Freedom from Fear: The American People in Depression and War, 1929-1945 [Paperback]

 

 

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"Freedom From fear" by David Kennedy is a highly respectable history book for the Great Depression and WWII era. Professor Kennedy filled this book with lots of quality research, as well as his own opinions on the Great Depression. In the beginning of this book, Kennedy begins with Herbert Hoover and how he did things "wrong", but then he turned to FDR who kept up with the changing economy at that time. Kennedy portrays FDR as powerful and willing for change. He was an inspiring character for those during the Depression. Further into the book, Kennedy devotes his research to the New Deal and the effects it had on the Depression. Kennedy did go into detail about the effects, but he should have researched more about the causes of the Depression. Even though this book seems to drag on at parts because of all the information thrown at the reader, it was Kennedy's writing style that made the book hard to put down. It was very enjoyable to read and we recommend it to any history lovers who want to learn more about the Depression.

After looking at all the extremely positive views of Freedom From Fear, it is with some trepidation that I offer some negative comments. This is a book that I really looked forward to reading and wanted very much to like. On the positive side, I must state that I learned a great deal, particularly about the depression, that I did not know. And I also certainly admire Dr. Kennedy for tackling such a massive project and condensing the results into a single volume. But therein, I think, lay the seeds of some of the difficulties. Specifically, I have three problems with it.

First, because he is trying to cover so much, the book ends up being just a broad survey and, of necessity, omits too much, and places too much reliance on secondary sources. This is probably inevitable considering the scope of the project and the vast literature available. Each chapter covers a particular theme, which makes the book look like a series of lectures or articles, rather than a unified whole.

Second, the book badly needed a good editing before publication. There are two problems here. The first is that stories are repeated, almost verbatim, in different chapters, and occasionally even within a single chapter. The second is that, in the areas with which I am familiar, I found numerous factual errors. To cite just three, at the battle of the Philippine Sea it was not Raymond Spruance, commander of the Fifth Fleet, who ordered the lights turned on for the returning aircraft, but Marc Mitscher, commander of the carrier groups. Again, it was not Thomas Kinkaid, commander of the Seventh Fleet, who "crossed the T" at Surigao Strait, but rather Jesse Oldendorf, who commanded the battleships and other fire support ships. But my favorite is the photo caption which refers to the horizontal stabilizer in the tail assembly of a B-17 as its "rear wing". If I'm able to spot these errors in areas with which I'm familiar, it makes me wonder about how many there may be in areas with which I'm not familiar.

My last criticism is the most important, and that deals with the tone of the book. As a couple of reviewers have mentioned, the author is negative about nearly everyone in the cast of characters, most especially about Roosevelt and Churchill. (Among the exceptions are Truman (who comes in only at the very end), Hopkins, and, most peculiarly, Stalin.) I suspect the problem may be that Dr. Kennedy is just too far removed from the events he describes. Everyone knew that Roosevelt and Churchill had faults and made mistakes. But they have to be viewed in the true context in which they lived and operated. They were both heroic figures who did the best they could in situations that few have ever experienced or could handle. ...

I am making my way through the Oxford Series and approached this one with some trepidation given the period it covers. Having one book span the Great Depression and the Second World War is interesting as it covers the economic implications of fighting to very different types of conflicts. Accurately stated upfront in the book is the fact that the generation who lived through the Great Depression, the New Deal, and the Second World War experienced more change in such a short period of time than any previous generation. This is a whole lot of ground to cover and Kennedy pulls it off.

Being a military history buff, I greatly appreciated the first part of the book having been less exposed to the depression. It was illuminating to learn that it was not solely the stock market crash of 1929 that initiated the Great Depression. In fact, times had been tough in many aspects of the economy through the 1920's and though speculation was a factor it is inaccurate and an oversimplification to credit it alone. Indeed, some say it played no role whatsoever and given only 2.5% of the population owned any stock the theory may be sound.

