No Ordinary Time

Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt: The Home Front in World War II

De: Doris Kearns Goodwin

Narrado por: Nelson Runger

Pulitzer Prize Winner, History, 1995

No Ordinary Time describes how the isolationist and divided United States of 1940 was unified under the extraordinary leadership of Franklin Roosevelt to become the preeminent economic and military power in the world.

Using diaries, interviews, and White House records of the president's and first lady's comings and goings, Goodwin paints an intimate portrait of the daily conduct of the presidency during wartime and the Roosevelts' extraordinary constellation of friends, advisers, and family.

Bringing to bear the tools of both history and biography, No Ordinary Time relates the unique story of how Franklin Roosevelt led the nation to victory against seemingly insurmountable odds and, with Eleanor's essential help, forever changed the fabric of American society.

©1995 Doris Kearns Goodwin, All Rights Reserved. (P)2011 Simon & Schuster

Solid historical reporting made personal.

Would you consider the audio edition of No Ordinary Time to be better than the print version?

I can't say as I haven't read the print version.

What other book might you compare No Ordinary Time to and why?

This is an intimate look inside the lives of FDR and the First Lady. In that regard, it reminds me somewhat of Caro's works on LBJ but with a more focused time frame.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Nelson Runger?

Yes. Good solid, workmanlike narration. Ringer brings the listener the book without getting in the way.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

They're all very interesting.

Any additional comments?

Very good book. Appropriate narration that was error-free. Recommend.

Great book - questionable narration

I enjoyed the narrative, the research and the insight tremendously, but the narration left me... annoyed. I'm all for acting out the voices, but his intonation, uptalking and tone for Mrs. Roosevelt made every direct quote sound vapid and silly. If you watch interviews of her, she frankly doesn't sound like that. It doesn't fit with the author's characterization and it loses a lot of the nuance in the way she delivers very hard messages while smiling. His impression of the President was spot on, but a lot of the other characters sounded much goofier and befuddled than I am sure those men were.

Best Read of 2012

I found this book enlightening from the standpoint of the different standards applied to our elected officials in the past compared to the standards of today! If the President and First Lady had extramartial affairs as discussed or alleged in this book, in the White House the press and television networks would make it impossible to keep from the public. Notwithstanding their private affairs, this book shows that the actions of Mrs. Roosevelt were significantly underrated and that failure to recognize her as one of the individuals responsible for major social improvements in the 20th century was an justice to the Women.

I recommend this book to anyone interested in the time following the depression of the early 20th century and the actions taken by the government leading up to and during the 2nd world war.

A great slice of History

Would you listen to No Ordinary Time again? Why?

I love listening to Edward Herrmann and would listen to this again as it was so chock full of interesting tid bits

What did you like best about this story?

Goodwin treated FDR and Eleanor as two tragic overachievers that did not really spend the time to stay a couple. I was most interested in the description of the deep friendships of the Roosevelt's and their many house guests.

Which character – as performed by Nelson Runger – was your favorite?

Edward Herrman was this reader and I could see the part he did many years ago

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Too long but easy to pick up and put down without loosing a spot

You’re very interesting well written book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is well written and kept me interested throughout the book. It’s nice sometimes to get an honest view of history. And this was an honest view of history.

So different than what we were taught in school...

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

So much more in depth than just memorizing the presidents and their wives. You really get to know who they were and what all was going on during the war back here in the US

What was one of the most memorable moments of No Ordinary Time?

Too many to mention... so very much more personal about who they really were in life and what it was like for them...

What does Nelson Runger bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The feeling like you are really meeting the President and his wife along with the others rather than it being left up to my guessing if I were to read it myself...

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It was a definite eye opener for me and I felt several emotions in reading it... I hurt for them and I understood their feelings in connection with the lives they led. I didn't want it to end...

Any additional comments?

I came to see them both in many different lights and not just one way alone...

Thorough and Interesting

This book covers the life of FDR and his wife and family. It's a personal history of the Roosevelts during the war years and provides insights to the effects of WWII on post-war life in the U.S. Thoughtful and engaging!

A wonderful book and fascinating look at the Roosevelts

Only my second audiobook but a fantastic and compelling glimpse at the war years of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt.

No one better than Doris Kearns Goodwin!

Story didn't drag at all. Good narration and excellent narrative. Time we'll spent when wanting to learn a little more about the WWII home front.

Amazing Story, Well Told

This is a story I couldn't put down. From start to finish, I was eager to listen to it every opportunity I could find. Doris Kearns Goodwin’s ability to mold her painstaking research into a compelling, inspiring, and truthful story shined like a bright star.

And the narrator... Wow. He nailed it. He channelled the voices of FDR, ER, and Churchill so well, it gave me the sensation of “being in the room where it happened”. So glad I made the decision to purchase this Audible book, highly recommend!