The New Deal

A Modern History

By: Michael Hiltzik

Narrated by: Traber Burns

New York Times best-selling author and Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Michael Hiltzik tells the epic story of the New Deal through the outsized personalities of the people who fought for it, opposed it, and benefited from it, rendering vital lessons for our own time.

As America struggles with an economic debacle akin to the Great Depression, nothing could be timelier than an authoritative account of the New Deal, masterfully written by Michael Hiltzik, author of the acclaimed history of the Hoover Dam, Colossus.

In this richly peopled, vividly rendered narrative, Hiltzik describes how the urgent short-term relief measures of Franklin Roosevelt’s Hundred Days evolved into a transformative concept of the federal role in American life. Rather than the product of a single ideology, the New Deal emerged from the clash of ideas held by advisors from very different backgrounds. With historical and psychological insight, Hiltzik sheds light on the lives of the gargantuan characters who fought for and against it: Herbert Hoover, whose own administration gave birth to many of the programs that would become part of the New Deal; General Hugh Johnson, the West Pointer whose pugnacious leadership of the National Recovery Administration symbolized the New Deal for millions of Americans; Harry Hopkins, whose closeness to Roosevelt earned him the moniker “deputy president”; and many other fascinating figures. What emerges is a saga of how FDR managed to recast the federal government into something that still inspires: a unifying structure with the concept of social justice at its heart.

©2011 Michael Hiltzik (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Very well researched

Overall, this does a fantastic job covering every aspect of the policies of the New Deal, especially the internal debates in the FDR administration.
Sometimes goes into too many details.

Great Resource On Roosevelt & The New Deal

Excellent source for the specifics that went into the different aspects of Roosevelt’s policies.

Outstanding narration from Traber Burns.

Great book

Michael Hiltzik is one of the best and this is a period every American should know about

HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF ...

It's like every generation must fight the same battles over and over. This look into FDR's challenges with unbridled greed and avarice are not all that different than the challenges we all face today. Expertly written with a wonderful historical perspective. The facts as always speak for themselves.

Balanced and Well Done

Well balanced account of the pros and cons of the New Deal. I highly recommend it.