Reagan: An American Story [Hardcover]

Adriana Bosch (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1998

REAGAN: AN AMERICAN STORY is based on over fifty exclusive interviews with Reagan's family, friends, advisors, and adversaries. Following Reagan from his childhood with an alcoholic father through his Hollywood and political lives on to his battle with Alzheimer's disease - the only foe he could not defeat - readers of this book will learn of Reagan in the words of those who knew him best. In his rhetoric, Reagan was one of America's most ideological Presidents, and yet one of the most pragmatic in action. Seemingly a simple man, Reagan was consistently underestimated by his opponents. One by one, he overcame them all. This is a portrait of a President few really knew.

"Nothing short of riveting..." (The San Francisco Chronicle)

"A vivid and personal portrait...definitive." (Houston Chronicle)

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

7 1.5-hour cassettes --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 348 pages
• Publisher: TV Books Inc; 1St Edition edition (April 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1575000652
• ISBN-13: 978-1575000657
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,639,028 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Skipping a stone through history, May 7, 2007

By 

Marvin D. Pipher (Houston, Texas USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Reagan: An American Story (Paperback)

When I began reading this book, I was somewhat disappointed. The material presented seemed to be shallow and superficial, and I didn't appreciate the often flippant and dismissive comments attributed to the discredited historian Edmond Morris and the glib comments ascribed to Lou Cannon. I couldn't help but wonder why the author persisted in quoting these two men. I was also put off by the fact that the book appeared to have been published without any serious attempt at proof-reading.

As I got farther into the book, however, the author began quoting a broader spectrum of sources and the book became much more interesting and more to my liking. Although I don't consider it to be one of the better books which I have read about Reagan, his family, or his administration, I still found it to be of interest and perhaps of some historical value. It still, to me, reads somewhat superficial, rather like a stone skipping across the water of Reagan's political career without ever going beneath the surface. I.e., the author tells us what happened, mostly in the words of those who contributed to the book, but seldom does she tell us why it happened.

In any event, if Nancy Reagan, her children, and others associated with the Reagan Administration trusted this author and agreed to contribute to her book, who am I to criticize? What did I like most about this book? The insights contributed by some of those interviewed, many of which I have never read before. What did I like least about this book? Most of the quotations from Lou Cannon and Edmond Morris, and the serious lack of editing (hardback edition).

2 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A COMMERCIAL POSING AS HISTORY, July 16, 2005

By 

B. BOESENBERG "REPTILED" (WANAQUE, NJ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Reagan: An American Story (Paperback)

Reagan had no revolutionary visions, he had reactionary visions. His ideas are not looking forward,to some great hill of freedom. They're looking backward to a utopian past that never existed. He believed that the MacCarthy Hearings, which he was instrumental in organizing, were a good thing. He thought that confronting the Soviet Union at every turn was a peaceful solution. He took credit for things he didn't do, like knocking down the Berlin Wall and he never heard of Iran-Contra or the deficit. If you love Reagan and you enjoy feel good, "Leave it to Beaver" history you'll love this book. If you prefer research......look elsewhere.

6 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Must" reading for all Ronald Reagan fans & supporters., August 6, 2000

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Reagan: An American Story (Paperback)

This biography of Reagan provides a fine survey of the popular present from his childhood through his presidency, and is based on extensive interviews with his family and friends. Reagan: An American Story is a highly recommended pick for any interested in Reagan's life and times.