Product Description
In The Regan I Knew, the late William F. Buckley Jr. offers a reminiscence of thirty years of friendship with the man who brought the American conservative movement out of the political wilderness and into the White House. Ronald Reagan and Buckley were political allies and close friends throughout Reagan’s political career. They went on vacations together and shared inside jokes. When Reagan was elected president, Buckley wrote him to say that Reagan should not offer him any position in the new administration; Reagan wrote back saying he had hoped to appoint Buckley U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan (then under Soviet occupation). For the rest of his term, Reagan called Buckley “Mr. Ambassador.” On the day the Soviets withdrew, he wrote Buckley to congratulate him for single-handedly driving out the Red Army “without ever leaving Kabul.” Yet for all the words that have been written about him, Ronald Reagan remains an enigma. His former speechwriter Peggy Noonan called him “paradox all the way down,” and even his son Ron Reagan despaired of ever truly knowing him. But Reagan was not an enigma to William F. Buckley Jr. They understood and taught each other for decades, and together they changed history. This book presents an American political giant as seen by another giant, who knew him perhaps better than anyone else. It is the most revealing portrait of Ronald Reagan the world is likely to have. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (21)

Precious history, delivered on time, enjoyed
This is one of the most intimate and meaningful memoir I've read.it was charming and thought provoking. The world needs like thinking men to write more!

Epistolary fusillade & the gift of friendship
I was expecting a different book. Instead of a solid memoir, this book is a series of snapshot reminisces mixed in with the volley of correspondence between WFB and the Gipper.

And it was the epistolary aspect that engaged me the most. As a historian (BA, BYU '95), I have an eye and a nose for the primary sources. These letters are gems, some of which should have been included in Reagan: A Life In Letters. Gladly, the gems have now been restored to the crown.

Here are some of the surprises:

* The running joke over WFB and the Gipper's disagreement about the Panama (or is it Erie?) Canal.

* Buckley's mock appointment as Ambassador to Afghanistan--this was an ad nausium joke in WFB's letters.

* The intimate--even flirtatious--letters WFB wrote to Nancy.

Indeed, these letters to Nancy were rather shocking, considering the Reagans' proverbially tight relationship, and Nancy's well-know antenna for detecting frauds and shysters. WFB was playful--in ways that I might be with a sister-in-law, but never with another man's wife.But, apparently, the Reagans were fine with the flirtations.

One key letter was included, the outlining of the abortive attempt for WFB and Rush Limbaugh (The Way Things Ought to Be) to hold a celebration for the Gipper in 1994 (p. 234ff). Mr. Limbaugh has referenced it several times, and both have cited Nancy's poignant response "Ronnie is simply not up to it" (236n). This was the beginning of the end, with the announcement of the Alzheimer's eight months later.

So this book is a useful part of Reganalia, tracking him from pre-Gubernatorial days to his passing. But in a larger sense, it is about camaraderie. Two men--the rarified academic and the citizen-politician--coming together, and sometimes disagreeing, but still keeping their friendship in tact. It highlights the relationship, despite disagreements, isabove all.

And an enviable relationship it was, rivaling Lewis and Tolkien's great friendship (Tolkien and C.S. Lewis: The Gift of Friendship).

That many the lesson for all of us, regardless of our political stripes.

Lightweight, but quite interesting
In this book, author and political thinker William F. Buckley Jr. reminisces about that great American Conservative, Ronald Wilson Reagan. The book takes the form of a mixture of letters exchanged by Reagan and Buckley, and remembrances of meetings between the two.

Overall, I found the book to be somewhat lightweight. The book is not a biography of Reagan, but it was not intended to be one. As a series of reminisces, though, it is quite interesting. I particularly found Mr. Buckley's observations on people confusing Mr. Reagan's ability to tune people out with early signs of Alzheimer's.

So, if you already know Ronald Reagan, and you want an inside look at the man, written by a close personal friend, then this is the book for you. I am glad that I read this book, and I do not hesitate to recommend it.

Very enjoyable, behind-the-scenes chronicle
As a great admirer of Ronald Reagan, I found this book to be a very informative and enjoyable read and I regret that Mr. Buckley was not able to speak publicly about the book before his death.It is an intimate, behind-the-scenes chronicle of the relationship between WFB and Ronald and Nancy Reagan.The book covers over thirty years of friendship between two political giants through original text and re-printed correspondence.It offers insight into some of Reagan's most important positions on government, the economy and foreign policy, particularly concerning the Soviet Union.The book also offers a peek into the personal lives of the Reagan and Buckley families.I recommed it to anyone with an interest in the Reagan legacy.

Moderate
This book, published after WFB's death, is a decent and quick read. It DOES give the reader some insight into Reagan, as expected from personal correspondence, but also lacks, as others have noted. While I would be as harsh as the gentleman who noted, "The book strikes me as awfully lazy, a pastiche of vignettes, letters, and transcripts," there is some validity in the latter part of that qualm. Still, for two afternoons in the library, it was a worthwhile read. I'd recommend it to folks who seek to learn more about one of our great president; one I was raised under. ... Read more

Product Description
The incredible unexplored connections between two of history’s greatest leaders

Ronald Reagan and Winston Churchill were true giants of the twentieth century, but somehow historians have failed to notice the many similarities between these extraordinary leaders. Until now.

In Greatness, Steven F. Hayward—who has written acclaimed studies of both Reagan and Churchill—goes beneath the superficial differences to uncover the remarkable (and remarkably important) parallels between the two statesmen. In exploring these connections, Hayward shines a light on the nature of political genius and the timeless aspects of statesmanship—critical lessons in this or any age.

A swift-moving and original book, Greatness reveals:

• The striking similarities between Reagan’s and Churchill’s political philosophies: the two were of the same mind on national defense, the economy, and many other critical issues

• What made both Reagan and Churchill so effective in the public arena—including their shared gift for clearly communicating their messages to the people

• The connecting thread of the Cold War, which was bookended by Churchill’s “Iron Curtain” address of 1946 and Reagan’s “Tear Down This Wall” speech of 1987

• The odd coincidences that mark everything from their childhoods to their shifts from Left to Right to their shared sense of personal and national destiny

Ultimately, Hayward shows, the examples of Churchill and Reagan teach us what is most decisive about political leadership at the highest level—namely, character, insight, imagination, and will. Greatness also serves as a sharp rebuke to contemporary historians who dismiss notions of greatness and the power of individuals to shape history. Hayward demonstrates that the British historian Geoffrey Elton had it right when he wrote, “When I meet a historian who cannot think that there have been great men, great men moreover in politics, I feel myself in the presence of a bad historian.”


