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146th out of 300 books
—
149 voters
Nothing to Fear: FDR's Inner Circle and the Hundred Days That Created ModernAmerica
by
Adam Cohen
A revealing account of the critical first days of FDR�s presidency, during the worst moments of the Great Depression, when he and his inner circle launched the New Deal and presided over the birth of modern America
Nothing to Fear brings to life a fulcrum moment in American history�the tense, feverish first one hundred days of FDR�s presidency, when he and his inner circle...more
Nothing to Fear brings to life a fulcrum moment in American history�the tense, feverish first one hundred days of FDR�s presidency, when he and his inner circle...more
Hardcover, 384 pages
Published
January 8th 2009
by Penguin Press
(first published December 24th 2008)
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Critics agree that by focusing on five aides to the president, Nothing to Fear provides a new and interesting perspective on an epochal period in American politics. Cohen gears his writing to the lay reader, sparing the heavy policy analysis and producing a narrative both enjoyable and compelling. While the New York Times Book Review notes that focusing only on FDR's first 100 days might yield a misleading impression of the New Deal and that Cohen's framework
This is a great book. I love this time period and I have read a great deal on the infamous Hundred Days of Franklin D. Roosevelt. This book takes a new look at the Hundred Days by focusing on the advisers close to FDR and how they influenced and shaped the Hundred Days. Each person, such as Francis Perkins, was focused on. Each got a short background history and the author eloquently explained how they got involved with FDR and how they influenced FDR.
To go along with all the great information,...more
To go along with all the great information,...more
When Franklin Delano Roosevelt came to office in March of 1933, banks, businesses and farms were failing, unemployment stood at 25%, thousands of Americans were going hungry, and an increasing number of citizens were talking of armed rebellion. And FDR was promising “action and action now” but he was a fiscal conservative, and he had only a few untested ideas, “experiments” he called them, on how to pull the nation out of the Depression.
Thankfully, at this very critical time, FDR made some reall...more
Thankfully, at this very critical time, FDR made some reall...more
A thorough portrait of the people behind FDR who pushed this country into a new era of government. Frances Perkins was the first female cabinet member and served through the entire FDR administration. She is given a large portion of the text, her career fighting for workers rights and against child labor was a revelation.
The beauty of this piece is the thorough treament of each part of legislation in FDR's first 100 days. The reader is shown the history of the ideas--many of which were career-l...more
The beauty of this piece is the thorough treament of each part of legislation in FDR's first 100 days. The reader is shown the history of the ideas--many of which were career-l...more
Adam Cohen, the author of Nothing to Fear: FDR's Inner Circle and the First Hundred Days that Created Modern America, reads like a suspense novel in parts. Roosevelt swept into office in a landslide with the highest hopes of any president since George Washington, and he managed to pull together a team of people who were able to put programs in place that Americans are still benefitting from. Recently, contemporary conservatives have tried to downplay or outright deny the impact of Roosevelt's pr...more
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Nothing to Fear is a good anthology of the backgrounds of the first generation New Dealers and a primer for the "alphabet soup" of New Deal agencies. Unfortunately, it is not very deep.
Think of each chapter as elongated Wikipedia articles on cabinet officials. Adam Cohen gives his subjects' backgrounds an equal (sometimes greater) amount of space as discussion of the New Deal programs themselves. I think this is more than a little imbalanced. An example: Frances Perkins's work for New York stat...more
Think of each chapter as elongated Wikipedia articles on cabinet officials. Adam Cohen gives his subjects' backgrounds an equal (sometimes greater) amount of space as discussion of the New Deal programs themselves. I think this is more than a little imbalanced. An example: Frances Perkins's work for New York stat...more
As indicated by the subtitle, NOTHING TO FEAR: FDR'S INNER CIRCLE AND THE HUNDRED DAYS THAT CREATED MODERN AMERICA, this book is heavily biographical, focusing on key members of President Franklin Roosevelt's cabinet and other close advisers who helped cobble together the greatest burst of legislative activity in American history.
One standout figure is Frances Perkins, FDR's labor secretary and the first female cabinet member in U.S. history. It's a shame that, when people speak of the role of w...more
One standout figure is Frances Perkins, FDR's labor secretary and the first female cabinet member in U.S. history. It's a shame that, when people speak of the role of w...more
FDR got advice from his agriculture secretary Henry Wallace, presidential aide Raymond Moley, budget director Lewis Douglas, labor secretary Frances Perkins and Civil Works Administration director Harry Hopkins.
