Kindle
$13.99
Available instantly
Audible Logo Audiobook
$0.00
with membership trial
Hardcover
$18.44
$18.44 with 39 percent savings
List Price: $30.00

The List Price is the suggested retail price of a new product as provided by a manufacturer, supplier, or seller. Except for books, Amazon will display a List Price if the product was purchased by customers on Amazon or offered by other retailers at or above the List Price in at least the past 90 days. List prices may not necessarily reflect the product's prevailing market price.
Learn more
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Monday, May 6 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or fastest delivery Saturday, May 4. Order within 3 hrs 32 mins
In Stock
$$18.44 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$18.44
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon.com
Ships from
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Payment
Secure transaction
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Allen C. Guelzo
Follow
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Our Ancient Faith: Lincoln, Democracy, and the American Experiment Hardcover – Deckle Edge, February 6, 2024

by Allen C. Guelzo (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 54 ratings
See all formats and editions
Great on Kindle
Great Experience. Great Value.
iphone with kindle app
Putting our best book forward
Each Great on Kindle book offers a great reading experience, at a better value than print to keep your wallet happy.

Explore your book, then jump right back to where you left off with Page Flip.

View high quality images that let you zoom in to take a closer look.

Enjoy features only possible in digital – start reading right away, carry your library with you, adjust the font, create shareable notes and highlights, and more.

Discover additional details about the events, people, and places in your book, with Wikipedia integration.
Get the free Kindle app: Link to the kindle app page Link to the kindle app page
Enjoy a great reading experience when you buy the Kindle edition of this book. Learn more about Great on Kindle, available in select categories.
View Kindle Edition
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$18.44","priceAmount":18.44,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"18","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"44","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"SmKPHKhHJLzmDGAtPy7JXKbIFTg0hwGrMbtwW9rrg17ETd2RChk1GGkiJZLWqXGim88i%2BrSVN5NWWUJzAwk2potLbg%2BjySaV6EMCoRPT%2BN5urxl4aKM70GaVH5FPGmP6M6fn93BX1eSMWF4n0NKf7w%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}]}

Purchase options and add-ons
An intimate study of Abraham Lincoln’s powerful vision of democracy, which guided him through the Civil War and is still relevant today—by a best-selling historian and three-time winner of the Lincoln Prize

"It is altogether fitting and proper that, with this meditation on democracy and its most subtle defender, Allen Guelzo again demonstrates that he is today’s most profound interpreter of this nation’s history and significance." —George F. Will

Abraham Lincoln grappled with the greatest crisis of democracy that has ever confronted the United States. While many books have been written about his temperament, judgment, and steady hand in guiding the country through the Civil War, we know less about Lincoln’s penetrating ideas and beliefs about democracy, which were every bit as important as his character in sustaining him through the crisis.

Allen C. Guelzo, one of America’s foremost experts on Lincoln, captures the president’s firmly held belief that democracy was the greatest political achievement in human history. He shows how Lincoln’s deep commitment to the balance between majority and minority rule enabled him to stand firm against secession while also committing the Union to reconciliation rather than recrimination in the aftermath of war. In bringing his subject to life as a rigorous and visionary thinker, Guelzo assesses Lincoln’s actions on civil liberties and his views on race, and explains why his vision for the role of government would have made him a pivotal president even if there had been no Civil War. Our Ancient Faith gives us a deeper understanding of this endlessly fascinating man and shows how his ideas are still sharp and relevant more than 150 years later.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    272 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Knopf
  4. Publication date
    February 6, 2024
  5. Dimensions
    5.9 x 1.1 x 8.5 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0593534441
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0593534441
  8. See all details
Next page
The Amazon Book Review
The Amazon Book Review
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Frequently bought together

Our Ancient Faith: Lincoln, Democracy, and the American Experiment
$18.44
Get it as soon as Monday, May 6
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
Brought Forth on This Continent: Abraham Lincoln and American Immigration
$23.46
Get it as soon as Monday, May 6
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War
$19.79
Get it as soon as Monday, May 6
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
Choose items to buy together.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Guelzo looks to the 19th century to identify the challenges of sustaining a free society. He argues compellingly that Abraham Lincoln, who fought to defend the American republic against autocratic forces in the South while restricting civil liberties in the North, can help us figure out how to strike a balance.” —Parker Henry, The New York Times

