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A brilliant evocation of the qualities that made FDR one of the most beloved and greatest of American presiden...
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reviews
Feb 04, 2011
judy
rated it: 
You have to try really hard to make a biography of FDR boring but this distinguished professor has done just that. As the owner of at least 25 books on FDR including the memoirs of some of his close associates and as devoted reader of anything Roosevelt, I am qualified to speak. I thought, perhaps, the author might go with the "traitor to his class" angle but he rarely went there. I kept trying to think, given his outstanding credentials, why he did write this book. What contribution
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Dec 11, 2009
Barbara
rated it: 
Traitor to His Class . . . the Privileged Life and Radical Presidency of FDR, by history professor H.W. Brands, who has also authored biographies of Andrew Jackson and Benjamin Franklin. (New York Times 2008 Notable Book)
Everything you need to know about FDR. His background and privileged upbringing is, refreshingly, presented without apology or accusation. FDR’s early career and his political strategies leading to the White House were particularly interesting to me - the timing and More...
Everything you need to know about FDR. His background and privileged upbringing is, refreshingly, presented without apology or accusation. FDR’s early career and his political strategies leading to the White House were particularly interesting to me - the timing and More...
May 20, 2011
John
rated it: 
H.W. Brands has done it again. This is a superb book that I would've rated a four and a half if we had that option. Like a lot of great biographies, Traitor to his Class begins in slow methodical way. Then it picks up steam. Unfortunately, the slowness is about the first ninety pages. That's why it's not a five.
The book provides wonderful details of the last great American president (except for Truman). It focuses on how he betrayed his social class to defend and promote the interes More...
The book provides wonderful details of the last great American president (except for Truman). It focuses on how he betrayed his social class to defend and promote the interes More...
Dec 13, 2010
Nathan
rated it:
Brands is a character in his biographies as much as his subjects are; he isn't shy about telling you what he thinks of them. The lasting impression I got from T.R.: The Last Romantic was Brand's distaste for the earlier President Roosevelt. He casts a kindlier eye on Teddy's relative. Despite the ominous title, Brands portrays FDR as a true champion for social (especially economic) reforms, explaining in detail the machinations that led to the New Deal, the National Industrial Recovery Act, and
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Feb 19, 2009
Irving
rated it:
A thoroughly researched and annotated work by a very literate author,H.W.Brands'"Traitor to His Class" will join the pantheon of other
great works written about our thirty-second president.Brands traces the
growth of a wealthy,pampered,aristocratic only son,almost suffocated by
his overprotective mother,from a rather insouciant youth to a suffering
adult who could identify with others who were needy. A natural politician,a socially adept person, he was More...
Jul 04, 2009
Christopher
rated it: 
A very good book on the life of the 20th Century's Greatest president. Traitor To His Class exemplifies why FDR was a radical, why his policies, both foreign and domestic shook up the entire fabric of American and international life, and how he quite possibly saved this country from both economic ruin and moral decline.
FDR was not just a liberal; he was a radical. His entire pathology was to ensure American security long past his Presidency and far past his era (he succeeded to alm More...
FDR was not just a liberal; he was a radical. His entire pathology was to ensure American security long past his Presidency and far past his era (he succeeded to alm More...
Feb 05, 2009
Bookmarks Magazine
rated it:
FDR faced a huge range of challenges when he became president—from the economic collapse at home to the growing threat of Fascism abroad. Similarly, critics never tired of pointing out all the challenges Brands must have faced in writing a one-volume biography of the man: how to synthesize the private and the public lives of a man who left no journal or memoirs, yet whose story seems so necessary to imagine a way to overcome the malaise of our own times. Most reviewers were impressed that Brand
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Jul 29, 2011
All too often those of us that engage in politics make grand assessments of great politicians, and castigate or impose superhuman virtues on those that we like or dislike.
What is so bothersome about that is that we don't bother to get to know the men and women, only the strawmen.
Whether or not you agree with FDR's take on our government, or this or that program that he implemented, you have to acknowledge that he was a great man, who became president during a remarkably tumultous time, and car More...
What is so bothersome about that is that we don't bother to get to know the men and women, only the strawmen.
Whether or not you agree with FDR's take on our government, or this or that program that he implemented, you have to acknowledge that he was a great man, who became president during a remarkably tumultous time, and car More...
May 25, 2011
Mark
rated it:
Sure, President FDR was a scion of privilege and power the likes of which America hadn't seen since... well since John Quincy Adams. Indeed, FDR may be the only President part of whose wealth derived from a drug-dealing grandfather. But he certainly was never a traitor to his class -- hell he did his utmost to preserve the capitalist system that sustained it. And though his presidency might have seemed "radical" in its use of executive power, it was utterly pragmatic to the end. All of
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Dec 29, 2011
Jim
rated it:
Another great job by HW Brands. Providing the right amount of detail and background information to give you a solid knowledge of his subject, but not so much that you get bogged down in the mundane details of his life. Brands not only gets into FDR but all the important people in his life: Sara, Eleanor, his children, political allies and enemies plus Churchill, Stalin and Marshall. The fact that we are slowly coming out of the worst economic crisis since FDR's time also made this a great read.
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Jan 05, 2009
Sylvia
rated it:
Just fascinating. This review (see below) helps explain why another biography of Roosevelt is worth reading. It pulled together a lot of half-understood events in my lifetime into a cohesive whole and also helps me to puzzle out the current situation in this country.
From Christian Science Monitor Review:
"The books that examine the life and presidency of Franklin Roosevelt could easily fill a small library and it’s hard to imagine that More...
From Christian Science Monitor Review:
"The books that examine the life and presidency of Franklin Roosevelt could easily fill a small library and it’s hard to imagine that More...
Feb 09, 2009
Liz
rated it:
My Dad did not like Roosevelt. So I was interested to find a book whose author was evidently enthralled by the late President. In 824 pages, the author captures a brilliant, manipulative, and steady character, intent on his path and confident in his purpose. Part of his confidence lay in his familiarity with the common people; as President, and before, he rode about the countryside, talking to farmers and others so that he had a direct picture of their lives, ambitions and needs. The author
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Aug 17, 2011
Chris
rated it:
Franklin Roosevelt is a paradoxical study of a man who was born to wealth and privilege, yet was able to relate to a suffering population during the greatest economic turmoil in the history of our Republic. While the impact of his New Deal policies are debated, even today, there is no doubt that the majority of Americans who lived under his three plus terms as President developed an almost blind loyalty to the man they looked at as the one who was fighting for them. The Roosevelt presidency wa
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Nov 10, 2010
Dave
rated it:
If you couldn’t already tell by the mere heft of this grand book, Brand’s 800 page biography contains a complete (and full) historical account of FDR. Brand’s particular twist of Roosevelt is his assertion that FDR repeatedly pushed social and international agenda’s above the needs of big business and the financial elite. Most of the compressed action centers around FDR’s presidential years, but his legacy is of course epic in scope. FDR altered the American way of life like no other president o
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Aug 10, 2011
Paula
rated it:
There were two chapters that held me enthralled. One was about the reasons behind the New Deal, which helped me to finally understand the causes of the Great Depression, the major elements of the New Deal, and what Roosevelt hoped to accomplish by it. To my mind that was reason enough to buy the book. The second interesting chapter was the one that covered the attack on Pearl Harbor and America's entry into the war.
Since these subjects were intrensically interesting, I can't particula More...
Since these subjects were intrensically interesting, I can't particula More...
Jun 13, 2009
Amy
rated it:
This is a very good (and very LONG) biography of FDR, covering his entire life. It’s divided into 3 different parts—1) his childhood, growing up and start into politics, and the sudden onset of polio; 2)the first part of his presidency in the 1930’s and the New Deal; and 3)the second part of his presidency during World War II.
It’s fascinating to see him develop throughout the book, and you get a good sense of his personality as well as the history of the time period. I’m no expert More...
It’s fascinating to see him develop throughout the book, and you get a good sense of his personality as well as the history of the time period. I’m no expert More...
Feb 22, 2009
Ray
rated it:
Polls consistently rate FDR in the top three, if not at the very top of the list of our best presidents. FDR is an important person in our Country's history, and this book goes into great detail discussing him, his life, and his presidency. Especially interesting at this time of our current economic downturn are the similarities between the political discussions described in the book as Roosevelt's Administration tried to move the economy in the 1930s, compared to the near-identical discussio
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Nov 11, 2009
Elizabeth
rated it:
Here is a book that took me forever to read because it's too heavy to take on the subway. I know there's a Kindle or a Nook in my future. I've read quite a bit about Roosevelt so much of this was not new, but enough of it was from a different point-of-view to make the book compelling. Brands is a clear writer and keeps the different people distinct enough to make it enjoyable.
