Angels Don't Die: My Father's Gift of Faith

by Patti Davis

Book Overview

In a moving tribute to her father, former president Ronald Reagan, Patti Davis writes lyrically of the lessons she has learned while watching her father's very different way of coping with crises, whether it's handling the death of a beloved pet or facing the inevitability of one's own mortality.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060173246
• ISBN13: 9780060173241
• Release Date: June 1995
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Length: 122 Pages
• Weight: 0.52 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 4.7" x 7.6"

Customer Reviews

Find the book and you'll really enjoy it!

This book is about the personal faith of Ronald Reagan, written by his daughter, author Patti Davis. I first became acquainted with Patti when I read her book, "The Long Goodbye", detailing the emotional process of saying goodbye during the 9 years that her father suffered from Alzheimer's. She is an excellent writer and has a gift of digging deep into a subject, looking for nuances that would otherwise be overlooked. Outstanding read!

Superb Memoir

What a beautiful memoir for a daughter to write about her father. Patti Davis, as we all know, was at one stage the anti-Reagan of the Reagan family (hence her dumping of her father's surname.) For whatever reasons, she was at war with herself and consequently, she blamed her parents. Patti has since found peace within herself, and re-discovered her great love for her parents and indeed their great love (and patience) towards her. She also writes in an exquisite manner. The title for this work comes from a question that the young Patti asked her father, namely, whether it was true that when you saw a falling star, it meant that an angel had just died. Ronald Reagan replied comfortingly, "Angels don't die" and this explanation was just one of many that he gave to his daughter's questions about life and death, and in doing so he imparted to his daughter the greatest gift anyone can give: the gift of faith. Ronald Reagan, Patti explains, lived what appeared to be a `charmed life' and I find her explanation of this to be fascinating. To live a charmed life you have to be able to stand back from your life with its various problems in order to gain some perspective. The space between yourself and the situation you find yourself in is then filled with prayer. God takes away your fears, and gives you insights and answers in your heart. Ronald Reagan lived his entire life with this ability to stand back and offer everything up to God. That's how he managed to take on the responsibilities of president with such ease and remain himself. He always treated people equally, be it a King or a doorman. Though it didn't set out to do so, what I think this book leaves the reader with is the truth that in the end its not what level of success you might achieve in life financially or politically, what's ultimately important is character. And, Ronald Reagan's character was one of the most evolved that a person can attain. I recommend this book for the above reasons; it's also good in that it details some of the supernatural occurrences surrounding Reagan (including angelic visitations) and helps readers in their own appreciation and understanding of their relationship with their parents.

Wonderful

I really enjoyed reading this book. It tells of how much faith Reagan had and also how he gave her the greatest gift ever...faith. Wonderful, touching quick read.

This Patti Davis Book received NO press hype, yet it is a be

There is a bitterness toward Ronald Reagan that does not subside. As the man was laid to rest on June 11, 2004 - there were two Tribune Columnists in South Florida that blamed President for AIDS epidemic caused by budget deficits. According to these elitist critics, Reagan created class warfare. Yet as we have witnessed from the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts, The Gipper's mourners came from all walks of life. When Patti Davis wrote scandalous books about her family, it was front page news. I found "Angels Don't Die" on the bargain rack of a bookstore chain shortly after publication. Like Ruben "Hurricaine" Carter's out-of-print book "The 15th Round," sometimes you do not find a book, sometimes the book finds you.Patti wrote a book in which she reconciles with her father. "Angels Don't Die - My father's gift of Faith" is a spirtual book of common sense philosophy and conviction. Patti comes to grips with her father's emotional distance. Despite his showmanship and gregarious nature, Patti learns that her Daddy was really a very shy man. This is a great book for people with older parents, especialy as a coping tool for Baby Boomers andGeneration X reconciling with the World War II Generation.

books

I have read several of her books. She's a good writer. I admire her nonconformity/questioning/candor/spirit/honesty/empathy/intuitionand altruistic love for her family. There were troubles in their family. There are troubles in every family or so I've heard. There was justifiable questioning and normal rebellion. What family hasn't experienced this? She helped to eliminate the mystic of famous people being perfect for me. The books she writes are not just about her family, but they do encompass the members as a portrayal of idealogical norms at the time, some of which she did not agree with .She was/is very vocal/honest. I believe that she writes from her heart and the book, for her, was cathartic. She tried to deduce, through her writing, what the problem was and how to fix it. She wanted to help her family, while, at the same time show their true nature. I want to extend, as always, my highest regards and heartfelt condolences during their time of grief.