From the Hardcover edition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

Two Great Men
I wouldn't have thought these two fellows had so much in common
until I read this book.....I would encourage everyone to read it.
This is an unusual book........of course I knew about Churchill & FDR
but never thought of comparing him to RR.

For Reagan & Churchill fans.
If I could have met two Historical figures they would have beenPrime Minister Churchill & President Reagan. I often thought that someone should do a comparison of these two great icons of History and here it is.

I have read this book and in my humble opinion Mr. Hayward has done a great job in comparing & contrasting the style and personalities of these two men.

I think that if you are an admirer of either PM Churchill or President Reagan (like I am)then this is a must have book. I'm glad it is part of my Churchill/Regan collection.

Greatness: More fact than anything.
Looking at the title of the book I thought, "wow a book about Reagan and Churchill, what could be better?" But in the end I thought the book was more just a telling of facts more than an indepth review of their leadership characteristics and I never found in the book where it talked about the making of great leaders. It just seemed to say everything that happened to Reagan and Churchill and that seemed to be enough for the author. I did learn some things about Reagan that I did not know so I will go back to this book for those facts but it just was not what I thought it would be from the book's description.

Two different leaders, one common thread
Can greatness among human beings really be spoken of in modern times?Perhaps it is a politically incorrect, anachronistic idea in our egalitarian age.Indeed, regarding both these men, Churchill and Reagan, the media appears to have downplayed their legacies for just this reason.For example, Time magazine in 1950 named Winston Churchill "Man of the Half-Century" but passed him over at century's end for "Person of the Century", explaining that "...Churchill turned out to be a romantic refugee from a previous era who ended up on the wrong side of history."And Reagan?The news media, which had consistently downplayed him during his presidency, was astonished by the outpouring of public sentiment at his death in 2004 as this showed in spades the esteem in which he was held.

Certainly the verdict of history is not passed immediately on the legacy of statesman; it takes time.Who would have thought in the 1980's, that the name of Ronald Reagan would be uttered in the same sentence as that of Winston Churchill, less than twenty years after the former had left public office?The idea that Churchill was a great man, though not agreed upon by everybody, still seems to be more easily embraced than the idea that Reagan was. But our response to Reagan's death, one of looking back and re-assessing his legacy, surprises us at the warmth we found ourselves feeling for the man.I don't need to read an essay to feel it in my bones that there was something special about Ronald Reagan.Steven Hayward (the author) gives some insights into explaining what many of us already believe to be true. He spends most of the 170 page book comparing both men, demonstrating the surprising number of similarities that they had, from their childhoods, to their early liberal inclinations, to their switch to conservative political views, and to how they were perceived at the time.Certainly a common perception of Reagan during his presidency was that he was "uninformed, even ignorant, and relied on simplistic platitudes to get by."But some of Churchill's top aides said the same thing, that Churchill "has only half the picture in his mind, talks absurdities, and makes my blood boil to listen to his nonsense" (Field Marshall Alanbrooke).This is just one of many, many parallels that are listed.We remember that Reagan was charged with being a warmonger.So was Churchill.He alienated himself from many in his own party during the 1930s for his strident warnings of German fascism.In fact, Churchill's "Iron Curtain" speech in 1946 was not received very well and his own government made a point of distancing itself from it.Forty years later, Reagan's "tear down this wall" speech at the Berlin Wall had his own aides fearing that he would only embarrass himself. Even after Reagan's presidency, when the Berlin Wall had in fact come down, and the Soviet Union was no more, some felt that the credit belonged to Gorbachev.Time magazine, in fact, named Gorbachev "person of the decade" in 1990. But I think it is appropriate to ask for Gorbachev's assessment, since his early opinion of Reagan was far from flattering.His presence at Reagan's funeral in 2004, seated next to Margaret Thatcher reinforced his words in 2002 that "I am not sure what happened would have happened had he (Reagan) not been there."

In his Iron Curtain speech Churchill said that World War II could have been prevented "without the firing of a single shot."According to Margaret Thatcher, Reagan brought the cold war to an end "without firing a single shot."Both men believed in peace through strength.Both men doggedly spoke their minds and followed convictions that had not only their political adversaries, but also those in their own party, scratching their heads.Especially regarding what they considered the evil of communism, both men stood alone at times, but history has vindicated them.They were far from perfect, but how many great men are?Arriving at a conclusion of greatness is made even more difficult when the concept of greatness itself in the modern world is called into question.Steven Hayward has done a masterful job of not only allowing us the possibility of considering greatness abstractly, but of applying it to these two remarkable men.

Interesting but not too relevant
Steven Hayward extends his research of Churchill and Reagan to look at comparisons of leadership skills, styles and effectiveness.While the comparisons are interesting, I found it difficult to see the relevance.As a specific comparative analysis, the book brings forward otherwise obscure parallels in the life and times of these two great leaders.The title is misleading in that I found no insights on "the making" of an extraordinary leader.As a book on leadership, Mr. Hayward's work gives examples of Churchill and Reagan leadership, but the work doesn't analyze the leadership examples in a way that the reader could learn leadership tips.

Overall, I found the book interesting, but not terribly relevant. ... Read more

Product Description

A former Sunday school teacher and Hollywood actor, Ronald Reagan was an unlikely candidate for president. His charisma, conviction, and leadership earned him the governorship of California, from which he launched his successful bid to become the fortieth president of the United States in 1980. Reagan's political legacy continues to be the standard by which all conservatives are judged. In The Enduring Reagan, editor Charles W. Dunn brings together eight prominent scholars to examine the political career and legacy of Ronald Reagan. This anthology offers a bold reassessment of the Reagan years and the impact they had on the United States and the world.

Product Description
Michael Reagan’s life is much more than just an interesting story.It is a testimony of how Christallowed him to find healing from many of the issues that confront our culture today, such as sexualabuse, divorce, loneliness, the feeling of rejection, and the belief that God does not care about us.Michael Reagan’s first adoption gave him an identity, but he did not find his true identity until hefound Christ.

In this book, Mike Reagan shows how others can meet a God who loves them, and who wants toembrace them and bring them healing, salvation, and meaning to life. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (19)

Twice Adopted
This is a fantastic, emotional, hope generating book.A could not put it down book.

