The Great Depression and the New Deal. For generations, the collective American consciousness has believed that the former ruined the country an... read full description
reviews
Sep 03, 2008
Kim
rated it: 
As it happens, I agree with Mr. Powell's overall premise that FDR's policies did indeed prolong the Great Depression and has had far reaching negative economic consequences. However, I find his review lacks perspective and ignores important influences of the era.
For example, Mr. Powell views the socialist undertones of the FDR era through the 20/20 lense of hindsight. Those wacky FDR folks should have known better. Socialism became such a strong political force throughout the world More...
For example, Mr. Powell views the socialist undertones of the FDR era through the 20/20 lense of hindsight. Those wacky FDR folks should have known better. Socialism became such a strong political force throughout the world More...
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Jul 03, 2009
Alan
rated it: 
The Raw Deal
If recent event's hadn't made the New Deal such a deadly serious topic, I would have suggested that Jim Powell's book should have been titled "the FDR Follies." The book addresses the depressingly perverse effects of Roosevelt's policies with understated good humor. But with the current government doing its best to resurrect every wrong-headed appeal of the New Deal, one can only hope that people will give the most serious attention to the economic history of th More...
If recent event's hadn't made the New Deal such a deadly serious topic, I would have suggested that Jim Powell's book should have been titled "the FDR Follies." The book addresses the depressingly perverse effects of Roosevelt's policies with understated good humor. But with the current government doing its best to resurrect every wrong-headed appeal of the New Deal, one can only hope that people will give the most serious attention to the economic history of th More...
Feb 07, 2009
Elyse
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I'm giving this book 5 stars because even though some parts were eyes-glazed-over boring (especially the chapter on labor unions) the information is breath-taking. Powell's lessons about unintended consequences and the dangers of government restrictions on economic liberties are powerful. And his more subtle lesson about the importance of judging policy outcomes and not intentions is ever more crucial.
Each chapter title is a question, such as "Why did the Supreme Court strike do More...
Each chapter title is a question, such as "Why did the Supreme Court strike do More...
Jan 13, 2009
Andy
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Seemed an appropriate book to read with everyone comparing the President Elect to FDR. Does a fabulous job of explaining exactly what the title says: FDR didn't fix the Great Depression, he caused the uncertainty, fear, and financial disasters that turned a major downturn into the Great Depression. Powell explains in great detail (too much, that's why I rated 4 stars - TOO DRY) how the chaotic, disorganized, and people (not policy) driven decision style of FDR, and his authoritarian style and pr
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Nov 30, 2011
Tom
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This is a fascinating and detail account taking apart FDR's New Deal and exposing it weaknesses. Some things I learned here new to me were that unit banking laws in American versus the branch banking laws in Canada (more like current laws) may have been one reason why the Depression was longer and worse in the U.S. than right across the border in Canada. Also, the Depression was much longer than I knew: 17% average unemployment for most of a decaded with no year below 14% during that time. The b
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Nov 30, 2011
Tom
rated it:
This is a fascinating and detail account taking apart FDR's New Deal and exposing it weaknesses. Some things I learned here new to me were that unit banking laws in American versus the branch banking laws in Canada (more like current laws) may have been one reason why the Depression was longer and worse in the U.S. than right across the border in Canada. Also, the Depression was much longer than I knew: 17% average unemployment for most of a decaded with no year below 14% during that time. The b
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Nov 30, 2011
Tom
rated it:
This is a fascinating and detail account taking apart FDR's New Deal and exposing it weaknesses. Some things I learned here new to me were that unit banking laws in American versus the branch banking laws in Canada (more like current laws) may have been one reason why the Depression was longer and worse in the U.S. than right across the border in Canada. Also, the Depression was much longer than I knew: 17% average unemployment for most of a decaded with no year below 14% during that time. The b
More...
Nov 30, 2011
Tom
rated it:
This is a fascinating and detail account taking apart FDR's New Deal and exposing it weaknesses. Some things I learned here new to me were that unit banking laws in American versus the branch banking laws in Canada (more like current laws) may have been one reason why the Depression was longer and worse in the U.S. than right across the border in Canada. Also, the Depression was much longer than I knew: 17% average unemployment for most of a decaded with no year below 14% during that time. The b
More...
Nov 30, 2011
Tom
rated it:
This is a fascinating and detail account taking apart FDR's New Deal and exposing it weaknesses. Some things I learned here new to me were that unit banking laws in American versus the branch banking laws in Canada (more like current laws) may have been one reason why the Depression was longer and worse in the U.S. than right across the border in Canada. Also, the Depression was much longer than I knew: 17% average unemployment for most of a decaded with no year below 14% during that time. The b
More...
Nov 30, 2011
Tom
rated it:
This is a fascinating and detail account taking apart FDR's New Deal and exposing it weaknesses. Some things I learned here new to me were that unit banking laws in American versus the branch banking laws in Canada (more like current laws) may have been one reason why the Depression was longer and worse in the U.S. than right across the border in Canada. Also, the Depression was much longer than I knew: 17% average unemployment for most of a decaded with no year below 14% during that time. The b
More...
