Book Description

A brief, thorough introduction to the life and times of the most influential and effective president in modern America, this volume is ideal for students researching the Great Depression or World War II. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent
Definitely one of the better books out there about President Roosevelt for young people, although the volume is so well organized and well written that it will appeal to most general adult readers as well.The emphasis on Roosevelt's handicap is also highly informative and enlightening. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

WHO WANTS TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH PROUST ANYHOW?
S.L. Taylor's review of this book was most helpful, however:
1.) Remember, it doesn't necessarily have to be big to satisfy!
2.) Emile Zola's prose was only turgid after he had been
drinking. the rest of the time he didn't say enough to make
any sense to a reader what-so-ever.
3.) Who wants to be associated with Proust anyway? Nobody named
"Marcel" could have written a book like this in the 1st
place.
4.) Christopher Hitchen's talks funny, but I like his hair.

5.) There are worst hobbies than dead postmasters general you
know, like bowling, air guitar, goal tending, & marrying
cops!
I find the book a fascinating addition to the library of obscure FDR related bits of trivia.

Linn's Book on Stamps of the Roosevelt Era is a Must-Have
There are 5reasons that no stamp collector who is interested in stamps of the FDR era should be without this book.
1.) It is not as big as A la Recherche du Temps Perdue.
2.) Brian C.Baur's prose is not as turgid as that of Emile Zola.
3.) Much like Proust and Zola nobody knows who Brian C. Baur is either.
4.)Mr. Baur does not use as many big words as Christopher Hitchens.
5.)This book contains important historical information not found anywhere else.(e.g The names of Postmasters who have been dead for more than half a century.) ... Read more

Book Description

A selection of historical materials documenting the early collaboration and later rivalry of Herbert Hoover and Franklin D. Roosevelt, this volume chronicles the time from their work together during the Wilson administration to Roosevelt's death in 1945. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Not What I was Expecting
this book looks appealing, but it did not live up to my expectations.i find hoover a very interesting person and roosevelt even more interesting, however this book made their lives into a long, monotonous book that washard to stay awake for. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A solid juvenile biography of Franklin D. Roosevelt
I was struck by the fact that even though with the story of Franklin D. Roosevelt we are talking about a man elected to the Presidency for four terms that author Alice Osinski only devotes half of the ten chapters in this volume of the Encyclopedia of Presidents to his time in the White House.The opening chapter, following the format of this series, focuses on a pivotal moment in the life of its subject.In FDR's case it would be the day he took the oath of office on March 4, 1933, when the nation was hoping that a man who had fought against the crippling effects of a disease and learned to walk ago could help bring the country to its feet as well.

Roosevelt's life and political career makes for a solid organizational structure for this volume.Early chapters cover his privileged life as the scion of a wealthy family, his education, and his marriage to his (fifth) cousin Eleanor.Roosevelt's early political career is seen as "Following in the Footsteps of Cousin Teddy" and young readers will probably be surprised to learn that FDR was on the Democratic ticket in 1920 as the running mate of James M. Cox.Osinski makes an interesting strategic choice by labelling FDR's attack of polio as "A Minor Setback"; certainly, in retrospective it constiuted such, but clearly at the time it had to look like the end of any and all political ambitions for Roosevelt (Note: The chapter is only 3 pages long, which explains why there are only a "few" chapter on the Presidency--they are longer chapters).

After a chapter looking at Roosevelt's political comeback, being elected governor of New York in 1928, and then President four years later.The chapters devoted to FDR's presidency are not defined by his terms, but rather by the issues with which he dealt: the New Deal as a response to the Great Depression, establishing the Arsenal of Democracy as preparation for World War II, American involvement in World II (going past FDR's death in 1945), and a final chapter looking at Roosevelt's political legacy.The strength of this volume is that it provides not only the biographical details of FDR's life, but tries to give young readers a good sense of his important accomplishments in transforming the role of government in the United States.

In the end Osinksi claims that for better or worse, no other president has had a deeper or more lasting impact on life in the United States.Abraham Lincoln saved the union, but Franklin D. Roosevelt changed the relationship between the people and their government.The institutions created by FDR to prevent another Great Depression exist today, as do other social programs.The book is illustrated with black & white photographs from FDR's personal and political life, including a couple of nice political cartoons by Berryman (you can never have too many of those).Granted, these books do not look modern (you would swear they were printed in the 1950s), but they are quite informative, which is the desired goal. ... Read more