Rating: 
Summary: Read this book!
Review: I read an average of 2 books per week, and of the 100 or so I've read in the past year this is without a doubt my favorite. What I particularly enjoyed about this book is that it isn't another history lesson on how R.R. ended the cold war. It's a character study of two people, the President and the author, and how a young man is forever changed by his association with the President. There is some history in there, but it doesn't give that "text book" feel. This is a truly engrossing story and you will find it very difficult to put this book down. When you're finished you'll feel good about Ronald Reagan, Peter Robinson, your country and yourself. Read this book, and enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Get to Know One of Our Greatest Presidents
Review: I thought Peggy Noonan's book about Reagan, "When Character Was King" was the definitive book on the subject until I read this one. Peter Robinson explains why this deceptively simple man is one of our greatest presidents. Reagan's ability to communicate with the public, hold to his conservative ideals, deal with subordinates, delegate authority and change history are explained clearly. Most famous and powerful men do not make good family men. Reagan was no exception. Robinson allows how Reagan could have been a better father. But Reagan also had the qualities that make for greatness. He never lost sight of his ideals. He dealt with people in every station of life fairly and equally. Reagan's optimism comes through here and his dedication to hard work. Ronald Reagan truly believed in the power of the individual. He rejuvenated conservativism when it was at its low point. Above all President Reagan believed in America--her goodness and essential decency--two qualities that this man possessed in abundance. Peter Robinson explains why Reagan changed his life. We can all use the same knowledge to change ours.
Rating:
Summary: Get to Know One of Our Greatest Presidents
Review: I thought Peggy Noonan's book about Reagan, "When Character Was King" was the definitive book on the subject until I read this one. Peter Robinson explains why this deceptively simple man is one of our greatest presidents. Reagan's ability to communicate with the public, hold to his conservative ideals, deal with subordinates, delegate authority and change history are explained clearly. Most famous and powerful men do not make good family men. Reagan was no exception. Robinson allows how Reagan could have been a better father. But Reagan also had the qualities that make for greatness. He never lost sight of his ideals. He dealt with people in every station of life fairly and equally. Reagan's optimism comes through here and his dedication to hard work. Ronald Reagan truly believed in the power of the individual. He rejuvenated conservativism when it was at its low point. Above all President Reagan believed in America--her goodness and essential decency--two qualities that this man possessed in abundance. Peter Robinson explains why Reagan changed his life. We can all use the same knowledge to change ours.
Rating:
Summary: Get to Know One of Our Greatest Presidents
Review: I thought Peggy Noonan's book about Reagan, "When Character Was King" was the definitive book on the subject until I read this one. Peter Robinson explains why this deceptively simple man is one of our greatest presidents. Reagan's ability to communicate with the public, hold to his conservative ideals, deal with subordinates, delegate authority and change history are explained clearly. Most famous and powerful men do not make good family men. Reagan was no exception. Robinson allows how Reagan could have been a better father. But Reagan also had the qualities that make for greatness. He never lost sight of his ideals. He dealt with people in every station of life fairly and equally. Reagan's optimism comes through here and his dedication to hard work. Ronald Reagan truly believed in the power of the individual. He rejuvenated conservativism when it was at its low point. Above all President Reagan believed in America--her goodness and essential decency--two qualities that this man possessed in abundance. Peter Robinson explains why Reagan changed his life. We can all use the same knowledge to change ours.
Rating:
Summary: He Changes All Of Our Lives
Review: I was sitting in a classified military briefing in Berlin in the early summer of 1987. It was announced to us, "It is expected that when President Reagan visits next month, he will make a statement asking Gorbachev to tear down the Berlin Wall." To our utter discredit, we only considered this a political statement, with the only real consequences perhaps reactions from some looney left-wing West Germans. Two year later Gorbachev, his Evil Empire, the very concept of "East" and "West" Germans, and the Berlin Wall itself were on the ash-heap of history. Pete Robinson is the man who wrote Reagan's "Tear Down This Wall" speech in 1987, showing the extent that words do have real consequences. He combines a great number of fascinating anecdotes on Reagan's style and substance, along with "Ten Lessons Ronald Reagan Taught Me", showing his transition from callow youth to mature adult. This is a fine work of history, biography, and autobriography combined, written in highly readable prose.
Rating: 
Summary: Not Touching Enough
Review: I was worried about this book because like all of the books I've read on Reagan, it really fails to introduce us to the man. We get to see the legend part, but I feel that we need to know more about the man. I was deeply touched during the Reagan years and I became interested in politics, but I need to see the man in his element. Try a different book on Reagan. You'll be glad to skip this one.
Rating:
Summary: I grieve that I bought this book
Review: I'd give this book zero stars if I was given the option. It's the most self-aggrandizement that I have ever read. I'm going to try to sell the book on eBay to 1) get some of my money back and 2) keep the author from one more sale. I would recommend the book to rednecks and white trash, though.
Rating: 
Summary: He changed my life too!
Review: In the book description the author says: On February 6, 2001, my nine-year-old daughter happened to wander into the room during a television segment marking Ronald Reagan's ninetieth birthday. She watched for a moment. Then she turned to me and asked, "Dad, is that the President you worked for?" What answer could I give her? How could I make her see? I wanted my daughter to recognize that the world she inhabited was freer and more prosperous because of that old, old man on television. But I also wanted her to grasp my personal debt to him, to understand all that he taught me-how to work and how to relax, how to think and how to use words, how to be a good husband, how to approach life itself... I needed to tell my children how Ronald Reagan changed my life.... As an old proverb says: "Be careful what you wish for, it may come true." On September 11, 2001 we all realized how Ronald Reagan changed all of our lives. We unfortunately had an encounter with the Frankenstein that a few years before "that old, old man on television" gave birth to during his presidency.
Rating:
Summary: a young man's hero
Review: No matter your politics HOW RONALD REAGAN CHANGED MY LIFE is worth reading, worth learning from. Peter Robinson has a fluency & articulateness that is both charming & informative. What he has to tell, to teach, is eminently useful as we go about our lives earning our quota of daily bread, & perhaps most importantly, how to live a fully savored & flavored life. Rebeccasreads highly recommends HOW RONALD REAGAN CHANGED MY LIFE as a keeper. A book every young professional could do with reading. It is profound & humorous, interesting & whimsical, filled with vignettes & cameo appearances, history & philosophy...all written with a light touch.
Rating:
Summary: One of the Most Inspiring of Books about Ronald Reagan
Review: Peter Robinson takes a close look, a very intimate look at the things Ronald Reagan stood for and 10 of his maxims that effected a life change in Robinson and in Robinson's view, a whole nation. His premise was that he wanted to tell his daughter about his former boss. She was nine years old when Mr. Reagan's 90th birthday rolled around and did not understand his importance to her nation and to her dad. Robinson's book although a little unsung in the world of great books, is a tribute to a great man yet, it will also influence any who read it apply the Ten Maxims that are the subjects for each chapter. The Ten Maxims Are in My Words: When life gets difficult, dig in. Do the work you are intended to do. Life is a stage, act now. What you say matters. Use the brain you have been given. Take things in stride. Marry the right person and it will help your life. Remember to pray daily. Use your God given talents to influence the world around you. You are important and can make a difference. These maxims of life, seen through the life and actions of one of Americas greatest presidents are ours to learn, to understand and even to use. This is a great book. I will give this as a gift to my friends.
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