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Summary: Regarding the audio version...
Review: Mr. Reagan reads from an abridged version of his autobiography. If you long to hear him speak again, I can think of no better way than to hear the audio book.
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Summary: What you would expect ..modest, touching and so very Reagan
Review: Much of the first part of the book is devoted to Ronald Reagan's humble beginnings. The story is told in a matter of fact non-pretentious manner, not overly detailed.This is very enjoyable book that sheds tremendous light on the man that shaped much of the world's political history in the last quarter of the 20th century. It is so nice to read an autobiography that is very human and is neither self-indulgent nor full of self-righteousness. This book is just like the man himself, plain, full of modesty and good humor and has reasonably clear ideas about what it stands for just like the man, like him or hate him, you knew where he stood! Enjoy .. This reads better now than it did 10 years ago!
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Summary: Great Work from an Extrodinary Man
Review: Now, I love Ronald Reagan, and I loved his book. But, it is pretty sanitized. As you would expect from a man as classy as Reagan, he doesn't drop a lot of dimes and take people to task. I would have been interested to have read his real thoughts on Alexander Haig, who you just know was a gigantic pain in the rear. I would love to know what he truly felt about Bush as a VP, Tip O'Neil as an adversary or Carter and Nixon as predecessors. I want to read blood, and there just isn't any here (which speaks volumes about him as a man, but it doesn't make it as interesting of a read). However, if you want to read a true definition of compassionate conservatism, this is a great piece of work. He spells out through the use of his own experiences how his world views were shaped. Additionally, he shares a lot of good anecdotes in reference to his dealings with Gorby and the story behind his "Tear down this wall" speech. The writing is very straight forward with out a lot of flowery prose to wade through. If you like Reagan, pick up this book.
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Summary: Engrossing, but not detailed enough
Review: One of the greatest men who lived during my lifetime is Ronald Reagan. No matter your political perspective, Reagan was inarguably one of the most effective and influential leaders in American history. It would be difficult do such a life real justice in a book, especially while that life was still being lived. The best biographies usually are written with the benefit of many years of hindsight and analysis.
This book was written by Reagan himself soon after he left office, and it is an excellent book. Many biographies have been written about Reagan and many more will follow. Even so, I believe that "An American Life" will stand the test of time for students of Reagan as a source of entertaining education.
Reagan was quite a prolific writer to friends, family, leaders, etc. The friendly voice of his letters comes out in this book as a letter to the reader. Though it is less detailed than other Presidential memoirs, it is quite thorough in scope. The friendly tone, occasional wit that Reagan was loved for, and the passion the author has for his subject gives this book life that few political books achieve. It is not only his life story, it is an apologetic work for conservativism, a treatise for Supply-side Economics, and a personal perspective on spirituality and the grace of Providence.
I first listened to the audiobook and was disappointed with how much was left out in the abridgement. But after reading the unabridged book, I have placed it on my shelf of books to be re-read occasionally. The audiobook is good for a long car trip, but for serious students the book is excellent to grasp Reagan's perspective of history. For policy wonks and detail fanatics, this book will leave much to be desired, since Reagan was more of a big-picture kind of guy. But overall, the book is worth several reads.
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Summary: Huh?
Review: Reagan stands as one of America's worst presidents, a man who a)got away with treason (Iran-Contra);
b)cost millions of people their lives by ignoring the AIDS epidemic and "fighting communism";
c)constantly moved America closer to a theocracy;
d)helped spawn modern patriotism, a blind and destructive thing; and
f)cost millions jobs and destroyed the economy. All this, and he still gets a book. I personally believe he was good for one thing - he helped create some wonderful punk and metal. The book gets two stars for being decently written.
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Summary: Integrity and Honor shouted from it's pages!!!
Review: Reagan was more than a great man, he was a LEADER! Leading out in being honest and true to your word is no easy thing, but his leadership was felt to all the people of this nation. This book is refreshing and honest! It is so upbeat (just like he was); he has such an optimism within him that reaches out to those who want solutions and peace and this book made me want to live a better life, with better reasons to live and more gratitude for the principles of truth that my country was founded upon! Ronald you rock!! Thank you!--for living the life you did and for having the courage to write about it. I was only 17 when he left office, but the eighties were the years that shaped who and what I am--Ronald Reagan inspired me then and through these pages has inpired me anew.
