Freedom from Fear is David M. Kennedy's tale of American life between the years of 1929 and 1945. Kennedy chronicles the transformation that took place during the Great Depression and World War II. Through the historic terms of Presidents Hoover and F. D. Roosevelt we see the lives of farmers, politicians,  soldiers, and immigrants. Kennedy represents the tensions that existed around ideas of political isolation, economic recovery and racial equality. Readers experience the highs and lows of these formative years in the formation of American economic, social and political culture. Kennedy is an excellent author and has created an landmark account of American history. His analysis of these historic times is consistant and thorough  His capacity to tell the story of economy, social reform and war are exceptional. The attention to detail is great but can seem overwhelming at times. The most consistant perspective is that of  the political world. He does, however, commit substancial effort to represent the other American voices of this time.

I would recommend reading this book. It is a colorful tale of an important time in American history. I was constantly surprised at Kennedy's ability to detail economic, political, social and war time stories. There were points of the book where I felt swamped in political minuta but dont let that keep you from picking it up. The book shines brightest through the telling of World War II. Kennedy does an amazing job at summarizing the War through a mirad of lenses. Reading this book will take a commitment; at 936 pages it is not for the casual reader.