Summary of Joshua Wolf Shenk's Lincoln's Melancholy

By IRB Media

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Book Preview:

#1 Lincoln was diagnosed with depression, and his case is typical of the disease. His parents had a family history of depression, and he likely inherited it.

#2 Lincoln was depressed.

#3 Lincoln was depressed. His only sibling died in infancy, and his mother died from the milk sick when he was nine. He was then left to live with his paternal aunt and uncle, who treated him poorly.

#4 Lincoln’s childhood was typical of the time, and his father was not supportive of his education. He was constantly admonished for his self-education.

• Language: English
• Publisher: IRB Media
• Release date: Sep 7, 2022
• ISBN: 9798350000917

IRB Media

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Insights on Joshua Wolf Shenk's Lincolns Melancholy

Contents

Insights from Chapter 1

Insights from Chapter 2

Insights from Chapter 3

Insights from Chapter 4

Insights from Chapter 5

Insights from Chapter 6

Insights from Chapter 7

Insights from Chapter 8

Insights from Chapter 9

Insights from Chapter 10

Insights from Chapter 1

#1

The factors that produce depression are biological predisposition and environmental influences. Some people are more susceptible to depression simply by virtue of being born. Depression and other mood disorders run in families, not only because of what happens in those families, but because of the genetic material families share.

#2

Lincoln’s family history is full of sadness, strange spells, and mental illness. These suggest a biological predisposition toward depression.

#3

Abraham’s life was filled with harsh elements, but his sister Sarah was a constant presence who resembled their father in stature and sharp mind. She stayed with the family until 1826, when she married and became pregnant. She died shortly after giving birth to a stillborn child.

#4

Lincoln’s relationship with his father, Tom, was cool. He showed a strong interest in his own education, and his father would often beat him for it. Lincoln’s self-education was the stuff of legend, but he was constantly admonished for it.

#5

Abraham was a sensitive child, and he spent a lot of time alone. He was serious about his studies and reading, and he was uncommonly eager to explore imaginative realms. He also took up a popular cause among sensitive people, the welfare of animals.

#6

Lincoln was a sociable and cheerful man, and this served him well in politics. He won the election easily in 1834, and four years later, he sought to join the ranks of attorneys and politicians.

#7

Lincoln’s sunny disposition was sometimes challenged by his familiarity with disappointments. His financial situation was precarious, and he might have been affected mentally by the waves of death that swept through his new home in 1835.

#8

Lincoln’s first breakdown was after the death of his friend Anna May