Praise for December 1941: 31 Days that Changed America and Saved the World by Craig Shirley
"This book sounds fascinating to me. I am big history buff and I certainly will pick this one up."—Dennis Miller
"Offers a rare opportunity to relive that incredible month in a time-travel sort of way, rather than read about it in the hindsight of history. It is a time capsule of the period, and is so compelling it is a hard book to set aside."—Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star
"A timely piece of history."—Washingtonian
"Enthralling account of the early weeks of World War II on the home front."—Fred Barnes, Weekly Standard
"Craig Shirley's December 1941 is flat-out terrific–intelligent, hugely descriptive, extensively researched...and passionate in a way so few histories allow themselves to be anymore."—Steve Donoghue, Open Letters Monthly
"I love historical non-fiction. I read it everywhere, in bathroom, wherever I am. But typically it's written from sort of a distant perspective. You went through newspapers and magazines, and all the accounts of time. It gives an immediacy that I think it's difficult to find in these types of things."—Jon Stewart, The Daily Show
"I'm confident it'll be a bestseller."—Don Imus
"It is terrific . . . tremendous report on that decisive month which changed America and the world."—Newt Gingrich "Worth buying. . . really, really cool."—MSNBC
"Excellent book!"—Jon Meacham, former editor of Newsweek and a Pulitzer Prize winning bestselling author
"Terrific piece of work!"—Andrea Mitchell, MSNBC
"Masterful new book . . . Shirley not only transports us back to that tumultuous time, but reminds this generation that denial about an enemy's intentions can have grave consequences."—Cal Thomas, author of A Watchman in the Night
"Fascinating book."—FOXNews
"Folks, if you want a good read this Christmas season check it out."—Steve Doocy, FOXNews
"Successful attempt to capture the sights and sounds of that long-ago era . . . in impressive detail . . . tells us about the attitudes, cultural mores and prejudices of an America on the eve of entry into the second great war."—Human Events
"Shirley's day-by-day account manages to shed new light on a critical period in our history."—Military.com
"Fascinating way to experience the look and the feel, the reactions and the emotion, the strategy, and the painful surprises of those 31 days."—National Review
"Powerful, thickly researched new book."—Reason.com
"The book also reveals . . . blockbuster historical moment[s]. Shirley. . . takes a new tack in his book about Pearl Harbor. Instead of just writing how it all went down, his book attempts to give readers a feel for how the country felt 70 years ago. He accomplishes that by providing anecdotal information from nearly 2,000 newspapers and magazines."—US News & World Report
"Craig Shirley, known for creating a you-are-there atmosphere in his earlier books about Ronald Reagan's 1976 and 1980 presidential campaigns, has done it again. This account shows us what is possible when the nation is aroused."—Washington Times
Praise for April 1945: The Hinge of History by Craig Shirley
“April 1945 was a turning point in history. Nobody tells the real story and drama of that time better than Craig Shirley.”—Christopher Ruddy, CEO of NEWSMAX MEDIA INC.
“This newest book by Craig Shirley propels him into the first rank of American historians. In April 1945 Shirley tells well a story that has never been told before, and he does so with the same verve, energy, and detail as he did with his books on Ronald Reagan, his biography of me, and his book on Mary Ball Washington. April 1945, his companion book to his bestseller December 1941, is a must-read.”—Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the House of Representatives and bestselling author
Praise for Reagan's Revolution: The Untold Story of the Campaign That Started It All by Craig Shirley
"All in all, Shirley's work has much to commend it. His book should be read by anyone interested in Reagan, the rise of conservatism in the Republican Party, or American politics in the mid-1970's."—Andrew E. Busch, Claremont Review of Books
"Craig Shirley's account will be an indispensible resource for anybody who wants to understand just how Mr. Reagan lost and why his defeat set the stage for victory four years later, upending history's supposed dialectic."—The Wall Street Journal
"He tells the story of a losing campaign that may have saved the country, and he does it well."—Robert D. Novak
"...a vividly written tale of this largely forgotten campaign."—The Washington Post
"Reagan's Revolution captures the drama and emotion of a political battle of historic proportions."—The Washington Times
"One of the season's most exciting political books..."—Michael Potemra, The National Review
"Shirley's treatise on the catalysts that forged Reagan is must reading not only for the legions of Reaganites, but for anyone who wants a close look at a great man who seized the day."—NEWSMAX
