Reagan

His Life and Legend

By: Max Boot

Narrated by: Graham Winton

Length: 32 hrs and 7 mins

Publisher's summary

In this “monumental and impressive” biography, Max Boot, the distinguished political columnist, illuminates the untold story of Ronald Reagan, revealing the man behind the mythology. Drawing on interviews with over one hundred of the fortieth president’s aides, friends, and family members, as well as thousands of newly available documents, Boot provides “the best biography of Ronald Reagan to date” (Robert Mann).

The story begins not in star-studded Hollywood but in the cradle of the Midwest, smalltown Illinois, where Reagan was born in 1911 to Nelle Clyde Wilson, a devoted Disciples of Christ believer, and Jack Reagan, a struggling, alcoholic salesman. Boot vividly creates a portrait of a handsome young man, indeed a much-vaunted lifeguard, whose early successes mirrored those of Horatio Alger.

And contextualizing Reagan’s life against American history, Boot re-creates the world in which Reagan transitioned from local Iowa sportscaster to budding screen actor.

The world of Hollywood from the 1930s to the 1950s would prove significant, not only in Reagan’s coming-of-age in such classics as Knute Rockne and Kings Row but during the twilight of his film career, when he played opposite a chimpanzee in Bedtime for Bonzo, and then his eventual emergence as a television host of General Electric Theater, which established his bona fides as one of the leading conservative voices of the time. Indeed, the leap to California governor in 1966 seemed almost preordained, in which Reagan became a bellwether for a nation in the throes of a generational shift.

Reagan’s 1980 presidential election augured a shift that continues into this century. Boot writes not as a partisan but as a historian seeking to set the story straight. He explains how Reagan was not only an ideologue but also a supreme pragmatist who signed pro-abortion and gun control bills as governor, cut deals with Democrats in both Sacramento and Washington, and befriended Mikhail Gorbachev to help end the Cold War. A master communicator, Reagan revived America’s spirits after the traumas of Vietnam and Watergate. But Boot also shows how Reagan was armored in obliviousness. He traces Reagan’s opposition to civil rights over forty years, reveals how he neglected the exploding AIDS epidemic, and details how America experienced a level of income inequality not seen since the Gilded Age.

With its revelatory insights, Reagan: His Life and Legend is no apologia, depicting a man with a good-versus-evil worldview derived from his moralistic upbringing and Hollywood westerns. Providing fresh examinations of “trickle-down economics,” the Cold War’s end, the Iran-Contra affair, as well as a nuanced portrait of Reagan’s family, this definitive biography is as compelling a presidential biography as any in recent decades.

“This is a timely and fascinating book, just what we need to understand, and perhaps transcend, our current age of political paralysis and polarization. Understanding Reagan is key to understanding our politics today.”—Walter Isaacson, author of Elon Musk and Steve Jobs

©2024 Max Boot (P)2024 Recorded Books

Well done

Fair and balanced description of the Reagan administration. Boot credited Carter for inflation defeating and his deregulation success. Reagan on working with Gorbachev and Cold War issues. A pretty good administration but a lot corruption and unforced errors.

Excellent review of Reagan’s life…

… and impact on US policy and politics. I consider myself very well-formed about 1935 - 2010 policy and politics, but I learned new things. It's well worth a listen.

Reagan by Max Boot

This is by far best Reagan biography. I’ve read at least one biography on every president and Max Boot’s book goes to the top of the shelve

Informative

Max Boot has done a great job of shedding light on the good and not so good deeds of Ronald Reagan.

A thorough, evenhanded biography

It was even-handed, highlighting his virtues as much (or more) than his foibles. I enjoyed it a great deal.

Compelling listen

It's a compelling listen, earning a solid 9/10 for both entertainment and practicality. Boot provides a balanced and insightful look into Ronald Reagan's life and presidency, debunking myths while appreciating his legacy. Fun fact: Reagan was the original politician to coin the phrase 'Let's Make America Great Again.' I definitely recommend this audiobook; it's a great blend of history and politics that I thoroughly enjoyed!

Myth vs reality

Book portrayed quite a different perspective on Reagan . Felt like a bit of a hit piece with the author going back forth in an attempt to find balance . No doubt regans administration did an incredible job of portraying him a favorable light but this author , with access to new documents, tears down that wall and I don’t mean the Berlin Wall. I suppose the truth is in middle

Focused on Pre-Presidency

Over half the book is focused on Reagan’s life prior to the Presidency. As such, some White House issues are skirted over.