Joshua Wolf Shenk interview

Joshua Wolf Shenk discusses his biography, “Lincoln’s Melancholy.” He begins with describing Abraham Lincoln’s history of depression and melancholy even as a child. He also talks about Lincoln’s friendship with Joshua F. Speed and how although Speed was quite politically different from Lincoln, the two had a wonderful friendship. Shenk then discusses how melancholy led to Lincoln’s greatness by softening Lincoln’s view of the world, allowing him to have a creative response to adversity, and giving him a deep spiritual sense to help with his suffering. Shenk ends the interview by sharing an anecdote about Lincoln’s last day alive and his general disposition on that day.