FDR's Folly

How Roosevelt and His New Deal Prolonged the Great Depression

By: Jim Powell

Narrated by: William Hughes

Length: 9 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

Think FDR was a great president? Think again.

In the minds of historians and the American public alike, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was one of our greatest presidents, not least because he supposedly saved America from the Great Depression. But as historian Jim Powell reveals in this groundbreaking book, Roosevelt's New Deal policies actually prolonged and exacerbated the economic disaster, swelled the federal government, and prevented the country from turning around quickly.

In today's turbulent domestic and global environment, eerily similar to that of the 1930s, it's more important than ever before to uncover and understand the truth of our history, lest we be doomed to repeat it. You'll never look at FDR in the same way again.

©2003 Jim Powell (P)2008 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Critic reviews

"Very readable, factual, and insightful - and endorsed by two Nobel Prize-winning economists." (Thomas Sowell, Senior Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University)

Stunning indictment of FDRs failed policies

Great book about what the New Deal actually did to America.

The draconian policies are hung out to dry.

Eye Opening Truth

It is hard to believe that it took so long to correct the misinformation spread by the so-called “historians” (most of whom came out of communist-hotbed Columbia University) who painted FDR as a great president.

An entertaining wander through creative history

If a smart witty writer set out to write a satire on politically motivated mis-interpretation of history, a finer job would be hard to find. Attracted by the title, I approached this book expecting an exploration of how some of FDRs polices were exploited by carpet-baggers or possibly a comparison with later downturns, and how policies advocated, but never used in the great depression would have been more helpful.

Instead, this book is one of the greatest acts of revisionism I've ever seen. Making an assertion, then selecting information that makes the case. No comparison with the 1890s downturn is made, no facts contrary to the case admitted.

This book should be studied in schools as an example of creative writing.

wonderful and insightful book

Very good description of what actions were actually taken by FDR and how they contradicted each other and transferred wealth from poor to rich by social security, agricultural subsidies, the destruction of jobs, food and cotton for which people were taxed who needed jobs, food and clothing.
Certainly also very relevant for the current situation as the belief in control, force, threat and war by politicians again reigns supreme.

Finally some truth about FDR in one spot!

Mr. Powell does a masterful work disassembling the lefts idol worship of FDR which usually results in fawning ritualistic undulations of pure orgasm over his accomplishments. This communists/statist former president has destroyed untold millions of lives by his policies that still haunt us to this very day. There is a special place in hell for Mr. FDR and it's about time those of us who know better said so. I am sure he and "uncle Joe" are having a good time now...NOT

failure of the New Deal

Excellent review of the steps taken by the Roosevelt Administration which only prolonged the depression

IQ is no match for common sense

Where does FDR's Folly rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

The similarities between what Obama and his administration is doing and FDR did in the 30's is scary. It is such a shame that the true results of poor governmental decisions are archived and forgotten instead of studied and avoided in the future

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

History was kind to FDR, but the truth is not.

Deja Vu All Over Again

This book should be required reading in college level history classes, particularly by the Kennedy School of Government types. It explains in detail, yet understandably, how the FDR administration implemented policies, many still in effect, that damaged the economy. It’s happening again, just like we’re on the path to 2008 again for many of the same reasons. Academics, lawyers, and politicians with no practical experience have long considered themselves “experts,” but the thing they are most expert at is mismanagement. Not only is this book history, it explains what and why we always find ourselves back at the same place, but each time worse than before. It’s the overeducated ignoramuses doing the same things repeatedly and expecting a different result.

FDR's Folly

This book, along with The Forgotten Man, are timely reminders of what occurred when massive federal intervention is the economy was last tried. The narrator does a fine job. FDR's Folly is well deserving of a listener's time and attention.

A book for our time

Given the challenges and choices facing our country, this book presents a unique opportunity for Americans to gain the insight, understanding and knowledge our public education system failed to provide us. This book provides that which every American requires in order to make necessary, timely and informed political and personal choices, confidently.