Freedom from Fear: The American People in Depression and War, 1929-1945 (Oxford History of the United States) |
Buy Freedom from Fear: The American People in Depression and War, 1929-1945 (Oxford History of the United States) here, one of 1755 World War Two books offered for sale at discount prices here in the history books section at R bookshop. There are currently 82636 history books in our history books section, and over 1,000,000 books listed in our book store. We greatly appreciate your patronage at R bookshop and look forward to offering you a large selection of great books at discount prices now and in the future. Thank you for shopping at R Bookshop!
|
You Are Here: Home > History Books > World War Two > Item 18
 |
Freedom from Fear: The American People in Depression and War, 1929-1945 (Oxford History of the United States)
|
by David M. Kennedy
Sales Rank: 26532
|
Discount: 34 %
List Price: $24.95
$16.47
At Amazon
on 6-23-2008.
|
|
|
|
Features
Cover Type: Paperback with 992 pages
Published by: Oxford University Press, USA; Reprint edition April 19, 2001
Written in: English
ISBN 10 Number: 0195144031
ISBN 13 Number: 978-0195144031
Book Dimensions:
9.2 x 5.9 x 2.3 inches
Weighs: 2.6 pounds
Product Review
You can think of Freedom from Fear as the academic's version of The Greatest Generation: like Tom Brokaw, Stanford history professor David M. Kennedy focuses on the years of the Great Depression and the Second World War and how the American people coped with those events. But there the similarities end--and, in terms of the differences, one might begin by noting that the historian's account is over twice the size of the journalist's.
Whereas Brokaw made use of extensive interviews, Kennedy relies on published accounts and primary sources, all meticulously footnoted. This academic rigor, however, does not render the book dull--far from it. Certainly the subject matter is interesting enough in its own right, but Kennedy offers attention-grabbing turns of phrase on nearly every page. He also unleashes some convention-shattering theses, such as his revelation that "the most responsible students of the events of 1929 have been unable to demonstrate an appreciable cause-and-effect linkage between the Crash and the Depression" and his subsequent argument that, although it made order out of chaos, the New Deal did not reverse the Depression--that, he says, was the war's doing. All in all, Freedom from Fear compares favorably to its companions in the multivolume Oxford History of the United States in both its comprehensive heft and its vivid readability. --Ron Hogan
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
Publisher's Weekly, November 1999
Rarely does a work of historical synthesis combine such trenchant analysis and elegant writing. Because of its scope, insight, and purring narrative engine, Kennedy's book will stand for years as the definitive history of the critical decades of the American century.
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
Reader Reviews
This review is from: Freedom from Fear: The American People in Depression and War, 1929-1945 (Oxford History of the United States) (Hardcover)
David Kennedy's book, "Freedom From Fear" is a monumental achievement of historical writing. Covering the years from just before outbreak The Great Depression to the end of World War II and the dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the author focuses on the impact which Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) had on America during this seminal period of our history, and how his influence still impacts on our country today. "Freedom From Fear" is an extremely long book--over 900 pages in length--and the early chapters, detailing various aspects of The "New Deal" and the many agencies under the "New Deal" which F.D.R. helped establish, are a bit too detailed and not quite as interesting as the rest of the book. But none of the wealth of information which Kennedy gives is dull or uninteresting--and when Kennedy starts to write about the events that occurred in Europe and the Pacific during World WarII, his book becomes as enthralling as any novel. A previous Amazon Reviewer faults Kennedy for being anti-Rosevelt and says that Kennedy feels "nothing Roosevelt did seems right." I wonder if we have read the same book! Kennedy is an obvious admirer of F.D.R. and does not hesitate to point out his many accomplishments and praise his ability as a politician and "visionary" in helping to draw so many conflicting elements in Congress and the country as a whole, together. Kennedy DOES point out that Roosevelt kept many of his thoughts and motives to himself--and that even his closest friends didn't know always exactly what he was THINKING. But the fact remains that F.D.R. accomplished wonders in drawing our country together and restoring a "Faith in ourselves" as a nation, that was woefully lacking until he became president. Kennedy gives more than ample credit to Rosevelt's accomplishments, and is an impartial enough as a historian to also mention his weaknesses and faults. Fortunately for our country, his accomplishments far outweigh his weaknesses! A further observation about this book, which I think should attract a wide readership and make his book appealing to all organization is superb! His writing is extremely clear and free of "pedanticism." His chapters, describing the various battles fought during World War II (i.e. The Battle of Midway; Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima, etc.), are as riveting as any novel.Written as a historian, Kennedy still has a novelist's flair for bringing what he writes about to life on the printed page. The "facts" he presents are totally free from "colorization"--but the WAY he presents them is dramatic and thoroughly engrossing. One of the most appealing aspects of his book is his "organization" of material. His accounts of the personalities of many of the world leaders described in his book are seemlessly interspersed with the history he is describing. His "profiles" of various leaders are gems of cogent brevity. "Freedom From Fear" is historical writing at its best--detailed, always interesting--and dramatic in in impact. It amply deserves to win a Pulitzer Prize--which I hope it does! Larry Auerbach, Las Vegas, NV
Comment | |
(Report this)
Back To Top
|
Freedom from Fear: The American People in Depression and War, 1929-1945 (Oxford History of the United States)
Available from Amazon
Price: $16.47
Updated on 6-23-2008.
|
NOTICE: All prices, availability, and specifications
are subject to verification by their respective retailers.
| We offer Freedom from Fear: The American People in Depression and War, 1929-1945 (Oxford History of the United States) and other related World War Two Books here at Rbookshop.com. To view more books about World War Two please use the previous and next buttons near the top of this page.
|
|
Search for books at
