Becoming FDR: The Personal Crisis That Made a President by Jonathan Darman is an excellent history of how the infamous US President Franklin D. Roosevelt experienced, was shaped and changed, and how it was he responded to the pivotal time period in his life when he suffered from polio. This was excellent.

I have always been fascinated and a huge fan of FDR, and I knew about his health problems and the history associated with polio, but I have not had the privilege of being able to read an historical account that focused on this massive illness and his long road to recovery from the acute and sub-acute standpoint.

To see how this man experienced, suffered, was permanently changed physically, emotionally, and spiritually by this debilitating illness…and how he chose to respond thus afterwards, is nothing short of awe-inspiring and inspirational. How we respond to the trials and tribulations of life speaks mountains on who a person truly is and can be. He could have given up and given in…but a metamorphosis occurs and here we get to see the shining moments, strength, grit, and fortitude that made up what FDR displayed and became…and it makes me admire him even more so than before. Is he perfect? Oh most certainly not, but what he chose to do after this moment in time instead of defeat in and of itself is nothing less than impressive.

5/5 stars

Thank you NG and Random House Publishing for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 9/6/22.