Twice Adopted - A gripping true story illustrating the power of grace to overcome the evil of abuse
Michael Reagan shares the story of his life without holding back. The pain of sexual abuse and its life effect is clearly stated. You learn first hand the hidden, and not so hidden, influence abuse has on a life and the life destruction it causes. Michael also shares how unconditional love helped him to overcome, but not forget, the stronghold the abuse had upon his life and how it impacted his family life. You also will learn how you can help change our society for the good and stop the cycles of abuse. Read it - your life will be changed.

"Amazing Man"
Michael Reagan has got a story to his life.He is an overcomer. It's not about the bad stuff that happens to us, it's about the victory we recieve when God is in our lives.Read it, listen to it.It will encourage you.

A true story of redemption
This book is so good I read it in two days.I could not put it down.I can't help but think about the Bible verse, Romans 8:28, after finishing this book.Truly, God has worked out all the things that happened to Michael in his life for his good, and now Michael is allowing God to use his experiences for the good of others.What a testimony!!!I was touched by the transparency of Michael --- he made me laugh (the story about the nun throwing erasers) and he brought me to tears (almost forgetting to hug his Dad during a visit to see him).One of the things that spoke to me the most is the perspective he gives on healing.I think that many times we think that healing means we will not experience pain, but Michael describes quite the opposite in his book.It is clear that God has healed him from the harmful effects of his past experiences, but also clear that he still feels pain from them.Michael demonstrates that one of the reasons God allows us to still feel the pain and still be healed is so that we can share in the sufferings of others who are going through similar experiences.I encourage anyone who wants to read a story of how Jesus Christ truly redeemed a man and how we can "redeem" others to read this one.

Redemption After Childhood Traumas
Michael Reagan writes from a child's perspective here.He details traumas that he suffered as a child including adoption, molestation, the divorce of his parents, and boarding school.

Although he is in his 50s now, he is still affected by childhood events, particularly the molestation.During the course of his life he has engaged in high risk behaviors and had suicidal thoughts stemming from his experiences.

It took decades, but he finally found redemption through his relationship with Christ.His wife was a major player in helping him overcome this as well.

This book would be good to read for those who have experienced some of the issues mentioned above.Additionally, I think it would help to provide great insights for adoptive parents, all parents, and those who work with children.I also recommend it for anyone who likes to read an inspirational story of the redemptive power of Jesus in one's life. ... Read more

Product Description
The myth of Ronald Reagan-s greatness has reached epic proportions in recent years. The public rates him as one of the most popular presidents, and Republicans everywhere seek to cast themselves in his image. But award-winning journalist William Kleinknecht shows in this penetrating analysis of his presidency that the Reagan legacy has been devastating for the country - especially for the ordinary Americans he claimed to represent. So much that has gone wrong in America - including the subprime mortgage crisis and the meltdown of the financial sector - can be traced directly to Reagan-s policies. The financial deregulation launched in the 1980s freed banks and securities firms to squander hundreds of billions of dollars and make a shambles of the economy. Boom-and-bust cycles, obscene CEO salaries, blackouts, drug-company scandals, collapsing bridges, plummeting wages for working people, the flight of U.S. manufacturing abroad - these are all products of Reagan-s free-market zealotry and his gutting of the public sector. Reagan pioneered the use of wedge issues like race and the war on drugs to distract America while his administration empowered corporations to lay waste to our traditional ways of life. In the spirit of Thomas Frank-s What-s the Matter With Kansas, Kleinknecht even take us to Reagan-s hometown of Dixon, Illinois, to show that he was anything but a friend to Main Street America. Relying on detailed factual analysis rather than opinion, The Man Who Sold the World is the first major work to explode the Reagan myth. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (47)

Finally, a leftist who honestly presents his views in the book title
So, another left-wing diatribe against Reagan, blaming him for the current economic crisis while exonerating the party that held political power in at least two of the three branches of government for 40 years before Reagan became President. Still, how refeshing to see a clearly left-wing perspective clearly presented honestly in the title. Just as Reagan ran for President on the policies by which he governed, here is an author who tells you his viewpoint up front. I wonder how the last election and the current administration would have been different had President Obama been honest about his liberal intentions as opposed to explicitly denying that he was a liberal during the campaign. Personally, I think he would have won anyway but people wouldn't be so resentful of his left wing agenda now.

The Man Who Sold the World...
The Man Who Sold the World: Ronald Reagan and the ... - If you think you like Ronald Reagan and his policies.Read this.It is not accepted by his hordes of admirers, but it is mostly the truth about another Republican who uses side issues to get elected and then surrounds himself with Big Business Cronies who proceed to make it really good for themselves and the ultra Rich and then leave a legacy of High Deficit Spending, Tax reform for the rich and poor people be damned!

Morning in America is really Mourning in America
If only half of what is documented in this well written book on Ronald Reagan and his version of conservatism, he set our country back by half a century. No wonder he was recently voted the most overrated of any president. His war of drugs has been a massive failure and had the unintended consequence of turning out hardened criminals and spreading gangs across all 50 states. His governance while in office was appalling and rampant with corruption. He corruption record was greater than Nixon, Harding, and Grant combined. He is the perfect example of why we should not elect anyone to office who professes to not like government. He said "government is the problem" and during his eight years it was the problem. Worse yet he inculcated his brand of conservatism to presidents who followed him and turned the United States into a semi-fascist state that had no problem in incarcertating minor drug offenders for years in prison and costing the country billions of dollars. His economic policies were equally terrible and resulted in some of the biggest business scandals of the 20th century. And and the end of the book, a case is made that he so damaged our view of government that it has impaired our ability to lead in the world. He was a small mind that had even more small minds working for him. His only saving grace is he didn't invade an innocent country and cost the lives of thousands of people. This is a very depressing book and is not for anyone who has an idealistic view of Ronald Reagan. His story is a cautionary tale for those who are enamored of Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck. They would do similar damage to country if elected to higher office.

A Focal Point for Blame but Optimism Prevails
Focusing on one POTUS to explore the many social and economic ills facing the modern world gives this book a convenient springboard to analyise some pretty terrible policy outcomes and leads us to the conclusion that this is the reason for where we are today. Is it that simple? Even if it is not, it is an interesting and useful vehicle to explore a modern ideology.

Reading as an outsider, (not American) some of the names and characters were unfamiliar to me, but the stories were no less compelling and the style of writing assisted greatly to engage with the topic and get through this book in a fairly quick couple of sittings.

The most intriguing thing about this book is perhaps that notwithstanding the corruption and the rip-offs described so well, is the seemingly overwhelming optimism everyday Americans appear to have in their country, its system of government and their own future prospects. Its an interesting study in national psyche that the glass half full still resonates for so many - or at least that's the perception from afar.