If you love women's history or are any kind of feminist go right to the part about Perkins. I loved that part. There was a lot of detail, which unfortunately means that there was a lot of detail about the other four characters which engendered less enthusiasm. These characters did not wor...more
If you love women's history or are any kind of feminist go right to the part about Perkins. I loved that part. There was a lot of detail, which unfortunately means that there was a lot of detail about the other four characters which engendered less enthusiasm. These characters did not wor...more
I have read a lot of books about FDR, what can I say the man fascinates me?!?! This book spoke of things that both critics and worshipers have forgotten. (Warning Political Soap Box) FDR was a thrifty spender. He cut every department budget by a least a fourth, balanced budget, spending only for public good, created Social Security out of tax (SS would still be solvent had not been for Congress/Presidents borrowing from it) and he believed that every person should have the pleasure of earning th...more
Finally finished this one..
While it was informative of FDR and his inner circle & the 100 days that created everything from relief programs for the jobless, Fair Labor Standards Act to Social Security..
But I almost think this guy wrote this book just to have a 3 or 4 page rant that ended the book abruptly, consisting of:
1.) How the Reagan administration called for 'starving the beast' of relief to the poor.
2.) How Gingrich oversaw the end to cash assistance to poor children in 1994
3.) How un...more
While it was informative of FDR and his inner circle & the 100 days that created everything from relief programs for the jobless, Fair Labor Standards Act to Social Security..
But I almost think this guy wrote this book just to have a 3 or 4 page rant that ended the book abruptly, consisting of:
1.) How the Reagan administration called for 'starving the beast' of relief to the poor.
2.) How Gingrich oversaw the end to cash assistance to poor children in 1994
3.) How un...more
This book has its moments but the author does a "lazy writer" technique which too many writers of non-fiction do. That is, he'll take peripheral figures, in this case FDR's first 100 days, and write biographies of those figures. It detracts from the flow of the story and I, and I assume other readers, are not that interested in those people other than their relationship to FDR. If you're looking for a history of FDR's 100 days, you can probably find a better source.
I assume Obama is reading this. The parallels with the two national crises are interesting. I fear FDR's performance is going to have alot more legisaltive achievments and success during his 100 days, but he only had the eocnomy to deal with - no wars, no nuclear bombs, and the Republicans were much more wimpy then. The book focuses almost exclusively on teh legislation, so its somewhat dry and not very well written - it makes me appreciate Doris Kearns Goodwin.
Nothing to Fear , as titile states, is mostly about the accomplishments and lives of Roosevelt's advisors during those 100 days. The similarities, tho not the extremes, between bush/Hoover, Roosevelt/Obama, the banking problems with excessive speculation are fascinating, reminding that if you know your history mistakes will be avoided. Easy read but sometimes more info than I cared to know so occasional skimming. A good read for those struggling with ideology.
The year is 1933 and the country is in ruins. The new president elect Franklin Roosevelt has been challenged with the task of rebuilding the economy . The banks have failed and the farms are broke. He has 100 days to put the New Deal into place and start the recovery process. IF he fails, so does the country.People who are interested in history would be interested in this book. The book could also interest people who are avid FDR fans and those who are interested how modern America was created.T...more
I only had sketchy knowledge of the New Deal. This book covers the 1st 100 days of FDR's first term in office. There are extensive bios of the 4 most important cabinet members and descriptions of the relevant legislation. The book is well written and reads very easily for non fiction.
It was amazing to compare the law making process then and now. It was an easy read, but very informative.
It was amazing to compare the law making process then and now. It was an easy read, but very informative.
This book proves that which is old is new again. The book chronicles the transition between Herbert Hoover and Franklin Roosevelt at the depths of the depression. Hoover attempted to get Roosevent to continue his policies, which Roosevelt flatly refused.
Replace the names of Hoover and Roosevelt with Bush and Obama, and you have a nearly perfect copy of the Bush/Obama transition.
Replace the names of Hoover and Roosevelt with Bush and Obama, and you have a nearly perfect copy of the Bush/Obama transition.
