Reagan

The Life

De: H. W. Brands

Narrado por: Stephen Hoye

From master storyteller and New York Times best-selling biographer H. W. Brands, twice a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, comes the first full life of Ronald Reagan since his death.

Ronald Reagan today is a conservative icon, celebrated for transforming the American domestic agenda and playing a crucial part in ending communism in the Soviet Union. In his masterful new biography, H. W. Brands argues that Reagan, along with FDR, was the most consequential president of the 20th century. Reagan took office at a time when the public sector, after a half century of New Deal liberalism, was widely perceived as bloated and inefficient, an impediment to personal liberty. Reagan sought to restore democracy by bolstering capitalism. In Brands' telling, how Reagan, who voted four times for FDR, engineered a conservative transformation of American politics is both a riveting personal journey and the story of America in the modern era.

Brands follows Reagan as his ambition for ever-larger stages compelled him from a troubled childhood in small-town Illinois to become a radio announcer and then the quintessential public figure of modern America, a movie star. In Hollywood, Reagan edged closer to public service as the president of the Screen Actors' Guild before a stalled film career led to his unlikely reinvention as the voice of General Electric and a spokesman for corporate America. Reagan follows its subject on his improbable political rise, from the 1960s, when he was first elected governor of California, to his triumphant election in 1980 as president of the United States. Brands employs archival sources not available to previous biographers and dozens of interviews with surviving members of the administration. The result is an exciting narrative and a fresh understanding of a crucially important president and his era.

©2015 H.W. Brands (P)2015 Random House Audio

Enjoyable

The context is great. A look behind the curtain. The narration is a bit annoying but anymore that loves and admires Reagan will enjoy this book.

A straight forward account of Reagon's life, his p

If you could sum up Reagan in three words, what would they be?

optimistic, principled, sincere.

Would you recommend Reagan to your friends? Why or why not?

The book is recommended to friends, because of its honesty appraisal of Reagan. It remains focused on the man himself and the issues of his time.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I am always moved by the speech following the Space Shuttle disaster, in which all crew died.

Any additional comments?

The book discusses at length Reagan's foreign policy. As a New Zealand however, I was disappointed that it was not seen as significant the antinuclear policy which banned United States warships from visiting our ports. Fundamentlaly altered relationships throughout the South Pacific and created a long period of diplomatic and military tension.

Nothing Intimate.

I am disappointed in the lack of personal details. The book is an overview of things going on/ politics/ history and Reagan was there. I would like to know more of what he was thinking and feeling and more personal details.

Excellent, informative & engaging.

It’s a great book! Well written, engaging & informative. Insightful into the life & times of one our Nation’s greatest Presidents!

Wasn't Fond of This Book

I had difficulty determining if this was an objective, flattering or critical account of Reagan and his presidency. I'm not certain Mr. Brands knows either. Overall, I was disappointed in the story. For the money, I'd buy Mr. Reagan's memoirs; it's a much better read.

Great book

Amazing biography form former president Regan ! Love his honestly and he clearly understand how immigrants work and how we are important part of this great country !!!!

Great story but feel like something is missing

Having read many of H.W. Brands presidential biographies I've come to expect a comprehensive and flowing narrative. He also doesn't add much new analysis which is fine I'd rather read a solid accessible book that curates others analysis than a tough innovative read. But in Reagan there is little analysis at all of him, more of other key actors like Nancy, Jim Baker, Mike Deaver etc. So is it Brands fault? I don't think so - Reagan seems a bit of an enigma in terms of his thinking on principle development (some might say it wasn't there but this isn't provable from the information available either). There is a similar problem with the likes of Zachary Taylor who's diary was destroyed in the civil war.

Putting aside this notable problem Brands does a great job of storytelling and character develop of the key people in his life. The most we glean from Reagan is through these interactions though it's still like studying an object by watching its shadow.

Many similarities to FDR and Lincoln are drawn by Brands in his communication style, which is very fair and apt. However, his management style was like neither. I think I'd have like to Reagan if I met him but and he was above average but where is still too hard to say.

The narration is brilliantly preformed by Stephen Hoye. I'd listen again just for his performance.

A lot of history

Did not care for the reader but enjoyed the book. We are now learning the affects of the Reagan administration!

Terrible narration

The narrator reads in a predictable singsong. Horribly distracting. More like a boy’s bar mitzva speech than a professional narration.

Where's the beef?

What did you like best about Reagan? What did you like least?

This bio is rich in information but scant in insight. The author had his work cut out for him – Reagan was famous for being inscrutable, even to those closest to him. Hence, this bio relies heavily on the public record as well as Reagan’s speeches and interviews for material Brands does a good job chronicling Reagan’s presidency – there is rich behind the scenes details of the Reykjavik summit in particular, but you get the sense that Reagan’s aides and confidants either weren’t interviewed for the book or weren't in the mood to talk. What you get is a detailed but superficial (though not uncritical) bio but perhaps that is the best that can be expected, especially since the right has made Reagan such a venerated, unassailable figurehead. Readers hoping for a view into what made Reagan tick, or his personal life, will likely come away disappointed.