No Ordinary TimeNo Ordinary Time
Score Modern
What it's about
Doris Kearns Goodwin tells the story of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt during World War II, from the fall of France in 1940 to Franklin's death in 1945. She shows how they led the country through the war, and how it changed America itself, from the factories that produced the weapons to women entering the workforce and the struggle for civil rights. She also shows the White House as a home, full of friends, aides and tensions.
Why it's worth reading
It won the Pulitzer Prize for history. It's a rich portrait of a marriage and a partnership, and of the home front.
You'll love it if you liked
Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln
Truman
The Winds of WarGood to know
It's long but reads easily. It's as much about Eleanor as Franklin.
By the numbers
- Readers82 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics63 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller17 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #73 of the 198 history books we rank
- #203 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #402 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story, Epic
More by Doris Kearns Goodwin
Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln
An Unfinished Love Story: A Personal History of the 1960s
Leadership: In Turbulent TimesIf you like this, read next
Between the World and Me
The Emperor of All Maladies: A Biography of Cancer
Educated: A Memoir
All the Light We Cannot See
The Book Thief
AmericanahExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is No Ordinary Time worth reading?
Yes. It won the Pulitzer Prize for history. It ranks #402 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 79.8 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is No Ordinary Time about?
Doris Kearns Goodwin tells the story of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt during World War II, from the fall of France in 1940 to Franklin's death in 1945. She shows how they led the country through the war, and how it changed America itself, from the factories that produced the weapons to women entering the workforce and the struggle for civil rights. She also shows the White House as a home, full of friends, aides and tensions.
How long does it take to read No Ordinary Time?
About 20 hours (790 pages), or about 6 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What awards has No Ordinary Time won?
Pulitzer Prize (History) winner (1995).
What should I read after No Ordinary Time?
If you liked it, try Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin, Truman by David McCullough or The Winds of War by Herman Wouk.