The battle to save the economy by Hoover and Roosevelt is truly incredible. Through the New Deal and its related stimulus initiatives, America built a more powerful central government. Like today, the issues were largely in the banking and investment industries which called for more regulation - also like present day. Investors lost three quarters of the value of their assets and there were 600,000 mortgage defaults just from 1930-32. Teachers went without pay and businessmen out of work dug ditches wearing their suits. The government feared a revolution from the impacted masses.

America was incredibly backward in the 1930's with over 45 million without indoor plumbing and it seemed to be taking more backward steps as the decade went on. The New Deal and its successor program did not have immediate or lasting impact. And as war loomed in other parts of the world, Roosevelt could not garner America's interest as most believed that the Great War was a costly mistake not to be repeated. He was remarkable in his maneuvering prior to Pearl Harbor to position the country for eventual leadership in the conflict and beyond.

Soon, the 'arsenal of democracy', lend-lease, and America's own re-armament did wake a sleeping giant - an economic giant. This too, is a fascinating part of history, how America, in an incredibly short period of time mobilized economically and militarily (thanks to a great extent by individual income taxes). This enabled America not only to support their Allies but also to field the best equipped military in the world with a three-to-one munitions advantage. In the Pacific the disparity was amazing, in the last 18 months of the war every American combatant could draw on four tons of supplies while his Japanese opponent drew on just four pounds.

Kennedy does a very credible job taking the reader through an abridged history of the Second World War. Being more familiar than most of the military history, I enjoyed the political and economic backdrop that steered the war. I must admit his coverage of both Guadal-canal and the Atlantic U-boat conflict are particularly strong. He also provides succinct and engaging profiles of Marshall, Eisenhower, MacArthur, Montgomery, Rommel, Patton and others.

Almost 16 million men and 500,000 women served on behalf of the U.S. and over 400,000 were killed, another 100,000+ succumbed to accident or disease, and nearly a million more were wounded. But as stark as those statistics are they do not tell the whole story. Thankfully, Kennedy does by writing a history that weaves together the political, economic, social, cultural and military aspects that give context to the Great Depression, the Second World War, and their lasting impact. I look forward to his follow-up, The American People in World War Two: Freedom from Fear which won the Pulitzer Prize.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding general history
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The book is exactly what it says it is, a general history of the United Stated during the Depression and WWII. Read more

Published on Jun 16 2004 by Scott A. Gold

2.0 out of 5 stars "Just the facts, ma'am"
David M. Kennedy's Freedom from Fear: The American People in Depression and War, 1929-1945 is simply not a very good book. Read more

Published on April 11 2004 by Ford Kent

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful with one exception
This is a remarkable, evocative look at the United States during the Great Depression and World War II. Read more

Published on Oct 18 2003

5.0 out of 5 stars An informative representation
Freedom From Fear is David M. Kennedy's prodigious volume in the Oxford History of the United States that covers America during the Depression and World War two. Read more

Published on Oct 27 2002 by Daniel J. Blinka

5.0 out of 5 stars Admirably done.......
Freedom From Fear is a bountiful and hugely enjoyable look at America from the onset of the Great Depression to the conclusion of the Second World War. Read more

Published on July 21 2002 by nto62

2.0 out of 5 stars History told with slant of speculation and opinions
I purchased this book because of the other glowing reviews and because it won a Pulitzer. I was terribly disappointed. Read more

Published on April 27 2002

5.0 out of 5 stars The Hinge of Fate, Or How America Became America
David Kennedy provides timely reading for a country whose people pull in a hundred different directions as they seek to (re)discover their collective identity in a rapidly... Read more

Published on Mar 29 2002 by Paul Frandano

4.0 out of 5 stars Sweeping, compelling narrative...
A broad scoped and scholarly account of the Great Depression and the period up to and including World War II. Read more

Published on Feb 4 2002 by Thomas Moody

5.0 out of 5 stars At once, sweeping and intimate
This is the definitive history of the most challenging period in American history since the Civil War. Read more

Published on Nov 8 2001 by Michael Albert Riccardi

5.0 out of 5 stars A Masterwork by a Master Historian
It is not often that one has the privilege of reading a historical masterpiece. David M. Kennedy's Freedom From Fear affords us that rare opportunity. Read more

Published on Oct 1 2001 by A. H. Lynde

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