The History Book Club discussion

Welcome everyone, this is the thread which will house the Table of Contents for No Ordinary Time by Doris Kearns Goodwin and the syllabus.

This a spotlighted non spoiler book which is a group selected book and a leisurely read.

This spotlighted discussion will not begin until October 18, 2009 and will be in the spotlighted threads.

We look forward to your joining us then.

Bentley

The Sample Table of Contents:

Table of Contents
CONTENTS
Preface 9
1. "The Decisive Hour Has Come" 13
2. "A Few Nice Boys with BB Guns" 40
3. "Back to the Hudson" 61
4. "Living Here Is Very Oppressive" 81
5. "No Ordinary Time" 106
6. "I Am a Juggler" 137
7. "I Can't Do Anything About Her" 161
8. "Arsenal of Democracy" 190
9. "Business As Usual" 216
10. "A Great Hour to Live" 241
11. "A Completely Changed World" 270
12. "Two Little Boys Playing Soldier" 300
13. "What Can We Do to Help?" 334
14. "By God, If It Ain't Old Frank!" 360
15. "We Are Striking Back" 379
16. "The Greatest Man I Have Ever Known" 401
17. "It Is Blood on Your Hands" 432
18. "It Was a Sight I Will Never Forget" 456
19. "I Want to Sleep and Sleep" 484
20. "Suspended in Space" 505
21. "The Old Master Still Had It" 534
22. "So Darned Busy" 554
23. "It Is Good to Be Home" 570
24. "Everybody Is Crying" 595
25. "A New Country Is Being Born" 616
Afterword 634
A Note on Sources 637
Notes 641
Bibliography 715
Acknowledgments 727
Index 729

For those of you who would like to take a look at the book itself before purchasing:

POTENTIAL SPOILERS

Reading Group Discussion Points - THESE ARE QUESTIONS THAT ACCOMPANY THE READING GUIDE - BUT STILL THE QUESTIONS THEMSELVES MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS FOR THOSE WHO WANT TO WAIT UNTIL OCTOBER 18TH.

"Goodwin characterizes FDR as a brilliant, energetic, cheerful man who rarely folded under pressure or displayed his innermost feelings. How might the elements of FDR's character and of his time have blended to create a man so successful in marshaling America's forces to defeat the Axis powers? Compare FDR to other wartime presidents such as Lincoln and Nixon. Why is FDR's place in history so secure?


With deft ability, Goodwin brings Eleanor Roosevelt to life. Who was she and what were her concerns? How did she alter America's conception of the role of First Lady? What innovative and lasting contributions did she make to the civil rights movement and to women? Why was she called, during her last years, "the greatest woman in the world"? Compare Eleanor to other prominent First Ladies, such as Jacqueline Kennedy and Hillary Clinton.


Franklin and Eleanor had a very unconventional marriage, even by today's standards. What bound them? What kept them from living more completely as man and wife? What helped to make them such an extraordinary team? How did the combination of their characters serve to create such a remarkable and successful partnership?


Both Franklin and Eleanor found other people to fill the needs they could not seem to satisfy in one another. Eleanor at various times turned to her daughter, Anna, to Lorena Hickok, and to Joe Lash for her personal needs. What did these three people contribute to Eleanor's life that Franklin either could not or would not? At various times, Franklin relied on Lucy Mercer Rutherfurd, Missy LeHand, and Princess Martha of Norway for companionship. What did these women offer him that Eleanor did not? What are the various portraits that emerge of these important characters?


Who are the other people, either personal or political, that populated the Roosevelt years, such as Harry Hopkins and Frances Perkins? What were their roles in FDR's life and his presidency?


What characterized the celebrated and remarkable friendship that grew between Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill? How did this friendship affect the war's outcome? What was their relationship to Stalin, and how did the three of them function as a united group that served to change the world?


When Eleanor came back from visiting the front, she fell into a deep depression. Goodwin writes, "Nothing in her previous experience had prepared her for the misery she encountered in the hospitals: the mangled bodies, the stomachs ripped by shells, the amputated limbs, the crushed spirits. Only a few photographs of dead American soldiers had appeared in magazines and newspapers since the war began. The Office of War Information, established by Roosevelt, had so sanitized the war experience that few people on the home front understood what the war was really about." What purpose did it serve to keep Americans from truly witnessing the horrors of war? Do you think if Americans had seen, as Eleanor did, the firsthand horrors of war, they would have continued to support the war effort?


In an effort to help European Jews, Roosevelt requested a new war-powers bill that would have given him power to suspend laws that were hampering "the free movement of persons, property, and information." Had it passed, it might have helped open the gates of immigration to Jewish refugees. "Once this was made clear, the bill had no chance," Goodwin writes. "The powerful conservative coalition strengthened immeasurably by the by-elections crushed it." Newsweek observed, "The ugly truth is that anti-Semitism was a definite factor in the bitter opposition to the president's request." Do you think FDR could have done more for the Jews? How as a nation do we reconcile such a horrible fact?


