For more than 150 years, historians have speculated about what made Abraham Lincoln truly great. How did Lincoln create his compelling arguments, his convincing oratory, and his unforgettable writing? Some point to Lincoln's study of grammar, literature, and poetry. Others believe it was the deep national crisis that gave import to his words. Most agree that he honed his persuasive technique in his work as an Illinois attorney. Here, the authors argue that it was Lincoln's in-depth study of geometry that made the president's verbal structure so effective. In fact, as the authors demonstrate, Lincoln embedded the ancient structure of geometric proof into the Gettysburg Address, the Cooper Union speech, the first and second inaugurals, his legal practice, and much of his substantive post-1853 communication. Also included are Lincoln's preparatory notes and drafts of some of his most famous speeches as well as his revisions and personal thoughts on public speaking and grammar.
"This is the first book to systematically analyze the structure and craft of Lincoln's speech-making." -John Stauffer, Professor of English and History, Harvard University "Offers a whole new angle on Lincoln's brilliance." -James M. Cornelius, Curator, Lincoln Collection, Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum "It completely changed the way I give speeches." -Newt Gingrich, former Sp
