Book Review: Lincoln's Melancholy
Joshua Wolf Shenk's Study of a President's Struggle with Depression
Sep 19, 2008
It has been general accepted knowledge for more than a century now that President Abraham Lincoln suffered from what we now know as major clinical depression. Not until recently, however, has there been an in-depth study of the degree to which Lincoln suffered "melancholy" (as it was termed in the mid-nineteenth century), or the effects it had on his presidency and hence, the nation's history.
Author Stumbled Upon Topic
Author Joshua Wolf Shenk, an acclaimed essayist and lecturer on mental health issues and historical topics, spent seven years researching and writing Lincoln's Melancholy. A depression sufferer himself, Shenk fell into the subject matter for his book while reading a collection of essays on the disease for his own personal insight. He became intrigued by the fact that Lincoln achieved greatness, to the point of changing the course of history, all the while suffering from debilitating emotional illness. Upon questioning several Lincoln scholars he was further surprised to learn that little scholarship had been done on the subject.
"I wanted to see what we could learn about Lincoln by looking at him through the lens of his depression" Shenk said about the two main goals he had for the book. " I also wanted to see what we could learn about this thing we call depression by looking at it through the lens of Lincoln's story." Lincoln's Melancholy meets and surpasses the author's goals.
Lincoln Faced Clinical Depression Head On
Shenk's study follows Lincoln's life chronologically, at first reading almost like a biography, but from a more psychological perspective. The author makes it clear that young Abe, shy and thoughtful to a fault, would probably have been diagnosed with depression early on given today's knowledge. By the age of 33, Lincoln had already endured two major "breakdowns". His friends and even mere aquaintances considered him almost crazy. He talked of suicide, even wrote poems about it.
But Shenk is careful to put these things in the light of the 19th century, helping the reader to understand that "melancholy" had its stigma, but was also looked upon as a sort of unique strength (In this sense, "antiquated" thinking might be seen as more open-minded than today). With melancholy came insights into the darker side of life, almost a more realistic view of the world. It also allowed the sufferer a deeper empathy with those who are suffering (i.e. slaves). Further, the need and ability to endure would render the depressive stronger.
Modern studies show that depression sufferers, in order to cope, often throw themselves into a cause or project and become highly successful. Shenk feels that this was the case with Lincoln, especially as regarding the war and the slavery question. It was each of these things, that created greatness in Lincoln, "staring depression in the eye, grappling with it" gave him a unique preparation for presiding over a country in its darkest hour, torn apart, fighting a civil war over the posession of human slaves.
Book Offers Lessons and Inspiration
Lincoln's Melancholy has much to offer a variety of readers. History buffs will delight in the amount of new material the author has uncovered about Abraham Lincoln. Psychologists may take a lesson in how to suggest coping strategies to patients, and those suffering from depression, while they may not change the course of history, will certainly be inspired by this example of a life well-lived with depression.
Shenk, Joshua Wolf. Lincoln's Melancholy. 2005, Mariner Books (isbn:13:978-0-618-55116-3)
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