The book chronicles the modern political destruction of the collective and the government's fetish for the individual who must prevail over his or her fellow citizens and win at all costs - you can do it all if you just work hard enough.

Wothwhile reading for those from the left, the right and the centre of politics and even those who don't care but should (everyone!).

Busting a Myth
William Kleinknecht'sThe Man Who Sold the World: Ronald Reagan and the Betrayal of Main Street America is a well needed corrective to the right's relentless effort to cannonize Ronald Reagan.

Several years ago some conservative group proposed carving Reagan's face onto Mt. Rushmore, arguing that he was on a par with Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson and Teddy Roosevelt. But it would be far more in keeping with the environmental and economic policies of Reagan to cleave the four faces currently on the mountain off and sell them to the highest bidder.Or better yet, allow advertising - Enron presents Mt. Rushmore.

It seems obvious that there is a straight line from Ronald Reagan to George W. Bush, yet Reagan is still held in high esteem, while W's legacy as one of history's worst seems secure. Reagan certainly legitimized greed and began the dumbing down of the Presidency that allowed Bush to come to power, and Sarah Palin to become a national force.

In reading the book I had a strong sense of too little too late, as Kleinknecht detailed the excesses of the Reagan years.However, sections debunking the recent myth making efforts of people like Peggy Noonan feel pretty much current.

The book focuses entirely on Reagan's domestic policy. It is actually a little startling to see how damaging they were to most people. The book contrasts with Jim Mann'sThe Rebellion of Ronald Reagan: A History of the End of the Cold Warwhich deals with Reagan's foreign policy and offers a much more positive picture of Reagan.

However, I can't help but think both books overrate Reagan. Mann gives Reagan credit for causing things that happened on his watch and Kleinknecht who may for example be right about Reagan enabling racism, can hardly suggest he invented it. He didn't even invent using it as a political wedge issue.

While I enjoyed the book, it did feel a little sloppy. A Reagan official is quoted at one point as saying "What is good for General Motors is good for America" when it fact it was President Coolidge. So while Kleinknecht accuses Reaganites of playing fast and loose with the facts, he seems to be guilty of the same.

The book was good, not great, and I suspect many of the one star reviews here are from the Saint Ronnie crew.

... Read more

Product Description
Ronald Reagan's first great victory, in the 1966 California governor's race, seemed to come from nowhere and has long since confounded his critics. Just two years earlier, when Barry Goldwater lost to Lyndon Johnson by a landslide, the conservative movement was pronounced dead. In California, Governor Edmund "Pat" Brown was celebrated as the "Giant Killer" for his 1962 victory over Richard Nixon. From civil rights, to building the modern California system of higher education, to reinventing the state's infrastructure, to a vast expansion of the welfare state, Brown's liberal agenda reigned supreme. Yet he soon found himself struggling with forces no one fully grasped, and in 1966, political neophyte Reagan trounced Brown by almost a million votes.

Reagan's stunning win over Brown is one of the pivotal stories of American political history. It marked not only the coming-of-age of the conservative movement, but also the first serious blow to modern liberalism. The campaign was run amidst the drama of the Berkeley Free Speech Movement, terrible riots in Watts, and the first anti-Vietnam War protests by the New Left. It featured cameo appearances by Mario Savio, Ed Meese, California Speaker Jesse "Big Daddy" Unruh, and tough-as-nails Los Angeles Police Chief William Parker. Beneath its tumultuous surface a grassroots conservative movement swelled powerfully. A group that had once been dismissed as little more than paranoid John Birchers suddenly attracted a wide following for a more mainstream version of its message, and Reagan deftly rode the wave, moving from harsh anticommunism to a more general critique of the breakdown of social order and the failure of the welfare state. Millions of ordinary Californians heeded his call.

Drawing on scores of oral history interviews, thousands of archival documents, and many personal interviews with participants, Matthew Dallek charts the rise of one great politician, the demise of another, and the clash of two diametrically opposing worldviews. He offers a fascinating new portrait of the 1960s that is far more complicated than our collective memory of that decade. The New Left activists were offset by an equally impassioned group on the other side. For every SDS organizer there was a John Birch activist; for every civil rights marcher there was an anticommunist rally-goer; for every antiwar protester there were several more who sympathized with American aims in Southeast Asia. Dallek's compelling history offers an important reminder that the rise of Ronald Reagan and the conservatives may be the most lasting legacy of that discordant time.Amazon.com Review
When Ronald Reagan won the Republican nomination for governor of California in 1966, The New York Times called the GOP's decision "against all counsels of common sense and political prudence." That comment probably deserves to go down in history as one of the most spectacularly wrong political assessments ever to appear in a newspaper. As historian Matthew Dallek writes in The Right Moment, his account of Reagan's campaign against Democratic governor Pat Brown, "Ronald Reagan redefined politics like no one since Franklin Roosevelt." The future president's "stunning, out-of-nowhere victory," in which he beat Brown by nearly a million votes, altered the course of American politics for at least a generation: it signaled liberalism's descent into the fatal politics of 1970s McGovernism, announced the rebirth of the conservative movement out of the ashes of Barry Goldwater's crushing defeat two years earlier, and foreshadowed Reagan's greater accomplishments on the national stage.

Before becoming governor, Reagan faced the formidable challenge of persuading mainstream voters that an affable actor could indeed perform effectively as a chief executive. But an even trickier task, in Dallek's telling, was how Reagan rescued the conservative movement from its own extremist elements. There was, for instance, the John Birch Society, a right-wing organization whose thousands of members would form a part of any successful conservative coalition, but whose leaders believed in the plainly absurd idea that President Eisenhower was a Communist agent. Reagan at once had to harness this group's energies and keep his distance from its nuttier beliefs. This he accomplished with a deftly written one-page statement repudiating some of what the group's leaders had alleged and courting their followers at the same time. By zeroing in on this half-forgotten episode of Reagan's career, Dallek shows how the consequences of one election can reverberate throughout the years. This book is almost as much about Pat Brown as it is about Ronald Reagan--fans of Ronald Radosh's Divided They Fell, for instance, will surely enjoy that aspect of it--but most readers will be drawn to The Right Moment for its detailed chronicle of how Reagan got his start in politics. --John J. Miller ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

