The Great Depression

By: James Ledbetter, Daniel B. Roth

Narrated by: Mike Chamberlain

Length: 12 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's Summary

This title offers a first-person diary account of living through the Great Depression, with haunting parallels to our own time.

Benjamin Roth was born in New York City in 1894. When the stock market crashed in 1929, he had been practicing law for approximately 10 years, largely representing local businesses. After nearly two years, he began to grasp the magnitude of what had happened to American economic life, and he began writing down his impressions in a diary that he maintained intermittently until he died in 1978.

Roth's words from that unique time seem to speak directly to readers today. His perceptions and experiences have a chilling similarity to our own era. Like many of us, Roth struggles both to understand and to educate himself about what was going on around him. He is sceptical of big government, yet ultimately won over by FDR's New Deal. This collection of his diary entries, edited by James Ledbetter, editor of Slate's "The Big Money," reveals another side of the Great Depression - one lived through by ordinary, middle-class folks, who on a daily basis grappled with a swiftly changing economy coupled with anxiety about the unknown future. It is highly topical - and timely.

The greatest financial disaster since the Great Depression has many Americans wondering what things were like as the Great Depression unfolded and people did not yet know how or when it would end. It is clear-eyed, readable - and eerily familiar.

In short, concise, and thoughtful entries, Roth chronicles the most telling moments of the Great Depression, from the drop in the price of movie tickets to Hoover's failed free-market solutions, to the rise in foreclosures in his hometown and how to benefit from 'bargains' at the much-diminished stock exchange. It is published one-year after the bankruptcy of Lehman Bros sent the world markets on a deep downward slide, and around the 80th anniversary of "Black Tuesday".

©2009 PublicAffairs (P)2009 Audible, Inc.

Instructive and enjoyable

What did you love best about The Great Depression?

The narrative was engaging and it was an important slice of history.

What other book might you compare The Great Depression to and why?

It somewhat reminds me of "When Money Dies" by Adam Ferguson. You get snapshots during a dire financial times.

Any additional comments?

This book should be a must read for everyone. The story is from a middle classed professional's standpoint. You realize how tough times were when a lawyer has to eschew going to the movie theater because he hasn't been paid in months and the bills keep piling up.This book puts the recent financial crisis in perspective via the pen of Benjamin Roth, the man who lived it. It would be advisable to check out the physical book to follow along. The book references stock and commodity prices at various diary entry points to help the reader gauge the mood of main street and wall-street. Benjamin Roth is a Republican, this book is composed of his diary entries, so his views are expressed through that prism. It is an excellent book and I have no complaints.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

Long and repetitive, but unique and insightful.

I listened to this book in 25 minute chunks and enjoyed it. Because of the diary format I don't think longer sessions would have been enjoyable.

ABSOLUTELY !

Great account of a time we can't even remotely imagine.

Amazing!! Must read for everyone!!!!

Amazing book about life and times of the Great Depression!!! Goes deep into politics and finance on a global and domestic level of the time... amazing!!!

Very interesting then repetitive

this is a fascinating account, although the editing seemed to be lacking. often the editor's note gave a summary, then the diary repeated the information almost verbatim. Roth spends a lot of time reportimg on market data, which at times is interesting to see the wild changes, but I grew tired of reading stock quotes. Probably could have been made much more interesting and fluid with a little more selective editing.

File deleted.

The story was good up until the Audible app decided to delete all chapters after 1 and lose my spot. I can no longer get this book to play.

0 of 4 people found this review helpful

Expect the best but plan for the worse.

A second depression could occur if the Euro collapses, some believe it's inevitable I hope it doesn't but I think it will because Europe is in tremendous debt that it cannot pay back over the long term.
Non the less only time will tell.

This book is written as a diary and does an amazing job at putting across what it was like to have lived during a time of great shortage, struggle and anxiety.

It's not depressing because you don't engage on an emotional level with a central charcter.
Still it draws you in and I find it personally speaking - riveting!

I am a husband and father of two boys, this book is of great value to me due to the insights it offers it also aids me in my goal to become be a wise steward with finance.

Expect the best but plan for the worse.

Anybody who has the honour to read or listen to this audio-book owes the writer Daniel Benjamin Roth a great deal of thanks.

Let me be the first on this site to do so.

I am giving it 5 stars for the invaluable insight and indirect wisdom i have recieved by listening to it.
I took a chance on this book and it was more than worth my monthly credit!
I'm sure you can benefit from it too.

Go for it!!

3 of 4 people found this review helpful