's curious and able to inquire into what he says despite the discomfort he or she may experience. The rest of what you read here is not DQ. It's my opinion. For the how; we have some options: coaching to make the unexamined assumptions that have US...visible. To change our thinking we must first see it. Secondly; read some more books; especially models that help you get to expand your self-awareness. Aside from my own book; I can recommend Kegan and Lahey's Immunity to Change and the Mastering Life's Energy course and book by the same name (Nemeth).