A Liberal's Delusion as to why Reagan defeated Brown in 1966
As someone who came of political age in California during the first Reagan campaign, I am very disappointed in this book. While assiduously meting out equal inches to Reagan and his opponents, the lens through which events are viewed are definitely biased against Reagan. The author treats the concerns of Reagan's supporters as venal and often racist, while the Left is always portrayed as having noble motives even when they make mistakes. Reagan's complaints about the high taxes that Brown imposed to complete his edifice complex are portrayed as fronting for corporate tycoons. But it was the middle class who were harmed most by Brown's construction fantasies. Reagan was speaking for the common man when he decried the high taxes imposed by Brown to pay for his projects.
On the other hand, Brown's motives are always portrayed as of the highest moral order. The author tells us Brown sent the Highway Patrol to Berkley but was torn because he really shared the demonstrators passion for civil disobedience. On the contrary, it was a decision born of political desperation. Brown's popularity was dropping like a rock because he hadn't acted quickly against the radicals who seized the administration building. The public was crying for Brown to take firm action and he finally did so. Ir was a political decision dictated by his consultants - not the result of an anguished conscience.
While portraying Reagan's supporters as neanderthals that Reagan tried to distance himself from while still encouraging their support, Brown's troubling association with the Moscow chorus in the Denmocratic party are not even mentioned. The fact that documents uncovered in Russia after the fall of the Soviet Union reveal payments to the leaders of the readical groups in the Democratic Party and in student groups at Berkley, are not mentioned. And any refernce to communist involvement in Democratic politics is treated as paranoid delusions of the right.
This book is a dream for liberals who want to pretend that Ronald Reagan was victorious because of good looks, good luck and good timing. It may be reassuring to liberals to believe that Reagan's victory had nothing to do with the umpopularity of Brown's policies and the high taxes to support them. But don't pretend that this book will give the reader an understanding of the issues that cost Brown a third term and launched a political movement that took Ronald Reagan to the White House.We'll have to wait for an unbiased author to bring us that.

Exceeded expectations--a great read
Not being a fan of the usual election campaign books, I took this up with low expectations.I just wanted to know something about Ronald Reagan's first campaign for governor.I also suspected that it would be something of a hatchet job on RR.To my pleasant surprise, Matthew Dallek has produced an engaging--even exciting--narrative that is very well balanced.Though he does tend to laud the "responsible liberalism" of Edmund "Pat" Brown, the Democratic incumbent that Reagan unseated, he also fairly portrays the new conservatism and "Creative Society" philosophy of Ronald Reagan and his supporters.I highly recommend this work as essential for understanding the beginnings of the Reagan Revolution.After this, a good read that bookends the subject is John Ehrman's 'The Eighties:America in the Age of Reagan.'

RONALD REAGAN'S FIRST POLITICAL VICTORY
Ronald Reagan's speech in favor of Barry Goldwater's presidential campaign was the starting point of his political career. His successful campaign for governor of California, against incumbent Pat Brown, was the start of the conservative movement.
His ability to bring together the Birch society members, the conservative democrats, Republican moderates and other conservatives proved that Reagan was a political genius. Many believed that a B movie actor, former Roosevelt democrat, GE pitchman, and former union member could never be considered a serious political campaigner. How wrong they were !
Matthew Dallek, in this wonderfully written account goes to great length to describe all the events surrounding that first campaign, the race riots (Watts), the student uprising at Berkeley, the divisions within both the democratic and conservative parties, and all the characters who were directly involved in the campaign. He is fair and allows the reader to really understand how the conservative movement in America really started with Reagan's first successful run in California.
He also tells us that Reagan became a true hero and political mentor to many politicians, as is the case of the current Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzeneger. Both men had many different political beliefs, but they both had great personal charisma. Their foundations are very similar.
This is a great book with many details. Highly recommended and very enjoyable to read.

Great book on important story
Matthew Dallek's account of Reagan's victory in California's gubernatorial race of 1966 is a page turner. People interested in political history will learn much about Reagan's character andabout the shortcomings of liberalism in the sixties. Great book.

Important Book
The Book "The Right Moment" by Matthew Dallek is an important piece of balanced research into the 1966 campaign for Governor of California.The race chronicles one conservative (actor turned politician) verse an old guard liberal who dominated California politics for the last eight years named Pat "The Giant Killer" Brown.

This book makes a few very important cases.One being Reagan benifited from the changing trends in politics nationally as well as in California.There is no doubt there is truth in that but it is also important to note that Reagan did what no other modern conservative had done and that is win big.Dallek understands that it was Reagan's skill plus the right times which brought about a national change.Riots, Vietnam, and the failings of the Great Society turned America into a nation ripe for political change.Reagan was the man who lead the revolution from California and eventually ending with the demise of communism in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.

Dallek also understands what many authors do not and that is Reagan ran a mainstream conservative campaign from California on into the White House.

It is also important to note that this book chronicles the life, campaigns, and ambition of Pat Brown who was a very able politician who knocked off former Vice President Richard Nixon in 62 who challenged Brown's hold on Sacramento.

Much of the problem with Brown was that he underestimated Reagan (which would not be the last time an incumbent did that) and failed to quell the anarchy in Watts and Berkley.

If you enjoy studying Ca politics, political campaigns, or political history this book is very valuable and brings out a lot of new information on the 66 Governor's race.Another strong quality is the balanced approach "The Right Moment" offers and its obviously well researched.I believe more could have easily been written about the 66 race. ... Read more

Product Description
Six years in the making--with unprecedented access to Nancy Reagan and the couple's closest friends--here is the first volume in the definitive portrait of the remarkable, career-building partnership between Ronald Reagan and Nancy Davis. 16-page photo insert. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Don't let the innocuous title fool you
I passed this book by many times before finally breaking down and buying it.Somehow, its title and dust cover just didn't grab me.Besides that, having already read several biographies of the Reagans and the Reagan family members, I was fairly well convinced that the book couldn't possibly contain much of anything new.Even after buying it, I still wasn't much inclined to read it.What finally convinced me to do so was when I read in the prologue that Colacello was a personal friend of Nancy Reagan and that Nancy had arranged for him to have unprecedented access to her personal files and to virtually all of the Reagan's living friends and associates and/or their children.How could I resist?This had to be a spectacular source of inside information.And it was!

The early part of the book traces the lives of Nancy Davis and Ronald Reagan in parallel chapters.This section is interesting primarily for the light it sheds on Nancy's early life; her relationships with her mother, Edith Davis, and her adoptive father, Dr. Loyal Davis; and for the in-depth background provided concerning both Edith and Loyal.

