“Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort.”
Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the 32nd President of the United States, taking office in 1932 and serving until his death in 1945. The only President in the history of the country to serve more than two terms, FDR is one of the most significant and acclaimed leaders in modern history.
Being elected as the Great Depression made nearly 25% of the country unemployed, FDR’s New Deal revitalised the country and restored faith in the Government. He led the USA and its allies to victory over the Axis powers in World War II and continued to inspire by doing all of this whilst battling polio since the age of 39. Join us at What We Reading to learn more about one of the greatest Presidents in US history through the best FDR books!
FDR – Jean Edward Smith
In his biography of the 32nd President of the United States, Jean Edward Smith explores the profound impact of FDR on the relationship between the American people and the Government. Smith explores how the aristocratic Roosevelt was able to make himself relatable to the common people through revolutionising energetic campaigning and the new age of mass media and rising to become one of the gigantic names attached to the Oval Office.
FDR is the perfect biography for understanding the ‘hows’ behind the man and his story.
Traitor To His Class – H.W. Brands
In Traitor to His Class, author H.W. Brands explores the contrast between how FDR grew up in a life of wealth and affluence, and yet embarked on the most radical Great Depression agenda tailored around the disenfranchised. The biography is split into three parts, with the first section hooking readers in by opening with the President reading about the potential horrors of a Pacific War, all while Japanese aircraft have already begun their surprise attack on a naval base in Hawaii.
Franklin And Winston – Jon Meacham
When it comes to defining points in history, so much tends to come down to the person rather than the politics. It is that reality that Jon Meacham explores in one of the best FDR books currently available on the market, Franklin and Winston.
In it, he explores the two titanic figures of Winston Churchill and Franklin Roosevelt and illuminates the shared similarities that helped make them both such productive and warm allies. Delivered with real-world stories and anecdotes, it is a wonderful resource that brings FDR’s warmth and empathy into the spotlight.
Franklin Delano Roosevelt – Conrad Black
Franklin Delano Roosevelt: Champion of Freedom is an emotive and powerful biography of America’s 32nd President from Conrad Black, a newspaper publisher and devout Conservative.
In it, Black attempts to explain to readers why FDR remains one of the most significant figures from the 20th century, dragging his country from the depths of the Great Depression, through to victory in the Second World War and emerging as the world’s first great modern superpower. A skilled politician both domestically and internationally, Black also dismantles traditional criticisms of Roosevelt, opening up new avenues of understanding the man and his achievements.
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No Ordinary Time – Doris Kearns Goodwin
Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt are arguably the most famous couple in Presidential history, and it is that powerful dynamic Pulitzer Prive winning author Doris Kearns Goodwin explores in the biography, No Ordinary Time: Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. From the inner workings of FDR’s office to the life of Eleanor as the nation’s First Lady, No Ordinary Time is an emotive look at the pair’s marriage, and how it helped usher in the modern history of the United States.
Franklin D. Roosevelt – Robert Dallek
#1 New York Times bestselling biographer Robert Dallek explores FDR’s life as a politician, uniter and deal maker in Franklin D. Roosevelt: A Political Life. Dallek ties in the diverse nature of contemporary society as a means of exploring exactly what it was that made Roosevelt one of America’s greatest leaders.
Whether it was during the depths of the Depression or the darkest days in the wake of Pearl Harbour, FDR was able to galvanise people both at home and across the world, winning four elections by a landslide, initiating landmark reforms and helping to keep the Allied forces together against Fascist forces.
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Becoming FDR – Jonathan Darman
Jonathan Darman’s Becoming FDR: The Personal Crisis That Made a President explores the trials and obstacles Roosevelt had to overcome on his path to greatness. Coming from an affluent, aristocratic background, Roosevelt was a failed vice-presidential candidate when he was struck with Polio at the age of 39 in 1921.
However, even with half of his body paralysed, FDR would still emerge with wisdom and a renewed determination that would see him establish a legacy as one of the country’s greatest-ever Presidents. Darman explores how Roosevelt was able to find hope in a hopeless situation, and how one personal crisis would help inspire his great journey against adversity.
The Defining Moment – Jonathan Alter
When Franklin Roosevelt became President in March 1933, America was going through the worst economic depression in its history. Many people were out of work, shanty towns were widespread on the edges of cities, banks were closed, and people had lost trust in the Government. However, utilising ingenious political instinct and an infectious message of hope and energy, FDR’s first hundred days in office would go down in history as the perfect embodiment of man meeting the moment.
In The Defining Moment: FDR’s Hundred Days and the Triumph of Hope, Jonathan Alter documents Roosevelt’s dramatic attempt to revive the nation. Featuring colourful storytelling and expert insights, this is one of the best FDR books for understanding how one man revived a nation’s soul and forged a path of greatness in the process.
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Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
