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The Greatest Leader You’ve Never Understood | Doris Kearns Goodwin

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Aug 27, 2025

Guest

Doris Kearns Goodwin

Doris Kearns Goodwin, a Pulitzer Prize-winning presidential historian, dives deep into Abraham Lincoln's unique leadership traits. She emphasizes that Lincoln's moral fiber and humility set him apart in political history. The conversation explores how he balanced ethical values with strategy and fostered loyalty within his cabinet. Goodwin also shares her experiences of writing about legendary figures, capturing the emotional journey of transforming history into engaging narratives for future generations.

01:07:27

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Episode notes

volunteer_activism

ADVICE

Structure Big Projects Chronologically

Write biographies chronologically to keep momentum and visible progress.
Finish chapters fully and use editor feedback to measure real progress over years.

volunteer_activism

ADVICE

Win The Morning For Deep Work

Guard morning hours for focused writing and avoid email until noon.
Use early daily solitude to make steady progress before distractions arrive.

insights

INSIGHT

History Both Reassures And Warns

Studying crisis-era history reassures that democracy has survived worse threats.
History equally warns how close outcomes came to different, darker paths.

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Leadership Lessons from 'Team of Rivals'

04:18 • 6min

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Lincoln's Legacy of Leadership

10:31 • 12min

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The Humble Leader: Lessons from Lincoln's Cabinet

22:58 • 4min

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The Art of Biography Writing

26:52 • 14min

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Lessons from History and Leadership

40:35 • 12min

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Aging, History, and the Wisdom of Leaders

52:47 • 4min

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Embracing History and Stoicism

57:02 • 8min

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The Emotional Journey of Writing and History

01:04:53 • 9min

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#11526

• Mentioned in 4 episodes

The journey of leadership

Alicia Teo

No description available.

• Mentioned in 5 episodes

An Unfinished Love Story

A Personal History of the 1960s

Doris Kearns Goodwin

In this book, Doris Kearns Goodwin artfully weaves together biography, memoir, and history to recount the emotional journey she and her husband, Richard (Dick) Goodwin, embarked upon in the last years of his life. The book is based on over 300 boxes of letters, diaries, documents, and memorabilia that Dick had saved from his time in public service, working with John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Robert Kennedy. The Goodwins' exploration of these archives reveals a personal time capsule of the 1960s, highlighting public and private moments of a decade marked by struggles for racial and economic justice and significant political events.

#4756

• Mentioned in 10 episodes

Bully Pulpit

Confronting the Problem of Spiritual Abuse in the Church

Michael J. Kruger

Michael Kruger's "Bully Pulpit" tackles the difficult issue of spiritual abuse within the church. Kruger examines the dynamics of power imbalances, manipulative behaviors, and unhealthy leadership practices that can lead to spiritual harm. He provides a historical overview of how such abuses have manifested throughout church history, offering insights into their root causes and consequences. The book equips readers with tools to identify and address spiritual abuse, emphasizing the importance of accountability and healthy church structures. Kruger's work is a valuable resource for both victims of abuse and those seeking to create healthier and safer church environments. It's a call for greater awareness and a commitment to protecting vulnerable individuals within the church community.

#1057

• Mentioned in 36 episodes

The Guns of August

Barbara W. Tuchman

In this landmark account, Barbara W. Tuchman re-creates the first month of World War I, tracing the events from the funeral of Edward VII to the battles on the Western and Eastern fronts. The book focuses on the political machinations and military strategies that led to the outbreak of war, highlighting the roles of key players and the inevitability of the conflict. Tuchman's narrative is known for its comprehensive and engaging portrayal of the period, making it a classic in historical literature.

#6982

• Mentioned in 7 episodes

Plain Speaking

Merle Miller

Plain Speaking is a unique oral biography that captures Harry S. Truman's candid thoughts on his life, military service, and presidency. The book is based on taped interviews conducted by Merle Miller in the early 1960s, which were initially intended for a television series. It provides a personal and reflective look at Truman's experiences, including his decisions during World War II and the Cold War, as well as his views on politics and leadership.

• Mentioned in 1,028 episodes

Meditations

Marcus Aurelius

Meditations is a series of private writings composed by Marcus Aurelius, one of Rome's greatest emperors, as he struggled to understand himself and make sense of the universe. Written between 170 and 180 CE while on military campaigns, this work combines Stoic philosophy with personal observations on leadership, duty, mortality, and human nature. Through twelve books of intimate thoughts never intended for publication, Marcus Aurelius explores themes of self-improvement, resilience in the face of adversity, and living virtuously while accepting what cannot be changed.

#554

• Mentioned in 56 episodes

Team of Rivals

The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln

Doris Kearns Goodwin

This book is a multiple biography centered on Abraham Lincoln's mastery of men and how it shaped the most significant presidency in the nation's history. It explores how Lincoln, despite being a one-term congressman and prairie lawyer, rose to become president by incorporating his rivals—William H. Seward, Salmon P. Chase, and Edward Bates—into his cabinet. The book details Lincoln's extraordinary ability to understand and empathize with others, which enabled him to create an unusual but effective cabinet. It also delves into the challenges Lincoln faced, including incompetent generals, hostile congressmen, and the internal dynamics of his cabinet, highlighting his political genius and managerial skills.

#1449

• Mentioned in 28 episodes

Leadership

John Gardner

What made Lincoln great wasn’t power or genius, it was his moral fiber. Historian and bestselling author Doris Kearns Goodwin joins Ryan to explore why Lincoln stands above the rest, how ambition can be twisted toward selfishness or greatness, and how moments of pain and principle shape true leaders. Ryan and Doris discuss the pressures of writing about legendary figures, Doris’s years working for LBJ, and what it takes to bring history to life for future generations.

Doris Kearns Goodwin is a Pulitzer Prize–winning presidential historian and bestselling author. Her latest #1 New York Times bestseller, An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s, is being adapted into a feature film, while her earlier works, Team of Rivals, The Bully Pulpit, and No Ordinary Time, have won some of the nation’s highest literary honors and inspired leaders worldwide. She has served as a White House Fellow to President Lyndon Johnson, produced acclaimed docuseries for the HISTORY Channel, and earned countless awards for her contributions to history and leadership.

She has a new book out called The Leadership Journey: How Four Kids Became Presidents in which she shares the different childhood experiences of Abraham Lincoln. Theodore Roosevelt. Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Lyndon B. Johnson, and how they each found their way to the presidency.

Grab copies of Doris’ books Team of Rivals and Leadership at The Painted Porch | https://www.thepaintedporch.com

Follow Doris on Instagram @DorisKGoodwin and check out more of her work on her website doriskearnsgoodwin.com

📕 Books mentioned:

Team of Rivals by Doris Kearns Goodwin

Leadership: In Turbulent Times by Doris Kearns Goodwin

Meditations by Marcus Aurelius (Gregory Hays Translation)

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