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Fear Itself

The New Deal and the Origins of Our Time
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( 786 ratings, 113 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Fear Itself by Ira Katznelson examines how fear shaped American democracy during the challenging times of the Great Depression and World War II. The book explores the influence of Southern Democrats and the crucial decisions made that defined modern America's economy and social policies. Katznelson delves into the complex interplay of politics, geography, and emotions that left a lasting impact on the nation's history.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

If you're fascinated by the strategic and political decisions during the New Deal era, you may find this book captivating. It delves into the dynamics of democracy in peril, exploring how fear and uncertainty influenced pivotal government policies. This book offers a nuanced look at historical events that continue to shape modern society.

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β€œA powerful argument, swept along by Katznelson’s robust prose and the imposing scholarship that lies behind it.”—Kevin Boyle, New York Times Book Review

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A work that deeply reconceptualizes the New Deal and raises countless provocative questions (David Kennedy), Fear Itself changes the ground rules for our understanding of this pivotal era in American history.

Ira Katznelson examines the New Deal through the lens of a pervasive, almost existential fear that gripped a world defined by the collapse of capitalism and the rise of competing dictatorships, as well as a fear created by the ruinous racial divisions in American society.

Katznelson argues that American democracy was both saved and distorted by a Faustian collaboration that guarded racial segregation as it built a new national state to manage capitalism and assert global power.

Fear Itself charts the creation of the modern American state and how a belief in the common good gave way to a central government dominated by interest-group politics and obsessed with national security (Louis Menand, The New Yorker).

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Fear Itself by Ira Katznelson has been praised for its engaging and insightful exploration of American history during the New Deal era. Reviewers highlight the book's clear and energetic prose, its ambitious scope, and its enlightening commentary on the shift from a belief in the common good to a focus on national security and interest-group politics. The book is seen as both entertaining and educational, offering a fresh perspective on how historical forces have shaped modern America.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780871407382

Publisher: WW Norton & Co

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 15 April 2014

Country: United States

Imprint: Liveright Publishing Corporation

Illustration: 24 illustrations

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 30.0mm

Width: 140.0mm

Height: 211.0mm

Weight: 534g

Pages: 720

About the Author

Ira KatznelsonΒ is Ruggles Professor of Political Science and History at Columbia University and Deputy Director of Columbia World Projects. A former president of the American Political Science Association, he is the author of many celebrated books, including Fear Itself, winner of the Bancroft Prize in History.

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