The Forgotten Man

A New History of the Great Depression

Amity Shales

Book Synopsis

"The Forgotten Man" by Amity Shlaes is a thought-provoking exploration of the Great Depression in America. Shlaes presents a fresh perspective on this historic era, focusing on the forgotten individuals who endured immense hardships and played key roles in shaping the nation's recovery.

Through meticulous research, Shlaes introduces us to forgotten figures such as Wendell Willkie, a businessman turned presidential candidate, and Andrew Mellon, a Treasury Secretary who led crucial economic reforms. These individuals, often overshadowed by Franklin D. Roosevelt and his New Deal policies, demonstrate the resilience and resourcefulness that defined the American spirit during this trying time.

Shlaes delves into the unintended consequences of Roosevelt's extensive government intervention and argues that it complicated the recovery process, hindering economic growth and job creation. By shining a spotlight on the struggles faced by everyday Americans and dissecting the impact of policies, Shlaes challenges prevailing assumptions about the Great Depression and its aftermath.

"The Forgotten Man" offers valuable insights into the consequences of government intervention in times of crisis and the importance of recognizing and supporting the forgotten individuals who power society forward. In a concise and well-researched manner, Shlaes raises thought-provoking questions about the balance between individual liberty and collective responsibility, urging readers to reexamine historical narratives and endeavor to learn from the past.

Explore More Books

See All
The Scout Mindset
The British Are Coming
The Great Convergence
The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
The Power To Compete
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
Competitive Strategy
Blink
Believe Me
Idoru
No Ordinary Time
Hard Landing
The Status Syndrome
Open
Common Stocks and Uncommon Profits
The Complete Stories
Mao
Contrarian Investment Strategies
Andy Goldsworthy
Kill It With Fire
Queen of Fashion
Joy on Demand
Leadership and Self-Deception
Upheaval
Atlas Shrugged
Debt
Status Anxiety
Exponential Organizations
Fortitude
Dataclysm
The Godfather
The Blazing World
Tribe
Lost in Shangri-La
Dear Leader
Seeker
Awakening Joy
Stalingrad
The God Delusion
The Gene
Revolution in The Valley
Iacocca
The Little Book of Common Sense Investing
The World That Wasn't
Lasker's Manual of Chess
Thai Stick
The Lights in the Tunnel
Prosperity
Against Empathy
The Constitutional Convention
The World For Sale
Walk in Their Shoes
The Ultimate Resource 2
The Future Is Faster Than You Think
Shadow Divers
Wake Up to the Joy of You
The Story of Civilization: The Age of Faith
The Yellow Pad
The Line Becomes a River
One Summer
Ender's Game
The Peacemaker's Code
The Rise of Superman
Value-added Measures in Education
Without a Doubt
Consolations
The Storytelling Animal
Dune Messiah
The New One
The Tyrrany of Guilt
The Man Who Solved The Market
The Origin of Consciousness in the Breakdown of the Bicameral Mind
The Idea Factory
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
The Undoing Project
The Red Decade
Stumbling on Happiness
Midnight In Chernobyl
Patient Capital
Destined For War
Oscar
The Yoga Sutra of Patanjali
Delivering Happiness
The Bottomless Well
I Heard God Laughing
My Inventions
If I Could Tell You Just One Thing
The Making of a Philosopher
The Rise and Fall of the Great Powers
The Laws of Thermodynamics
Ham on Rye
The Legend of Henry Ford
Francis Crick
The One Sentence Persuasion Course
The New Science of Strong Materials
Rise of the Robots
1984
Einstein's Mistakes
Losing The Signal
The Watchman's Rattle