The Great Depression was a time of financial hardship and mental desperation perhaps unparalleled for America. From the stock market crash of 1929 until the end of the Depression, usually linked to the start of World War II, America experienced a time of fear and turbulence. While there are many different opinions about the extent to which the New Deal helped the economy, and in some cases the extent to which it hindered recovery, it would be harder to argue how many changes and new programs Roosevelt implemented. Both books deal with the chronological history of the Depression and partly with the effect of the New Deal on the American economy. The Forgotten Man by Amity Shlaes offers a perspective meant to be more modern and emphasize America's "forgotten man." William E. Leuchtenburg, an oft-cited expert on the era, offers a summary and simplicity of the Depression without a clear theme like Shlaes, in FDR and the New Deal. Although he seems to view the New Deal and Roosevelt with a favorable point of view, he continues to criticize him in several respects, similar to Shlaes. The two authors differ in numerous ways, such as the staggering nearly half-century difference between the publications of each book. Another aspect is each author's known ideology: Shlaes is a known republican and Leuchtenburg is a distinguished active member of the Democratic Party. While both books offer insights into the ups and downs of Roosevelt and the New Deal, you may notice differences in how certain aspects are explained. Historiography clearly plays a role in the differences in the narrative of such a chaotic and controversial era in American history. The TVA was one of the first laws of the First Hundred Days...... middle of paper...... der for a cause to support, but shows its fairness through its criticisms when they are due. Another problem with Shlaes' approach is a fundamental problem with the book: when trying to write a theme in a history book, evidence can be manipulated, or forgotten, to support the theme. A common theme is essential for fiction books, but when it's key to a book that delves into true history, the book may become shaky and less believable. Through these books you can learn to be wary of books that promise a “new story” and to always look for evidence to support the claims. Biases play a role in almost all writing, so you shouldn't be naive or take anything completely at face value. By being attentive to things that can influence your point of view, such as political position or historical moment, you can better evaluate which words are more credible and reliable..