FDR

I did not think l would like this book as l had little interest in the man or the era. But l was at once absorbed into this fascinating story of a man who rode his luck and connections. But he was also a great politician, a smart operator on many levels and a great reader of others. His relationship with Churchill is particularly well drawn and gives a real insight into the power-broking which went on around these great men and Stalin. If l have a criticism it is that it all seems a bit rushed at the end, as if his decline and death were almost an afterthought. No do you get much, if any, of what went on with Truman - maybe the answer is, as with many VPs, not much! Well written, well paced and well researched l would recommend anyone, even those with passing interest to dip into this life of the only man to be elected President three times.

This is a long book, but it is a surprisingly easy read and full of interesting detail about the life of FD Roosevelt. I had been interested in this key US president both because of his often forgotten (in the UK) contribution to the war effort and the remarkable impact of the 'New Deal' in 1930s America that turned the country around following the depression. It is also a good way to get into the complexity of US politics. For anyone interested in this period of US history, this is a great read.

There was a load of hoo-hah when Obama got elected due to the colour of his skin. They are ahead of us Brits on that one. Same for disability. President Roosevelt got himself elected over 80 years ago from a wheelchair, and hardly anybody noticed. Those were the days. Of course they didn't have 24 hour 'news' following everybody everywhere up to and including bathroom back then, but still the lack of vast libraries of photos showing a man in a wheelchair must be a staggering achievement. I suppose coming from a privileged background might have helped, as did having another president in the family (albeit a looney one), but its hard to imagine it being repeated even now. So have we really advanced that much? The book ends a bit abruptly. Biographies always have sad endings, ie the subject dies. But this chap died on 12 April 1945, less than a month before his nemesis Hitler died and the war ended. So a bit of continuity would not have been amiss. But a good read for all that.

This is NOT the book for someone who wants a quick summary of FDR's life and achievements. But if you're really interested in his life and work this is a terrific read. It's also a properly annotated book with extensive bibliography and additional notes for those who want to research further. It's also well written and captures the spirit of the man who was arguably the greatest President America ever had.

Straight-forward biography, crisply told at a consistent level of focus on the significant, not the trivial, detail in FDR’s very eventful personal and public life. Relevant context also well-described again in just the right amount of detail. The book looks lengthy, but the pages fly by. Another great work by a hard-working author who will be much missed. ,

Just finished this fine biography and found it a very compelling read. J.E. Smith has the ability to make drying paint sound interesting and F.D Roosevelt like other brilliant politicians spent a lot of time in a mundane environment dealing with humdrum issues and disputes. This makes for a comprehensive study of the great man without the pain.

Looking forward to reading about one of Americas greatest presidents

Excellent up until FDR's death. Nothing said about family reaction or the nation's really. Would have been interesting to have learnt a little bit more hence the four instead of five stars.

It took me an epic amount of time to read this epic biography – not because it was boring, but because it contained so much information. There were hundreds of footnotes for every chapter, and because they often contained additional information beyond the source, I felt compelled to keep a bookmark in the back and read all that was there, slowing down my progress considerably. This doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy FDR, quite the contrary. It’s just not a book you read between the covers when falling asleep at night. You need to be on your toes to keep track of who is who and of the timeline of events. I’m almost tempted to go back to the start and read it all over again, now that I’ve done all the heavy lifting. If you want to understand how FDR came to be president, what his views were, and what made him such an effective leader, this book is for you. You’ll also get a glimpse of the life of Eleanor Roosevelt, though if you’re really interested in her, then her memoirs are probably a better start. The same goes for Winston Churchill, who by necessity gets quite a bit of coverage during the war years, and who for FDR was not only the head of an allied state but also a friend. For further reading about the relationship between the two, I recommend Meacham’s Franklin and Winston. I’m not a historian so can’t attest whether you’ll gain new insights from the pages of this book or not, but that’s precisely why I enjoyed it so much. It’s easy enough for a layman to read, but I don’t doubt that it would also be a great resource for scholarly research. While the war years are certainly described in detail, I found Roosevelt’s early years even more fascinating, because they are not as much written about. His time as secretary of the navy, as governor, even the domestic policy years of his presidency – those all gave great insight into his thinking while making him more human. It’s easy to forget that with all his successes and political savviness, he made his fair share of mistakes. The court stacking scheme during his first term comes to mind. But what made FDR such an exceptional leader and person is that he was able to learn from his mistakes, swallow his pride, and move on. I also was never quite aware of just how much FDR worked himself to death in the pursuit of what he felt was his duty. Whatever you think of his politics, there is no doubt that he sacrificed his health, and ultimate his life, to the American people.

A great book about a great President. Franklin Delano Roosevelt had a fascinating life. "I'm pledged to no man, I'm influenced by no special interests." --FDR

Very enjoyable and interesting read on a president whose importance can hardly be overestimated.

The most interesting fact about Jean Edward Smith's FDR is the thorough and complete picture made of a complex individual. Born with such wealth he didn't have to work a day in his life, he nonetheless choose to become a politician. This politician whom everything had come so easily, who had so much in commun with the upper class nevertheless was the savior of the farmers, workers, and middle-class people of America during the depression. The New Deal saved millions from hunger, despair. Single handedly, by sheer force of will and the upmost confidence in himself, he took innovative and risky steps to help the US recover. Electrification of rural regions, education and sound banking policies were the basis of FDR plan. You'll also benefit of the author view about what went on before Pearl Harbor. What did the administration knew? Did FDR deliberately let it happen? Those questions finds answer in the book. However, the only drawback, if you can even call it that is that the relations between FRD, Churchill and "Uncle Joe" Stalin should have been deepen, As the book ended, I wish I had more.

An Amazing book. You can almost see FDR and live through the pages. Highly recommended