For young learners eager to understand the leaders who shaped America, this book explores the presidencies, highlighting key events like the New Deal and its impact.
A parent might reach for this book when their teen is studying American history and expresses that it feels boring or disconnected from their life. It is also perfect for a young person asking big questions about government, leadership, and how the past shapes the present. This book provides a detailed overview of the U.S. presidencies up to the 1960s, with a special focus on critical moments like Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal. It unpacks complex political and economic concepts, fostering curiosity and an appreciation for resilience in the face of national crises. For teens aged 12-18, it is an excellent resource that moves beyond simple facts, encouraging a deeper understanding of cause, effect, and the machinery of society.
Published in 1964, its perspectives on race, gender, and history may feel dated.
Sensitive Topics
The book directly addresses historical events including war, economic depression, poverty, and political assassination. The treatment is academic and non-graphic. As a product of 1964, its perspective on race, gender, and Indigenous history is dated and reflects the mainstream academic consensus of its time, lacking modern critical viewpoints. Parents should be prepared to discuss this historical context.
Ideal Reader
A curious high school student (ages 14-18) with a burgeoning interest in history, political science, or economics. They are looking for more depth than their school textbook provides and are capable of engaging with complex ideas about policy and its real-world impact.
Parent Prep
Parents should absolutely provide context about the book's 1964 publication date. It's crucial to explain that historical interpretations change over time, and that the book's portrayal of certain events or groups (particularly regarding the Civil Rights Movement, which was ongoing at the time of publication) will differ significantly from contemporary accounts. Previewing sections on the Civil War and treatment of Native Americans is recommended. A parent hears their teen say, "I don't get why we have to learn about all these old presidents, it doesn't matter anymore," or asks a pointed question like, "Has the country ever been this divided before?"
Age Experience
A younger teen (12-14) will likely connect with the biographical stories and the grand sweep of events, seeing presidents as powerful figures who solved big problems. An older teen (15-18) can engage with the more abstract concepts, like economic theories and political strategy, and can also critically analyze the book as a historical document itself, considering its inherent biases and perspective.
What Makes It Special
Compared to modern, visually-rich historical books, this work's strength is its scholarly, text-driven depth from a mid-century perspective. Its detailed focus on the economic and political philosophy behind the New Deal, written by a leading expert, offers a unique and challenging look at a pivotal moment in American history, treating its teen audience with intellectual respect.
Read plot summary
This book is a historical survey of the United States presidencies from the nation's founding through the administration of John F. Kennedy, published in 1964. It provides biographical information on each president while also analyzing their key policies and the context of their times. As the author was a renowned Franklin D. Roosevelt scholar, the text gives particular weight to FDR's administration and the New Deal, using it as a case study for massive government response to a national crisis, framed within Keynesian economic theory.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
The book details Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal as a major government intervention during the Great Depression. Do you think this was the right approach? Why or why not?
2
After reading about several presidents, which leader's style of problem-solving do you find most effective, and could it work for challenges the country faces today?
3
This book was written in 1964, during the Cold War and the Civil Rights Movement. How do you think that specific time period might have influenced the author's perspective on past presidents?
4
The author describes how Herbert Hoover's administration was seen as 'ineffective' in handling the Depression. What makes a leader seem effective or ineffective to the public during a crisis?
