The book revolves around the problems that Americans faced and how they rose above all the tribulations. The Great Depression originated from a crash of the stock market from October 29 th 1929 which is referred to as “Black Tuesday”. The devastating effects were felt through the international markets with international trade being affected by more than 50%. One of the effects in the US was the unemployment rate rising to 25%. It lasted up until the end of World War 2. The book primarily circles around three principles: people, poverty and politics. People highlights the plight people faced with the downfall of the stock market which took the economy and turned it on its head. The economic downfall led to jobs being cut and many businesses failing. It led to the formation of groupings in society due to their similarities in their plight to restore dignity and compassion to their lives. Poverty highlighted the corruption that accompanied the economic downturn. It retarded the economic gains that had taken place during the normal economic times. The widespread poverty had reared its ugly head in almost every corner of the economy leading to massive losses and countless lives left in despair. Politics highlights the revolutionary ideas that were used to rehabilitate the declining economy by Roosevelt and his administration. The use of practical ideas and also the use of authors and journalists set precedence unmatched in concept development and creation. Bruce McClure and Lorena Hickok were to write about their discovery during their travels, and what they discovered were grass roots portraits of depression-wrecked America. They were able to engage with civil leaders, preachers, businessmen and teachers in constructive dialog, which helped them to unearth the following results. he declining flop houses were overflowing with tenants, corruption and infected with incompetence in the aid offices. Another problem was a lifelong class of the illiterate, mentally ill and the elderly. These findings led to Roosevelt’s administration implementing the new deal. Another set of findings released by Bauman and Coode included “the racial and class prejudice”. They were able to embrace the beliefs of the ‘deserving’ and the ‘undeserving poor’ leading to new deals such as the 1935 Social Security Law. Though at first they might seem biased and insensitive to people’s backgrounds, but it also highlighted their plight and how they got there. In addition, Martha Gellhorn also shows sympathy with her findings where she shows her disgust of what she terms as ‘white trash’ families in South Carolina. This suggested a 2-prolonged aid program of education and eugenics to ensure they do not end up being in distress while also safeguarding their children’s future. Her reports were used by the federal government and enabled them in investigating issues that were not normally open to women (Bauman, 52). She also worked as a photographer during the Great Depression. The book in its entirety objectively shows how a trying and difficult time in American History was saved by a combination of innovative leadership combined with pioneering resilience used to achieve economic prosperity.