Genre: History Non-Fiction
Author: Jim Powell
Released: 2003
Notable Works: Wilson's War

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It has been awhile since I have reviewed a book, thus I thought it was as good a time to start, especially, when I am trying to maintain an updated site. In any case, I just finished this book for the class in which I am a teaching assistant, and thought it was worth the time to review.

As the title suggests, FDR?s Folly is by no means lenient on the policies of Roosevelt during the Great Depression. Powell attacks the policies of the New Deal from all angles, but it is shocking to learn about the men who were behind the New Deal and their motives for pushing for reform of the economy.

This is not to say that Powell presents the correct truth about the New Deal. He is an unabashed critic of Roosevelt, and provides no praise of any policies of Roosevelt (which is surprising, considering how many years Roosevelt was in office). Further, like many critics, he seems to use too many examples and testimonials to try to prove why the policies of FDR were bad.

Regardless, the book still adds insight and is a useful counterpart to many historical writings on the New Deal, as historians generally look only at the humanitarian element of the Great Depression, very rarely analyzing any of the economic consequences of policy. I recommend this book to anyone interested in the New Deal, though recommending you do not read this over a course of a day, lest your head be filled with negative anti-government thoughts for the rest of the day.