I listened to the audio version of this book. It was interesting reading this in the context of our times today - to see how so many of the innovations of that day remain with us; and how we are trying to replicate some of them now. You also think about the old adage "those who don't learn history are doomed to repeat it" as you see what led up to the Glass Steagall act, so that Americans would have more financial protection. Then 60 years later Clinton moved to have it repealed; Bush and his cr...more
I wanted to learn more about FDR and the New Deal. This book goes into a lot of detail (a bit much for my taste) about the six people who were most influential to Pres. Roosevelt during his first 100 days in office. He passed an astounding 15 bills through Congress in a 3 month period of time, most of them relief, banking, and employment related. It was interesting to get the background of each cabinet member/advisor and realize how different their ideas and thinking were, but how their collabor...more
From New York Times editorial board member Adam Cohen, a revelatory account of the personal dynamics that shaped FDR's inner circle and a political narrative of the hundred days that created modern America.
Listen to Nothing to Fear on your smartphone, notebook or desktop computer.
Listen to Nothing to Fear on your smartphone, notebook or desktop computer.
It might bore some people but I LOVED this inside look at FDR's cabinet. It's far more about Frances Perkins, Henry Wallace and Harry Hopkins (among others) than Roosevelt. But really you can't understand how we got to modern america without understanding something about this. It seems to me this is the beginning of much of what most of us think America stands for.
An amazing amount of work accomplished by a handful of people in such a short time. This book gives a good overall account of the people who made landmark polices and decisions. It was a pleasure to read about people with such strong moral fiber working with so much going against them and managed to make an incredible positive difference for so many.
Really interesting to say the least. The book was exactly what the title says it was about. There were great details of how society was at the time and how Hoover really had a different philosophy about how the Fed gov should play a roll in it. America voted for change and FDR become president. There is a lot of good background on the "brain trust" that created the 15 major programs or reforms within the first 100 days of his adminstration. That is how all future presidents are looked at with in...more
Although this book is a political history non-fiction, I really enjoyed it. It didn't only focus on FDR, but on all of his cabinet members and advisors, their private and public lives. Now is an ideal time to read this book. It takes you from the Great Depression to the success of FDR's New Deal.
Apr 21, 2010
Maria
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
audio-books,
non-fiction
This was a fascinating book to listen to. I had no idea that many of the New Deal ideas that I attributed to FDR were in fact ideas championed by his cabinet members. Ideas that they fought to convince FDR would work. I also learned that the first female cabinet member served under FDR. I will need to learn more about Francis Perkins.
Not so much about FDR as about a handful of people who brought the New Deal into being. A fascinating group, too, with quite a range of backgrounds. I found myself fond of Frances Parker in particular.
My main reaction to the book, though, was jealousy. They did so much, and so quickly, and for the most part just ignored the haters. I wish the current administration would do half as much.
My main reaction to the book, though, was jealousy. They did so much, and so quickly, and for the most part just ignored the haters. I wish the current administration would do half as much.
Always interesting to get the view from another angle... Being not a huge FDR fan, it was educational to get Cohen's take on the how, why & who put together the New Deal. I disagree with much of their philosophies, but they were trying to make things better.
Those who like history and want insight into the inner workings of the FDR cabinet should read this book. I found it engaging and educational. Francis Perkins has always been someone I have admired and this book solidified my respect.
Considering that many people compare Obama to FDR, I thought this was a timely book. The author goes into great detail about how FDR choose his cabinet and often included details about how they came to have the knowledgte to be chosen.
However, I was half way through the book and only about 10 days of FDR's 100 days had been covered. It was interesting but very slow reading.
The similarities with Obama ended with the hand he was dealt. FDR had no qualms about challenging Congress to give him the...more
However, I was half way through the book and only about 10 days of FDR's 100 days had been covered. It was interesting but very slow reading.
The similarities with Obama ended with the hand he was dealt. FDR had no qualms about challenging Congress to give him the...more
5/21 An in depth analysis of Roosevelt's first 100 days and all of the programs he put into place. It talks about the ideas that didn't work and the ones that did, many of which we still have in place today.
Aug 20, 2009
Lynn
is currently reading it
I have only read a few pages and am already so depressed from the comparing of the first 100 days of FDR's administration, back when American politicians had cojones, compared to the current debacle.
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