“Brim[s] with worthy insights and well-selected quotations . . . Writing in the shadow of what he knows are despairing political times—the brink of a presidential contest that few seem to want—Allen Guelzo offers us the solace of Abraham Lincoln’s belief in democracy . . . Thus his gift to readers: ‘I offer this man’s example.’” —Roger Lowenstein, The Wall Street Journal

"It is impossible to read Our Ancient Faith without feeling that Guelzo wrote this book as much for himself as for us, to fortify himself for the 2024 election battle to come; and to share an illuminating and ennobling story with a people short on hope and—just as important and just as troubling—perspective." —David Shirbman, The Boston Globe

“As the subject of thousands of studies, Lincoln is one of American history’s most written-about individuals. It is therefore a welcome surprise to read such fresh insights as Guelzo musters here . . . In an era when democracy’s death is shouted from the front page of seemingly every U.S. newspaper, it is comforting to read that Abraham Lincoln, at least, thought the effort to maintain it was not in vain.” —Booklist

"Here is a penetrating look at both the seeds of American democracy and their greatest cultivator." —The New Criterion

“Shines a new light on Lincoln’s powerful vision for true democracy.” — Washington Examiner

“Remarkably compact and accessible . . . sees Lincoln’s attributes as well as his shortcomings as clearly as anyone I have ever read on the subject.” — California Review of Books

About the Author

ALLEN C. GUELZO is Senior Research Scholar at the Council of the Humanities at Princeton University. He is the author of several books about the Civil War and early-nineteenth-century American history. He is a recipient of the Guggenheim-Lehrman Prize for Military History and has been awarded the Gilder Lehrman Lincoln Prize three times. He lives in Pennsylvania.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Knopf (February 6, 2024)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 272 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0593534441
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0593534441
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.1 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.9 x 1.1 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 54 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Allen C. Guelzo

Allen C. Guelzo
Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
54 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Bill Gallagher
5.0 out of 5 stars Keep the Faith; Renew the Faith
Reviewed in the United States on February 18, 2024
Verified Purchase
Guelzo is a well known and respected historian in general and with regard to Lincoln as a subject he is especially so. This book is timely. Lincoln's view of the American design is no surprise. He reiterated his views many, many times in speeches and in his day to day dealings with others. He remained steadfast to his principles and was a master of timing which paid huge dividends for both his party and his nation. The resounding commentary in this book is that we need to remain true to such democratic ideas regardless of what others think. Yet, must remember that there are the realities of politics and what can be possible might not happen instantaneously as we may wish. We need this type of leadership today...not to say that it may not exist...but that the courage is required to express and deliver what may be what is best for a people and a world in such a situation as now. This book should be a regular fixture on shelves and a reliable, referenced source for ages to come. I highly recommend.
7 people found this helpful
Helpful
Report
Larry Binkovitz
5.0 out of 5 stars Clear, concise and timely.
Reviewed in the United States on April 12, 2024
Verified Purchase
Guelzo distills a lifetime of Lincoln scholarship into a succinct monograph. A gem on every page.
Helpful
Report
Christian Schlect
4.0 out of 5 stars America
Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2024
Verified Purchase
Allen C. Guelzo has written many of the best books about Abraham Lincoln and American history that have appeared over the past few decades. He writes clearly, with both deep knowledge and sound judgement.

I do not put this book at the very top of Professor Guelzo's efforts, since it seemed a little uneven to me as it is stitched together from previous articles and presentations. However, it is thought-provoking and readers will benefit from its pages on race, democracy in America, law, and Lincoln.

