The journalist Martell focuses in this book on the decisive year 1932 up to the 1933 election in the US.
With great detail comes the situation in the USA during this hard year to life. Not only is the fight for the election well described at the highest political level but all sections of society are considered in their sufferings, ambitions or fights. It deals with labour movements, the economic crisis, and the prohibition to racism not always in the same proportion. However, at times there are far too many side characters which are described at length without contributing to the storyline of the book.
I listened to the audiobook and found the account fascinating which makes it a good book for anyone interested in world history.

I always seem to learn something new when I read a history book. I think I know the overall story of this era, but I learned new details about the severity of frustrations of the American public, farmers, police, and others during the Great Depression.

I also liked the storytelling style that Mr. Martelle used. In between sections of telling the book's story, he had "newsreels" that told about events going on around the world and in America. He also used diary entries from everyday people to show the public's views of the tumultuous period from the start of the Great Depression to the presidential transition from Herbert Hoover to Franklin Roosevelt.

Thank you to Tantor Audio and NetGalley for an ARC audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you, NetGalley and Scott Martelle for this ARC!

I thought Scott Martelle did an amazing job writing this. The story is well researched and everything is explained in an easy-to-understand way. I was engaged with the story for both 5-hour drives that I listened to it. I don't typically reach for political non-fiction but I could not stop listening. I thought it gave a very great layout of how the year 1932 was. I have recommended this book to everyone I know since I received it.

In 1932, America was mired in its worst economic crisis, with massive unemployment and rampant bank failures. The nation stood at a crossroads. While President Hoover supported small government and free markets, Governor Franklin Roosevelt proposed robust government intervention to combat the Great Depression. This book explores how in that pivotal election year, FDR's vision of national purpose and policy reforms redefined America at its darkest economic hour.

This engrossing and compassionate book is more about people than politics. It includes diary excerpts that help immerse the reader in the time period. What surprised me is how recognizable the Democratic and Republican parties are 91 years later. The audio narration was well done and added to the enjoyment of the book.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.