The Great Depression was a period of financial hardship and perhaps unprecedented mental despair for America. From the stock market crash of 1929 until the end of the Depression, generally linked to the start of World War II, America experienced a period of fear and turmoil. Although there are many different opinions on the extent to which the New Deal helped the economy and, in some cases, the extent to which the New Deal hindered the recovery, it would be harder to dispute the number of changes and new programs implemented by Roosevelt. Both books deal with the chronological history of the Depression and in part the effect of the New Deal on the American economy. The Forgotten Man by Amity Shlaes offers a more modern perspective and focuses on America's "forgotten man." William E. Leuchtenburg, an oft-cited expert on the era, offers a condensed and simple summary of the Depression, without a clear theme like Shlaes, in the book FDR and the New Deal. Although he seems to view the New Deal and Roosevelt favorably, he nevertheless criticizes it in several aspects, like Shlaes. The two authors differ on many points, such as the staggering difference of almost half a century between the publications of each book. Another aspect is the known ideology of each author, with Shlaes being a reputable republican and Leuchtenburg being a prominent member of the Democratic Party. Although both books provide insight into the ups and downs of Roosevelt and the New Deal, differences in how certain aspects are explained can be noted. Historiography clearly plays a role in the differences in the telling of such a chaotic and controversial era in American history. The VAT was one of the first laws of the First Hundred Days...... middle of paper ...... der for a case to be defended, but he shows his fairness through his 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 is the key to a book delving into true history, the book can become flimsy and less believable. Through these books, one can learn to be wary of books that promise a "new story", and to always look for evidence to support one's claims. Bias plays a role in almost all writing, so one should not be naive or take anything completely at face value. By paying attention to things that may affect one's point of view, such as political position or time in history, one can better assess which words are most credible and trustworthy...