The Notes: Ronald Reagan's Private Collection of Stories and Wisdom by Ronald Reagan

The Notes: Ronald Reagan's Private Collection of Stories and Wisdom Reviews

• 
  Terry Cornell

  Reagan was known to keep his favorite bits of wisdom, jokes, and quotes on 4-by-6 note cards, and he would frequently take one of these cards and insert it into a speech draft. This particular collection was re-discovered in 2010 when the Reagan Library was going through a remodel to coincide with the centennial of Reagan's birth. A combination search/inventory was conducted to find new material to place on display in the museum. The material in this book was discovered in a cardboard box without a label, simply marked in pen on the side "RR's desk". Inside were stacks of these same hand-written 4-by-6 note cards broken down into stacks by topic--"On Liberty", "On War", "On the People", "On Religion", "The World", and "On Political Theater". Editor Douglas Brinkley presents the material in these same topical areas, along with a section on Reagan jokes/humor. The handwritten notes are duplicated accurately, including Reagan's own abbreviations. A real insight into our former President's thoughts and humor.
• 
  Frank Kelly

  To all those silly critics of Ronald Reagan - the ones who called him "an amimial dunce" among other silly names - this book won't make them happy. Over the years, Regan assembled an impressive collection of sayings, philosphical extracts, poems and speeches which he used to guide him through his years in public office. Historian Douglas Brinkley discovered the collection while researching through the Reagan Library and edited them into this fine book -- a book which I have already found useful professionally. It's superb, funny and quite inspiring. And it makes me miss the Old Man more than ever.
• 
  Reagan Faith Waggoner

  I skimmed this book this afternoon.... Wide margins, large font, easy to read and well-organized. I added many quotations to my quote collection as I read, and my mental to-read list. Some of the most striking were Vladimir Lenin quotations, particularly potent at the time to Reagan I'm sure due to his fight against communism.
  
  "Go to youth, form fighting squads everywhere. Let groups be organized of 3, 10, 30 persons. Let them arm themselves as best they can with a revolver, knife, rag soaked in keresene for starting fires. Do not make membership in the party an absolute condition. That would be an absurd demand for an armed uprising. You must proceed with propaganda on a wide scale. Propagandists must supply each group with a brief and simple recipe for making bombs. Squads must begin military training. Some may undertake to kill, to spy or blow up police stations, others to raid the bank and confiscate money for insurrection." -Vladimir Lenin
  
  But - many inspiring quotations as well
  
  Sink or swim, live or die, survive or perish, I give my hand and my heart to this vote. It is true that in the beginning we aimed not at independence. But there's a divinity that shapes our ends. I know the uncertainties of human affairs. But I see through this day's business. We may die, die as colonists; die as slaves; die it. may be on the scaffold. Be it so. But while I live, let me have a country or at least the hope of a country, and that a free country. But whatever be our fate, be assured, that this declaration will stand.... All that I have, and all that I am and all that I hope to be in life I am now ready to stake upon it; and I leave off as I began, that live or die, survive or perish, I am for the declaration. -John Adams
• 
  Descending Angel

  Notes is a book of the favorite quotations or at least the thoughts of many great people~ from former presidents, thinkers, poets, else, that inspired Ronald Reagan, arguably America's last truly great President. They were written down on note cards and kept in his desk drawer in the Oval Office, thus the title of the book. It's a different way of looking at person's mindset and thoughts ~ to see what ideas and thoughts inspires and influences someone, but I think this book works as an extra to maybe better books like the Reagan Diaries or an autobiography, but it still was interesting and a quick read.
• 
  Deborah Martinez

  A book of quotes, notes, jokes, and nuggets of political wisdom that Reagan wrote down on 4X6 note cards and kept in his desk drawer in the Oval Office.
  
  I really enjoyed the book, but it something you read just a few at a time, so I tended to read a few pages at night before bed, and then again when I woke up in the morning.
  
  A few of the quotes I enjoyed include:
  
  "Even moderation should not be practiced to excess."
  
  "A gentle [man] always says & does the kindest think."
  
  "That dumb blonde in the office may turn out to be a smart burnette."
  
  "Before TV no one knew what a headache looked like."
  