While Professor Guelzo--thankfully--does not pull into his book any direct discussions of the 2024 political situation, his calm words on democracy should be read by all the fire-breathing partisans of today.
13 people found this helpful
Helpful
Report
Michael Vanderpool
5.0 out of 5 stars I listened to the entire audible book version in preparation for this event through the CTWAC
Reviewed in the United States on March 8, 2024
I listened to the entire audible book version in preparation for this event through the world affairs council of Connecticut which of course is part of the world affairs council of America and I'm so happy that I did so it was very interesting to learn that Abraham Lincoln I had mentioned the words democracy 137 times in his writings and it was a real treasure to hear the author of the forward to this work on this presentation on this event and as a scholar his in-depth knowledge in putting this work together on Abraham Lincoln as it's so relevant to the equality of men and women and the idea in terms of American history and the American democracy how that servitude unto fellow man or woman finally came to an end in the United States of America and the at what great price at what great cost to certain politicians to certain soldiers to certain citizens to journalists to those that were operating the Free press at the time many lost their lives and others risk their lives but the rewards where the evolving from a society where slavery was two commonplace and a part of the economy up until that point in time and so to learn about Abraham Lincoln one of the great presidents of the United States of America and how he evolved into the leading figure in history in American history to break the chains of slavery and bring about the greater recognition and greater freedom amongst the equality of men and women came to be in his personal life his personal story also in terms of a very limited government back at that time and how principled of a person that he was in fact a man of such principle that this is what gave him a stature far beyond the average citizenry although he himself physically was was quite a stature let's say almost like a tree among men but in the ideology and in his character and in his moral stance he certainly remains that Tower in history which brought about an important key and monumental change to the United States of America in breaking the chains of slavery and the great start at the beginning of the breaking of inequality amongst men and women. It was a true pleasure to go through the audiobook in preparation for the event but also to hear the author especially in the forwards about how these discussions are still relevant to this very day and have been since the times of the Cold war in Eastern Europe and the other places around the world where there is still very nefarious forms of slavery and how that's freedom doesn't always stay free therefore this is an excellent and critical urgent study and consideration as well as a necessary topic for those men and women who seek to stay free and maintain equality amongst men and women in a world where today artificial intelligence and technologies that others May seek to use to in one form or another bring back the slavery or the servitude from one man or woman into another just perhaps in a different form so understanding the basic principles and the history behind this in the United States of America can be of value to people worldwide and it's irrelevant topic today and into the future more so I believe then in the times of our former great President Abraham Lincoln.
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
Report
David George Moore
5.0 out of 5 stars ANOTHER MASTERPIECE!
Reviewed in the United States on March 15, 2024
Allen Guelzo is one of my favorite historians. I recently reread his Fateful Lightning: A New History of the Civil War and Reconstruction. It brilliantly captures the sights and sounds of The Civil War.

A productive scholar, Professor Guelzo has a new book. Our Ancient Faith: Lincoln, Democracy, and the American Experiment is only 171 pages long, but I made over 150 marginal notes.

When I started reviewing and interviewing authors I came up with “Moore’s Law of Worthwhile Reading.” It goes like this: Take the total number of pages in a book and divide by two. If my marginal notes exceed that number, then it was a worthwhile read. You can see by that calculus that Professor Guelzo’s more than made that cut.

If you were to ask whether I find Professor Guelzo’s writing optimistic or pessimistic, I would answer, “Neither.”

In Our Ancient Faith he certainly offers sober reflections on the fragility of the democratic experiment. His characteristically judicious treatment of Lincoln has all kinds of inherent warnings for us today.

However, I find Professor Guelzo, after reading four of his books, both realistic and genuinely hopeful. His hope is certainly a tough earned one. It is tethered to his Christian convictions, but not in the irresponsible way where the past is ransacked for talking points that fit one’s preconceived bias.

The flow of history also informs Professor Guelzo’s hope. He doesn’t sugarcoat the bad actors, nor does he gloss over the weaknesses and error of those like Lincoln whom he clearly respects. In a word, Professor Guelzo does not traffic in either hagiography or cynicism. Again, you get “thick realism with hope.” (HT: Will Willimon)

If you are looking for wise and beautiful reflections to make better sense of our own tumultuous time, I highly recommend Our Ancient Faith. And if you are not looking to make better sense of the present, then read Our Ancient Faith to see why you should!
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
Report
David Marshall
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2024
Wonderful author and historian. Every title he writes is excellent. Purchase a copy of this work and you will enjoy a good read. This reviewer highly recommends this great book.
Helpful
Report