{"product_id":"launching-liberty-the-epic-race-to-build-the-ships-that-took-america-to-war-hardcover","title":"Launching Liberty: The Epic Race to Build the Ships That Took America to War - Hardcover","description":"\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cp style=\"text-align: right;\"\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/reportcopyrightinfringement.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eReport copyright infringement\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eDoug Most\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eOut of nothing but the government's behest, a few bold men conjured a giant ship-building industry in 1940 and launched the ships that took America to war and to victory.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn 1940, the shadow of war loomed large over American life. President Roosevelt understood that it wasn't a matter of \u003ci\u003eif\u003c\/i\u003e the United States would be pulled into battle, but \u003ci\u003ewhen\u003c\/i\u003e. He foresaw a \"new kind of war,\" one that hinged on efforts at home. Long before the attack on Pearl Harbor, German U-boats were relentlessly attacking American vessels, prompting Roosevelt to launch a monumental ship-building campaign. He knew that no matter how much weaponry and how many tanks, planes and trucks America built, the \"Arsenal of Democracy\" would be useless unless it could be brought in massive volume, and at breakneck speed, to troops fighting overseas. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ci\u003eLaunching Liberty\u003c\/i\u003e tells the remarkable story of how FDR partnered with private businessmen to begin the production of cargo freighters longer than a football field--ships he affectionately dubbed \"ugly ducklings.\" These colossal Liberty Ships took over six months to build at the start of his $350 million emergency shipbuilding program, far too long. The government turned to Henry Kaiser, the man who had delivered the Boulder Dam ahead of schedule and under budget, but had never built a ship in his life. Kaiser established a network of shipyards from coast to coast and recruited tens of thousands of workers eager to contribute to the war effort. Many, particularly African Americans and women, traveled from some of the most downtrodden, rural parts of the nation to help their country and to find a better life of greater equality. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eAs German U-boats maintained their pace of attack, Roosevelt and Kaiser initiated a bold, nationwide competition among shipyards to see who could construct ships the fastest. Driven by duty and the thrill of innovation, workers reduced the shipbuilding timeline from months to weeks and then to days. \u003ci\u003eLaunching Liberty\u003c\/i\u003e is a tapestry of voices reflecting the diverse American experience of World War II. From the halls of the White House to the cramped quarters of half-finished cargo ships, we hear from naval architects, welders, nurses, engineers, daycare providers, and mothers balancing family life with the demands of wartime economy. This book uncovers the inspiring, untold stories of those who rose to the challenge during one of America's most tumultuous times.\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eDoug Most, a native of Rhode Island, is a lifelong journalist and author whose career has spanned newspapers, magazines, and universities up and down the East Coast, with stops in Washington, DC; South Carolina; New Jersey; and Boston. He was named Journalist of the Year while at \u003ci\u003eThe Record\u003c\/i\u003e in Bergen County, New Jersey, for his coverage of a tragic story about two teens charged with killing their newborn, a story he turned into a true-crime book titled \u003ci\u003eAlways in Our Hearts\u003c\/i\u003e. After a stint at \u003ci\u003eBoston Magazine\u003c\/i\u003e, he worked for fifteen years at \u003ci\u003eThe\u003c\/i\u003e \u003ci\u003eBoston Globe\u003c\/i\u003e, as the \u003ci\u003eSunday Magazine\u003c\/i\u003e editor, and deputy managing editor\/special projects. His articles have appeared in Best American Sports Writing and Best American Crime Writing. His 2014 nonfiction book, \u003ci\u003eThe Race Underground\u003c\/i\u003e, told the story about the birth of subways in America, in the late 1800s and was adapted into a PBS\/American Experience documentary. \u003ci\u003eThe\u003c\/i\u003e \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e called the book \"a sweeping narrative of late-19th-century intrigue.\" He works now as the executive editor and an assistant vice president at Boston University. He holds a BA from George Washington University in political communication.\u003c\/p\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 464\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1.3 x 9.3 x 6.3 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eIllustrated:\u003c\/strong\u003e Yes\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e August 19, 2025\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"BooksCloud","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48453273714909,"sku":"9781668017784","price":37.19,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0811\/9867\/8237\/files\/RJkcWF308b9781668017784.webp?v=1787889245","url":"https:\/\/handfulofbooks.com\/products\/launching-liberty-the-epic-race-to-build-the-ships-that-took-america-to-war-hardcover","provider":"Handful of Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}