Reagan

Name: Reagan
Brand: Blackstone Audiobooks
Availability: InStock
Author: Brett Harper
ISBN: 9781470857219

Author: Brett Harper

Narrator: Stephen Bowlby

Unabridged: 8 hr 9 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Blackstone Publishing

Published: 09/05/2017

Categories: Nonfiction, Biography & Autobiography, Political Biography

Synopsis

He was the unlikeliest of presidential candidates—dismissed by opponents as a movie actor, a right-winger trying to undo the work of liberals stretching back to Franklin Roosevelt. Yet Ronald Reagan made it to the White House, taking office in a time of economic turmoil, waning prestige abroad, and a general dampening of the American spirit. Reagan’s patriotism, wit, and optimism lifted the nation and brought it through several crises. An effective leader who understood the power of words, stagecraft, and symbolism, Reagan was a paradoxical blend of ideology and pragmatism. Even as he increased the tension underlying the Cold War with the Soviet Union, he embarked on a series of summits with Mikhail Gorbachev that helped defuse the arms race. When he left office, prosperity had returned and the Soviet state had collapsed. People around the world still revere him for the dawning of what he called “morning in America.” Here is his story.

About Brett Harper

Brett Harper is the author of numerous biographies, including Reagan, Kennedy, and Roosevelt.

About Stephen Bowlby

Stephen Bowlby is an experienced audiobook narrator. He earned his BA in speech & theater at Westminster College in Pennsylvania, a short trip from his native North Jersey. His career quickly moved from commercial radio into television and film production as a writer, an editor, and a director with voice work ever present.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Ken on December 03, 2022

A good starting point if you need the basics. For deeper dives ... [URL not allowed]......more

Goodreads review by Hill on October 30, 2020

Reagan by Brett Harper 1. What’s lacking: The book could have explored the effect of having an alcoholic father in Reagan’s psyche. All it said was young Reagan decided to be different from his father. Other biographies have explored this issue a little further. 2. What was interesting: that as govern......more

Goodreads review by Kaamil on June 30, 2019

Warm and well-written This is the first biography of a president I've ever read. However, I can appreciate the way in which Reagan's life story is told: one learns of Reagan as a president, as well as a fellow human being. The book discusses his birth, rise to power and his greatest accomplishments. H......more

Goodreads review by Jim Savastio on January 23, 2023

This is a rather brief overview of Reagan's life. Though I grew up with Reagan as a major figure, I did not know a lot about his life previous to his presidency. Harper does a good job in capturing the sweep of such a major 20th century figure. His view is largely favorable, though he does touch on......more

Goodreads review by JK on May 27, 2019

Reagan review This book is well written and gives insight to one of our greatest American icons, President Ronald Reagan. The memorable tales gleaned from different people and angles are a good read whether you are intrigued by politics or just public figures in general. This powerful communicator an......more