"Fortunately, this missing piece in the Reagan mosaic has been put in place by Craig Shirley in his new book, Reagan's Revolution: The Story of the Campaign That Started It All."—Human Events
"The meticulously researched volume has been hailed by critics for in-depth analysis and as a missing piece among presidential histories."—Chris Gregor, Triangle
Praise for Citizen Newt: The Making of a Reagan Conservative by Craig Shirley
"Craig is a genuine historian. I have great admiration for the work he's done on Reagan. Prior to Craig, I never thought about finding somebody [to write the biography]. He could do the job."—Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich
"At a time when our history books and biographies are being revised at warp speed by practitioners of identity politics and a generation of academics fearful of being accused of being politically incorrect and losing their jobs, Craig Shirley stands out as an honest and highly talented biographer who is also a man of conviction... In this deeply researched biography, written in strong clear prose with wit and understanding,while never glossing over missteps and mistakes, Craig Shirley has given us that honest accounting."—John R. Coyne Jr., former White House speechwriter, author of Strictly Right: William F. Buckley Jr. and The American Conservative Movement
"Reading this book, people will feel deja vu. Americans should yearn for the return of Newt Gingrich, because he was someone who got things done and found solutions,someone who put America first."—Elise Cooper, American Thinker
"Those who wish to understand the development of the conservative movement since 1980, and who wish to learn conservative politics from one of its most accomplished thinkers and astute practitioners should buy Citizen Newt and study it, as it will undoubtedly become viewed as not just a compelling political biography, but one of the foundational texts of modern conservative political organization."—Richard Viguerie, Chairman of ConservativeHQ.com
Praise for Mary Ball Washington: The Untold Story of George Washington's Mother by Craig Shirley
“The gifted historian Craig Shirley has written a surprising and important account of an essential figure long shrouded in the mists of time and legend: Mary Ball Washington, the woman who gave us the Father of our country.”—Jon Meacham, Pulitzer Prize winner and #1 New York Times bestselling author of Destiny and Power, American Lion, and Thomas Jefferson
“George Washington: gentleman farmer, revered military general, first American president, Father of our country . . . and son with mother issues? Craig Shirley brings to life America’s first First Family in vivid detail, in this dazzling biography of George’s colorful—and often difficult—mother. This riveting page-turner puts you at the center of one of the greatest Colonial family dramas—and you will see Washington and the forces that made him in a whole new light.”—Monica Crowley, New York Times bestselling author and columnist for The Washington Times
“To read this magnificent biography of America’s First Mother is to understand the founding of our great nation from a fresh vantage point. Craig Shirley is at once a first-rate historian and a spellbinding writer. Mary Ball Washington is a major contribution to Colonial and early republic scholarship. Highly recommended!”—Douglas Brinkley, Katherine Tsanoff Brown Chair in Humanities and professor of history at Rice University, and CNN’s Presidential Historian
“Craig Shirley brings the same appetite for fresh facts and original insights he applied to Ronald Reagan and Franklin Roosevelt to Mary Ball Washington, the mother—and prime shaper—of George Washington.”—Michael Barone, resident fellow at the American Enterprise Institute
“Craig Shirley has delivered a long-overdue, captivating book about the exceptional mother of the Father of our country.”—Gay Hart Gaines, former Regent of the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association
“Written with verve, fairness and sympathetic imagination…it fills a long-standing void in our understanding of how George Washington evolved from an ambitious, largely self-educated young provincial who had trouble controlling his temper, into an inspiring, stoically self-disciplined leader of men.”—Washington Times
"The life of Mary Ball Washington is relatively unknown...[Shirley] does a masterly job of sorting through these contradictions, using a rich array of primary sources to tell Mary's story."—Library Journal
Praise for Reagan Rising: The Decisive Years, 1976-1980 by Craig Shirley
