The New Deal

by Paul K. Conkin

Demonstrating the intellectual excitement that is the practice of history at its best, Paul Conkin's The New Deal is still one of the best known titles in the very popular American History Series, edited by John Hope Franklin and A. S. Eisenstadt. The New Deal is still the best succinct and coherent description of a chaotic period. It is an account of the major domestic policies adopted during the Roosevelt administration. It is also a rich portrait of Roosevelt the man and consummate politician, and the satellite figures around him. This highly interpretive text, with its spirited and often subtle assessments of New Deal personalities and programs, will continue to bring the period to life for new generations of students. Includes extensive photo essay.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, College

122 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1968

About the author

Paul K. Conkin is Distinguished Professor Emeritus of History at Vanderbilt University.

Reviews

[Jennifer Mcarthur]

It helped my research but I cannot say I enjoyed this I am a political policy jargon hater to my core

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good counter-history to both the liberal mythology of the angelic Roosevelt and the messianic New Deal and the conservative charges of socialist policies and other absurdities. Conkin focuses on much of the historiography of the New Deal, drawing on both critics, members of Roosevelt's administration, and historians sympathetic to it, to produce a good survey of the New Deal, its policies, and the bourgeois origin of the welfare state to reinforce the capitalist mode of production.

[Dustin · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is a poorly written book. The author takes a difficult era to understand and makes it even more confusing. Paragraph to paragraph, sentence to sentence and word to word this book has no coherence and it is difficult to read. If you want inaccessible history and academic jargon then this book is for you.

[Caryl Sparks · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of the few books in graduate school I can say I really disliked. I hate having someones personal snarky philosophy shoved down my throat. His condescending tone really just drove me crazy. Thank goodness the book was only a hundred pages long.

[Random User · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very clear, very succinct, and very balanced. Ignore the people saying it’s overly complex, if you’ve read any historiography it’ll be easily digestible.

Only big caveat is that it’s not whatsoever cited, it gives index of further readings but would be prefer if it were cited in the text itself. Only reason I’m trusting it is because it’s part of the American History Series of Vanderbilt.

Overall, very good place to start if you’re interested in FDR.

[Andrew Pemberton · Rating 2 out of 5]

Very dry and dense.

[James Granger · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this book hard to read. I didn't know if the author was a disgruntled socialist or a New Deal denialist.

[Sarah (Gutierrez) Myers · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three stars doesn't mean I entirely agreed with Conkin, but he gave me a lot to think about. The New Deal was a much more complex program than I had imagined, with many different advisers working toward different goals, while FDR gave charismatic leadership but not clear direction. An essay in photos included in the book was a high point; who ever grows out of a childish love of "looking at the pictures"?

[Katharyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read for HI259: The Rise of Modern America, 1865-1996

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written. A great synopsis of the New Deal and FDR as a leader.