The Great Depression Facts and Fictions

A myth-by-myth reassessment of the Great Depression that challenges what readers think they know about its causes, cures, and consequences. Rather than retelling a familiar narrative, The Great Depression: Facts and Fictions dismantles eleven of the most persistent claims surrounding the crisis, from the supposed moral failings of the 1920s to the belief that World War II single-handedly ended economic hardship. Each chapter isolates a widely accepted interpretation and tests it against historical evidence, policy analysis, and comparative context. Covering debates over the stock market crash, Herbert Hoover’s presidency, the coherence and intent of the New Deal, and the role of Keynesian economics, the book clarifies where popular memory diverges from the historical record. It also situates US responses alongside international approaches, revealing which features of Depression-era policy were distinctive and which were not. Designed for students, educators, and general readers seeking clarity rather than caricature, this book offers a structured, argument-driven guide to one of the most consequential periods in modern economic history.