The book really takes off, however, in the mid-sections where it deals in depth with Reagan's and Nancy's film careers; Reagan's military service; his marriage to and divorce from Jane Wyman; his actions while president of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), particularly in combating the Communist attempt to take over Hollywood's film industry; his, and other's, testimony before the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) - who was who and what was what; the members of "The Group" who induced Reagan into politics and the subsequent "Kitchen Cabinet" members (mostly wealthy, conservative, high-powered friends of Nancy or Edith) who guided, supported, and, it might be said with some degree of truth, made Reagan Governor of California and President of the United States; Reagan's abortive run for president in 1968; and the rationale for his run in 1976.From that point on, the book is hard to put down.

In summary, this book contains inside information which can't be found anywhere else, making it a vital historical document.The information doesn't always reflect well on Ronald Reagan or Nancy, but it dispels a lot of myths and misinformation, and certainly provides a great deal of insight into what it takes for even a great leader, such as Ronald Reagan, to become President of the United States.

The book certainly rates five stars for content.It loses something for readability, however, due largely to its repetitious descriptions of parties and dinners, including: who was invited; what foods and wines were served; what gowns the women wore and who made them; who were the women's hair stylists and what were their hair styles; etc.But that was a small price to pay.I give it four stars.

Fabulous
Some friends of ours in Australia started to read this on an Asian cruise last Fall and asked us to bring them a copy when we visited Cairns in August.

They loved it and so did we, when we got to look at it prior to giving it to them.

5stars for Colacello; 2 for the cast?
As a Reagan supporter, I really wanted to love the Reagans and to see Nancy Reagan's reputation vindicated. Nancy, in her elder years, is very admirable. It is a bit creepy to read that Ronnie always called her Mommie, but no one can deny their mutual love. Bob Colacello isquite thorough in his research,fair and honest - no whitewashing here...the endless sniping and self-aggrandizement of Nancy's pals, like Betsey Bloomingdale et al? These women were all intimate friends, but were clawing at each other for primacy in the Reagan inner circle. Bloomingdale brags about her caviar parties andhobnobbing with the Paris set of sophisticates, but gets caught evading customs duties for lying about how much she paid for a new couture outfit in France. The other graceless, snobby chums of Nancy also seem like the idle, witless, rich that P. G. Wodehouse skewered in his books. The Kitchen Cabinet husbands are scary and only a tad less obnoxious. The book makes one feel queasy; Ronnie and Nancy seem bought and paid for by their cronies. Nancy herself comes off as self-deceiving and controlling - a shallow and manipulative social climber who rewrote her personal history;possibly she is portrayed as second only to Joan Crawford as Mommie Dearest. Ron takes up ballet as an adult. Patti has herself sterilized at 24 because she's afraid she'll be like her mother??!

The book proves what most of us assume - being well-connected helps a lot with success and acts as a powerful "deodorant". Colacello is due to write a second volume on the Reagans. I will read it for the writing, the history and my belief in redemption.

A unique perspective
Colacello deconstructs the Reagans like no other author has. He starts with the premise that their personal and social lives were inseparable from their political ambitions, and an essential factor in Ronald Reagan's rise to power. He goes on to explore how the couple's social milieu and interpersonal relationships influenced Reagan's political ideas and governing style.

A fascinating portrait of Nancy emerges as well: Colacello sees her as supremely focused and determined to advance her husband's political career, but motivated by pure adoration of Ronnie rather than any overriding desire for control and power.

The writing flows easily and is peppered with enough interesting anecdotes and revealing quotes to make the reader forget at times that this is, in fact, a serious political biography. A great read from cover to cover.

A Must-Read
The perfect mix of gossip and history. Meticulously researched and carefully observed. You won't be able to put it down. ... Read more

Product Description
Way Out There in the Blue is a major work of history by the Pulitzer Prize­winning author of Fire in the Lake. Using the Star Wars missile defense program as a magnifying glass on his presidency, Frances FitzGerald gives us a wholly original portrait of Ronald Reagan, the most puzzling president of the last half of the twentieth century.

Reagan's presidency and the man himself have always been difficult to fathom. His influence was enormous, and the few powerful ideas he espoused remain with us still -- yet he seemed nothing more than a charming, simple-minded, inattentive actor. FitzGerald shows us a Reagan far more complex than the man we thought we knew. A master of the American language and of self-presentation, the greatest storyteller ever to occupy the Oval Office, Reagan created a compelling public persona that bore little relationship to himself.

The real Ronald Reagan -- the Reagan who emerges from FitzGerald's book -- was a gifted politician with a deep understanding of the American national psyche and at the same time an executive almost totally disengaged from the policies of his administration and from the people who surrounded him.

The idea that America should have an impregnable shield against nuclear weapons was Reagan's invention. His famous Star Wars speech, in which he promised us such a shield and called upon scientists to produce it, gave rise to the Strategic Defense Initiative. Reagan used his sure understanding of American mythology, history and politics to persuade the country that a perfect defense against Soviet nuclear weapons would be possible, even though the technology did not exist and was not remotely feasible. His idea turned into a multibillion-dollar research program. SDI played a central role in U.S.-Soviet relations at a crucial juncture in the Cold War, and in a different form it survives to this day.

Drawing on prodigious research, including interviews with the participants, FitzGerald offers new insights into American foreign policy in the Reagan era. She gives us revealing portraits of major players in Reagan's administration, including George Shultz, Caspar Weinberger, Donald Regan and Paul Nitze, and she provides a radically new view of what happened at the Reagan-Gorbachev summits in Geneva, Reykjavik, Washington and Moscow.

FitzGerald describes the fierce battles among Reagan's advisers and the frightening increase of Cold War tensions during Reagan's first term. She shows how the president who presided over the greatest peacetime military buildup came to espouse the elimination of nuclear weapons, and how the man who insisted that the Soviet Union was an "evil empire" came to embrace the Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, and to proclaim an end to the Cold War long before most in Washington understood that it had ended.

Way Out There in the Blue is a ground-breaking history of the American side of the end of the Cold War. Both appalling and funny, it is a black comedy in which Reagan, playing the role he wrote for himself, is the hero.Amazon.com Review
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Frances FitzGerald (Fire in the Lake) offers a history of the politics surrounding American antiballistic missile technology. She focuses most of her account, appropriately, on President Reagan's efforts to establish a Strategic Defense Initiative (popularly known as "Star Wars") to provide the United States with umbrella-like protection from nuclear attack. FitzGerald, like many of her fellow Reagan detractors, is relentlessly critical of this initiative. Her book, in fact, is partly a psychobiography of the 40th president. She makes the familiar claim that Reagan's acting career had a profound effect on how he governed. Yet she takes it a step further by arguing that specific movies had a deep influence on his political decisions. "SDI was surely Reagan's greatest triumph as an actor-storyteller," she writes, and goes on to suggest that Reagan was favorably disposed to spending billions on ABM technology because, in the 1940 film Murder in the Air, he played a secret agent assigned to protect a new weapon "capable of paralyzing electrical currents and destroying all enemy planes in the air."

