How Ronald Reagan Changed My Life (Paperback)

~ Peter Robinson (Author) "THE OTHER DAY Josh Gilder, one of my colleagues on the Reagan speechwriting staff, reminded me of Mr. Cho, the barber Josh and I discovered..." (more)
Key Phrases: Ronald Reagan, White House, United States (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Conservatives, exult! Robinson's self-help/memoir/Reagan hagiography is an All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten for right-wingers. The former White House speechwriter and author of It's My Party: A Republican's Messy Love Affair with the GOP and Snapshots from Hell: The Making of an MBA illuminates 10 life lessons in a love letter to the Gipper ("How," Robinson asks, "did such a nice guy get to be President?"). By looking at both the historical (supply-side economics, the Cold War, Iran-contra) and the personal (Reagan's beliefs, his relationship with his family), Robinson unearths maxims such as "Do your work" and "Say your prayers." The stories are engaging, and he tosses in dashes of philosophy, such as the nature of good and evil, based on Reagan's ideas. The writing style, though, is repetitive, and occasionally Robinson makes leaps in his assumptions of Reagan's motivations; none of this, however, dilutes the message. Each lesson is related to Robinson's own life either in contrast or to show how he's made Reagan's lessons "scalable" for his own use. Interviews with and stories about many of the major players of the Reagan administration, like Ed Meese and Colin Powell, lend an insider's feel. Behind-the-scenes details, such as how the famous "Tear Down the Wall" speech was composed, give a fresh perspective. And while Robinson's respect for the former president verges on deification, especially as he glosses over Reagan's shortcomings ("Now, I myself was never able to get worked up over the deficits," Robinson says), this book provides solid, if somewhat obvious, lessons that will appeal to the legions of Reagan fans.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description

As a young speechwriter in the Reagan White House, Peter Robinson was responsible for the celebrated "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall" speech. He was also one of a core group of writers who became informal experts on Reagan -- watching his every move, absorbing not just his political positions, but his personality, manner, and the way he carried himself. In How Ronald Reagan Changed My Life, Robinson draws on journal entries from his days at the White House, as well as interviews with those who knew the president best, to reveal ten life lessons he learned from the fortieth president -- a great yet ordinary man who touched the individuals around him as surely as he did his millions of admirers around the world.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Harper Paperbacks (July 6, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060524006
• ISBN-13: 978-0060524005
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (54 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #720,599 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

45 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Read this book!, August 18, 2003

By	Bob (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: How Ronald Reagan Changed My Life (Hardcover)

I read an average of 2 books per week, and of the 100 or so I've read in the past year this is without a doubt my favorite. What I particularly enjoyed about this book is that it isn't another history lesson on how R.R. ended the cold war. It's a character study of two people, the President and the author, and how a young man is forever changed by his association with the President. There is some history in there, but it doesn't give that "text book" feel. This is a truly engrossing story and you will find it very difficult to put this book down. When you're finished you'll feel good about Ronald Reagan, Peter Robinson, your country and yourself. Read this book, and enjoy!

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful warm, and witty book, September 16, 2003

By	James C. Phillips "canisloco" (Folsom, California United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: How Ronald Reagan Changed My Life (Hardcover)

How Ronald Reagan Changed My Life

One of the most engaging and enjoyable books I have ever read, Peter Robinson's third book tells how his life was impacted on a personal level by President Reagan.

Mr. Robinson has a very charming and self-effacing style, never trying to inflate his own importance, and readily admitting to the foibles of a young, and extremely lucky speechwriter landing a dream job, seemingly by accident. I cannot recall reading a book that made me smile virtually from start to finish. Especially to be admired is his honesty in recognizing his own good fortune throughout the book, wandering through history almost with a sense of wonder. Not many people who have a chance to serve in a presidential administration would admit to trying to remove the "Mr. Gorbachev tear down this wall" line from the speech. (Or admit that they tried rewriting the line to read "Herr Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" Yikes!) Addressing his own weaknesses and failings, he shows how Reagan taught him to rise above them.

I must confess to being an admirer of our 40th President, and have read many of the books written about his life and Presidency. Peter Robinson's point of view is refreshingly different. The lessons he learned from watching Ronald Reagan really are the simple, but important, lessons of life.

Finally, this book does not pretend to be something that it's not. The author is very upfront about his admiration and love for Ronald Reagan, which, for example, makes his discussion of Reagan as a father very difficult for him, but also very necessary.

But this book really isn't just for admirers of President Reagan. If you know a kid in college, buy this book. I only wish it were around 20 years ago for me.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspirational Tome for Our Times, September 3, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: How Ronald Reagan Changed My Life (Hardcover)

The nimble Peter Robinson has taken readers into the Reagan White House and invited us to share his experiences of working for and learning from the 40th President of the United States.

Robinson combines personal and professional anecdotes that reflect the values and standards of conduct that he honed during his tenure at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and then applied to his bachelor life and then family life as a husband and father of five. (Robinson was just 25 years old when he went to work in the Reagan-Bush administration.)

Strong, heartfelt chapter headings and messages such as "When Life Buries You, Dig", "You Have a Head, Use It" and "You Matter", each underscore the philosophy of the Republican Party: individuals need to accept personal responsibility for their lives and decisions they make - and make the most of it.

Whether you're 25 or 65, HOW RONALD REAGAN CHANGED MY LIFE will have something to say to you regardless of your politics. Highly recommended.