FDR

By: Jean Edward Smith

Narrated by: Marc Cashman

Length: 32 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

One of today's premier biographers, Jean Edward Smith, has written a modern, comprehensive, indeed ultimate book on the epic life of Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

This is a portrait painted in broad strokes and fine details. We see how Roosevelt's restless energy, fierce intellect, personal magnetism, and ability to project effortless grace permitted him to master countless challenges throughout his life. Smith recounts FDR's personal battles and also tackles head-on and in depth the numerous failures and miscues of Roosevelt's political career.

Summing up Roosevelt's legacy, Smith gives us the clearest picture yet of how this quintessential Knickerbocker aristocrat became the common man's president. The result is a powerful account that adds fresh perspectives and draws profound conclusions about a man whose story is widely known but far less understood. Written for the general public and scholars alike, FDR is a stunning biography in every way worthy of its subject.

Listen to more about Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

©2007 Jean Edward Smith (P)2007 Books on Tape

Critic reviews

"A magisterial biography...the author's eloquent synthesis of FDR's complex and compelling life is remarkably executed and a joy to read." (Publishers Weekly)

Completely Enjoyable

And, I learned so much! I never knew how FDR had become president despite his disability. I had always heard rumors about FDR’s extra marital affairs and how Elenor coped but Smith makes the situation more plausible. Loved hearing about Churchill and FDR’s political alliance. Also learned a lot about the New Deal, Lend Lease and the strength of FDR’s character. For someone who is interested in American politics and history, but also likes the personal aspects of the protagonist and other characters, I highly recommend this book. I will be reading more biographies by Jean Edward Smith.

Excellent read with only a tiny complaint

What was one of the most memorable moments of FDR?

I loved learning about FDR's relationship with Stalin and Churchill during WW2. The last 10 hours of the book were some of the most interesting history I've ever read. The author describes a particular conference in Teheran that had me laughing out load at times.

Churchill: England is getting pinker.
Stalin: It is a sign of good health.
Churchill: I drink to the proletarian masses.
Stalin: I drink to the conservative party.
Churchill: I believe that god is on our side. At least I have done my best to make him a faithful ally.
Stalin: And the devil is on my side. Everyone knows that the devil is a communist, and God, no doubt, is a good conservative.

What about Marc Cashman’s performance did you like?

I listened at 1.5 speed and found the narrator's voice pleasant and engaging.

Any additional comments?

I only have one complaint: the biography ended very abruptly with FDR's death. Nothing about his funeral (I wanted to know which world leaders attended, etc), nothing about Eleanor's reaction, or their children's reactions. Also, nothing about FDR's enduring legacy. And not even a sentence about the end of the war. I also expected to hear more about the 22nd amendment, since FDR's 4 elections and 3 terms in office are so extraordinary in US history.

Other than these missing pieces, I thought this biography was nearly perfect. I literally enjoyed every minute of it.

A good biography of a great president

Overall, this biography offers a good, balanced overview of FDR's life. The book is well researched and does an excellent job weaving inspirational quotations from FDR's speeches into the narrative. The book offers insightful analysis of FDR's political misteps such as his court packing initiative and provides an excellent description of how FDR masterfully lead the nation from its isolationist stance at the end of the 1930's towards mobilization and ultimately active involvement in WWII. Similarly, the description of the deteriorating relationship between the US and Japan leading up to Pearl Harbor was well done. The book pays special attention to describing FDR's relationships with important people in his life. The introduction is well written and highlights important themes in the book. I was disappointed by the book's scant attention to FDR's experience as NY's governor and I would have appreciated a more detailed contextual analysis of FDR's New Deal policies and a discussion of how these policies benefitted everyday Americans. While FDR's decision to place Japanese Americans in internment camps was discussed, I would have appreciated greater elaboration and analysis of this tragic chapter in US history. The biography had a very weak ending and just closed with FDR dying without offering any real conclusion or reflection on FDR's life and legacy.

Excellent

Held my interest the entire time. Very detailed without being overly dry. Highly recommended listen.

Good book about Franklin Roosevelt

This was a good biography about Franklin Roosevelt. The author moves through his life and the events that shaped him including his marriage to Eleanor, his contracting polio and how that changed him physically and personally. I would recommend this book for anyone who wants to get a really good in depth look into Franklin Roosevelt life.

Never to be forgotten

I was but a babe when he died but I grew up knowing him. My family was all Democratic and
This book is wonderful in every way. I great tribute to the greatest of men.

Amazing book

This book was a great listen it gave a lot of details and Franklin’s Roosevelt life before his presidency and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in American history/world war 2 because it also talk about the things he did during the war ofc which some things are frown upon now,but other then a few things it’s a great book(yes I repeated myself like three times 🤣)

Briography for the General Reader

Jean Edward Smith (Eisenhower in War and Peace, FDR and Chief Justice Hughes, Traitor to His class: The Privileged Life and Radical Presidency of Franklin Delano Roosevelt) also published an outstanding biography titled FDR in 2008. I must disclose that I am a fan of Smith’s biographies and have completed almost all of them. This biography is longer than some will tolerate, but well worth the effort. It fully details the split between FDR and ER, the President’s relationship with his children, his handling of the War, his approach to the Depression, and the holding of Japanese US citizens. The most interesting passage for me covered his friendship with Churchill and Lend Lease. Anyone who didn’t live through this American era or in the shadow of FDR, will be more than rewarded for learning about this time in our history. Wade into the book, swim through some pages, and see if you don’t agree. Certainly, Jean Edward Smith has a knack for bringing history in general to the general reader through biography. The narration of Marc Cashman is excellent

a work of considerable merit; dull in places

What did you love best about FDR?

Smith's account of FDR's early years, his family history, the run-up to the attack on Pearl.

What did you like best about this story?

depiction of FDR's character

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

reliable but dull in places

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

FDR: a public life

Any additional comments?

writing was workmanlike but lacked inspiration in places.

A great story of a great man.

Sometimes it was too American version of the story telling. But undoubtedly he was a great man in a crucial moment of our History. I recommend Churchill audiobook, that has a longer coverage of the war with much more world perspective.