Franklin D. Roosevelt is remembered as one of America's greatest presidents, a leader who guided us through depression and war. Yet for the period prior to World War II, we rarely think of him in a global context, active as an extraordinary international figure during the crisis years that destroyed the old order and catalyzed the changes that created the world we still inhabit. Truly, it was a time of struggle for the survival of democracy. In For the Survival of Democracy, master historian Alonzo Hamby offers a gripping and revisionist comparative history of this turbulent era, allowing Roosevelt to be viewed in comparison with Stanley Baldwin in Britain, Adolf Hitler in Germany, and a host of supporting yet crucial players. Combining deft character sketches with surprising interpretations of world leaders, Hamby takes us back to a time when nationalism seized the West, when Hitler cloaked his evil in tactical brilliance, and when passive leaders were destined to be swept aside. Franklin Roosevelt emerges as the Depression's most imposing leader. A charismatic personality committed to radical change, a masterful popular communicator, Roosevelt saw no inconsistency between democracy and personal power. Like many great men, he achieved great things but also made great mistakes. Hamby describes in detail his inspiring leadership and the social transformations he wrought, and also examines his failure to achieve economic recovery in the United States long after Germany and Britain accomplished it. The economic catastrophe of the decade before World War II, coupled with the rise of fascism, contains all the drama and high stakes of a fight for survival, during which FDR proved himself to be an essential warrior. In America, in no small part thanks to Franklin Roosevelt, democracy survived to fight another day, and to prevail. Never before has the decade prior to the war been brought to life so vividly, and never have Franklin Roosevelt's achievements been made so clear. Fred I. Greenstein author of "The Presidential Difference" and "The Hidden-Hand Presidency" Hamby provides a vividly kaleidoscopic view of the global crisis of the 1930s -- a real page-turner. Steve Gillon resident historian, The History Channel A rich and compelling account of how the leaders of three nations -- Britain, the United States, and Germany -- responded to the economic crisis of the 1930s. No one who reads this book will ever again doubt that individuals, both great and infamous, can shape the course of history. William E. Leuchtenburg author of "Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New Deal, 1932-1940" In this vigorously argued, well-written book, Alonzo Hamby breaks new ground by placing Franklin Roosevelt's first two terms in the context of what was happening in Hitler's Germany and Stanley Baldwin's Britain. He is also considerably more critical of the New Deal than are traditional accounts. In both regards, he challenges the conclusions of other historians and the imaginations of his readers. Fred I. Greenstein author of "The Presidential Difference" and "The Hidden-Hand Presidency" Hamby provides a vividly kaleidoscopic view of the global crisis of the 1930s -- a real page-turner. Steve Gillon resident historian, The History Channel A rich and compelling account of how the leaders of three nations -- Britain, the United States, and Germany -- responded to the economic crisis of the 1930s. No one who reads this book will ever again doubt that individuals, both great and infamous, can shape the course of history. William E. Leuchtenburg author of "Franklin D. Roosevelt and the New Deal, 1932-1940" In this vigorously argued, well-written book, Alonzo Hamby breaks new ground by placing Franklin Roosevelt's first two terms in the context of what was happening in Hitler's Germany and Stanley Baldwin's Britain. He is also considerably more critical of the New Deal than are traditional accounts. In both regards, he challenges the conclusions of other historians and the imaginations of his readers. Alonzo L. Hamby is the author of the critically acclaimed books Beyond the New Deal and Man of the People: A Life of Harry S. Truman. He is currently a Distinguished Professor of History at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, where he also lives. Used Book in Good Condition