As a fan of limited government and lower taxes, I wanted a counterbalance to the traditional narrative of FDR and the New Deal. This book definitely provides it. Folsom goes through what he believes caused the depression, and how the various programs implemented by Roosevelt affect the way we view government (and politics). In all fairness, he also attacks Republican Hoover for massive government spending, and signing the Smoot-Hawley tariff, as reasons for a sinking economy. My grandfather's family was a recipient of a New Deal program, thus becoming loyal Democrats in the process, so this book was even more interesting for me. He ends the book by discussing why historians have tended to view Roosevelt favorably, in light of facts and statistics showing numerous problems and corruption with the New Deal. His writing was simple to follow, but still maintained his academic credibility, citing numerous sources and government statistics. At times, he gets repetitive. But overall, this was a solid read, especially in these times of economic uncertainty.