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Last Act: The Final Years and Emerging Legacy of Ronald Reagan Hardcover – October 13, 2015

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Craig Shirley (Author)
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Craig Shirley (Author), Lou Cannon (Foreword)
4.1 out of 5 stars 78 customer reviews
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Product Details

  • Hardcover: 496 pages
  • Publisher: Thomas Nelson (October 13, 2015)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 159555534X
  • ISBN-13: 978-1595555342
  • Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 1.4 x 9.3 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (78 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #50,380 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Top Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 starsIt's a good book but falls short of the standard set by Shirley's two previous tomes
By Bio Reader on October 21, 2015
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
Let me make it clear that I an an unabashed Ronald Reagan admirer and consider him one of the greatest Americans in history. My first child was named Reagan in his honor, and I was among the people who jumped on a commercial airplane and flew cross country to stand on the side of Pennsylvania Avenue when the caisson carrying his body drove past. It's a memory that will stay with me to my grave.

I also consider Craig Shirley's two previous books, "Rendezvous with Destiny" about the 1980 Reagan Campaign and "Reagan's Revolution" about his 1976 presidential effort against Gerald Ford, to be among my favorite books. Considering I read nothing but political history, that's saying a lot.

For the reasons above, I was very much looking forward to the publication of "Last Act" and had it saved in my Amazon wish list for months before it was released. On the day it arrived, I began devouring it, and while it was good, it failed to meet the standard set by Shirley's first two books.

It's understandable that "Last Act" does not have the depth of information, detail and insight that the campaign books contained because Shirley had fewer folks to interview and a touchy subject to cover. I would have liked more information about the years when President Reagan disappeared from view and the struggles that his beloved Nancy, his family, and others who knew him dealt with as a result. The fact that this information is understandably protected by a close-knit group is a given, but the book seems to promise more than it can deliver.

The information about how Reagan's funeral was pre-planned and carried out offered an interesting view of a grand historical event, and I enjoyed that portion very much.Read more ›
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5.0 out of 5 starsThe Legacy of Ronald Reagan
By Dr. David Steele on October 13, 2015
Format: Hardcover
The legacy of President Ronald Reagan is securely established in history. Liberals can scoff and moan but the fact remains; Ronald Wilson Reagan is one of the most influential Americans of all time. Indeed, Reagan is not only one of the loved and respected presidents in American history; he is also one of the most effective.

Most books focus on the life of President Reagan and work hard to establish his presidential accomplishments. Craig Shirley's new masterpiece, Last Act: The Final Years and Emerging Legacy of Ronald Reagan takes a different approach. Shirley sets out to help readers see Reagan in a different light and in a different context. This book serves as a lens for Americans to view President Reagan in his post-presidential days, including the days which followed his diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease.

Last Act begins with President Reagan on his death bed. The author highlights Reagan’s life and legacy from different perspectives - including friends, family, and foes. One of the constant themes that weaves through the book is the deep and abiding love that America has for the 40th president of the United States.

We would do well to listen to the words of Reagan's old arch nemesis, Senator Ted Kennedy who offered these fitting words, upon hearing of Reagan's death:

He brought a special grace to the White House and the country in everything he did. We often disagreed on specific issues, but he had an undeniably unique capacity to inspire and move the Nation. On foreign policy, he will be honored as the President who won the cold war. It was more than the fact that he was a superb communicator. Some attributed at least part of his success to the fact that he was a superb communicator.Read more ›
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5.0 out of 5 starsIt gave me a much better idea how much Reagan was cared for and also ...
By BARBARA ECKERT on October 14, 2015
Format: Hardcover
After i started the book I could not put it down. It gave me a much better idea how much Reagan was cared for and also the terrible way he had been treated unfairly by some of the "elite". Shirley again has captured me with his way of writing
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5.0 out of 5 starsAnother of Craig Shirley's masterful portraits of the Gipper!
By J. L. Annis Jr. on October 25, 2015
Format: Hardcover Verified Purchase
Another tour de force by Craig Shirley, who is Ronald Reagan's most compelling interpreter with the possible exception of journalist Lou Cannon, the author of the forewords to this fine volume. In Last Act, Shirley moves into some uncharted territory. He tells us more about Reagan's courageous handling of his battle with Alzheimers that consumed his last decade than we have learned from any previous biographer. He adds intriguing details not heretofore revealed about the Gipper's relationships with his peers, rivals and contemporaries. And, he gives the Reagan funeral some meaningful context, not just recalling the intracacies of this state funeral but also unveiling some long forgotten tales of previous Presidential memorials, with the amusing tale of the contributions of Andrew Jackson's parrot to his last ceremonial rite being particularly memorable.

What's so impressive about Craig Shirley's works is that he truly gets Ronald Reagan's loves not just for the idea of the America and the essential goodness of the American people, but the unique and inimitable manner by which he evoked that reverence and got others to believe in them as well. Those of us who backed other candidates - and I write as one who backed Gerald Ford in 1976 and Howard Baker in 1980 and still feel good about both - will learn more about the qualities that rendered Ronald Reagan more endearing to so many other Republicans in 1976 and so many more Republicans - and Democrats - in 1980. Even so, they'll find some evidence from Craig Shirley as to why people saw others as viable contenders, and why Ronald Reagan saw the same.Read more ›
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 starsAnother Worthy Reagan Read from Craig Shirley Despite Its Limitations

As with all the Craig Shirley historical looks at Ronald Reagan, "Last Act" is packed with great detail, inside information, and heretofore unrevealed anecdotes - which... Read more

Published 19 days ago by PHS1
3.0 out of 5 stars... an interesting book but it could have been a great book if Mr

This is an interesting book but it could have been a great book if Mr. Shirley didn't use it as a vehicle for his personal attacks on everything and everyone who didn't adore... Read more

Published 1 month ago by Tony Britt
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Superb, exceptional

Published 2 months ago by ForeverFree
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

Great book to learn about the funeral of Ronald Reagan.

Published 2 months ago by Elizabeth M. Rogers
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

The Best

Published 3 months ago by Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 starsLast Act; Great Facts

I have 100 hardback books on Ronald Reagan. However, I knew very little about his life after his Presidency and was looking forward to reading this book. Read more

Published 4 months ago by Dr.Stanley Toompas
3.0 out of 5 starsA Look Into the Last Days of President Reagan

I found myself fighting back tears throughout this book. Reading this book brought back so many memories of the Reagan presidency and how successful Reagan was. Read more

Published 5 months ago by Robert L. Petersen
2.0 out of 5 starsCould have been a really excellent book

Mr. Shirley is not at all objective and seems to take personally even the slightest criticism of Reagan and his presidency. Read more

Published 5 months ago by Rebecca K.
5.0 out of 5 starsI thought he was a great person then and that being President only...

Having met Reagan one time when he was Governor, I thought he was a great person then and that being President only enhanced that greatness. Read more

Published 5 months ago by M. WADE
5.0 out of 5 starsFive Stars

GREAT read on the truth of President Ronald Reagan's passing, fast shipping

Published 6 months ago by avgwhtman

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