At the end of No Ordinary Time, Goodwin recaps Franklin's presidential career, underscoring his successes as well as his failures. For example, Roosevelt's success in mobilizing the nation was extraordinary. However, his forcible relocation of Japanese-Americans during the war was certainly a failure of vision. What are FDR's other successes and failures?


After the war, America emerged as a different, modern nation. Goodwin writes "No segment of American society had been left untouched." Discuss the many strides that were made, as well as the fundamental changes that occurred. For example, as a result of the war, numerous advancements were made on behalf of African-Americans. Additionally, many women continued to work outside the home after the war was over, forever changing the domestic front.


It was truly amazing how America, a nation completely unprepared for war, rose up to become an unprecedented leader in war production. "The figures are all so astronomical that they cease to mean very much," historian Bruce Catton wrote. "The total is simply beyond the compass of one's understanding. Here was displayed a strength greater even than cocky Americans in the old days of unlimited self-confidence had supposed; strength to which nothing—literally nothing, in the physical sense—was any longer impossible." What does this reveal about America and the spirit of the American people?


Would a presidency like FDR's be possible today? How would the contemporary American public view a relationship such as FDR had with Missy LeHand? How might we as a nation react to a man handicapped as FDR was?


What is the legacy left to us by Eleanor and Franklin Roosevelt? Count the ways in which we are indebted to them. How might they feel about contemporary America and its role in the world today? How does it differ from their America? How is it the same?"

Source - Reading Guide

wow... quite a list of questions. Did you just type these out?

Bentley wrote: "Would a presidency like FDR's be possible today? How would the contemporary American public view a relationship such as FDR had with Missy LeHand? How might we as a nation react to a man handicapped as FDR was?"

As everyone is aware, FDR's relationship with Missy LeHand and also his handicap was kept a very tight secret. I am not convinced that such a man would escape from today's media coverage and succeed as FDR was able to. Today's politicians are put under a much larger microscope... as good or bad that might be.

No, these are the reading guide questions. However, the questions themselves contain spoilers for those folks who do not want to know anything before October 18th when the discussion starts.

To try to keep the flow going on current titles yet get ready for the future book is a challenge. What I was trying to accomplish this evening so that folks would have enough time to get their books in advance and be prepared was to post the table of contents and some other advance useful info maybe worth a perusal.

I am also putting together the weekly syllabus for the book and posting it here.

Regarding your comment; Joe I agree with you...so many things could not be possible today. What happened to the gentler and more civil America where everyone was allowed some personal space and privacy. I personally think it is bad for everybody; many good men and women are not able to make it though the vetting process nor do they want to place themselves or their families through the ringer because of some lofty political goals.

It would certainly be impossible now for sure.

The Syllabus for:

- No Ordinary Time – Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II by Doris Kearns Goodwin

October
October 18 – October 25 ~~ Preface and Chapter 1 (9 – 39)
Preface – page 9
Chapter One – “The Decisive Hour Has Come” – page 13

October 26 – November 1~~ Chapter 2 – 3 (40 - 80)
Chapter Two – “A Few Nice Boys with BB Guns” – page 40
Chapter Three – “Back to the Hudson” – page 61

November
November 2 – November 8 ~~ Chapter 4 (81 - 105)
Chapter Four – “Living Here is Very Oppressive” – page 81

November 9 - November 15 ~~ Chapter 5 (106 - 136)
Chapter Five – “No Ordinary Time” – page 106

November 16 - November 22 ~~ Chapter 6 – 7 (137 - 189 )
Chapter Six – “I Am a Juggler” – page 137
Chapter Seven – “I Can’t Do Anything About Her” – page 161

November 23 - November 29 ~~ Chapter 8 – 9 (190 - 240)
Chapter Eight – “Arsenal of Democracy” – page 190
Chapter Nine – “Business As Usual” – page 216

November 29 – December 6 ~~ Chapter 10 – 11 mid (241 – 281)
Chapter Ten – “A Great Hour to Live” – page 241
Chapter Eleven – “A Completely Changed World” – page 270

December
December 7 – December 13 ~~ Chapter 11 mid – 12 (282 - 333)
Chapter Eleven- continued
Chapter Twelve – “Two Little Boys Playing Soldier”

DUE TO HOLIDAY SEASON – ONLY ONE CHAPTER ASSIGNED PER WEEK DURING HOLIDAYS

December 14 – December 20 ~~ Chapter Thirteen (334 - 359)
Chapter Thirteen – “What Can We Do to Help?” – page 334


December 21 - December 27 ~~ Chapter Fourteen (360 - 378)
Chapter Fourteen – “By God, If It Ain’t Old Frank!” – page 360

December 28 – January 3 ~~ Chapter Fifteen (379 – 400)
Chapter Fifteen – “We Are Striking Back” – page 379

January
January 4 – January 10 ~~ Chapter 16 – 17 (401 – 455)
Chapter Sixteen – “The Greatest Man I Have Ever Known” – page 401

