Rating: 
Summary: Life lessons from the Gipper
Review: This book is a quick, interesting, and entertaining read by the man who wrote President Reagan's "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" speech. The premise - that Ronald Reagan makes an excellent role model for how you conduct your life - struck me as a little dubious at first, even though I am a great admirer of the 40th president. (The premise would probably cause Michael Moore's or Al Franken's head to explode.) In the end, though, Peter Robinson connects Reagan's actions on the world stage, his own behind-the-scenes White house experiences, and incidents from his personal life to develop a series of life lessons that are, for the most part, sound advice.In the hands of a lesser writer, this book might have been a patchwork of trite observations. But Robinson's sense of humor and ability to place the reader in the room when decisions were being reached in the White House make this a well-above-average effort. A few minor criticisms are in order. First, for a man who says he rarely uses outlines, the book at times seems a bit too rigidly structured. He is always saying that this one lesson is composed of two parts, each of which is illustrated by three anecdotes, etc. Okay, already. Second, it's hard not to feel the book is a bit thin for the price. It strains to surpass 250 pages, even with relatively large type, an epilogue, etc. Finally, one of my pet peeves: no index. Given the interesting portraits Robinson sketches of Nancy Reagan, the Reagan children, various White House senior staff, and his fellow speechwriters, it's a shame that you can't quickly look up the relevant passages. One question I'd love to have Robinson answer: he says there were only a total of 14 speechwriters during Reagan's two terms. Several of them, Robinson's male buddies, loom large in the book. But arguably the best known of the RR speechwriters, Peggy Noonan, is nowhere to be found. How come?
Rating:
Summary: Life lessons from the Gipper
Review: This book is a quick, interesting, and entertaining read by the man who wrote President Reagan's "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" speech. The premise - that Ronald Reagan makes an excellent role model for how you conduct your life - struck me as a little dubious at first, even though I am a great admirer of the 40th president. (The premise would probably cause Michael Moore's or Al Franken's head to explode.) In the end, though, Peter Robinson connects Reagan's actions on the world stage, his own behind-the-scenes White house experiences, and incidents from his personal life to develop a series of life lessons that are, for the most part, sound advice. In the hands of a lesser writer, this book might have been a patchwork of trite observations. But Robinson's sense of humor and ability to place the reader in the room when decisions were being reached in the White House make this a well-above-average effort. A few minor criticisms are in order. First, for a man who says he rarely uses outlines, the book at times seems a bit too rigidly structured. He is always saying that this one lesson is composed of two parts, each of which is illustrated by three anecdotes, etc. Okay, already. Second, it's hard not to feel the book is a bit thin for the price. It strains to surpass 250 pages, even with relatively large type, an epilogue, etc. Finally, one of my pet peeves: no index. Given the interesting portraits Robinson sketches of Nancy Reagan, the Reagan children, various White House senior staff, and his fellow speechwriters, it's a shame that you can't quickly look up the relevant passages. One question I'd love to have Robinson answer: he says there were only a total of 14 speechwriters during Reagan's two terms. Several of them, Robinson's male buddies, loom large in the book. But arguably the best known of the RR speechwriters, Peggy Noonan, is nowhere to be found. How come?
Rating: 
Summary: Life Lessons from the 20th Century's greatest leader
Review: This book is an absolute must-read for anyone who believes in taking personal responsibility for your life. The author intersperses life lessons with the important moments in history that marked Reagan's administration. Whiny liberals take heart- you can change your ways and make a difference! Read this book!
Rating:
Summary: Def. does justice to the greatest pres. of the 20th century
Review: This book is fantastic. Absolutely brilliant. Amazing. I've read many, many Reagan biographies and was, honestly, dubious about what another could bring to the table. Boy, was I wrong. I plowed through this thing in like two days and enjoyed in a way I haven't enjoyed any book in a long time. Peter Robinson should be very proud of this book, and you should read it. (And, of course, it got me all curious about his other books. God bless capitalism.)
