The Defining Moment: FDR’s Hundred Days and the Triumph of Hope

The Defining Moment: FDR’s Hundred Days and the Triumph of Hope

By Jonathan Alter

Jonathan Alter’s bestselling and critically acclaimed account of how FDR lifted the country from despair and paralysis and transformed the presidency for all time.

The most interesting book on FDR I’ve ever read. I learned a lot more about the state of our nation when FDR was elected and what FDR did to keep our republic on a more democratic path.

I’m sure our new President-elect and his staff are reading this book so they can learn how to make great things happen in Washington in only 100 days

Great introduction to FDR’s efforts at responding to the Great Depression upon his entrance into the presidency. Sometimes a bit too much psychoanalyzing, but there should be no doubt that FDR was the great president of the 20th century, not necessarily for finding a domestic economic cure for the Great Depression, but for helping millions of suffering people and giving them hope. His leadership of WWII would take care of the rest, but that’s for another book. Great description of FDR’s pre-presidential career and his political talents, and Alter gives appropriate credit to Louis Howe for much of FDR’s success.

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