The Courage to Meddle

The Belief of Frances Perkins

Frances Perkins was the most influential woman in global politics in the first half of the 20th century - and yet is virtually unknown, especially outside her native USA. For 20 years in New York State she developed her philosophy and the programme which became Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal, then 12 years implementing it as the first woman to sit in the US Cabinet (1933-45). All of this took place against the background of a challenging family life. Factory safety, child labour, poverty pay are all issues which should have been resolved by now, but in reality they have been pushed down the international supply chain and onto communities least able to resist exploitation. Over 100 years since Frances started to campaign for justice on these matters, what does her record look like now in America, Britain and the world? And how much do we still need the approach of the woman whom Elizabeth Warren has described as her role model? Tom Levitt is a former member of the British Parliament who writes about responsible and sustainable business ('The Company Citizen'). This new book brings a new perspective on the unique and timely contribution of a woman whose faith, politics and belief in the power of rational thought helped the world reinterpret the role of active, democratic government. It's the first time that Frances' story has been told from a British perspective; someone who knew her has said that this enables Tom to deploy a unique insight into her life.

The authors bias ruined the whole book

The author had a definite agenda; saying all good things about Democrats nothing nice about Republicans. Donald Trump was even blamed for things, long after this woman had died! How obnoxious!

As an independent, it was very distracting. It took away from the entire book. By the end of the book, I was frustrated. I had wasted all this time listening to the book.