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Summary: Ex-President Reagan's Story in His Own Words
Review: Ronald Reagan is still "The Great Communicator". His narrative of his life is written in such a way that it is easy to understand, and straight forward. It covers his life from the earliest times until the end of his presidency. As a Reagan man, I may be prejudiced but I think he makes it obvious that he was always a sincere worker for the good of the country. Obviously, his "Reaganomics" did get the country out of a recession. Just as obviously, his policies of a strong America that was no longer falling behind the Russians in military power plus his diplomacy with the Russians was a great help in the end of the Cold War and some of the hostilities with the Russians. He covers the Iran-Contra affair pretty thoroughly. It seems pretty obvious that he made a mistake on that affair but I do think it was an unwise decision and not a deliberate botch. I like his opinion and description of the "Tax and Spend" Congresses". Reagan has been accused of being a bumpkin or being uneducated. It seems to me that he had a much clearer idea of what the country needed than most politicians.
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Summary: Ex-President Reagan's Story in His Own Words
Review: Ronald Reagan is still "The Great Communicator". His narrative of his life is written in such a way that it is easy to understand, and straight forward. It covers his life from the earliest times until the end of his presidency. As a Reagan man, I may be prejudiced but I think he makes it obvious that he was always a sincere worker for the good of the country. Obviously, his "Reaganomics" did get the country out of a recession. Just as obviously, his policies of a strong America that was no longer falling behind the Russians in military power plus his diplomacy with the Russians was a great help in the end of the Cold War and some of the hostilities with the Russians. He covers the Iran-Contra affair pretty thoroughly. It seems pretty obvious that he made a mistake on that affair but I do think it was an unwise decision and not a deliberate botch. I like his opinion and description of the "Tax and Spend" Congresses". Reagan has been accused of being a bumpkin or being uneducated. It seems to me that he had a much clearer idea of what the country needed than most politicians.
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Summary: An Honest Autobiography of a Great American President
Review: Ronald Reagan truly loved America and the American People.
This autobiography more that captures the optimistic, cheerful spirit of the man who was President Reagan; it is also an open, honest, well-written story of his two terms in the White House and what America was like during the 1980s. There is no self-promotion here, Ronald Reagan was a man who accepted full responsibility for his actions, whether they were right or wrong. His story is told with clarity, with character, and wit. All of the joys and sorrows of his Presidency are captured here - from the highs that included rebuilding a strong military and a strong economy, to the end of the Soviet empire, and the liberation of Grenada, to the sorrows of the dead Marines in Lebanon, the Challenger disaster, and the Iran-Contra scandal. Ronald Reagan's story is a Presidential Autobiography that should be passed down from generation to generation as proof that character, optimism, grit and courage really matter. Unlike the "legend in my own mind" lengthy drivel recently written by one of his successors. In short, Ronald Reagan told a good story here - and it was the truth, warts, or no blemishes at all. He was a Great American President - and a Mensch.
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Summary: A Great Story
Review: Ronald Reagan's story truly embodies the American Dream, and this book is therefore aptly titled 'An American Life.'
Reagan's life sounds like a movie: good guy from poor family makes it as a sports announcer, movie star and screen actors guild president. Then his life takes a turn for the worse with the end of his marriage and his hollywood career. Enter Nancy Davis who 'saves his soul' and encourages his political beliefs. Reagan becomes govenor of California, aims for the presidency but loses against incubant Ford. He never gives up though, and goes on to become president and leads the country to where he himself had always been: optimistic, strong and free. He defeats an evil empire and goes back to his ranch to write his memoirs.
Reagan makes it sound so simple in this autobiography because the man had the ability to take extremely complex issues and summarize them into a belief. Once Reagan had a belief no one could change his mind. Taxes were bad and therefore needed to be cut. Big goverment inhibited economic growth and therefore it had to disciplined. In the economic sphere, Reagan's beliefs lead to the biggest peace time economic boom in Amerian history. But sometimes his beliefs obscured reality. Take Iran Contra: it was essentially an arms for hostages deal, but Reagan continued to write about 'Iranian moderates' that he was appartently dealing with. This might be annoying for some readers, but at least it helps people appreciate that with Reagan you were dealing with a man of vision. He dreamt of a world better than it was, and by the end of the 1980s his goodwill had brought a peaceful conclusion to the Cold War and a revival of American spirit and belief in itself.
This is one of the greatest stories of our time and no one can tell it better than the man who was playing the leading role, President Ronald Reagan.
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