An illuminating account of how Franklin D.
Tracing the physical, political, and Personal evolution of the iconic president, Becoming FDR shows how adversity can lead to greatness, and to the power to remake the world..
The polio years were transformative, too, for the marriage of Franklin and Eleanor, and for Eleanor herself, who became, at first reluctantly, her husband\'s surrogate at public events, and who grew to become a political and humanitarian force in her own right.
Most crucially, he had discovered how to find hope in a seemingly hopeless situation--a skill That he employed to motivate Americans through the Great Depression and World War II.
Suffering cemented his bond with those he once famously called the forgotten man.
He had become compassionate and shrewd by necessity, tailoring his speeches to inspire listeners and to reach them through a new medium--radio.
By the time he reemerged on the national stage in 1928 as the Democratic candidate for governor of New York, his character and his abilities had been transformed.
He spent much of the next decade trying to rehabilitate his body and adapt to the stark new reality of his life.
Soon after contracting polio in 1921 at the age of thirty-nine, the former failed vice-presidential candidate was left paralyzed from the waist down.
Becoming FDR traces the riveting story of the struggle That forged Roosevelt\'s character and political ascent.
Those qualities, so essential to his success as president, were skills he acquired during his seven-year journey through illness and recovery.
Yet for all his gifts, the young Roosevelt nonetheless lacked depth, empathy, and an ability to think strategically.
Born in 1882 to a wealthy, influential family and blessed with an abundance of charm and charisma, he seemed destined for high office.
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 face.--Walter Isaacson, bestselling author of Steve Jobs and Leonardo Da Vinci In popular memory, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the quintessential political natural.
Roosevelt\'s struggles with polio steeled him for the great struggles of the Depression and of World War II.--Jon Meacham A valuable book for anyone who wants to know how adversity shapes character.
An illuminating account of how Franklin D
