Sean Wilentz, who has among other things weighed in on the Bush presidency’s place in history, offers up a clear-headed historian’s assessment—or should I say reassessment—of Ronald Reagan’s place and influence. Along with Richard Reeves, Wilentz expands the universe of historiography that evaluates Reagan beyond the partisanship offered by ideologues. This book is as much about right-wing ascendancy as it is a report card on its most popular figure and, of course, a vital and lucid account of the political history of the last three decades.