Nov 28, 2011
Tom
rated it:
This is a fascinating and detail account taking apart FDR's New Deal and exposing it weaknesses. Some things I learned here new to me were that unit banking laws in American versus the branch banking laws in Canada (more like current laws) may have been one reason why the Depression was longer and worse in the U.S. than right across the border in Canada. Also, the Depression was much longer than I knew: 17% average unemployment for most of a decaded with no year below 14% during that time. The b
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Jun 13, 2009
Amanda
rated it: 
Interesting take on FDR's New Deal policies and one that doesn't really get a lot of play in your basic history book. Certainly the level of taxes imposed during the period is shocking, but it comes down to who you think should control the decisions about our money? Should we trust the government to spend in a thoughtful way or should we trust capitalistic business enterprises to continue to reinvest in their products and people? Not a clear answer to put forward here, but certainly a timely
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Jul 29, 2011
Nilesh
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The book is brilliant from historical viewpoint. Gives a good account of how the depression was dealt by the FDR administration. It clearly shows where the gensis of many policies found globally even today is. Yet, the book is dry, too detailed most of the times and not balanced. The last point is most important. Not to see a single positive in someone who got elected four times is jarring. It does not explain ho the entire nation got fooled, if that was so clearly the case as per the account pr
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Mar 09, 2009
Rod
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(Virtually) everything you've been told about FDR and the New Deal by the media and mainstream historians isn't true. Read this book for the actual story about how Roosevelt and the New Deal prolonged the Depression by nearly a decade and may have contributed to the rise if fascism abroad (and, to some degree, in the US).
A might-have-been: The US experienced a depression in 1920, but the government keep its hands off the financial controls and the economy soon recovered. The Depre More...
A might-have-been: The US experienced a depression in 1920, but the government keep its hands off the financial controls and the economy soon recovered. The Depre More...
Apr 20, 2009
Jim
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I didn't agree with everything in here, but I thought the author made a good case that the actual impacts of the New Deal were more negative than positive, quite the opposite of the conventional wisdom. He provides a lot of details into some of the more questionable practices of the New Deal that never made it into my high school history book, like the seizure of all the country's gold bullion.
Aug 18, 2010
Teechbiz
rated it:
This book is like a college course except for the fact the professor doesn't worship at the altar of FDR. You will be amazed to learn of the practices and laws designed to keep us deeply entrenched in a depression in which millions went to bed without food while farmers were forced BY LAW to destroy food. So much more. You will never look at FDR the same way again.
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Dec 15, 2008
Ted
rated it:
A real crystal ball. The last time the government took over running businesses in the USA was 1929. The interference and its results are clearly laid out by author Jim Powell.
We get to do it again. This is one little book everyone ought to read lest they be completely surprised by the huge changes a'coming.
We get to do it again. This is one little book everyone ought to read lest they be completely surprised by the huge changes a'coming.
Sep 26, 2007
David
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I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Every single movie cast during the Depression claims that everything was better when FDR came along because somebody finally cared. Even educated liberals today firmly believe that he helped us get through the Great Depression…which to me is like saying that Adolph Hitler really helped the Jews. This book describes his socialist/communist agenda using numerous examples. People were hungry throughout our nation, and Roosevelt was using tax dollars to pay farme
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May 18, 2011
Scott
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I wish the author had gone with a deceptive title so there would be a chance that more people would read it. This should be part of every economic history or comparative economics class. With the chosen title there's no way that any democrat, "progressive",or self defined "open minded independent" will come near it. Sad, because those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it. Oh wait, we are.
Oct 20, 2010
Jeff
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Of the many great books about the New Deal and of government malfeasance in the 20th century, this is probably the most informative but the least readable. I’d still hand people The Forgotten Man or The New Dealer’s War before this, but this book still kept me appropriately angry about the current state of things.
Oct 20, 2009
Kimberly
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Ok, so this happened to be part of the reading for my econ class, but it might have been a book I would have picked up and read regardless. I've never really had any formed opinion about FDR and the new deal, but most high school history books are in favor of everything he did. This book is AMAZING in that it breaks down every single policy and mistake that he and his administration did which ultimately prolonged the Great Depression. Powell is very vocal and VERY biased against FDR (obvi) bu
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Nov 11, 2011
"The next time economic cataclysm looms, leaders should read Jim Powell's book." - National Review
Listen to FDR's Folly on your smartphone.
Listen to FDR's Folly on your smartphone.
Sep 05, 2009
Lynn
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This is a really good summary of FDR's policies. A different viewpoint that you probably never heard in school
Feb 21, 2009
Brandon
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I'm a big anti-New Dealer. This book goes along well with "The Roosevelt Myth" by John Flynn.
Oct 26, 2011
Danmcgohan
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Well documented. Attests that a government can best promote speedy economic recovery by letting people keep more of their own money, removing regulation and providing a political climate where investors feel safe to invest in the future.
Apr 11, 2009
Don't read books about economic matters written by journalists. Aww, the CATO Institute, so unbiased...A Republican wrapped in a Libertarian's cloak who wants to smoke dope and get laid...There is better literature out there, don't waste your time with this tool like I did.
Mar 09, 2011
Steve
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Good book. Saturated with data on the effects of FDR's policies. The facts speak for themselves. I am amazed at some of the things he tried, practically all of which screwed up the economy even worse. The book was a little dry, but full of useful information.
Oct 16, 2009
Terry
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This is a very tedious read. The powerful point is that FDR cost this country a great deal through his "government solutions" to the depression, probably extending it by 5 years. History is repeating itself today with the same failed policies!