  
• 
  John Yelverton

  An amazing collection of notes from an amazing group of thinkers, writers, theologians and common people. However, none of them were actually written by Ronald Reagan, but it's a great insight into his personal philosophy.
• 
  Jerry

  Lots of good stuff here on many topics, and much of it immediately relevant: "It is in the natural course of events tha liberty recedes and government grows." --Jefferson
• 
  Jacob Aitken

  After Pres. Reagan’s death they found several boxes on his desk that consisted in hundreds of 3 x 5 note cards. He had written everything from formal quotations to one-liners. He recycled these and used them as political dynamite.
  
  The first half of the book is organized around topics and is quotations from famous people. The second half consists of jokes he collected over the years.
  
  Ibn Khaldoun: At the beginning of a dynasty taxation yields a large revenue from small assessments. At the end of a dynasty taxation yields a small revenue from large assessments (90).
  
  Will Rogers: Whenever you make out a tax return, you don’t know if you are a crook or a martyr.
  
  
  Jokes:
  
  “I used to think I was poor. Then they tell me I was needy. They said I wasn’t needy–I was culturally deprived. Then they said deprived was a bad image–I was underprivileged. That became overused and I became disadvantaged. I still don’t have a dime but I do have a great vocabulary” (222).
  
  “Pilot to control tower: “I’m coming in. Please give me landing instructions.”
  Tower: Why are you yelling so loud?
  Pilot: I don’t have a radio.
  
  Middle Age: When you begin exchanging emotions for symptoms (237).
  
  English professor told class he’d found one of the most elegant lines in the English language: “Walk with light.” Isn’t that a wonderful thing to say to someone? The class agreed and asked who the poet was.
  Professor: Anonymous. It’s written on a sign at the corner of 9th and Main.
• 
  Veronica C

  Recommend book by one of my favorite authors Ryan Holiday; who believes all of us should follow suit and keep a common place for our thoughts/stories/wisdoms we come across day-to-day.
  Regardless of political affiliation this is a fun book to learn more about Reagan's thought process and personality.
• 
  John

  Excellent book, enjoyed what President Reagan thought was influential and humorous
• 
  Katie Quick

  Could not put this one down. I’m re-reading it already. I’ve always loved Reagan, and now I love him even more. I laughed, cried, and was sharing quotes with friends.
• 
  Chuck

  Wonderful collection of the notes that Dutch would keep covering great quotes, jokes, observations and thoughts of his own and others.
  
  
• 
  Ben Martin

  This was a really quick and enjoyable read. Reagan was not only a very philosophical man, but he has a great sense of humor. I found the range of topics in his notes to be really interesting. Getting an insight into some of his personal notes made it easy to see why he was such an effective speaker. This book is just another reminder that we could use another Reagan.
• 
  Tom

  A good collection of thoughts that Reagan had accumulated over his life. (A gift from my daughter – what is it about my kids that give such great gift ideas?). Reagan collected short statements / quotations throughout his life. This is a collection of those notes that was recently found.
  
  There are a couple of problems with the book. One is that the editor included a short descriptive list of the people who were the source of the statements. But the list is incomplete! Why have a list that is incomplete? Abraham Lincoln is in the list, but not Abba Elan (the former wasn’t necessary and lacking the later is deleting the ones that are valuable. While poor appendix does not degrade from the collection of notes, it fails to add the value it could have added.
  
  The notes were organized and categorized by the editor – not by Reagan. This might help, but if there was some significance to the original order, it was lost to he readers (but presumably still extant at the Library).
  
  Overall, I enjoyed the book. It is not one to sit and read I a day (but that works also) but one to pick up from time to time.
  
