Synopses & Reviews
Ronald Reagans
The Notes is a fascinating window into the mind of our fortieth president and the writers and thinkers to whom he turned for advice, inspiration, humor, and hope. Collected by the Ronald Reagan Foundation, the book includes both Reagans own writing and his favorite quotations, proverbs, and excerpts from speeches, poetry, and literature. The breadth of these notes sheds light on a man who was deeply engaged with the arts, culture, and politics, from his time as one of the nations most popular actors to later years as one of its most beloved presidents. Known as the “Great Communicator,” Reagan sought wisdom from a wide-ranging set of political figures, philosophers, novelists, and poets, including Abraham Lincoln, Daniel Webster, John F. Kennedy, and Thomas Jefferson, as well as Mohandas Gandhi, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, Mark Twain, and Thomas Wolfe.
While the number one New York Times bestselling Reagan Diaries detailed daily life inside the Oval Office, The Notes encapsulates a lifetime of reflections on work, marriage, and family in classic one-liners such as “Flattery is what makes husbands out of bachelors” and “Money may not buy friends, but it will help you to stay in contact with your children.” Reagans own writing—his jokes, aphorisms, and insights into politics and life—is often surprising and reveals a view of the president that has rarely before been seen.
Historic, illuminating, and deeply captivating, The Notes is a remarkable collection of the thoughts of one of our most beloved presidents.
Review
“These notes are wonderful things. . . . Although a few recent books have proclaimed to have finally uncovered the real Reagan, theres a chance well never get any closer than in these scribbles, which reveal so much.” < b=""> Christopher Buckley, < i=""> Bloomberg News <> <>
Review
“This is a book to return to often and sample the collected wisdom found there that buttressed a remarkable mans vision.” < b=""> < i=""> The Washington Times <> <>
Review
“Now with the discovery of his note cards, we can better appreciate just how hard Reagan himself labored to be clear and convincingand, yes, sometimes funnyto his many audiences.” < b=""> < i=""> The American Spectator <> <>
Review
“The book offers a window into the mind of the nations 40th president and displays the effort he made behind the scenes to hone his performance as a speechmaker and storyteller driving home a conservative political philosophy.” < b=""> < i=""> USA Today <> <>
Review
“This volume provides an illuminating glimpse into Reagans mind. . . . The entries show the directness of Reagans thought and his uncanny ability to make a point.” < b=""> < i=""> The Daily <> <>
Synopsis
Ronald Reagan left behind a legacy that America willnever forget. Now, in this one-of-a-kind collection of his most intimatethoughts, his favorite quotations by others, and his own most collectiblejokes, all culled from a newly disclosed set of personal notecards he keptthroughout his life and career, fans and admirers of the fortieth presidentwill find a unique window of insight into the soul of an American icon. Editedby Douglas Brinkley, editor of #1 NewYork Times bestseller The ReaganDiaries, this indispensible Reagan retrospective is perfect for fathers,graduates, and anyone looking to find inspiration in the thoughts and musingsof a great American leader.
About the Author
Douglas Brinkley is professor of history and Baker Institute Fellow at Rice University. He is the author of numerous bestselling books including The Unfinished Presidency, The Boys of Pointe du Hoc, and The Great Deluge. A contributing editor at Vanity Fair and the in-house historian for CBS News, he divides his time between Austin and Houston, Texas.