Rating: 
Summary: A Wonderful Read
Review: Edmund Morris has produced a superb biography which succeeds on many levels. It is a penetrating analysis of Reagan's inner psychology, a fabulous study of the politics of the era, and, what has been left out of most discussions, it's a great read!Highly recommended to one and all!
Rating: 
Summary: A Good Reflection Upon One of America's Worst Presidents
Review: I am no fan of Ronald Reagan. It was the awful policies of the Reagan Administration that has created the huge national debt that hangs over our heads still today. However, I have to admit this was a very decent and honest memoir that does not particularly support or oppose Reagan. It sets out all the facts. The fictional characters brought a more human quality to the book, making so much more than just a historical textbook. Dutch is indeed worth the read.
Rating:
Summary: Pioneering Work of Scholarship
Review: In this amazing book, Edmund Morris does for biography what Truman Capote did for journalism in his groundbreaking book "In Cold Blood". In that book, Capote explored a variety of imaginative techniques that were widely condemned at the time; now they are taken for granted and freely employed by all journalists. This will doubtless be the case with the techniques Morris has pioneered in "Dutch". Morris faced a daunting challenge: How do you write about the inner life of a man who has none? This quandary stumped him for a period of YEARS, until he hit upon a novel and daring strategy - he would inject himself into the book as an observer present throughout the different phases of Reagan's life. The result is a triumph. He has revealed Reagan's essential vapidity in a way that could not have been achieved through conventional biography. In the words of Gertrude Stein, "There is no there there". And Morris's descriptions of historical events which he observed directly are intact, and accurate according to all observers. He has no axe to grind, other than to present the truth as objectively as possible. If the Reagan hagiographers are disappointed, so be it - the public has the right to know the truth! It is important to understand for the future how this total non-entity was ever elected. Thank you, Edmund Morris, for showing the truth about Ronald Reagan!
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book
Review: I'm surprised so many readers gave this book a low rating. Yes, it's true that Morris took liberties with his semi-fictional approach and yes, it's true that expectations for the book were very high, but unlike so much trash that is available on contemporary celebrities, this book is nearly flawless in its research, clarity and honesty. Morris purposely put himself in the position of observer -- allowing the reader to observe along with him. Since he did not observe Reagan prior to the White House, Morris contrived the perspective without sacrificing the observations. Despite what critics have pulled out of context, these observations are almost universally sensitive and beneficial without being overly judgemental. The presentation of Reagan's early short stories are an excellent example. The portrayal of Reagan's transition to conservative spokesperson is as well. So is the portrayal of Reagan in the early stages of Alzheimer's. The craftsmanship of this book is excellent. To the extent that Morris's fictional characters become distracting, I ignored them. The integrity of Morris's approach makes that simple. Just as simple was the fact that I finished the book with much more respect and admiration for Reagan as a man and leader than I had when I started.
Rating: 
Summary: Terrible
Review: Biographer clearly took a biased approach in recounting thelife of Ronald Reagan, reducing the likelyhood of telling the fullstory. The prologue reveals all when Morris refers to Reagan as an Iguana and ascribes Reagan motivations to 1950s movie. Every biographer has opinions and biases, of this no one doubts, but to blatantly pass them unfiltered to the reader devalues this work to historical fiction. If anyone wants my copy of the hardback, you'll find it at the dump.
Rating:
Summary: Very disappointing
Review: As a political professional and observer of the electoral process, I purchased this book with great anticipation. I was sorely disappointed. The space dedicated to Morris' own fictional character seems to eclipse that spent on Reagan himself and is -- as a figment of the writer's imagination -- useless in a biography. In fact, these passages render the book essentially unreadable, in my opinion. It is tragic that the one man granted complete access to this pivotal historic figure wasted so much of his time -- and that of the reader -- on a work which is, more often than not, fictional.
Rating: 
Summary: An insightful, important portrayal, a must read.
Review: Contoversial style debates aside,a thoroughly enjoyable and informative book. It read, as promised, as a memoir, not a textbook. Morris' technique opened a window that provided insight into Reagan the man that we otherwise wouldn't have gotten. A fitting portrayal of the President whose legacy looms large over history and the future. A little too much Morris and not enough of the presidential years keeps me from giving it 5 stars.
Rating:
Summary: Reagan Ruined America
Review: I was telling a friend about "TEARS OF BLOOD / A Cry for Tibet" by Mary Craig (5 stars by the way, check it out) when I saw that this book was one I should like to check out. I did but I failed to get the connection. This book, well there is no way to glorify Ron Reagan. Lets see, read "And the Band Played On" and you understand the major role this man played in letting the aids epidemic get out of hand, or just look out in the streets and see the people who need the help of institutions rumaging through trash cans. Yeah when it sorts itself out the Reagan legacy will add up to a sad chapter in American History. In the end "Tears of Blood" is an honorable book about an honorable struggle...how it got connected to a strange Factional book on Reagan I have no Idea...Like this book on Reagan it had to be due to a lack of understanding of history with fictional insightes added. But seriously Check out Tears of Blood by Mary Craig. Especially given the current activity in China...planning to do business in China...Reagan would have thought it was a good Idea. Maybe that should tell you all you need to know.
Rating:
Summary: Beautifully crafted; a wonderful read!
Review: I enjoyed it and think it will become the definitive biography about President Reagan. I liked the "make believe" character. It helped the flow.
Rating:
Summary: morris tries to have it both ways
Review: Starting with the conclusion that no reasonably objective person could take issue with: i.e. that Reagan was the perfect man for his time and removed the Russian threat more efficiently and effectively than any of his numerous detractors political or academic could have come close to achieving, Morris opts for a technique which enables him to ingratiate himself with with the trendy and hip group that denigrates the accomplishment and the man. Reagan the decent man shines through the shoddy attempts of this second rate bigrapher.
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