Rating: 
Summary: At first disappointing, but it satisfies in the end
Review: Peggy Noonan - who really does write "like an angel" as someone once said - would no doubt argue that to understand Ronald Reagan's character one must know in considerable detail about his origins. The first half or more of her book is a biographical chronicle of Reagan's rise from childhood to presidency. It is only sparsely salted with illuminating stories as it carefully recounts the progression of a life that was, until later, not extraordinary. It leaves us wanting more.However the book delivers more in its later chapters as Noonan recounts less-known stories from her own and others' experience with Reagan as candidate and president. She knits them together with insight and astute observations to illuminate a fine man. The book in the end adequately depicts Reagan's strong convictions in his principles and sense of ethics, his respect for people of all stripes and his extra gentleness for the powerless and ordinary, his often self-deprecating humour, his love of nature and physical work, his seemingly-boundless optimism and other cornerstones of his character and his success. Ultimately, the book fails in only one respect: it does not show much of the steely edge which most people experienced in politics would believe that Reagan must have had to make it to the Oval Office. Not showing this part of the man's character makes Ms. Noonan's picture less complete. However it is certainly not the one-sided deification that a few one-star reviews by obvious flaming liberals have claimed, and is well worth the time in reading.
Rating: 
Summary: You won't want the story to end!
Review: This book was an absolute pleasure to read. The story is fascinating, eye-opening, and ultimately inspiring. Peggy Noonan is a very gifted and talented writer. To crib the blurb on the back of the dust jacket, "she writes like an angel." Pair this with her subject, surely one of the great figures of American history, and you have sure-fire winner of a book. I can't imagine anyone not being touched and moved by it. I read it on the subway to and from work, and alternately had to stifle tears as well as peals of laughter. I hated it to end.
Rating: 
Summary: An actor, a president and mass murderer
Review: It always bothers me that when people talk about Ronald Reagan they say how great a leader he was, how spritual he was and how great of a man he was. No book ever mentions how he basically destroyed Central America, and sold weapons to Iran. He was a very spritual man killing other 100,000 people in various third world countries in Central America so he could make sure the U.S has cheap labor. Not much of a president but one hell of a killer.
Rating:
Summary: His character was king
Review: The only book on Reagan that touched my heart. He was the man. Noonan, gave us something that we rarely get to see in a president, his character, which is rare these days. Noonan, did a great job mixing present day events with Reagan day events so we could see the man for who he was, great. He was funny. He was stearn. He fought communism. He was caring. He loved people. He was smart. He was a leader. He could be angry but no condescending. He was fearless. He was/is an American and Americans should be thought of. He saved us all from ourselves. Ms. Noonan presents it all.
Rating:
Summary: hilarious!
Review: Paggy Noonan's biography of Ronald Reagan ought to have been called "When A Character Was King," for this wise and witty book shows that there was much more to the "Cowboy Charmer" than previously suspeted.
She tells the story with tremendous empathy and uproarious wit. I had not known of Noonan's battles with the bottle -- and the wise counsel Reagan offered after her abortion must have been tremendously helpful.
Noonan does not skip over the less attractive aspects of the Reagan tenure -- his insistence on calling his son Ronnie "Little Nancy Boy," for example, or his preference for black leather briefs. But all in all this is a stirring reminder of the days when a true eccentric -- and yes, a "character" -- ran the White House.
Rating:
Summary: O Noble Spirit!
Review: Noonan is one of the most captivating political writers of our time. Her columns are always edifying, witty and filled with insight. This semi-biography on the great Ronald Reagan is the same. She draws on her own and others' personal recollections to paint a vivid picture of the Reagan white house whilst also illuminating the earlier history and the post-presidential life of this noble man.
Noonan deals with his youth, the time in Hollywood and the way he first entered politics. There is a lovely description of the Reagan ranch and a suspenseful account of how he won the presidency. Noonan also deals with the love between Reagan and his wife, and their relationships with the children. The account of Reagan's fortitude after the attempted assassination is a highlight of the book.