Although much of Way Out There in the Blue covers recent history, the controversial debate over missile defense continues today. An epilogue covers developments in the 1990s and mentions a pair of successful tests that occurred in 1999. Yet FitzGerald remains a skeptic, believing a workable ABM system is too complex, too expensive, and too easy to defeat. Conservatives will chafe at her condescending appraisal of Reagan; liberals will appreciate her aggressive attacks on a defense strategy they have never liked. --John J. Miller ... Read more

Customer Reviews (44)

Me think Book good
Me think book good.LIberals smart, conservatives dumb, me think liberals better then Regan, stoopid Regan, not smart like liBarels, Francies Fitsjerald smart, jest like cuzzin in Arkansaw who maried sister, liBiarals smart.

First-rate scholarship and second-rate understanding
The major merits of Fitzgreald's dense tome is that it undeniably calls to attention perhaps the most blatantly misguided policy of the Reagan years--SDI, "Star Wars", the anti-nuclear missile defense system that cost the taxpayers billions and failed to deliver.Reagan partially concieved and spearheaded the admirable goal of breaking the deadlock MAD [mutually assured destruction] had on U.S.-Soviet relations.Despite Reagan's vision, or maybe because of it, SDI was an unmitigated failure.Fitzgerald highlights Reagan's hands-off approach to his cabinet, which lead to massive problems and came close to destroying his reputation when Iran-Contra broke.Why, then, with such a tight grasp of these particular concepts and the researched facts to back them up, is Fitzgerald's book less than perfect?
For one thing, the reader doesn't get the whole story on a number of points.Had Fitzgerald restricted her focus entirely to SDI the book would be nearly flawless.However, she's intent on showing how Reagan's dedication to SDI is related to other less-than-perfect incidents in his administration.And so we get the financial wiz-kid and architect of the miserable supply-side "Reaganomics" David Stockman being portrayed as a hapless bystander to Reagan's barrage of indifference (Lou Cannon demonstrates otherwise).Don Regen is shown to be screwed over by Reagan's indifference (Edmund Morris sets the record straight in this regard).Sure, Reagan did often give off the impression of indifference, whether or not he was so.It is simplifaction to say that Reagan just didn't care, though.
The intense, limited scope of Fitzgerald's research shows through in other areas.Henry Kissinger's seemingly irrational support of SDI makes no sense without knowledge of Nixon's Safeguard plan in the 70s, where Nixon and Kissinger--much like some of Reagan's aids hoped to do with SDI--started an ABM system program in order to bargain it away with the Soviets.

Fitzgerald's work is valuable but only in context with other works studying Reagan and his legacy.The casual reader interested in the how and why of Reagan should look elsewhere and come back here only after learning more background.

Poorly written and ideologically biased
Of all the books written on the Reagan administration, this one may be one of the worst.Poorly written with excessive attention to detail that makes the story plod, it makes one wonder if Frances Fitzgerald was a one hit wonder. Fitzgerald's portrayal of Reagan as out of step with reality - starting with the book title and included throughout its content - is less of a description of reality and more, I suspect, the blowing off of ideological steam.If you despise Reagan and think he was a dunderhead this book will do more than reinforce those beliefs.If you want an intelligent and useful discussion of the Reagan Administration and its foreign policy walk right past this one.

Disillusionment
The JCS would never accept an arms reduction without a space defense program.The JCS goal was keep SDI in research avoiding deployment and increase interceptor missile deployment.The doctrine of deterrence would could through the twenth century.

The Reagan administration gave the Bush administration an unique opportunity to reduce arms.The Bush administration did not continue the Reagan administrations views on foreign policy with Gorbachev.The Bush administration would stop and the continuation of the Reagan summits ceased and Bush would contemplate the previous administrations philosophy and direction with disagreement.The Bush administration would take a broad interpretation of the ABM.The transition between the Reagan andthe Bush administration would treat the ARM reduction opportunity like a hostile take over, replacing Shultz and Weinberger with Bush people, and resume deterrence buildup policy.Bush's differed in his view of foreign policy, not willing to take Reagan's hardline position.Bush felt Reagan's hardline rhethoric was offensive to the Soviet leadership.Reagan had openly challenged Gorbachev on issues of human rights condemning the violence. Reagan called the Soviet Union the "evil empire".Reagan's hardline position postured the United States as one of military strength, 3 to 4 percent increases for SDI, and a estimated cost of 1.6 trillion dollars to deploy SDI; inconsistency in reporting and engineering feasiblity of the chemical and X-Ray laser brightness (Daniel Graham and Teller) as a military weapon; economic drives to reduce military spending, balance the budget, and reduce inflation.Reagan's NORAD vision prompted his to dream of a defensive system capable of making the Soviet ICBM impotent eliminating the potential of first strike.Reagan realized "Mutal Assured Destruction" did not stop a first strike response, it only deterred; and with the Soviets considering the possiblity of winning a nuclear war, defensive missile systems needed to be engineered and deployed immediately.Moscow media was warning of the possiblity of U.S first strike.The fear was caused more by a pattern of military buildup than an particular doctrine.The nuclear arms races of the cold war positioned the U.S in a potential first strike position.ARM reduction talks were a mandatory must.

