Review of
Instaread Summary and Analysis of Doris Kearns
Goodwin’s No Ordinary Time Franklin and Eleanor
Roosevelt; The Home Front in World War II
Five out of five stars
This summary is
one of the best that I have ever read, the author does a superb condensation of
the roles that Franklin (FDR) and Eleanor Roosevelt played in changing the
United States and the world for the better. Two great existential threats were
faced and effectively dealt with.
The first
threat of the economic upheaval of the Great Depression was one with a complex
cause and an even more complex solution. Never fully solved via economic
actions, the solution emerged via the second great threat, the Second World War
with Germany, Japan and the other secondary adversaries.
Through his
deft actions, FDR averted any major moves towards social upheaval in the United
States and then met the threat from abroad. As the summary makes clear, his
wife Eleanor was truly his partner, she completely redefined the role of First
Lady, her actions as a social activist led to change that was significant, yet
not as much as she wanted.
This summary is
an excellent primer on the extremely complex relationship between the two
Roosevelts. Many times at odds that were personal as well as their actions as
public figures, they managed to do so much that all people with an
understanding of the social context of the times remain impressed. This book is
now on my must read list.
This book was made available for free for review
purposes.
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