The text is interspersed with significant parts of Reagan's most important speeches and interesting quotes by various people. The author also excels when she talks about Reagan's marvellous sense of humour and she has interesting angles on foreign affairs, like the president's dealings with the Soviets and the Iran/Contra affair.
Noonan shows how utterly wrong Reagan's critics were and how his vision triumphed over that of the media and the so-called intellectuals (the eggheads for evil who always get it wrong). The chapter dealing with Reagan's voluminous correspondence is poignant and illuminating as it shows his concern for ordinary people from all walks of life.
The chapter Big Triumph looks at the Strategic Defence Initiative (The Space Shield) in the light of 9/11, whilst the next chapter discusses Reagan's influence on George W Bush. The last chapter, The Old Man Of St Cloud Road, looks at Reagan's twilight years and his legacy.
Throughout the book Noonan demonstrates how Reagan's courage, patience, humour and optimism led to his success and his magnificent achievements at home and in the international arena. Her writing is filled with affection and honesty and she really succeeds in making history come alive.
This excellent book concludes with a bibliography and an index. When Character Was King is a must for those who love Ronald Reagan. I would also like to recommend the book by Dinesh D'Souza, the CD-set Speaking My Mind: Selected Speeches With Personal Reflections, Dear Americans: Letters From The Desk Of Ronald Reagan, and the autobiography An American Life.
Rating:
Summary: So far, my favorite book on Ronald Reagan.
Review: Peggy Noonan is an exceptional writer; I could read her all day long. I have even enjoyed reading her writing when I had no idea what she was talking about! :) (As in the case of some political sections of "Life, Liberty..." that occured before I was in the know.) This is actually the first book I read on Ronald Reagan, and 5 books later, it's still my favorite. As one reviewer said, "Peggy Noonan writes like an angel." Of course, it doesn't hurt that she was writing about such an amazing man! I truly wish that every American--but especially those who are still under 40 and/or those who don't remember him--would read this book. Our country and our children would greatly benefit from studying this American hero, our 40th president.
Rating:
Summary: Moral Biography.
Review: This book is less of a biography, and more of a moral character sketch of a man. It highlights events that formed Ronald Reagan's moral soul. From early childhood, to his last days before Alzheimer's, Reagan seems to have an instinctive ability to find "True North" in any situation.
I think his religious life is the key to the Reagan Mystery. He had a devotion to God, but kept it private. Yet it was this private relationship with God that made all the difference in what he did. In fact, he seems to be somewhat like an old testament prophet: subtle like Elisha, meek as Amos but as apocalyptic as Isaiah.
As a fan of Jung, I found that Regan's recurring dream about being in the large white house to be an eye-popper. That indicates that something deeper was brooding or nesting on Reagan' soul. All I can do is repeat the prophet Joel's prophecy:
"And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions: And also upon the servants and upon the handmaids in those days will I pour out my spirit." (Joel 2:28 - 29)
Noonan pulls no punches. She is very candid about the Iran-Contra Affair, but also puts it in the overall context of the man's moral sense. Like Peter Kreeft said about Aquinas and his incorrect notions about animals not being saved, I think that Reagan made this mistake so we would not worship him as infallible (c. f. C. S. Lewis For The Third Millennium, 97).
This book edifies. I am a much better person for having read it. I not only know Reagan better, but I know Reagan.
Rating: 
Summary: Could be better
Review: I just really didn't find this book very substantive. The few times that I was enlightened came from direct quotations of Ronald Reagan. Noonan's book is more for people who want an easy beach-read rather than people who intend to be truly educated about the life of Reagan.
Rating:
Summary: An Inspiring Book About An Inspiring Man
Review: I really enjoyed this warmly written, personal book by Peggy Noonan. I'm glad I was old enough to remember President Reagan before he went into seclusion. What an extraordinary man, before, during and after his Presidency. I will be looking for more books by Peggy Noonan if they are half as well-written as this one!
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