Worrying Won't Win

In Short

This collection of comedic dialogues presents two pragmatic Jewish-American garment manufacturers in New York City reacting to the cascading global and domestic events of the First World War. Through their daily office conversations, they dissect high politics, military blunders, home-front sacrifices, and government regulations. Their banter strips away patriotic posturing to expose the absurdities of wartime life, contrast ordinary domestic struggles with global catastrophes, and champion the quiet resilience of everyday citizens. It endures as a sharp, warm-hearted caricature of American public opinion during a pivotal historical moment.

The Story

Set in a New York office during the height of American involvement in the First World War, the narrative progresses through a series of morning discussions between business partners who review the daily news before turning to their trade. The arc begins with their bewildered observations on the collapsing old world order, particularly the downfall of the Russian monarchy and the sudden cheapening of royal status, which they compare to declining commercial markets. As news of military mobilizations, Congressional debates, and foreign delegations fills the papers, they turn their attention to domestic politics, poking fun at filibustering senators, self-important peace activists, and the overwhelming web of war taxes.

As the war drags on, the focus shifts to the immediate realities of the American home front. The partners debate the practical efficiency of wartime administrators versus military "experts," whom they view as mere armchair critics unable to run a business, let alone a war. They analyze the impact of fuel shortages, light-sign blackouts, and food conservation mandates, observing how government measures disrupt everyday commerce while attempting to override fundamental economic realities like the law of supply and demand. Along the way, their commentary expands to cover social inequalities, contrasting the true sacrifices of working people with high-society figures parading in warm climates or theoretical moralists issuing useless advice.

In the final stretch, the dialogue addresses the chaotic aftermath of the Russian Revolution, the complexities of proposed peace terms, and the impending era of Prohibition. The narrative closes on the personal and financial anxieties of ordinary taxpayers attempting to navigate complex new tax codes and income reports. Through every political shift and economic disruption, the exchange concludes on a note of stubborn endurance: despite government blunders, soaring prices, and global turmoil, life and business must go on.

How It Unfolds

The fallen czars The partners begin by discussing the changing political landscape in Europe, observing how ancient monarchies are crumbling and drawing parallels between deposed rulers and struggling business owners who no longer control their own destinies.

Debating the home front Attention shifts to Washington, where long-winded politicians, tax proposals, and peace conventions draw heavy criticism for delaying vital war supplies and putting troops at risk for the sake of newspaper headlines.

Scrutinizing the experts The conversation turns to the realities of modern warfare and economic management, sharply contrasting the heroic efforts of battlefield aviators with the posturing of newspaper columnists and self-proclaimed military experts.

Navigating war regulations The dialogue explores the disruption of daily life caused by coal rationing, light-sign bans, and food conservation circulars, highlighting how government price controls collide with economic supply and demand.

Reflecting on peace and taxes The final discussions grapple with the prospect of complex peace negotiations and the headaches of new federal tax forms, concluding that practical humor and family life remain the best defense against global anxiety.

The People

• Abe Potash is an older, pragmatic garment manufacturer who views global events through the lens of hard-earned business experience. He wants stability in his trade and clarity from the government, but he is constantly frustrated by grandstanding politicians, useless bureaucracy, and economic regulations. Through his daily exchanges, he develops an increasingly sharp eye for political hypocrisy, maintaining a grounded sense of humor despite growing world troubles.
• Morris Perlmutter is Abe's younger, quick-witted business partner who balances Abe's cynicism with inventive logic and cynical quips. He seeks practical solutions to everyday hardships, from rising living costs to complex tax codes. As events unfold, Morris grows more outspoken about social disparities and economic absurdities, using sharp irony to make sense of a world turned upside down by war.

In Its Own Voice

"In them days when a feller says he is feeling like a king, it meant that he was feeling like a king, aber to-day yet, if a feller says he feels like a king it means that he's got stomach and domestic trouble and that he don't know where the money is coming from to pay his next week's laundry bill."

A partner reflects on how the war has stripped royalty of its traditional glamour.

"A professional expert is a feller which thinks he knows all about a business because he tried for years and he never could make a success of it, whereas a professional cricket is a feller which thinks he knows all about a business because he tried for years and he could never even break into it."

A sarcastic summary of the endless commentary published by wartime journalists.

"It's a law which made itself, like the law that if you eat too much you'll get stomach trouble, and if you spend too much you'll go broke."

An explanation of why government price limits cannot easily override basic economic forces.

What It's Really About

Underneath its dialect humor, the book examines the collision between grand geopolitical struggles and the working-class citizen. It interrogates the authenticity of political rhetoric, questioning whether high-sounding speeches truly serve the public good or merely advance personal ambitions. The text explores the economic strains placed on middle-class households and small businesses during national crises, critiquing middle-class sacrifice while wealthy elites remain untouched. Ultimately, it argues that common sense, skepticism toward authority, and humor are essential tools for surviving systemic chaos and political turmoil.

Why Read It Today

This book offers a vivid, unvarnished glimpse into the American home front during World War I, captured through authentic period satire rather than retrospective history. Readers who enjoy sharp dialogue, social commentary, and historical satire will appreciate its lighthearted approach to serious global themes.

The prose relies heavily on early twentieth-century immigrant Yiddish-English dialect and regional slang, which may take a few pages to get used to, but the rhythm quickly becomes natural and engaging. While some references to forgotten politicians and specific wartime policies require light context, the core humor remains remarkably modern. Its sharp takes on media punditry, inflation, tax confusion, and political posturing feel surprisingly relevant today, reminding us that ordinary citizens have always used humor to cope with uncertain times.

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