Gorbachev as General Secretary was considered trustworthy, known as "incorruptable and courageous", by Soviet leadership too secure Soviet communist interests and start reform leading too social and economic structural revolution of the soviet union paving a pathway for Marxist views of property rights, freedom of press and speech, primary elections, openings for foreign investment and transplating of foreign companies, free markets and free trade, and the arms reduction.Gorbachev would raise to the status and power of President.Boris Yeltsin was critical of Gorbachev.Gorbachev would not be able to break from Russia's totalitarian past.Yeltsin would be eventually elected as president.Yeltsin would struggle with reform against the hardliners and failing expectations of previous era's. Yeltsin would face the struggle to a market economy: failure of taxation, hyper inflation shock to lifting price controls, and problems with stablizing privatization.
Gorbachev received a standing obviation from the U.N. after a fifteen year soviet absence caused by Brezhnev condemning speech against the U.N. Gorbachev seemed different from other Soviet leadership and Margret Thatcher seemed to agree.Gorbachev return to the U.N signals a change in Soviet strategy.The strategy did not deviate from the goal of world domination.
Gorbachev proposed an unique idea, "the complete destruction of all nuclear weapons by 2000" and social change for the Soviet Union. This visionwould make Gorbachev, man of the year, according to Times news. The reduction of 50,000 missiles.Was the offer pragmatic and realistic?Reagan never did buy into a 100 percent arms reduction nor believe in negotiate from a position of weakness.Reagan had forced the confrontation by building up the NATO missile arsenal.
The soviet military economy was bankrupt and the financial drain at a crisis level, social change was inevitable: the actual missile growth rate was lower than Soviet Analyst had originally reported, Soviet satelite terrorities conflicts could not be assured intervention, and Gorbachev would start Perestroika changing the face of communism."Perestroika stimulate human initiative and creativity within the Leninist/Stalinist paradigm."Reagan exploited this weakeness and put the U.S in an unique negotiating position.
Reagan spoke to students at the Moscow University telling them they were part of a great change in their country and had the responsibility to ensure the change was successful.The U.S Soviet talks started at the same time: the Iran-Contra scandal with North and Ponidexter (arms/drugs for hostages); and the Chernobyl disaster forcing the evacuation of a hundred thousand people.
Reagan, Collin Powell, and Shultz formed a tight negiotating team advising Reagan on tactics and strategy during talks with Gorbachev. Shultz work with Sheverdnadze opened up allowed talks to open between the two countries.Powell was very aware of Gorbachev's skill in debate and couched Reagan on counter tactics: more one on one private discussion, type double space notes for Reagan to follow, and maintaining control of the conversation.Gorbachev was a tough negiotator, who knew his facts and Soviet interests and he came prepared and should not be under-estimated.

Reagan hardline rhetoric, love for America, and empathy put him one of the most unique negotiating positions in the world history: the position of achieve a realistic arms reduction.Eventually, Gorbachev would propose over a 1400 soviet missile and 429 U.S missile reduction and the beginning of START and condition SDI to stay in research phase only.The proposal could not be accepted.SDI research would continue through the Bush administration into the Clinton administration. The Clinton administration would provide the greatest chances for SDI deployment. Other deteriant missile types were conceived, such as small and light smart missile providing a defensive shield from space that cost hundreds of thousand of dollars rather than millions.The greatest challenge to the ABM technology was that Soviets missile changed from liquid fuel to solid fuel causing and increased variance in speed, obsoleting missile interceptor technology.Continual adaptions in Soviet missile technology threaten the security confidence.

The nuclear threat has not gone away.Topol M under the ABM treaty again challenges our perception of a defensive shield against an adaptive missile technology capable of confusing satelite tracking and mid flight navigational variation designed to avoid destruction by ground interceptor missiles.The need for defensive missile is as real today as in Reagan's era.

Other personality discussed in the Book were Jeanne Kirkpatrick, Weinberger, Meese, and Baker.

Terrible Book
It what amounts to nothing more then an attack by a leftist writer, Fitzgeralds focus is to demean the charcater of a great president. Weather he was a bumbling ... or was just acting, like in his movies, fitzgerald argument does not deal with the fact that when Ronald Reagan entered office the Cold War had never been colder, and by the time he left office it was essentialy over. Was it a matter of luck that the collapse of the Soviet Empire occured on the watch of the most anti-communist president in the history of the country? Fitzgerald can theorize anything she/he pleases, but ask the Russians what impact Star Wars had on their demise. ... Read more

Product Description
The complete texts of all U.S. presidential inaugural addresses from George Washington in 1789 to Barack Obama in 2009.

The Kindle Edition includes a full Table of Contents. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

All the speeches, in one place
Following Obama's inauguration speech, I was interested in comparing it to the ones that had come before. This book brings them all together, and, through the hyper-linked front index indicating the president's name and the year of the inauguration, they are very easy to browse and read. Fascinating stuff. ... Read more

Product Description
Years ago the author developed a reputation for calling it like he sees it when he called his own baby brother out at the plate in a little league game. That tenacity, combined with a perceptive introspection and courageous audacity for discussing controversial topics, creates a unique perspective on Operation Iraqi freedom.

Selden uses his ten years in Army intelligence to discuss motives behind the events. With his experience in ministerial work he also taps into the soul of American troops struggling to understand faith when creeds fall apart. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Great Book, Great Message
Frank's book is in journal form with a day to day account of life in Iraq.His message is so clear.He is an ordained minister and still shows us his human side.Anger, frustration, pain, stress, and a true sense of FAITH.He is a straight forward, no holes barred writer.He is honest and to the point. This will make a great read for anyone and will help you with your Faith issues. Thanks Frank

Up Close And Personal Account...
I first became acquainted with Frank Selden on the opinion page in my local newspaper.I was intrigued by his "up close and personal" account of the war in Iraq.I appreciated his honest and transparent approach journaling what he saw before his very eyes.In reading his book I felt like I got to know the heart of a man willing to sacrifice his life for the safety of our country.You will walk in his shoes through his spiritual journey, hear of his love for the Iraqi people, all the while missing his family tremendously.And the less than pristine living conditions, well you just have to read that for yourself."Finding Faith In The Fury" gave me a new appreciation for the service and sacrifice our men in uniform provide to protect our great nation!My hat is off to them!

A Must Read
Frank's journals were very descriptive; he paints numerous pictures of Iraq with his writing style that I can visualize these places.This book is enjoyable to read as it is written in journal form.There are splashes of politics, religion, history and daily life innertwined through the book.This is a good book for anyone who knows someone in the serving in the military, or planning to visit Iraq.

An Outstanding, Inspiring, and Highly Recommended Book!
This outstanding book is very touching, introspective, and thought-provoking.I highly recommend Finding Faith in the Fury to everyone who seeks to better understand how our response to the challenges in life shapes our destiny. Moreover, this book also demonstrates how our choices and responses touch everyone whom we, as individuals, ever come to know.

In essence, this inspiring book demonstrates how our faith is not about religion, per se, but is about the journey that leads one to find their own faith amidst the adversity, atrocities, joy, and triumphs that we all, as individuals, experience in our life at one point or another in whatever manner those moments come forth.As such, this book is highly recommended as it is highly applicable to every person, everywhere, in any situation.
... Read more