Over the holidays I was given the audio book "Team Of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln." I felt much more intimidated by this book than popular self-development books. Even though I thought it laborious I decided to listen to the audio book in its entirety. I am glad I did.

I appreciated the author’s thoroughness in highlighting Lincoln’s dynamic charisma and conflict resolution skills. The author points out that along with his diplomacy and ability to understand his adversaries he took a moral position and remained faithful to his principles. Studying a character admirable both for his dynamic management and courageous moral positions adds a lot of depth to anyone’s success education.

Perhaps you feel like I do that "Who Moved My Cheese" is far less intimidating to read when studying how to adapt to a changing world. The benefit that studying a great historical leader offers that a one hit wonder self-improvement book doesn’t is that Lincoln’s life reveals a sophisticated recipe of greatness. It explains both his work ethic and his moral stamina that contribute to his greatness and success which more often than not is eliminated from the modern success related self development books.

Though modern self-help is much easier to read and digest than studying more classic examples of success, I can’t help but to read them skeptically because the scope of defining success is compartmentalized into one or a few areas of successful attributes. This seems to be unnatural to just tack a principle of success on to us when we learn the principle. Doesn’t it seem more organic and practical to study principles of success that are explored in every area of one’s life rather than how it is applied to just a single area?

For example how much does "Who Moved My Cheese" address a need for moral courage or even a need to sympathize with one’s enemies? "Who Moved My Cheese" is a great book about adapting to a changing world. The problem with it like so many other books on success from this genre is that its scope over simplifies someone’s life focus. It addresses a specific problem and independent from all other aspects of life addresses the problem. Everyone should read Who Moved My Cheese. However, they should read it as a supplement to a good Lincoln biography.