America First by H. W. Brands takes the reader back to the immediate years prior to World War II, focusing on the conflict between our longest serving President (Franklin Roosevelt) and the nation's aviation hero, Charles Lindbergh. In short, FDR wanted the US to enter the war against Germany, while Lindbergh was a staunch isolationist. The story is one most Americans never heard about and helps us understand the contextual pressures both for/against entry into WWII.

Brands does a very good job in presenting both sides of the issue, and in my opinion does so in a very fair and objective way. America in the 1930s was very much an isolationist country, having been frustrated by having to enter the first World War and seeing continuing political problems in Europe in the aftermath. While most Americans did not want to send their sons to war, Hitler made it all but impossible to ignore as the Nazis conquered one country after another. Britain and France declared war on Germany after the Nazis invaded Poland in 1939, but neither country was prepared for war as Brands points out. In just a few months France fell easily to the Germans and the anticipated invasion of Great Britain was expected to happen at any time.

With France gone as an ally British Prime Minister Winston Churchill lobbied FDR intensely for airplanes, destroyers, munitions, and other armaments. FDR was constrained and had to find creative ways to provide arms and material to Great Britain, such as the controversial lend-lease program that Congress eventually supported. One of the surprises in the book was the disinformation used by both the British and the Roosevelt administration to persuade the American public to support entering the war.

Lindberg believed America needed to be able to defend itself in the Western Hemisphere, but was strongly opposed to another global war. Lindbergh used his notoriety as the first man to fly transatlantic along with the publicity the terrible kidnapping and murder of his child brought him to speak out strongly against Roosevelt's efforts to move into war through his membership in the America First Committee, a group of conservative anti-war isolationists active in the 1930s and early 1940s.

What is fascinating is how FDR and Lindbergh challenged one another and their philosophies. There were newspapers and radio networks, but no television, no social media, no mobile phones. FDR would offer interviews to the press or present one of his fireside chats; Lindbergh would go around the country and offer rejoinders at America First rallies and national radio broadcasts.

Another interesting exchange is how both men viewed the invasion of Russia by Germany. It is quite possible that if Hitler hadn't started a second war on his Northern front that Germany could have successfully invaded Great Britain prior to 12/7/1941. Lindbergh didn't trust Stalin or the Russians, and saw the conflict as another reason for the USA to stay out of the war. FDR was not especially a fan of Stalin's, but at the same time was happy that Churchill had an ally to help in the European theater.

The book takes the reader on a chronological trip as both men do their best to convince Americans of their position. Of course, December 7, 1941 would change everything when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor and the US declared war on Japan. But it was days later when Germany declared war on America that FDR achieved his goal of entering the war and helping the allies in their fight against Hitler. FDR didn't want to also have a war in the Pacific but had no choice.

I don't believe FDR was a war monger, and Brands doesn't label the President as such. To me FDR recognized that Hitler and the Nazis had to be stopped, but Lindbergh was a loud dissenting voice that made his job of convincing Americans that much more difficult. Charles Lindbergh lost a lot of his heroic brand with a speech in Des Moines late in 1940 where he spoke out against capitalism, Jewish business leaders, and those who wanted war. Public opinion turned against Lindbergh for his pro-Hitler and antisemitic remarks, but once Japan attached America First was no more.

If you enjoy military history you will be interested in this book. I want to thank the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced review copy of this book. I attest this is my own original and unbiased review.

A gripping battle between two titans with diametrically opposed views, Brands shows the back and forth that existed between Roosevelt and Lindbergh in the run-up to WWII. Told mostly in speeches and in Journals, we see parallels to the politics today even as this was a battle fought 80 years ago,

Another winner from H.W. Brands! He tackles the divide between those who believed America would be best served by engaging with the world, and those who felt America should withdraw (both sides believing they were putting America first). One of the best things about this book was how Brands engages with both sides and treats them as more than black and white or good and evil. Isolationists weren't just Nazi sympathizers (though there were certainly those present), but often men men who fought in the World War and didn't want to see their sons repeat the experience. Subsequent propaganda and the myth of "The Good War" have obscured this division, but it was great to read a work that treated this period with the depth it deserves.

This was a really well done nonfiction history book, it had a great idea and I learned a lot from the event of this. The research was there and I enjoyed what was going on with the environment. H. W. Brands has a great writing style and it was a strong read.