In The Forgotten Man, Amity Shlaes, one of the nation's most-respected economic commentators, offers a striking reinterpretation of the Great Depression. She traces the mounting agony of the New Dealers and the moving stories of individual citizens who through their brave perseverance helped establish the steadfast character we recognize as American today.
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - In one sentence, "FDR spitballed."
This book, in one sentence, is "FDR spitballed."
Before reading this book, you may want to read the serendipitous companion book Liberal Fascism: The Secret History of the American Left, From Mussolini to the Politics of Meaning. Goldberg's book (coincidentally and independently) touches upon the same themes as Shlaes, but includes more detail about the antecedents: the Progressive Movement, the Wilson Administration, and has a comparison with the other EuroFascists.
Rating: - Characters of the Era
Well written and easy to follow description of the characters behind the events during the FDR administration. If you look for a comprehensive book about the Great Depression, its causes and consequences, you will not find it in this book. However, for readers already knowledgeable on those events, it is a great supplement of information. If you want to grasp the characters of the time, this book is a must.
Rating: - The Forgotten Man
Execllent, scholarly work. A must read to see how much the Depression and the New Deal are reflected in our current financial mess and government.
Rating: - Pull in the Reins
This is a good book, but seems almost too detailed. The author discusses meetings, letters and events that sometimes have little to no bearing on the subject.
Rating: - We don't need to repeat the mistakes of the past
This is a great book and it is an especially important read today. Shlaes shows how Hoover's and FDR's policies pushed a recession into a depression. She shows how FDR's policies kept the country in a depression for over eight years. She ends the book as WWII was beginning. If it wasn't for the war who knows how long the depression would have gone. Although conditions today are nowhere near as bad as the great depression, many of the policies being put forth by our leaders are disturbingly similar to ... Read More
- In one sentence, "FDR spitballed."
- Pull in the Reins
