“In the veritable library of books about the New Deal, Adam Cohen’s new entry deserves a prominent place on the top shelf. In my judgment, the story of the Hundred Days has never been told so well, nor the cast of characters rendered so compellingly.” —Joseph J. Ellis, author of American Creation “This is thrilling history, bringing to life the full-dimensional, extraordinary band of people who shaped the modern United States in a hundred-day dash. Cohen’s character sketches are sharp, his narrative moves along briskly, and the story itself is fresh—and full of drama. We are better off as a nation for having this chapter of our shared past told in page-turner fashion by Adam Cohen.” —Timothy Egan, author of The Worst Hard Time “FDR brought together brilliant people with divergent beliefs and was able both to manage and juggle them. In this fascinating book about his first hundred days, Adam Cohen looks at his innermost circle and provides wonderful insights about leadership, management, and creativity.

” —Walter Isaacson, author of Einstein “When Franklin D. Roosevelt became president in March 1933 he issued a spate of reform legislation which transformed America for the better. Now, Adam Cohen, one our finest historians, explains in vivid prose the backstory of how five inner-circle liberals jumpstarted those historic 100 Days. Nothing to Fear is a riveting, indispensable book for our times.” —Douglas Brinkley, Professor of History and Baker Institute Fellow at Rice University and author, The Great Deluge “Vividly written and profoundly researched, this reprise of FDR’s circle is an exciting New Deal adventure for these troubled times. Adam Cohen''s NOTHING TO FEAR is filled with surprises, new stories and unique portraits of FDR''s friends and enemies you have never met this way before. The amazing journey of Frances Perkins is simply a marvel. At this critical moment, with our nation imperiled by the ‘starve the beast’ crowd, this book offers hope for what is now again most needed: the restoration of democracy, and the restitution of New Deal agencies to promote dignity and security for all.

” — Blanche Wiesen Cook, University Distinguished Professor, John Jay College & Graduate Center, CUNY and author of Eleanor Roosevelt “An elucidating, pertinent and timely work on the makings of government. Ambitious, yet well-focused—a marvelously readable study of an epic moment in American history.” — Kirkus Reviews, starred review “An exemplary and remarkably timely narrative of FDR’s famous first ‘Hundred Days’ as president . Cohen’s exhaustively researched and eloquently argued book provides a vital new level of insight into Roosevelt’s sweeping expansion of the federal government’s role in our national life.” — Publishers Weekly “Adam Cohen’s cogent chronicle of the pell-mell opening months of Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s administration couldn’t be timelier. & In a lucid, intelligent narrative as fast-paced as the hectic Hundred Days, Cohen skillfully charts the course of events with just enough detail, building by accretion a portrait of the stop-and-start process by which sweeping change is made.” — Los Angeles Times “Timely and engaging& Cohen masterfully renders the backgrounds and personalities of Roosevelt''s inner circle. By focusing particularly on Agriculture Secretary Henry Wallace, Labor Secretary Frances Perkins, budget director Lewis Douglas, relief administrator Henry Hopkins and top aide Raymond Moley, Cohen humanizes the policy process and adds considerable drama to the established storyline.

” — Chicago Tribune “Cohen’s well-told story belies the clich about legislation and sausage-making: his narrative is absorbing and enjoyable to read.” — The New York Times Book Review “Timely& As a blueprint for political fast starts, Nothing to Fear might belong on the current President-elect’s night table, but it would make instructive reading for his advisers as well.” — TIME “Thrilling.” — Esquire “Cohen displays his strong prose style and research skills in this story of the precedent set by FDR against which later Presidents are judged& [A] crucial human story which goes beyond that found in most FDR biographies. Superbly readable and informative.” — Library Journal (starred review) “An indispensable primer.” — Salon.