Ronald Reagan: His Life in Pictures

Rating:
Summary: Like Family Album!
Review: I got this book on my birthday, which is on February 7, one day later that of Ronald Reagan himself. I am amazed how James Spada got all those pictures in this one volume book. I am amazed at his comments. You got the feeling that he was next to him. President's assassination attempt and his Golden State retirements pictures are also here. BUT BE ADVISED: Unlike other books, this are BLACK AND WHITE pictures. If you are looking for the color pictures, go and buy 'REMEMBERING REAGAN' and 'UNGUARDED MOMENTS.'You will be able to compensate the color phenomenon. I would like to see another book like this one but only in color pictures. All in all, the book is great and the author should be recognized for his efforts. I hope he will start another project and we shall see the color one. You won't be upset as you will see wonderful pictures of President and Mrs. Ronald Reagan.

Rating:
Summary: THE BEST REAGAN PHOTO BOOK BY FAR
Review: James Spada has done extraordinary photo research for this book, uncovering many photographs among the nearly 300 in the book that will be new to even the most die-hard Reagan followers. The text is elegantly written, lively, and informative. If you want to have one photo album to remember Ronald Reagan by, this one hsould be it!

Rating:
Summary: Outstanding!!
Review: James Spada is brilliant! I have always admired Ronald Reagan, the greatest president of our times! This book offers fantastic pictures, most of which I had never seen before, with many pictures coming fairly recently (within the last few years). I only hope that President Bush will live up to the great conservative standards of former-President Reagan. May God bless Ronald Reagan in the final years of his unbelievably effective life!!

Rating:
Summary: Like Looking at President Reagan's Family Album of Photos
Review: Mr. Spada has created a wonderfully appealing and enjoyable look at President Reagan's life through over 340 black and white photographs. Of these images, two-thirds have never been published before. The best part of the book, though, comes in the detailed captions that tell the story of what was happening in President Reagan's life at the moment in time.

The book is organized around key themes in President Reagan's life as these part titles indicate:

Part one -- Heartland Hero

Part two -- "The Errol Flynn of the B Pictures"

Part three -- TV Host, Citizen Politician

Part four -- California Governor, Presidential Candidate

Part five -- Mr. President

Part six -- Mr. President, Part Two

Part seven -- Golden State Retiree

If you have a fondness for or a curiosity about President Reagan, you will learn much. Here are a few things that I did not know. His father was an alcoholic shoe salesman who moved around a lot. His mother encouraged him to go to Eureka College because the school discouraged alcohol. President Reagan was very near-sighted as a young man, and did not realize it until he was 13. As a result of his nearsightedness, he was one of the first people to wear contact lenses in the late 1930s (this involved a very primitive procedure that was unpleasant).

In his role as president of the Screen Actors Guild, he became very aware of communist influences and became very conservative as a result. He could talk about nothing else. One of the reasons that his first wife gave for their divorce was that he would not stop talking about politics and they disagreed on the subject. I also did not know that Mrs. Nancy Reagan had been a contract actress. She and the president actually co-starred in one movie together. While President Reagan worked as a spokesman for General Electric, he made 15 speeches a day. It was this experience that allowed him to realize that he would like campaigning for political office.

One of the charms of the book is that it contains just the sort of photographs that you probably have from your own life, such as class pictures, team pictures, and wedding pictures. Naturally, you also get scenes from the Academy Awards, the White House, and swearing-in ceremonies.

The high and low points are well represented. They will give you a better flavor of and appreciation for this fine man's character and that of his devoted wife.

This is a great book to share with a young person, to help that person realize that much of your life is what you make of it. I hope that you will do such sharing.

Always look on the bright side!

Rating:
Summary: Heavy on the Style, Skimpy on the Substance
Review: This book is the perfect illustration of Ronald Reagan. Give the people lots of pretty pictures to look at and keep them distracted from the deficiency of intelligent thought. Heavy on style yet skimpy on substance. If you want to celebrate the shallowness that was Ronald Reagan, then this is a good book for you.

Rating:
Summary: Absolutely Delightful!
Review: What a refreshing look at our country's most admired President. After enduring the past 8 years of efforts by the former administration to demoralize family values, I am rejuvenated to see the wonderful photos and read the narratives. There is once again optimism that the Bush family will be the ones who will bring honor and pride to our White House and First Family. The book is a perfect collection of photos showing the geniuine love and respect for families and marriage, as exists with the Reagans. We have been fortunate enough to see Pres. Reagan during campaigns and in Washington, and want our grandchildren to learn more about this wonderful man. I purchased a copy for our grandson, and after receiving it-looked through it, and quickly ordered another copy for our own home.