Lou Cannon

American journalist and author, longtime political reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle known for covering California politics and writing biographies of Ronald Reagan.

This list of books are ONLY the books that have been ranked on the lists that are aggregated on this site. This is not a comprehensive list of all books by this author.

  1. 1. President Reagan

    The Role of a Lifetime

    A concise political biography that traces the rise of a Hollywood actor to a transformative president, examining his governing philosophy, leadership style, and key policy battles—from tax cuts and deregulation to Cold War strategy and the Iran-Contra scandal—while assessing his strengths as a communicator and the mixed legacy of economic growth, larger deficits, and a reshaped conservative movement.

    The 17173rd Greatest Book of All Time
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  2. 2. Governor Reagan

    His Rise to Power

    A detailed political biography that chronicles his transformation from celebrity to pragmatic politician, focusing on his two terms as California governor: the campaigns that brought him to power, the governing style and alliances that defined his administration, and the policy choices and rhetorical skills that both reflected and helped shape the emerging conservative movement, ultimately positioning him for national leadership.

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