Traitor to His ClassTraitor to His Class
Score Modern
What it's about
Franklin Delano Roosevelt was born into wealth and privilege in New York and seemed destined for an easy life. H. W. Brands tells how polio, politics and the Depression turned him into the president who expanded government to help ordinary people, earning the hatred of his own class, and who led America through the Second World War.
Why it's worth reading
It was a Pulitzer finalist. It's a lively, comprehensive biography of the greatest president of the twentieth century.
You'll love it if you liked
Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln
The First American: The Life and Time of Benjamin Franklin
American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White HouseGood to know
It's long. It's admiring but not uncritical.
By the numbers
- Readers48 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics30 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller10 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
- #1073 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #1987 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story, Epic
More by H.W. Brands
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Quick answers
Is Traitor to His Class worth reading?
Yes. It was a Pulitzer finalist. It ranks #1,987 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 64.0 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Traitor to His Class about?
Franklin Delano Roosevelt was born into wealth and privilege in New York and seemed destined for an easy life. H. W. Brands tells how polio, politics and the Depression turned him into the president who expanded government to help ordinary people, earning the hatred of his own class, and who led America through the Second World War.
How long does it take to read Traitor to His Class?
About 22 hours (888 pages), or about 6 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Traitor to His Class?
If you liked it, try Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln by Doris Kearns Goodwin, The First American: The Life and Time of Benjamin Franklin by H.W. Brands or American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House by Jon Meacham.