“Craig Shirley continues his own monumental project of chronicling what shall most likely come to be known as the Age of Reagan. In accounts of the 1976 and 1980 campaigns, as well as the former president’s long good-bye in the twilight of Alzheimer’s. Shirley, a historian and practitioner of politics, brings a deep love of detail and a romantic’s passion for narrative tot the task of capturing the how and why of Reagan… The virtue of Shirley’s Reagan Rising lies in the author’s insistence that the populare version of, well, Reagan’s rise is incomplete without an understanding of the hero’s four years in California between the 1976 and 1980 campaigns. Here is a portrait of an America that was in many ways suffering a kid of neverouse breakdown—high inflation, punishing interest rates, fear of Soviet advances, and the debilitating Iranian hostage crisis. Here, too, is a portrait of a man biding his time, learning, watching, and preparing for his moment—a moment, that truth be told, not many people thought in real time would ultimately come… We now know what kind of world President Reagan left us. Craig Shirley’s fine book tells us much about the moment that summoned him to greatness, and the man who answered the call. It’s a story we all need to know.”—Jon Meacham, Pulitzer Prize winner and #1 New York Times bestselling author of Destiny and Power, American Lion, and Thomas Jefferson
“Chronicles the Republicans’ emergence from the wilderness . . . [The author] is a sure-footed and entertaining observer of the hurly-burly of national politics.”—The New York Times
“Whoever seeks to know the heart of Ronald Reagan will find it in Reagan Rising, as Craig Shirley once again records our 40th President with extraordinary wamth, depth and perspective. A “must add” to any Reagan fan’s library.”—Ken Khachigian, Ronald Reagan's Senior Presidential Campaign Aide and Chief White House Speechwriter
“Craig Shirley’s newest book, Reagan Rising, reveals the real Reagan—the ideas that shaped the man and his presidency. With Trump in the White House, this is the most important book you must read.”—Chris Ruddy, CEO, Newsmax Media
“Craig Shirley has written a supremely important addition to the world of Reagan biographies, a field in which he is already a star scholar.”—Jeff Lord, Former Reagan White House Political Aide, CNN commentator, Columnist, The American Spectator
“I never read a Craig Shirley book about Reagan without learning something about my old boss, This is an insightful, thoughtful history that reminds us of the renewal that occurred the last time the Republican Party was near collapse. It is the story of the lifeguard Reagan rescuing a drowning party. If only...”—Landon Parvin, former White House speechwriter for Ronald Reagan
“Ronald Reagan defined a political party for a generation. He defined an ideology, shaped in his view of what true liberty, individualism, and American conservatism really meant. Craig Shirley’s Reagan Rising is the go-to book on how this came to be.”—The Honorable Georgette Mosbacher, Commissioner of the United States Advisory Committee on Public Diplomacy, US State Department
“This book is serious history that reads like a page-turner novel. Craig Shirley’s prose, while carefully annotated, is as compelling as fireside stories told by an eye witness. The details and insights in this book provide must-know context for American politics past, present and in the future.”—Mari Maseng Will, former Reagan White House speechwriter.
“…an engrossing, richly detailed saga filled with political figures obscure and familiar. Both political junkies and general readers should appreciate this account of the triumph of a conservative icon.”—Booklist
Praise for THE GREATEST SPEECHES OF PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP, Edited by Craig Shirley
"A new book is out by highly respected Presidential Historian Craig Shirley. Interestingly, it is called, “The Greatest Speeches of Donald J. Trump.” Thank you Craig, I hear you got it right!!!"—President Donald J. Trump
"Looking forward to this book on President Trump's Greatest Speeches—with the foreword written by my friend (Craig Shirley)."—Former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich
Praise for Rendezvous with Destiny: Ronald Reagan and the Campaign That Changed America by Craig Shirley
“Shirley puts to rest one of the great political mysteries: who stole Carter’s debate briefing books? . . . Shirley also reveals that the Kennedy family had a long memory on Election Day. . . . When it came time for the election, virtually all of them voted for Ronald Reagan.”―NEWSMAX
“An unbelievable book . . . I was part of the Reagan Revolution and I didn’t know 80 percent of this stuff! . . . It’s worth reading, and reading right now.”―Mark Levin, radio host, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“Anyone who would understand the Reagan victory of 1980 and the movement that eliminated the Soviet Union and revitalized America must read―indeed must study―Craig Shirley’s brilliant, comprehensive work.”― Newt Gingrich
“This exhilarating history . . . arrives, serendipitously, at a moment when conservatives are much in need of an inspiriting examination of their finest hour.”―George F. Will, from the Foreword