Rating: 
Summary: Tear Down This Wall
Review: This book is written by the speech writer who wrote Reagan's most famous words: "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall." The story is in chapter four but the author fails to give it the details, the drama and the emotional intensity it deserves. It's a facinating incident but it cries for more passion. Insightful scenes like this are the best part of the book, images of the private Reagan, the kind hearted old guy, the tough-cowboy-against-the-commies type stuff. Unfortunately, the book is badly flawed by the writer's silly pretense to show how Ronald Reagan changed his life. It falls flat as mere pretense and undermines the credidability of the entire work. The writer gives too much of his own autobigraphy and not enough detail of Reagan's biography. More than once, as I read this tripe, I was tempted to toss the book in the garbage but I'm glad I didn't. Near the end, there's a troubling scene of Reagan with Alzheimer's. I never voted for Reagan -- for govenor or president -- but I was offended by the invasion of privacy. Reagan is portrayed as kissing the hand of an African American secret service agent who helped him. It evoked an image of Reagan's film, "Bedtime for Bonzo," and I'm sure that wasn't the writer's intent. He botched it. It was a sad, pathetic scene, that was none of my business. The best aspect of this book is the flawed insights about Reagan. The writer's writing about himself is an annoying interruption to the focus on Reagan. The lame connection of Ronald Reagan's life to the writer's own life is simply insipid. I heard this writer on a radio talk show, happened to stop near a bookstore and bought this book on impulse. I'll never do that again.
Rating: 
Summary: Good start, fizzled at the end
Review: This is a good story about how Ronald Reagan "the man" behaved as Ronald Reagan "the President." There are some interesting stories, amusing anecdotes and plenty of moral lessons. I enjoyed the first half of this book, but felt it really fizzled out in the middle and dragged on at the end. It was almost as if the author lost interest and had to fill some extra pages. I bought it after hearing Peter Robinson doing a radio interview and was really looking forward to a great read. Unfortunately, the anecdotes I enjoyed most I had already heard in his radio interview. The title is the true story - How Ronald Reagan changed Peter Robinson's life. While interesting, not worth the money for hardcover. I wish I waited for it to come out in paperback or show up at the library.
Rating:
Summary: Good start, fizzled at the end
Review: This is a good story about how Ronald Reagan "the man" behaved as Ronald Reagan "the President." There are some interesting stories, amusing anecdotes and plenty of moral lessons. I enjoyed the first half of this book, but felt it really fizzled out in the middle and dragged on at the end. It was almost as if the author lost interest and had to fill some extra pages. I bought it after hearing Peter Robinson doing a radio interview and was really looking forward to a great read. Unfortunately, the anecdotes I enjoyed most I had already heard in his radio interview. The title is the true story - How Ronald Reagan changed Peter Robinson's life. While interesting, not worth the money for hardcover. I wish I waited for it to come out in paperback or show up at the library.
Rating:
Summary: Young People Grab It
Review: This is a must read, especialy for young people. This book will teach you some powerfull lessons on life in every aspect. You will also learn about the personal greatness of the greatest president in the second half of the last century, President Ronald W. Reagan, his wife Nancy, and much more.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Work
Review: This is not a book of one man's journey to conservativism under Reagan. Peter Robinson was already a conservative when he began working as a speechwriter for Ronald Reagan. However, he was a fresh faced college kid without a lot of life experience. That changed when he began to analyze the principles by which Ronald Reagan lived his life and began to apply them to his own life. Robinson looks at ten principles of living a solid well rounded life, such as (e.g. work steady, your words have an effect, a good marriage helps) that he picked up from observing Reagan himself. Each chapter is devoted to the principle and the author explains through anecdotes on how he observed Reagan put the principle into practice and then how he applied the principle in his own life. The author has a self-depricating style and the book reads quickly and should be a part of your library, regardless of political affiliation.
Rating:
Summary: Throroughly enjoyable and inspirational!
Review: This is the first book I've read about Ronald Reagan and I will definitely seek to discover more about our 40th President.
It is amazing how Peter Robinson's memories and experiences are intertwined to present a picture of man who proved that an individual can indeed change the world.
I found myself writing down quotes from the President and insights from Robinson so that I could further reflect on how I too could learn from the example that President Reagan set, not just as a leader but as a Godly man.
This is not just a book about the 40th President, but a book about just how influential certain people, with whom our life paths are intertwined, can be, if we allow it. By describing the consistent goodness of this man, Ronald Reagan, and by focusing on him as a person, I felt as if I too could sit down at Reagan's ranch under a live oak and feel comfortable.
I also liked how Robinson deeply reflected on the profound influences that Reagan had on all with whom he came into contact. And although Reagan's own children had difficulty being close to him, I believe Robinson's book shows us how Reagan, through his life's daily example of belief in the goodness of man, can be a "father" somehow to us all.
In a time where now our own fellow Americans themselves are trashing our county's values and objecting to life here in the U.S (which I believe Reagan would be completely shocked about), this book is a reminder of who we all can be in the sphere in which we live. Peter Robinson, we want more from you! Keep writing!
It is truly a book that is so much more than meets the eye at first glance!
| 