The typesize was too small! I know the manuscript probably came in 25% longer than expected, but ouch!
The typesize was too small! I know the manuscript probably came in 25% longer than expected, but ouch!
Jan 31, 2009
Vickie
rated it:
I found this book to have much repeated information from the biographies of the Roosevelts that I previously read. Much relies on letters of Eleanor to define what he is thinking and I have to believe that because so much of the earliest letters were burned that they knew those letters would be public and not always a true reflection. Plus the implication that she knew his opinions and reflected them back is an amazing assumption. That is not acknowledged. I do believe from his actions that he
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Oct 18, 2011
Tom
rated it:
Writing any biography of Franklin Roosevelt is a difficult task, as any honest historian will tell you. The man kept no journal, few if any personal writings, and died in office before he could write a memoir. Those close to him, including family and friends, never really knew what he was thinking or feeling since he was not in the habit of sharing such things. As such, Brands did a good job with what he could. Covering such a life, starting with his overprivledged childhood under an overbea
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Feb 16, 2010
Kappy
rated it:
I have read many books about Roosevelt and this time period and am not sure why another one needed to be written. This was long and very serious without much originality in presentation. It was more like a text. It took me a long time to read it because it was a great deal of content, the print was small and the hardback was physically heavy - limiting the places where I could read it - i.e. standing up while on public transit, or at night in bed.
Aug 25, 2011
Jim
rated it:
This was a very strong book... It gave me new insight into how politics and policy interacted in the Roosevelt White House... It had gems like Roosevelt's being personally opposed to the FDIC, but letting it through because he wanted other aspects of banking reform... In some ways it gave a better look at how Roosevelt's perception of policy evolved during New Deal arguments than Schlessinger, who for things like Social Security tended to pin the final policy on Roosevelt and all of the variants
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Oct 28, 2010
Craig
rated it:
Brands does an excellent job trying to explain the contradiction that was FDR; privileged upbringing vs. champion of the underprivileged. In the process he brings you to believe that FDR accomplished great good... almost. In a time when many of FDR programs are running up against the harsh realities, this book is a must read for a sense of perspective.
Mar 07, 2009
Terry
rated it:
An excellent addition to Roosevelt bios.
It was important for me to read about Franklin's bold efforts to fight the Great Depression as we start a new administration which wants to tackle the current recession with similar, courageous action.
Brands paints the man, warts and all so we understand that he grew into his greatness.
It was important for me to read about Franklin's bold efforts to fight the Great Depression as we start a new administration which wants to tackle the current recession with similar, courageous action.
Brands paints the man, warts and all so we understand that he grew into his greatness.
May 12, 2009
Jack
rated it:
Great book. Incredibly readable. I think Jean Edward Smith's is a little better, but this one reads more smoothly. Brands offers, not surprisingly, a more pro-FDR approach to many controversies about FDR's presidency, but Brands offers strong - if not lock-tight - argumentation for his interpretations. Definitely worth the read.
Mar 28, 2009
Dotty
rated it:
This book is long, but interesting. The writer goes from the personal to the political to the historical weaving these three strands all through the book. There are so many things about this period of history that I've heard of repeatedly, but reading details makes it clear that I've got a lot to learn.
Apr 11, 2011
Justin
rated it:
In my view, easily the greatest president the U.S. has ever had. I only knew him from WWII before this book though. There was MUCH more to his life than that. The research is impeccable and it reads more like a novel than a stuffy biography. If there's anyone in history I could go back and spend an evening having cocktails and conversation with, this is the guy.
Jul 26, 2011
Laura
rated it:
I really enjoyed this biography of FDR. It made all of the historical figures seem very human and believable. The last part of the book where the author summarizes FDR's achievements was excellent.
Makes me angry at the meticulous dismantling of the last remnants of the New Deal that are being pushed down our throats.
Makes me angry at the meticulous dismantling of the last remnants of the New Deal that are being pushed down our throats.
Oct 14, 2009
Glo
rated it:
Great historical novel. I learned a great deal about FDR. I was surprised to learn that his was a "mama's boy". It was amazing to see how he changed as he grew into manhood and how he influenced the US and the world.
It is long and sometimes slow, but if you enjoy history you'll enjoy this.
It is long and sometimes slow, but if you enjoy history you'll enjoy this.
