Becoming FDR

The Personal Crisis That Made a President

By: Jonathan Darman

Narrated by: Will Damron

Length: 12 hrs and 47 mins

Publisher's summary

“An illuminating account of how Franklin D. Roosevelt’s struggles with polio steeled him for the great struggles of the Depression and of World War II.”—Jon Meacham

“A valuable book for anyone who wants to know how adversity shapes character. By understanding how FDR became a deeper and more empathetic person, we can nurture those traits in ourselves and learn from the challenges we all face.”—Walter Isaacson, bestselling author of Steve Jobs and Leonardo Da Vinci

In popular memory, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the quintessential political “natural.” Born in 1882 to a wealthy, influential family and blessed with an abundance of charm and charisma, he seemed destined for high office. Yet for all his gifts, the young Roosevelt nonetheless lacked depth, empathy, and an ability to think strategically. Those qualities, so essential to his success as president, were skills he acquired during his seven-year journey through illness and recovery.

Becoming FDR traces the riveting story of the struggle that forged Roosevelt’s character and political ascent. Soon after contracting polio in 1921 at the age of thirty-nine, the former failed vice-presidential candidate was left paralyzed from the waist down. He spent much of the next decade trying to rehabilitate his body and adapt to the stark new reality of his life. By the time he reemerged on the national stage in 1928 as the Democratic candidate for governor of New York, his character and his abilities had been transformed. He had become compassionate and shrewd by necessity, tailoring his speeches to inspire listeners and to reach them through a new medium—radio. Suffering cemented his bond with those he once famously called “the forgotten man.” Most crucially, he had discovered how to find hope in a seemingly hopeless situation—a skill that he employed to motivate Americans through the Great Depression and World War II. The polio years were transformative, too, for the marriage of Franklin and Eleanor, and for Eleanor herself, who became, at first reluctantly, her husband's surrogate at public events, and who grew to become a political and humanitarian force in her own right.

Tracing the physical, political, and personal evolution of the iconic president, Becoming FDR shows how adversity can lead to greatness, and to the power to remake the world.

©2022 Jonathan Darman (P)2022 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“This fascinating story of how FDR was forged by polio is a moving personal drama. More than that, it’s a valuable book for anyone who wants to know how adversity shapes character. By understanding how FDR became a deeper and more empathetic person, we can nurture those traits in ourselves and learn from the challenges we all face.”—Walter Isaacson, bestselling author of Steve Jobs and Leonardo Da Vinci

“At a time when suffering and resilience have taken on new meaning for us all, Jonathan Darman offers us a compelling and compassionate portrait of a man who did extraordinary things because he came to understand both.”—Drew Gilpin Faust, bestselling author of This Republic of Suffering

“Franklin D. Roosevelt has been a strangely elusive figure to biographers, but he comes vividly to life in Jonathan Darman’s moving and insightful portrait. A gifted historian and writer, Darman has given us a parable of redemption through suffering, a sensitive portrait of a marriage, and a fascinating study of the acquisition of power. This is the gripping story of how a lightweight playboy became a great world leader.”—Evan Thomas, author of First: Sandra Day O’Connor

How one small thing helped change the course of America

This was a zoomed in view of FDR’s life after polio. How the disease changed the course of his life to make him a better man and a worthy president.

I wish there was more!

Such a story, told with care and completeness. It left me wanting more and longing for a country willing and able to face the challenges and work together for the greater good!

Outstanding insight

I thought the author did a masterful job of developing the thesis that FDR’s experience with polio had a positively transformative impact upon him and conveyed it with clarity and a compelling quality to the writing. The book was filled with support of informative information and personalized so much of what he talked about with regard to FDR. I highly recommend this book.

Great story of FDR before WWII. I would recommend this to any history buff who enjoys President reads.

Great story of FDR before WWII. I would recommend this to any history buff who enjoys President reads.

An Excellent Audiobook

I thoroughly loved the audiobook of Jonathan Darman's "Becoming FDR," and paired the experience with following along at times with the hardcover book I borrowed from the public library. Darman's story is masterful of how FDR's personal crisis in dealing with polio shaped him as a person and President.

The author skillfully weaves FDR's personal experiences with his public and political life. His writing is insightful about Eleanor Roosevelt and her marriage and partnership with FDR. Darman captures how both Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt were amazing and flawed people.

I came away from the book with a much fuller understanding of Warm Springs and the importance of this place and the polio patients to FDR. This part was moving.

The narrator was excellent!

Fantastic book with great narration.

As a quadriplegic from polio in 1940, I really resonated with this. So much of his struggle, determination. faith and hope, along with a need for our dignity, are present in my life as well as other polios. Now, in our elder years, we are dealing with post-polio syndrome, where the muscles we used the most during our active lives are no longer functioning. The narration was superb.

Insightful and Entertaining

I have read other books on FDR but none that focused on his ailment and how it helped develop him into the great leader he became. I think you will enjoy it too.

Great book.

Loved it. Insightful story of his "disability" and how he managed it and became a better person
is inspiring. Narration was perfection.

This is a must read!!!!!!!

I absolutely loved this book. So inspiring and great to see the behind the scenes that made a great man.

Wonderful, New Perspective on FDR

I loved this from beginning to end. Lots of new information, a compelling story well told. Also a fabulous narrator.