Review

"As Jules Tygiel observes in his marvelous Ronald Reagan and the Triumph of American Conservatism, Reagan had "discovered a parable that would uncannily presage his own rise." In recounting Reagan’s rise, Tygiel, who is a history professor at San Francisco State, provides numerous insights into Reagan. His book, which he notes at the outset is not based on original research, is filled with penetrating observations. It would be hard to think of a more lucid and cogent discussion of Reagan.

Tygiel notes that, like his youthful hero Falkner, Reagan was the son of an alcoholic father whom he would find one winter evening lying drunk on the front porch of their home in Dixon, Illinois. Reagan would gravitate toward his mother Nelle, a frustrated actress who enjoyed dancing and performing, often giving readings at church. But his father’s lack of prejudice also left a deep impression on him: He barred both Neil and Ronald from attending the racist movie Birth of a Nation and refused to stay at a hotel that barred Jews."

-Jacob Heilbrunn, The National Interest

“Tygiel’s biography of Reagan is without a doubt the most balanced account of Reagan’s life I have ever read”. –Dr. Richard Traylor, Hardin-Simmons University.

“I find the author’s interpretation to be even-handed and reasonable…It is a compelling text for getting my students to think critically…”–Spencer Downing, University of Central Florida

Product Description

Jules Tygiel’s biography of Ronald Reagan engages students with the compelling story of the man who went from Hollywood actor to President of the United States. This balanced profile considers both the accomplishments and failures of Reagan’s presidency, as well as the contested legacy of his political career even after his death. Incorporating the latest scholarship, Ronald Reagan and the Triumph of American Conservatism examines Reagan both as an individual and in the larger context of the conservative movement.

The titles in the Library of American Biography Series make ideal supplements for American History Survey courses or other courses in American history where figures in history are explored. Paperback, brief, and inexpensive, each interpretative biography in this series focuses on a figure whose actions and ideas significantly influenced the course of American history and national life. In addition, each biography relates the life of its subject to the broader themes and developments of the times.