Culture

Max Boot's book, Reagan: The Life and the Legend, finds its place in a field filled with biographies about Ronald Reagan, but it stands out for its deep research, clear prose, and broad understanding of the political and social context that surrounded his life. Boot immediately delves into the contradictions that have defined Reagan as a historical figure: a vocal critic of the federal government who nevertheless oversaw its massive expansion; a fiery conservative who, as governor of California, liberalized abortion laws; a prodigious communicator who often gravitated toward monologues and repetitive narratives; a defender of family values who, ironically, had a fractured and dysfunctional family. Boot is particularly brilliant in his depiction of life in small-town America in the 1920s and in examining the influence that religion had on Reagan's worldview. In the face of an irresponsible father, it was his devout and optimistic mother who gave Ronald his bright, hopeful character. These early pages of the book define Reagan’s worldview as one that was guided by faith, often at the expense of reality. During the Great Depression, Reagan gained regional fame as a sports commentator but remained dissatisfied. Hollywood beckoned, and by the 1930s, Reagan became a regular at Warner Brothers. However, his limited talent for dark and complex roles hampered his film career. As his first marriage to actress Jane Wyman failed and his career began to fade, Reagan found another direction for his simple worldview: the fight against communism. Boot’s book not only explores the life of one of America’s most important presidents, but also helps us understand the course of political history that has shaped the United States to this day.