We, the People

Originally issued as a modern approach to American history for young adults, this has gone through edition after edition - trade and text- and now is being brought up to date with a new sections panning the years from the election of Roosevelt to the present. Here's history made exciting reading (or rereading) for any age, willing to view trends and curves of economic, political and social happenings from a fresh and at times an aggressively liberal viewpoint. Stale facts emerge with new significance. The text challenges our thinking, our emotions, our interpretations. The new section gives a vigorous synthesis of the contributions of the New Deal - an awareness and understanding of its failures- a sympathetic approach to its ideals- a recognition of the New Deal as a revolution in ideas but not in economy. Huberman views Capitalism in its most acute and highly developed form as the cause of the depression- and considers that the New Deal actually gave it new life and new direction. He is critical of the failures of foreign policy - "fine words, some progressive action- then reaction". With the declaration of war we stopped zigzagging and marched straight ahead. But today- the lessons of the New Deal, of the Depression, of the War are being forgotten. Once again we face the danger of militant reactionary forces- and a cycle repeating itself. The Thomas Benton drawings march with the message of the text. A timely piece of publishing. (Kirkus Reviews)