ON THE BRINK: The Dramatic Behind the Scenes Saga of the Reagan Era and the Men and Women Who Won the Cold War

I forget how I bought this book, more likely my wife bought it, she is very good at knowing what I like, I read it some time ago. I never get into the nuts and bolts of a book, I leave that to others who do it so eloquently. I try to bring perspective on who would like the book. I am one that loves American history in general and books like this where the inner workings of government are so beautifully written about. It has been said, you can tell a persons character by the company they keep. In this case Regan sure knew how to pick his staff. Some one called Richard Perle the star of this book and I agree. I have read various books on the Regan administration and I always find it fascinating and "on the brink" is so well written it keeps you riveted where it is hard to put down, which makes it a very quick read indeed. I just started The Great Upheaval by the author and I am already hooked. No matter your political views, you would have to find this book interesting, buy it.

Fantastic book! It's a real pleasure to see some of the lower level staff/cabinet people given credit for an historic 8 years. Before I read this book, I had no idea who Richard Pearl was and now I understand why the Reagan Presidency was noted for it's "hawkish" pro-defense policies. The best history reading is one that reads like a novel while still able to get across all pertinate points and this book does so overwhelmingly. "On the Brink" doesn't necessarily cover in detail all the policies and activities of the Reagan administration (like Lebanon or Iran-Contra...read Lou Cannon's "Reagan" for this) but those it does cover, it does so in "delicious/readable" prose. Highly recommended!

This was a very good book. The pace and detail kept me glued. I was surprised, however, at how little Reagan is mentioned in the book, given the subtitle. One of the other customer reviewers had it wrong, it was not *one* man (Reagan) who ended the cold war. Rather it was a collection of men and women, and this book brings you their stories (with particular emphasis on Richard Perle).These were historic times, and while the biased official reviewer is correct in stating that few pages are given to the internal failings of the eastern bloc, to suggest that the hard-line stance of the Reagan administration wasn't the primary instrument of the Cold War victory is ludicrous. It was the Reagan administration after all who seized on the USSR's problems and pushed them over the brink.

"On the Brink" should be on display in the Smithsonian. This book is a National Treasure that will inform people for generations to come on how one man with inestimable integrity; conviction to principle; and unwavering backbone, changed the world and did the impossible: Toppled Communism in eight short years, and launched Freedom and Liberty on a virtueous crusade around the globe. It's all in "On the Brink". This book is a MUST. Winik's years of tireless research has rewarded us with a timeless gem that will go down as one of the best political books of all time. David Monks E-Mail: [email protected]