Chapter Seventeen – “It Is Blood on Your Hands” - page 432

January 11 – January 17 ~~ Chapter 18 – 19 (456 – 504)
Chapter Eighteen – “It Was a Sight I Will Never Forget – page 456
Chapter Nineteen – “I Want to Sleep and Sleep” – page 484

January 18 – January 24 ~~ Chapter 20 – 21 (505 – 553)
Chapter Twenty – “Suspended in Space” – page 505
Chapter Twenty-One – “The Old Master Still Had It” – page 534

January 25 – January 31 ~~ Chapter 22 – 23 (554 – 594)
Chapter Twenty-Two – “So Darned Busy” – page 554
Chapter Twenty–Three – “It Is Good to Be Home” – page 570

February
February 1 – February 7 ~~ Chapter 24 – 25 (595 – 633)
Chapter Twenty-Four – “Everybody Is Crying” – page 595
Chapter Twenty-Five – “A New Country Is Being Born” – page 616

FIRST WORLD WAR BY KEEGAN WILL NOT START UNTIL FEBRUARY 22ND – THERE ARE ALWAYS TWO WEEKS BETWEEN SPOTLIGHTED BOOKS


SIMON AND SCHUSTER PAPERBACK EDITION

No Ordinary Time has won the following prizes and awards:

Pulitzer Prize for History
Harold Washington Literary Award
New England Bookseller Association Award
The Ambassador Book Award
The Washington Monthly Political Book Award

We welcome our small group. If any of you know of readers interested in History or non-fiction books and who would also be good group members who would contribute in a positive way to the conversations, please feel free to notify Bentley and we can send them an invite.

All participants can take it at any pace that pleases them, but the above is a schedule for when we plan to open the links. Page numbers will vary from one publisher or edition to another; the Chapter segments will most likely remain the same. We plan to accomplish about 50 pages per week and even less during the holiday period to allow everyone to have time and to be able to participate. Because of the transition and holidays and tons of other reasons, we have extended the timelines in the syllabus.

No Ordinary Time is readily available from Amazon, Barnes and Noble and other book seller locations. It is also highly likely that a copy can be obtained from your library. Being that this is an extended read; it is doubtful that you can borrow your edition for that period of time.

This discussion will start October 18th and will continue through the week ending Sunday, February 7th, a period of sixteen (16) weeks or approximately four months.

Welcome,

Bentley

Amen on that confusion. :)

Did Dawn to Decadence take longer than anticipated?

Me too - I was going to try to squeeze some other reading in first.

For Liz, Elizabeth S and Alexis:

No Ordinary Time will begin on October 18th. The events were all sent out at the same time (they are automated by software and by goodreads)

The Histories and Second World War took a bit longer; that extended the start date From Dawn to Decadence which extended No Ordinary Time beginning date; the Event Notifications are a heads up that it is time to have your book ready.

As posted October 18th is the start date.

I went into the software and tried to change the original stated start up dates in the automated event notifications to reflect the posted start date.

Thank you Liz.

See you can Liz (smile)

I'm just hoping to actually finish Dawn to Decadence! Density is good, but time consuming. :)

It is very good; but time consuming...it is a deep read really; lots to digest.

"Lots to digest." That is a good description. A book full of good fiber.

One way to put it.

I started No Ordinary Time at lunch time, and I can already tell that it's going to be a great read. I'm looking forward to the discussion starting on 10/18.

Happy Reading!

I started it last night - and was anxious to go on, but I am going to try to keep on track with the discussion. (Mostly because of other reading "obligations" I have) But it seems like another great one by Goodwin

Good for both of you (Sera and Alexis)...look forward to your posts when the discussion gets underway. I am also glad that you are both enjoying the read.

I just finished "It Can't Happen Here" by Sinclair Lewis which was refereced in the Jonathan Alter book on FDR - The Defining Monement - It will be of interest as we begin the Roosevelt book and Alter made the point that America was uncertain as to how we hsould move forward especially in the light of the fascist success of Mussolini and Hitler. So he writes how there is a succession of power in America with all kinds nazi like characteristics including concentration camps etc. - but the book was published in 1935 - only tow years after Hitler came to power but about 13 years after Mussolini came to power I think so I question how tough his government may have been.
Anyway the comment as we will get into the Roosevelt book is that it was a different time - By the time Roosevelt took office it as more than 3 years after the stock market crash and unemploymnet was 25% with very little - if any - social safety net.

Both of these books sound like great ones to read. I think it was a different time too and the people were different as well. However, the longer I live the more that I am convinced that some things remain the same.







Jonathan Alter

I can certainly sympathize with those who want to get other reading done before the start date. I'm trying to get enough ahead in Les Miserables for my classics book club that I will be able to keep up. I noticed that I already own the Goodwin book and had started it a few years ago, but never finished. At the time I had just waded through Freedom From Fear, which is quite long, and so maybe I needed a Roosevelt break at that time. I'm looking forward to starting.

We look forward to your beginning the journey with all of us as well.