Lincoln Unbound: How an Ambitious Young Rail-Splitter Saved the American Dream—and How We Can Do It Again

In this agenda-heavy history, Lowry examines the 16th president's life and political career in an effort to mobilize his story in service of furthering modern conservative values. The bulk of the book is light biography, told through potent and inspirational chapters of Lincoln's life: as a self-educated frontiersman, then a traveling lawyer, and finally superlative leader of the United States. Then comes Lowry's interpretation, which, while critical of both ends of the political spectrum, is generally right-leaning%E2%80%94unsurprising given his credentials as editor of the National Review and commentator for Fox News. Lowry's Lincoln is interested in maintaining an infrastructure that best allows the individual to pursue personal betterment via industriousness and self-motivation. His Honest Abe would be "delighted by the rise of Silicon Valley," would welcome immigrants, "probably favor drilling, mining, and fracking to the utmost," and vote "aye" for the disbanding of teachers' unions. This is a patriotic call to arms, one man's political beliefs aided by a dead president. Only problem is, Honest Abe can't contest. Agent: Keith Korman, Raines & Raines. (June)