• 
  Hiknbean

  Highlights and Points to Ponder about "The Notes:"
  This was a good little book filled with quotes Ronald Reagan collected on 4x6 cards. A couple boxes of these notes were found at the Reagan Library. Some are on display at his Presidential Library. Most were hand written a well. Neat collection. Here are a couple of my favorites:
  -Thomas Jefferson said: "I place the economy among the first and most important virtues and public debt as the greatest of the dangers to be feared."
  -Winston Churchill: "The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings while the inherent virtue of Socialist is the equal sharing of miseries."
  -Wilfred A Peterson: "Happiness doesn't come from doing what we like to do but from liking what we have to do."
  -"Anyone who thinks he is going to be happy and prosperous by letting government take car of him should take a good look at the American Indian."
  -"Prosperity is something created by businessmen for politicians to take credit for."
• 
  Stephen

  Through most of his public life, President Reagan had a secret collection of 4-by-6 note cards which contained his favorite aphorisms, jokes, asides, and timeless nuggets of political wisdom. It’s believed he started this collection while serving as a spokesman for General Electric from 1954 to 1962. Compelled to deliver hundreds of speeches a year, he began to collect these sentiments to sprinkle into his speeches.
  
  I saw this collection on display at the Reagan Library and became fascinated with its contents. Luckily, Harper Publishing took care to edit the collection and publish it in book form. The notes are divided into several sections based on theme, so it’s easy to jump in anywhere for a bit of wisdom or funny bon mot.
• 
  Tim Chavel

  Ronald Reagan is my favorite President. This book is a collection of President Reagan's collection of quotes that he kept to use in his speeches. There are many great quotes and vary greatly. He has quotes from over one twenty different people. I will leave you with two quotes:
  
  Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "The hero is no braver than an ordinary man - but he is brave five minutes longer.
  
  A Ronald Reagan joke:
  
  Cop: "Said to myself when you came around the corner 45 at least." Woman: "Oh this dress always makes me look 5 years older."
  
  If you like Ronald Reagan you will enjoy this book!
• 
  Jon Angell

  I started reading this in the fall or maybe after Christmas as much as a year and half to almost two years ago. I put it aside for a while... it's best read in short burst, but then I decided to power through and finish the last quarter of the book to make room in my pile of books being read and rotated through. In this books it list a lot of the references and jokes that he had compiled for his writings and for speeches... It was kind of neat to read through the notes and read notes that you could remember him telling in a speech, interview or other writing... I liked the book.... but unless you are into writing or just liked Ron Reagan the way I do, this book wouldn't be for everyone....
• 
  Maddie

  Whatever one's personal political convictions, there is no denying that Ronald Reagan possessed an incredible wit. In "The Notes," his charm, humor, honesty, and cleverness can be found written large in every thought. This collection makes for an enjoyable read and can be easily revisited in parts or as a whole. It is also a thoughtful tribute to Reagan's life and character, highlighting his wonderful capacity for finding truth and humor even in times of difficulty. Highly recommended.
• 
  Sandy

  A neat little peek into a collection of Ronald Reagan's notecards. The only reason I gave it 3 stars is because even though it was good, a lot of the quotes are from other people. I was hoping there would be more notes from Reagan, rather than quotes that he would jot down from other people..... Still a nice collection to get an idea of what Reagan's inspiration was. Also cool how it is seperated in different areas of topic. Notes on War, Notes on Religion, Humor, etc.
  
• 
  Jake Danishevsky

  Incredible book of letters, quotes, notes and insight into the mind of one of the most influential and one of the most amazing Presidents in our history. Great book to have. I just wanted to have this one, because is a treasure chest of ideas and tidbits from Ronald Reagan's personal collection. Something I like to reference from time to time or just open and read a few pages here and there. Highly recommend it.
• 
  John

  Delightful gem of a book. An insightful look into Reagan's thoughts and ideas and how he organized himself and his speeches. Even though he had speech writers, even they stated that Reagan often took out these 4x6 cards on which he had meticulously noted quotes, thoughts and witticisms, and replaced their statements with his own- and for the better. RFK is said to have stated in 1967 that Reagan was the most prepared and best debater he ever faced. This book will help you see why.
• 
  Cathie

  The "Great Communicator" kept a file, written in his own hand, of quotes,stories, jokes, etc. on many topics and from many diverse sources. He often had just the right illustration to make a point in a speech. It was engaging to read the quotes and then to consider why he found them fascinating enough to add to his collection.
• 
  Jim Lang

  I have always been fascinated with Ronald Reagan. He's one of our nation's most interesting presidents. This book gives us insight into his habits and beliefs through his habit of jotting down thoughts and quotations, many of which ended up in his speeches and public comments over the years. An interesting read about one of our most compelling leaders.