Description
An illuminating account of how Franklin D Roosevelts struggles with polio steeled him for the great struggles of the Depression and of World War IIJon Meacham
A valuable book for anyone who wants to know how adversity shapes character By understanding how FDR became a deeper and more empathetic person we can nurture those traits in ourselves and learn from the challenges we all faceWalter Isaacson bestselling author of Steve Jobs and Leonardo Da Vinci
In popular memory Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the quintessential politicalnatural Born in 1882 to a wealthy influential family and blessed with an abundance of charm andcharisma he seemed destined for high office Yet for all his gifts theyoung Roosevelt nonetheless lacked depth empathy and an ability to think strategically Thosequalities so essential to his success as president were skills he acquired duringhissevenyearjourneythrough illness and recovery
Becoming FDR traces the rivetingstory of the struggle that forged Roosevelts character and political ascent Soon after contracting polio in 1921at the age of thirtyninethe former failed vicepresidentialcandidate was left paralyzed from the waist down Hespentmuch of the nextdecade trying torehabilitate his body and adapt to thestark new reality of his life By the time he reemerged on the national stagein 1928 as the Democratic candidate for governor of New Yorkhischaracter and his abilities had been transformed He had become compassionate and shrewd bynecessity tailoring his speeches to inspire listeners and to reach them through a new mediumradio Suffering cemented his bond with those he once famously calledthe forgotten man Most crucially he had discovered how to find hope in aseemingly hopeless situationa skill that he employed to motivateAmericans through the Great Depression and World War II The polio yearswere transformative too for the marriage of Franklin and Eleanor and for Eleanor herself who became at first reluctantly her husbands surrogate at public events and who grew to become a political and humanitarian force in her own right
Tracing the physical politicaland personal evolutionof the iconic president Becoming FDR shows howadversity can lead togreatness and to the power to remake the world
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