Saturday, December 1, 2012

Lincoln

Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin is one my all time favorite book and this is one the best movies adapted from a book, period. Lincoln has made it to my list of all time favorite movies !!
There is so much one can learn from Lincoln's character - on how to:
  • maintain calm and serenity amidst chaos. 
  • have a long term vision when confronted with ubiquitous parochiality.
  • activate that inner time traveller and envisage the cascading effect and historical significance of a decision.
  • be a Machiavellian.
  • be a politician and still be a good human. 
  • induce a chance of heart (for good) even amongst adversaries.
  • make calmness contagious and list goes on..
I think Lincoln was the first (and so far only..) stoic president in the modern world.

It's hard to believe this was the same screaming and loud Daniel Day-Lewis in There Will Be Blood and Gangs of New York. Tommy Lee Jones and Lewis deserve an Oscar (and of-course Spielberg).

"I am the president of the United States of America, clothed in immense power. You will get me those votes!"





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