Rating: 
Summary: A Deeper Look Shows More
Review: The first time through this book I was left with a disappointment at Morris's use of a fictional character as a narrative device. However, after completing, and then going back over passages of this book, I have discovered the underlying truth that Morris was trying to say about Reagan. Here is a man who loved his country and selflessly served its interests without the vanity and lust for legacy that so often taints the actions of our national leaders. Morris writes this book honestly, without any attempt to write to the audience (i.e. Reagan lovers like myself). Instead, he reports Reagan's life and actions as he witnessed him, away from the scripts, camaras, and speech writors. We knew Reagan as he communicated to us on television and the nightly news. There was more to this man, and Morris brings it out as honestly as he saw it. The richness of this mans heart is not lost in Morris's biography, but we are also shown the realities of his mental frailty later in life; his disgust for policy details; his rush to judgement; and, finally his sometimes lack of understanding about key foreign events. Reagan made some mistakes, as you and I and every other human would also have. Morris does not exploit these misjudgments to mock Reagan as others have done, instead, he tells the story of a man who loved his country, unshakably stood for principle, and led this America in such a way that the American people loved him like no other President in this century, save perhaps FDR. Morris writes this book with an almost burdensome love for Reagan. Not blind love, or not a devotion that borders on propaganda, but a love that one would show towards their grandfather, a love that also sees the strengths and weaknesses. This love is palpable, especially in his closing chapters. Yes, Morris, at times lashes out at Reagan, criticizes Reagan and questions his intelligence, but these criticisms are balanced. The author is close to the subject - he doesn't allow the reader to forget him (to the criticisms of many), but in this closeness emerges a dialogue that touches Reagan and offers to the reader a man who many scarcly knew, but loved. I found it hard to get passed the fictional character at first, but save this one failed literary device, Morris wrote a masterpiece.
Rating: 
Summary: A Disappointment
Review: Let me qualify my opinion here: 200 Years from now, I firmly believe that when historians look back they will view the Greatest Presidents as George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and Ronald Reagan. That being said, this book was rather disappointing. After reading it (which was NOT an easy thing to do), I felt that I HAD learned a lot about where President Reagan came from and what motivated him, but I also felt that entirely too much time was devoted to the author himself and his little escapades. Given the rare opportunity that the author had, I was hoping for a book that would look more towards how he will be remembered and less of what one person thought about how things seemed.
Rating:
Summary: Morris deserves another Pulitzer
Review: After reading the book and witnessing the fanatic responses (still coming in)I wrote the following letter, which was edited and published in USA Today October 1999: The selectively edited feeding frenzy over Ronald Reagan's biography by Edmund Morris removes all doubt that the media's zealous character assassination of the former president is a politically motivated attempt to soil, if not destroy, Reagan and his legacy. After reading the book and watching Charlie Rose's thorough interview with Mr. Morris, glaring conclusions rise above all the flying arrows and backstabbing daggers: Vermin disguised as journalists are running amok, fellow historians and biographers are inflamed with amateur jealousy and Edmund Morris should be under serious consideration for another Pulitzer Prize. "Dutch" is nothing short of brilliant literary presence and original thought under the most difficult of circumstances. If it weren't for Edmund Morris' depth and endurance, the world might never have known what a true and important American original Ronald Reagan was.
Rating: 
Summary: This book is a joke
Review: After reading the biography on Theodore Rossevelt, I was excited about getting this book. However, the book left me with an ill feeling. How can Morris put a fictional character in the book to tell a life story? It makes no sense for a respected author to do this. The fictional accounts take time away from what the author should have been talking about in the first place. I'm sure no sane author would have done anything close to this travesty...
Rating:
Summary: Good thing he didn't do this to Teddy
Review: I suppose it would be difficult for the author to have done a "Dutch" with a Teddy Roosevelt bio, hmm? Unless he claims to be immortal... "Dutch" is a truly bizarre trip, somewhere between a historical novel and a biography. A pro reviewer of this book was quite correct: the author appears to feel that Reagan, one of the most important presidents ever, wasn't interesting enough to merit a biography. So what did he do? He fictionalized some of the book and seemed to pay insufficient attention to important chapters of Reagan's life. Some of his seeming self-absorption made me cringe, even though the prose was brisk and well-written. The excellent coverage of some events and the writing style of the author give this two stars, but unfortunately "Dutch" goes funny overall. It's good LIGHT reading, but I'd advise another biography for knowledge on Ronald Reagan!
Rating:
Summary: "Dutch" - A big disappointment!
Review: Very disappointed in this book. What a sorry example of what should be an official biography of a president. One can't determine what is fact and what is fiction. After reading such books as Truman by McCullough it was really a letdown to dig into this book. I certainly wouldn't recommend this for any serious reader of presidential biographies.
Rating: 
Summary: An Original Read
Review: Ronald Reagan was the president of my teenage years. I always found him to be lightweight and somewhat grating (probably because I'm a Liberal). So after hearing about all of the publicity regarding this book, I decided to give it (and him) a shot. I am not sorry. DUTCH is a beautifully written book with many narratives that radiate with lyrical grace. Much to my surprise, I found my old liberal self admiring the strong willed president. Yes Morris' technique is unique, but in the end he creates an accurate portrait of a man who, at the heart of things, really cared about his country. Although somewhat brief in its coverage of Reagan's White House years (especially Iran/Contra), DUTCH still gets to the heart of Reagan's feelings in portions that cover Bitburg and SDI. These parts are hard to dismiss or ignore. The end of the biography deals with President Reagan's current physical downfall. Because of Morris' narrative, I, the stone Liberal, felt moved and pity for the 40th American President. Because of this, I commend Morris' work.
Rating:
Summary: Morris is a self absorbed cynic
Review: Edmund Morris confuses cynicism with sophistication. He constantly offers the reader snide commentary on RR that has no value whatsoever beyond gossip. The author is too self absorbed to be a biographer. The margins of my copy of Dutch are full of notes I wrote expressing my frustration at this idiot of an author. I will never read anything he has written again and I recommend to others that they save their time by doing the same.
Rating:
Summary: a piece of garbage
Review: Having read and admired the Morris book on TR I was looking forward to his book on Reagan. I was very disappointed. When I start a book I finish it with very very few exceptions. After torturing myself with the first 200 pages of this book I tossed it aside-just couldn't see wasting any more time on it. Morris had Reagan's life in front of him-I don't see why he had to put himself in the book as a fictional character. If you are going to read this book- don't buy it-rent it from a library. That way you won't feel ripped off.
Rating:
Summary: Save your money, and wait for the movie.
Review: This book, in short, is boring, confusing, and laborious to read. Dispite a few entertaining and well written anticdotes scattered here and there, I couldn't make it halfway through, before I gave up in frustration, putting the book back on the shelf, never to touch it again. It's certainly not a fitting tribute to one of the most memorable presidents of recent times. I think that's a real shame, as Reagan deserves better. I hope that someday, someone else will publish a well written and enticing biography of this interesting president.
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