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Back to the Land: Arthurdale, FDR's New Deal, and the Costs of Economic Planning
How New Deal economic policies played out in the small town of Arthurdale, West Virginia Today, the U.S. government is again moving to embrace New Deal-like economic policies. While much has been written about the New Deal from a macro perspective, little has been written about how New Deal programs played out on the ground.
In Back to the Land, author CJ Maloney tells the true story of Arthurdale, West Virginia, a town created as a "pet project" of the Roosevelts. Designed to be (in the words of Eleanor Roosevelt) "a human experiment station," she was to create a "New American" citizen who would embrace a collectivist form of life. This book tells the story of what happened to the people resettled in Arthurdale and how the policies implemented there shaped America as we know it. Arthurdale was the foundation upon which modern America was built.
Details economic history at the micro level, revealing the true effects of New Deal economic policies on everyday life Addresses the pros and cons of federal government economic policies Describes how good intentions and grand ideas can result in disastrous consequences, not only in purely materialistic terms but, most important, in respect for the rule of law Back to the Land is a valuable addition to economic and historical literature.
In Back to the Land, author CJ Maloney tells the true story of Arthurdale, West Virginia, a town created as a "pet project" of the Roosevelts. Designed to be (in the words of Eleanor Roosevelt) "a human experiment station," she was to create a "New American" citizen who would embrace a collectivist form of life. This book tells the story of what happened to the people resettled in Arthurdale and how the policies implemented there shaped America as we know it. Arthurdale was the foundation upon which modern America was built.
Details economic history at the micro level, revealing the true effects of New Deal economic policies on everyday life Addresses the pros and cons of federal government economic policies Describes how good intentions and grand ideas can result in disastrous consequences, not only in purely materialistic terms but, most important, in respect for the rule of law Back to the Land is a valuable addition to economic and historical literature.
- GenresAmerican HistoryHistory
320 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 20, 2025
A fascinating story of how the best of intentions is not enough. This book is so well written and so well researched that I thoroughly enjoyed it. At least a few times each chapter I would find myself audibly gasping! What a great way to bring to life the story and impact of The New Deal.
April 14, 2019
Culturally offensive and anti-union 👎
July 21, 2011
Mr. Maloney is a very funny and insightful writer. His chronicle of the early American fascist experiment in Arthurdale would almost be a farce, if it hadn't been a real national theft, for the whim of a first lady obsessed with central planning. The details and history are frank and crisp. The integration of major historical events and the subsequent impact on the country is how history should be taught, not as meaningless unconnected events randomly presented with dates to memorize.
The striking resemblance of the early central planners, who were private failures, but public thieves, to the current batch in power is striking. What's intriguing is that Arthurdale is still there, a living history museum of waste, graft, and political manipulation frozen in time.
This is a fantastic book which made me laugh out loud at times, and left my head spinning with the absurdity of central planning and the unintended consequences on us all, that tragically continue to this very day.
It should be required reading in our institutions of "higher learning" before that bubble bursts like the housing market.
The striking resemblance of the early central planners, who were private failures, but public thieves, to the current batch in power is striking. What's intriguing is that Arthurdale is still there, a living history museum of waste, graft, and political manipulation frozen in time.
This is a fantastic book which made me laugh out loud at times, and left my head spinning with the absurdity of central planning and the unintended consequences on us all, that tragically continue to this very day.
It should be required reading in our institutions of "higher learning" before that bubble bursts like the housing market.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews