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Reagan's America: Innocents at Home
Look out for a new book from Garry Wills, What The Qur'an Meant , coming fall 2017.
Ronald Reagan achieved magical accord with the American people, attuning them to his moral vision of a nation made up of optimistic individualists, tough yet God-fearing, blessed with a special destiny. In Reagan's America , Pulitzer Prize winning author and historian Garry Wills seeks to understand Reagan's appeal through understanding his audience, the Americans who found in him everything they wanted to believe about themselves. An authoritative biography and a fascinating cultural history, Reagan's America reveals how this savvy, charismatic leader restored a nation's fading sense of innocence and faith in itself.
Ronald Reagan achieved magical accord with the American people, attuning them to his moral vision of a nation made up of optimistic individualists, tough yet God-fearing, blessed with a special destiny. In Reagan's America , Pulitzer Prize winning author and historian Garry Wills seeks to understand Reagan's appeal through understanding his audience, the Americans who found in him everything they wanted to believe about themselves. An authoritative biography and a fascinating cultural history, Reagan's America reveals how this savvy, charismatic leader restored a nation's fading sense of innocence and faith in itself.
592 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1986
About the author
Garry Wills
136 books225 followersGarry Wills is an American author, journalist, political philosopher, and historian, specializing in American history, politics, and religion, especially the history of the Catholic Church. He won a Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction in 1993.
Wills has written over fifty books and, since 1973, has been a frequent reviewer for The New York Review of Books. He became a faculty member of the history department at Northwestern University in 1980, where he is an Emeritus Professor of History.
Wills has written over fifty books and, since 1973, has been a frequent reviewer for The New York Review of Books. He became a faculty member of the history department at Northwestern University in 1980, where he is an Emeritus Professor of History.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
April 24, 2011
“Reagan’s America” was a hard book to finish because my unanticipated disgust accumulated to a nearly intolerable degree, yet I should have read it immediately upon its publication in 1987. Radio talk show hosts extol Ronald Reagan’s presidency to no end, but in all he did before then he was a sleazy sellout, according to this persuasive analysis. Gary Wills does a fine job of explaining what it meant to be raised in the Disciples of Christ, to attend Eureka College, to live in the Mississippi River basin, to go to Hollywood and get involved in the actor’s union, to become California governor. Historical and philosophical factors were at play.
Reagan said he grew up in Huck Finn’s world, but Wills reminds there was a dark side to that story, one Reagan ignored. He routinely disregarded facts and let himself believe whatever he wanted. His father was Mr. Pious Sales Job, and it wore off on the son. “Reagan is a joiner, a cheerleader, the ‘best friend,’ not a maverick, not an independent thinker. His virtues are those of the community, of going along to get along. He is reliable rather than innovative. That is his real strength, despite his own misleading praise of enterprise, entrepreneurial risk, difference, competition, and individualism.” Whatever myth was handed down very well suited the lifeguard and frat boy and studio contract actor and company man who viewed himself as a nonconformist. When he got to Sacramento, it was a big mess and cronies cashed in all around him. When he got to Washington, conflicts of interest abounded. Meanwhile, despite his promises to make cuts, his administration increased spending in the first term and “added as much to the national debt in those four years as had been accumulated in our national history to that point…”
But Reagan sold American values, and we were buying. “He is the sincerest claimant to a heritage that never existed, a perfect blend of an authentic America he grew up in and of that America’s own fables about it’s past.” As president, his primary usefulness was as the mascot for our own dreams and desires.
Reagan said he grew up in Huck Finn’s world, but Wills reminds there was a dark side to that story, one Reagan ignored. He routinely disregarded facts and let himself believe whatever he wanted. His father was Mr. Pious Sales Job, and it wore off on the son. “Reagan is a joiner, a cheerleader, the ‘best friend,’ not a maverick, not an independent thinker. His virtues are those of the community, of going along to get along. He is reliable rather than innovative. That is his real strength, despite his own misleading praise of enterprise, entrepreneurial risk, difference, competition, and individualism.” Whatever myth was handed down very well suited the lifeguard and frat boy and studio contract actor and company man who viewed himself as a nonconformist. When he got to Sacramento, it was a big mess and cronies cashed in all around him. When he got to Washington, conflicts of interest abounded. Meanwhile, despite his promises to make cuts, his administration increased spending in the first term and “added as much to the national debt in those four years as had been accumulated in our national history to that point…”
But Reagan sold American values, and we were buying. “He is the sincerest claimant to a heritage that never existed, a perfect blend of an authentic America he grew up in and of that America’s own fables about it’s past.” As president, his primary usefulness was as the mascot for our own dreams and desires.
January 11, 2013
This book employs a biographical account of Ronald Reagan's life through his first term as president to make some serious points about American culture, particularly its habits and tendencies of no-nothingism as when, again and again, citizens go to the polls and vote against their own interests--Reagan's own election being a case in point. The method of the narrative is to chronologically compare and contrast Reagan's own account of something, often his own life, with the actual facts. In this, whether describing his college career or the Strategic Defense Initiative, Reagan's accounts often bear only the faintest of family resemblances to the matter at hand.
Yet Reagan's incapacity to be correct and apparent disinterest in so doing are not presented by Wills as predicated upon some moral or intellectual flaw. He neither treats Reagan as an unethical manipulator nor as a dunce. In virtually all cases he gives the man the benefit of the doubt, maintaining that Reagan was for the most part sincerely in earnest, his truths having little to do with facts except insofar, perhaps, as a Jamesian will to believe can create facts (the primary case of this being Wills' exposition of his administration's selling of supply-side economics).
The point Will aims for is to explore how Reagan's delusions and illusions reflect misconceptions held dear by a large number of Americans, enough of them to twice elect the great storyteller as their primary representative, enough perhaps to characterize the nation--a point which he neatly associates with religious belief at both the outset and in his conclusion.
The point being taken, this is not to neglect what may actually be the bulk of the book, this being a host of excursions into little histories of such things as the colleges of the Disciples of Christ, of the railroads, of gun ownership, of baseball, of the WPA, of radio, of television, of film, of Hollywood itself--all of which are themselves highly entertaining.
Yet Reagan's incapacity to be correct and apparent disinterest in so doing are not presented by Wills as predicated upon some moral or intellectual flaw. He neither treats Reagan as an unethical manipulator nor as a dunce. In virtually all cases he gives the man the benefit of the doubt, maintaining that Reagan was for the most part sincerely in earnest, his truths having little to do with facts except insofar, perhaps, as a Jamesian will to believe can create facts (the primary case of this being Wills' exposition of his administration's selling of supply-side economics).
The point Will aims for is to explore how Reagan's delusions and illusions reflect misconceptions held dear by a large number of Americans, enough of them to twice elect the great storyteller as their primary representative, enough perhaps to characterize the nation--a point which he neatly associates with religious belief at both the outset and in his conclusion.
The point being taken, this is not to neglect what may actually be the bulk of the book, this being a host of excursions into little histories of such things as the colleges of the Disciples of Christ, of the railroads, of gun ownership, of baseball, of the WPA, of radio, of television, of film, of Hollywood itself--all of which are themselves highly entertaining.
November 5, 2022
It can be hard to hold my four-star level attention for as long as Garry Wills asks for it in this work, but he saves his fourth star with a REALLY strong ending taking the temperature of the culture and tying his thoughts together.
July 25, 2015
I have known about this book since it was published in the late 1980's, and finally picked it up at the Barnes and Noble used book room. It is a strange book. Much of it, especially the last section, is thought-provoking. But much of it I found rather trivial. I think that the title is a little misleading, as the book is about Reagan, not America (again, until the very end). The author's purpose seems to be to show the "roots" of what might be called a "Reagan worldview," and also to show how inaccurate and contradictory that worldview was. The beginning of the book provides some pretty standard Reagan biographical material, most of which is pretty well known information about the man. Wills points out how the Reagan view of government was built on the myth about how the western part of the nation was established (the reality is that without the federal government, the west would not have developed to the extent that it did). But this interpretation is pretty standard fare these days, at least among historians. The part of the book that I really could have done without was the section on Hollywood. Who doesn't know that the movie industry is built on facade and superficiality? Did we really need long analyses of individual movies, as well as pages of description of Nancy Davis Reagan's eyes to prove that point? With Reagan's entry into politics, the book began to gather some momentum, and it was interesting to read what a writer had to say about the Reagan Administration in a book that was written during the Reagan years. The final couple of chapters were the most interesting, as it was here that Wills put forth his contention that conservatism and capitalism are actually the antithesis of one another (capitalism destroys old ways of life, it does not conserve them). But I think that the essence of this book could have been distilled quite a bit and turned into a long New Yorker magazine article.
May 13, 2014
This is an amazing book -- insightful not only about Reagan, but about the Golden Age of Hollywood, Sports in America, the legacy of Mark Twain, and so much more!
August 21, 2024
Maybe not quite as interesting as his books on Nixon and the Kennedy's, but still is quite fascinating. And the comparison to his earlier books isn't quite fair, since he was working with richer material from severely flawed, even broken, men. Reagan, Wills shows, is all surface level and basically a screen that America projects its fake nostalgic history on. Even though it was written about 40 years ago, it's quite relevant for our politics today
January 5, 2019
In 1987, Garry Wills, now a Pulitzer Prize-winning commentator on American history and religion and Professor Emeritus at Northwestern University, wrote this social history of then-President Ronald Reagan, working in the tradition of his earlier study of Richard Nixon, Nixon Agonistes: The Crisis of the Self-Made Man (1970). It is an attempt to understand how Ronald Reagan became "Ronald Reagan," to this day the iconic symbol of Republican neo-conservatism.
For Wills, it appears that this is an intriguing exploration largely because it is rooted in some deep contradictions. For example, Reagan was not a life-long Republican and, in fact, in his early years, was a great admirer of FDR. Furthermore, as the first Hollywood-actor-turned-politician, his path into politics was atypical and, as Wills tells it, idiosyncratic.
As far as the book's positive features, there is no doubt that it is well-researched and rooted in primary sources—Reagan's own memoirs and first-hand interviews with relatives and friends from all phases of Reagan's life. Overall, the book makes a fair bid at objectivity and even-handedness, and does, I believe, offer some unique insights into Reagan's character and actions.
However, to me there seemed to be an underlying purpose of "catching out" Reagan in lies, falsehoods, and misrepresentations. If this were the only book one read about Reagan, I'm pretty sure the general impression would be that he was nearly quite as devious as his Republican predecessor, Nixon. To be clear: I did not find it problematic that Wills noted ways in which a politician lied or misremembered events to improve his own self-image or position. Unfortunately, such behavior is a given of political action in all generations (even happening in the era of the biblical prophet Jeremiah, my own corner of academic expertise).
However, several of Wills' "quotes" that were presented as proof of Reagan's inveterate dissembling could have easily been taken to point to some other meaning, entirely innocent of any deceptive intent. I found myself puzzled at times, trying to figure out what was so "wrong" with Reagan's recounting of the event, as Wills himself had presented it. Furthermore, these accusations and innuendoes occurred with enough frequency to constitute what I feel counts as a "hidden agenda" in Wills' analysis. Wills clearly does not "like" President Reagan…but never admits it, which gave me the feeling the whole way through the book that I was reading a "skewed" perspective parading as objective analysis. The book is not simply a "biography" of Reagan; it is a "critique" of his Presidency and, I feel, should have been more clearly presented as such.
Now, there were several points where I agreed with Wills' understanding of Reagan and his "meaning" within the cosmos of American politics. In fact, Wills' reflections on how the skills and ethos of the theater shaped Reagan's understanding of politics (as well as giving him the ability to charm the country) are helpful and insightful.
I do think, after reading Wills, that a key critique of Reagan-era policies (especially economic policy) is that his conservative distrust of "big government" did not translate into an equally-conservative trust of "big business." Somehow, he had a misguided faith that CEOs somehow remain incorruptible, immune to the temptations of power and influence that prey upon senators and presidents. In that, Reagan's push for corporate deregulation appears both hasty and foolhardy—a political move designed to earn a short-term win while ignoring long-term costs and damages.
Though I would consider myself a "conservative," I do not share the typical hagiographic view of Reagan that most fellow conservatives share. I find myself sharing the puzzlement of Randall Balmer to understand how the evangelicals of the late '70s/early '80s turned on Jimmy Carter, a very devout Christian, in favor of Ronald Reagan, a man who rarely (if ever) even attended church! However, even though I am quite capable of looking at several of Reagan's actions as President with a properly-jaundiced eye, I still feel like Wills' work, overall, was unfair to Reagan's accomplishments and legacy. Reagan is rightly considered one of the greatest Presidents of the latter 20th century…not perfect, but deserving of further consideration than Wills appears to be prepared to give.
For Wills, it appears that this is an intriguing exploration largely because it is rooted in some deep contradictions. For example, Reagan was not a life-long Republican and, in fact, in his early years, was a great admirer of FDR. Furthermore, as the first Hollywood-actor-turned-politician, his path into politics was atypical and, as Wills tells it, idiosyncratic.
As far as the book's positive features, there is no doubt that it is well-researched and rooted in primary sources—Reagan's own memoirs and first-hand interviews with relatives and friends from all phases of Reagan's life. Overall, the book makes a fair bid at objectivity and even-handedness, and does, I believe, offer some unique insights into Reagan's character and actions.
However, to me there seemed to be an underlying purpose of "catching out" Reagan in lies, falsehoods, and misrepresentations. If this were the only book one read about Reagan, I'm pretty sure the general impression would be that he was nearly quite as devious as his Republican predecessor, Nixon. To be clear: I did not find it problematic that Wills noted ways in which a politician lied or misremembered events to improve his own self-image or position. Unfortunately, such behavior is a given of political action in all generations (even happening in the era of the biblical prophet Jeremiah, my own corner of academic expertise).
However, several of Wills' "quotes" that were presented as proof of Reagan's inveterate dissembling could have easily been taken to point to some other meaning, entirely innocent of any deceptive intent. I found myself puzzled at times, trying to figure out what was so "wrong" with Reagan's recounting of the event, as Wills himself had presented it. Furthermore, these accusations and innuendoes occurred with enough frequency to constitute what I feel counts as a "hidden agenda" in Wills' analysis. Wills clearly does not "like" President Reagan…but never admits it, which gave me the feeling the whole way through the book that I was reading a "skewed" perspective parading as objective analysis. The book is not simply a "biography" of Reagan; it is a "critique" of his Presidency and, I feel, should have been more clearly presented as such.
Now, there were several points where I agreed with Wills' understanding of Reagan and his "meaning" within the cosmos of American politics. In fact, Wills' reflections on how the skills and ethos of the theater shaped Reagan's understanding of politics (as well as giving him the ability to charm the country) are helpful and insightful.
I do think, after reading Wills, that a key critique of Reagan-era policies (especially economic policy) is that his conservative distrust of "big government" did not translate into an equally-conservative trust of "big business." Somehow, he had a misguided faith that CEOs somehow remain incorruptible, immune to the temptations of power and influence that prey upon senators and presidents. In that, Reagan's push for corporate deregulation appears both hasty and foolhardy—a political move designed to earn a short-term win while ignoring long-term costs and damages.
Though I would consider myself a "conservative," I do not share the typical hagiographic view of Reagan that most fellow conservatives share. I find myself sharing the puzzlement of Randall Balmer to understand how the evangelicals of the late '70s/early '80s turned on Jimmy Carter, a very devout Christian, in favor of Ronald Reagan, a man who rarely (if ever) even attended church! However, even though I am quite capable of looking at several of Reagan's actions as President with a properly-jaundiced eye, I still feel like Wills' work, overall, was unfair to Reagan's accomplishments and legacy. Reagan is rightly considered one of the greatest Presidents of the latter 20th century…not perfect, but deserving of further consideration than Wills appears to be prepared to give.
January 10, 2011
good writer, horrible story, didn't quite finish
April 28, 2023
A long-winded, liberal/left attack on Reagan dressed up as some sort of intellectual "semi-objective" biography. Its very dull. Partly its that Wills has no "Feel" for Reagan or the world 20s/30s small town America or Hollywood/California of the 40s/50s/60s. He also tries to intellectualize a man who wasn't an intellectual.
Unlike Nixon, Reagan simply didn't care what intellectuals thought. He didn't even care if the NYT's liked him. He was interested in doing things politics, economics and foriegn policy. "Big Things" - and that's it. He read and understood Marxism and economics. But he wasn't much interested in "The philosophy of Government".or coming up with complex intellectual analyses before acting.
And on a personal level Wills finds it hard to write about Reagan. Maybe because normal nice people make bad copy. Reagan wasn't a tortured soul like Nixon, or a sex fiend like JFK, or ex-drunk like Bush. He was tall, handsome, athletic, and likable. He didn't have "issues". His kids felt he was "distant" - and that's the closest thing he had to a family problem.
Had Nixon been wounded in an assassination attempt, it would have resulted in weeks of NIxon self-reflection and self-analysis. Reagan just said "Honey, I forgot to duck" and motored on.
Unlike Nixon, Reagan simply didn't care what intellectuals thought. He didn't even care if the NYT's liked him. He was interested in doing things politics, economics and foriegn policy. "Big Things" - and that's it. He read and understood Marxism and economics. But he wasn't much interested in "The philosophy of Government".or coming up with complex intellectual analyses before acting.
And on a personal level Wills finds it hard to write about Reagan. Maybe because normal nice people make bad copy. Reagan wasn't a tortured soul like Nixon, or a sex fiend like JFK, or ex-drunk like Bush. He was tall, handsome, athletic, and likable. He didn't have "issues". His kids felt he was "distant" - and that's the closest thing he had to a family problem.
Had Nixon been wounded in an assassination attempt, it would have resulted in weeks of NIxon self-reflection and self-analysis. Reagan just said "Honey, I forgot to duck" and motored on.
February 12, 2020
An incredibly well researched, extremely detailed examination of the life and weirdness of Ronnie Reagan. It's a deep look into his psyche, that is reflected in an unusually large amount of pages trying to somehow come to a conclusion of the why's and what's that created and drove this guy. For me , while fascinating in many respects, it was often more information than I probably needed. The basic nuts and bolts of the book is of a guy who lied and bullshitted(and believed) his way to thunderous applause and accolades, even while everyone accepted the fact that he was inept, intellectually lazy, economically ignorant and had only one true talent as great grandfather storyteller. It is an amazing story considering the heights that he reached, especially when Iran/Contra, huge budget deficits, graft and corruption of those around him and his final year or two in the presidency with alzeimers are considered. Shows how incredibly desperate we are for a little grandfatherly encouragemment, at any cost. 3 stars for me but it is a GOOD book!
December 31, 2020
I had assumed this would be about how Reagan's policies effected US citizens but it ended up being a weird kaleidoscope history of America during Reagan's life. The first 80% of the book doesn't even cover his political career and the next 20% is a shallow overview of his time as Governor and President.
I'm not keen on misleading titles but the writing was decent and parts of the book were interesting enough, the main theme being the delusions that made up Reagan's "reality" (however Wills didn't even touch on racial issues which is a pretty crucial point in Reagan's mythology). Overall it was just weird tho, I'm still puzzling the addition of Paradise Lost quotes as chapter headers and the fact that there was enough Joan Didion quotes to fill a pamphlet with. Would only suggest to people who are well acquainted with Dutch and his backstory and don't mind reading 500 more pages about him,
I'm not keen on misleading titles but the writing was decent and parts of the book were interesting enough, the main theme being the delusions that made up Reagan's "reality" (however Wills didn't even touch on racial issues which is a pretty crucial point in Reagan's mythology). Overall it was just weird tho, I'm still puzzling the addition of Paradise Lost quotes as chapter headers and the fact that there was enough Joan Didion quotes to fill a pamphlet with. Would only suggest to people who are well acquainted with Dutch and his backstory and don't mind reading 500 more pages about him,
June 13, 2022
Ronald Reagan wasn’t a hypocrite, but he didn’t live the values he espoused. Ronald Reagan wasn’t a liar, but he didn’t necessarily tell the truth about himself or the United States. He told the public he cut welfare spending in California, but the state budget he generated said otherwise. He was everything and nothing at the same time. He was malleable and moldable to whoever employed him, or later, voted for him. The ultimate individualist who was the president of a labor union lives on in the minds of conservatives and liberals alike. His myth grows with each passing year and historians will forever debate his legacy.
If you don’t know much about the man I would highly recommend starting with this volume. Wills presents a masterclass on how to fairly approach a historical figure with a balance of facts and commentary. It’s a small step to understanding Reagan’s motivations, the myth of American Exceptionalism, and our convoluted government.
If you don’t know much about the man I would highly recommend starting with this volume. Wills presents a masterclass on how to fairly approach a historical figure with a balance of facts and commentary. It’s a small step to understanding Reagan’s motivations, the myth of American Exceptionalism, and our convoluted government.
September 5, 2024
It was hard slogging through the first half of the book, which gave TMI about his parents, home town and childhood. Two chapters about the nascent movie and TV industry and his “mediocre” role in it. A bit about his role as president of the SAG and the Communist scare. Only a few chapters about his route to and role as a “mediocre and detached “ president. Said he only cared about domestic policy except for Grenada and the Sandinistas. How could it neglect his role in working with Margaret Thatcher and Pope John Paul II in liberating eastern Europe and ending the Cold War. How do you write a book about Reagan and leave out the iconic “Mr Gorbachev, tear down this wall”. The last two chapters were a soliloquy on what it means to be an American and how technology, consumerism and capitalism ruined it
November 4, 2020
I selected this well-written biography with the intent to 1) improve my knowledge of history and 2) develop a better understanding of American politics. Both goals were accomplished but more so in the former. Garry Wills provides a superb narrative,, but particularly in RR's earlier life from high school through his years as California governor. I especially enjoyed, and got a kick out of, reading about Reagan's sports broadcasting.
Long story short I got way more out of what was said of his early years and did everything I could to remain attentive to the chapters on Reagan's presidency, which was hard reading.
Delightfully challenging with tangents and diversions that, at times, required more focus than I was willing to give.
Long story short I got way more out of what was said of his early years and did everything I could to remain attentive to the chapters on Reagan's presidency, which was hard reading.
Delightfully challenging with tangents and diversions that, at times, required more focus than I was willing to give.
December 9, 2020
Lots of interesting points
Bit lengthy but lots of interesting points. I remember the Reagan years. He was never as good as he believed.
Bit lengthy but lots of interesting points. I remember the Reagan years. He was never as good as he believed.
April 16, 2023
Excellent autopsy of a fraught age.
March 23, 2016
Published in 1989, this book has been sitting on my shelf since then. Glad I finally got around to reading it. Garry Wills is a great writer with unique insights. This is not a biography. It's Reagan's life and presidency presented in the context of American social history and it brings readers to a different and deeper understanding of Reagan as a man and a political leader, albeit one given to believing the myths he himself perpetrated, maybe as a consequence of his career as an actor. Among others things, Wills writes abut Nancy Reagan's eyes and how they shaped her career on stage and in the movies as well as they way she presented herself as First Lady. But the best sections of the book are about Reagan's time as a union leader. I've always found it hard to understand how any one shifts from being a unionist to the conservative right, but Wills explains that Reagan was always more of an individualist than a solidarity-forever type unionist and describes how he ultimately betrayed his own union members--while he himself never doubted his loyalty to the union.
March 18, 2020
More than thirty years after its publication, Wills' Reagan portrait remains remarkably compelling. The passage of time has been kind to Wills, as the urgency of the present moment in 2010's draws us back to the 1980s to re-examine the most recent historical ascendancy of right-wing populism in America. A book about the "myth" of Reagan, tied to a close reading of the dream (nightmare?) of American exceptionalism, Willis' book is well worth reading in this present day era of right-wing populism.
Reading Wills does not provide any insight into the dynamics of race and gender in the making of Reagan as man and image, threads we have all followed far more closely in the present moment. I would argue, though, that his reading of ideology is not inconsistent with our present reading of race and gender in the exceptionalist myth-making narrative. Any recommendations on a similar treatment that views Reagan's rise through the lenses of race and gender?
Reading Wills does not provide any insight into the dynamics of race and gender in the making of Reagan as man and image, threads we have all followed far more closely in the present moment. I would argue, though, that his reading of ideology is not inconsistent with our present reading of race and gender in the exceptionalist myth-making narrative. Any recommendations on a similar treatment that views Reagan's rise through the lenses of race and gender?
August 29, 2021
In Wills' estimation Reagan was pretty much the opposite of what he was thought to be....not a laudatory interpretation....not the first Wills book that I have read and surely not the best....it was not what I expected as he cuts Reagan no slack whatsoever....emphasis is upon Reagan as a person and not necessarily his presidency.... Wills does not give credence to Reagan's vision or answer an unasked question that Reagan himself was fond of asking' "was America a better, more prosperous more powerful nations after his eight years in office
July 11, 2009
A perceptive look at the cult of personality surrounding Reagan, in light of the collision of the American tendency toward self-mythologization and wish-fullfillment with the emerging mass-media technology that enabled much of it to become a lived reality. Reagan might have been acting a part, whether consciously or unconsciously, but America ate up the act. This book tries to take a balanced look at why and how that happened.
October 2, 2010
Not all that well-written to me, too biased against Reagan to completely trust all his conclusions, and prone to long tangents, but ridiculously well-researched and thorough. All I ever wanted to know and more about the man's life and times.
June 2, 2019
good book, gave me lots of reasons to both admire & dislike Reagan.
February 18, 2013
Many bits of discrete insight obscure elementary nature of overall thesis. Very entertaining and engaging, though.
February 22, 2016
Interesting overview of Reagan, his vision for the country, and his effect on the American populace.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews