Traitor to His Class

I believe this book is the very best biography of FDR. An extraordinary man at a time this country was in deep turmoil and confronted with a Depressions and a developing World War II. Brands understands the American political culture (Isolationism) and the personality of Roosevelt. This book is a great read. ( )

Misleading title since this is a very complimentary bio of FDR. The thing that strikes me most about FDR and the New Deal is how unsuccesful and counter-productive his poliices were. Even worse, a valid arugment can be made that his polcieis made the Depression longer and more severe. But his greatness was in preparing the US for war with Germany and Japan and guiding the country through WWII. Well worth the read. ( )

While I'm not a fan of overly detailed biographies, if there's anyone who deserves an 800-plus pager, it's Franklin Roosevelt. Brands does an excellent job in tracing how much of our modern society began with FDR. ( )

A fine, readable portrait of a great President. By far, the best that Brands has written. So interesting to read this in Obama's first year. May he be as successful, or more so, than FDR. ( )

Comprehensive Biography of FDR

At 800 plus pages, H.W. Brands's new book "Traitor To His Class" is certainly an exhaustive biography of one of the most influential presidents in American history in Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Having read extensively on FDR, the Great Depression, and World War II, I have to say that I was personally a little disappointed in that there was little in Brands's new book that I did not already know. Still, this is a sweeping look at a crucial point in the trajectory of America's pre-eminent and emerging superpower status. Brands's is not just an academic and this book shows off his story-telling skills -- an intellectual who proves he can also be interesting and relevant.

Overall, this is a highly enjoyable, if slightly left-wing liberal leaning look at the life of FDR. Definitely recommend for anyone who has an interest in twentieth-century history or history of the United States. ( )

I was given this audiobook as a gift and found it to be a good, though perhaps overly brief overview of the life of one of our most controversial and celebrated Presidents. I suspect that my version (10 1/2 hours) is an abridged version, though I do not see that printed on the CD container. The book is perhaps more detailed.

My great grandfather, an entrepreneur from the early 20th century despised Roosevelt more than the devil. The New Deal, support of organized labor, the income tax, socialism, all went against everything he believed in. He was convinced that World War II saved Roosevelt from defeat in the 1940 election and a lasting and deserved reputation as an abject failure as President. Nevertheless, World War II did in fact lift the country out of the Great Depression, and lifted Roosevelt into the pantheon of our most celebrated Presidents.

This book is a fair and balanced treatemnt of Roosevelt's life. It is not a hagiography and gives the failures as well as the successes of Roosevelt's life and Presidency. ( )

A very nice one vol. biography of FDR, it shows the man, the people around him and a good overview of the times. I recommend it for anyone that wants to know who FDR was and what he did ( )

Reading Kindle version. Lots of detailed descriptions of how FDR manipulated people to get things done. He had an innate way of reading people and bringing out the best in them. ( )

Extremely well written. Hard to put down. ( )