Franklin D. Roosevelt and the American Century
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4.0 • 25 Ratings
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- $4.99
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- $4.99
Publisher Description
Revered as a consummate statesman who cemented America’s place on the global stage, Franklin Delano Roosevelt affected tremendous change in the United States in course of his career. To understand his life is to understand how the nation claimed world leadership in what many call the American Century.
In this fascinating course, award-winning American history professor Jeffrey Webb introduces you to the man behind the legendary life. You’ll begin by learning about FDR’s privileged upbringing and early career in public service, explore his unconventional marriage to Eleanor Roosevelt, and recount his life-long struggle with paraplegia beginning at age thirty-nine.
You’ll also cover FDR’s progressive policies as governor of New York during the Great Depression and the historic New Deal, which set the nation on a new path of social and political development.
Prof. Webb provides enlightening context for FDR’s confrontation of the Third Reich and Imperial Japan and his celebrated leadership of the Allies. You’ll explore his wartime “home front” policies—including the internment of Japanese Americans—that dramatically expanded the power of the federal government.
In this remarkable series, you’ll learn how FDR’s mind and career were shaped by the titanic events of his era, and how his leadership in this era of bewildering change defined America’s, and the world’s future.
This course is part of the Learn25 collection.
Customer Reviews
A Compelling Portrait
I really appreciate Webb's approach to biography. As with his book on Benjamin Franklin, he goes far beyond dates and dry facts to explain how historical context shaped a famous figure. The political and industrial changes that took place during FDR's lifetime were immense, and Webb does a great job showing how his leadership responded to and shaped a changing nation. Growing up, I would have been much more interested in history if I'd had texts such as Webb's to engage with.
A wonderful overview of the life of FDR
Jeff Webb lays out FDR’s life and accomplishments in a very compelling manner.
This book was a joy to listen to and very informative. A must listen for any history fan
Fascinating Look into a Suprisingly Deep Man
Webb notes in the very first lecture that FDR is often characterized (unfairly in his opinion) as less of a thinker and intellectual than the other great presidents like Jefferson and Lincoln. I found Webb’s counterpoint to this arguement - that FDR in fact was brilliant in the areas of emotional/social intelligence - very compelling. I did not realize FDR was such a social animal; indeed, his natural affability and empathy helped him build coalitions, ensure support from his allies, and win support from a public rocked by a great depression and world war in successive years. And he did this all while battling parapalegia for much of his adult life.
Overall point: download this audiobook. You won’t be dissapointed; it’s a fresh look at one of the most important presidents in American history.