“Shirley has done extensive interviewing and research for Rendezvous with Destiny, and it’s a terrific read―for political junkies of all ideological stripes.”―Michael Barone, Washington Examiner
“Prodigiously researched and well noted . . . Engaging and revealing . . . When future historians re-examine the 1980 campaign, one of their first stops is likely to be Rendezvous with Destiny.”―Lou Cannon, Daily Caller
“What a hell of a good book!”―Larry Kudlow, CNBC
“We don’t have to get very far in Craig Shirley’s new book about Reagan to know that, yes, there is still a lot we didn’t know about Reagan and how he came to the White House. . . . A fascinating book!”―Bob Schieffer, CBS
“Well-written, filled with information, and a pleasure to read.”―Doug Bandow
“Best. Reagan. Book. Evah!”―Robert Stacy McCain
“Rendezvous with Destiny offers a series of important practical lessons on how to run a presidential campaign, including coherent ideology and strategic nimbleness when circumstances change. Whether the reader is a Reagan fan or not, that takeaway alone makes Craig Shirley’s book a top political read.”―David Mark, Politico
“Enthralling . . . This book is full of true words, deep insights, long memories, and occluded details. . . . Shirley summons [the 1980 campaign] back to throbbing, vivid and immediate life.”―David Frum
“Has a you-are-there quality. [Shirley’s] intention is to provide the reader with a definitive history of the 1980 campaign, and he succeeds. . . . A trove of colorful, dramatic tales. . . . Shirley gives us a lively ride on the electoral roller coaster.”―Weekly Standard
“Offers more than a few pointers on what conservatives and Republicans should do in the future. And on top of that, it’s an illuminating look back at the watershed 1980 election.”―FOXNews.com
“A first-rate work of insider history. His book reads like Bob Woodward at his very best. . . . Shirley has accomplished a great feat of scholarship and research, and it could not have come at a better time . . . A monumental accomplishment.”―National Review
“Shirley has proven himself a master of presidential campaign histories―a true heir to Theodore White. . . . An exhaustive study that . . . will not anytime soon―if ever―be surpassed.”―American Spectator
“A superb insider’s account . . . Full of anecdotes that have never been published before.”―Houston Chronicle
“Conservatives will love this book, and political junkies of all stripes will find it fascinating. Readers looking for high drama will eagerly absorb its more than 600 pages. . . . It is the behind-the-scenes drama that lends real suspense to the narrative.”―Washington Times
“A scandal that once looked like it could take down a president, but soon fizzled for lack of hard evidence, gets a closer look in a new book, Rendezvous with Destiny. . . . Shirley’s new book sheds new light on the scandal. . . . The web of evidence Shirley weaves all leads to one man.”―MSNBC.com
“A much broader look at the campaign that elected Reagan . . . Shirley has gathered a wealth of evidence.”―Politico
“Provides the first inside look at the historic 1980 election . . . Shirley shows how close Reagan’s campaign came to collapsing in the Republican primaries—and how the candidate turned things around.”―National Review Online
“The genius of Shirley’s work is to take stories we already know about, and fill in the details that take you, the reader, right into the room with the principals.”―CQ Politics
“Wonderfully researched and a treasure trove of information . . . It is incredibly moving too. . . . There are numerous new books about Ronald Reagan, and while many don't offer a lot of new information, this one does.”―Acton Institute
“As conservatives continue to try to reinvent themselves in the image of RR, it is helpful to have at our disposal this meticulously researched tome detailing how ‘The Great Communicator’ overcame the Republican establishment to oust an incumbent president――and ultimately, to change the world.”―Politics Daily
“A compellingly written, thoroughly documented treatise that is essential reading for anybody who seeks to understand what happened and why on Reagan’s third try for the White House.”―Washington Examiner
“A new book by Craig Shirley tells the exhilarating story of how Reagan triumphed and made us believe it was morning in America again.”―Eagle Forum
“The book covers every aspect of the 1980 campaign: from Reagan’s comeback after losing the Iowa caucuses to the behind-the-scenes staff battles and the mystery of who stole President Jimmy Carter’s debate briefing books.”―The Hill
“Well-researched and well-written, and it gives insight into Reagan’s journey to the Oval Office.”―Roll Call
“Masterful . . . Shirley’s books will be the definitive works on both Reagan elections.”―Human Events
Praise for Last Act: The Final Years and Emerging Legacy of Ronald Reagan by Craig Shirley
"In this affectionate and often moving book, Craig Shirley has given us a remarkable account of Ronald Reagan's 'long goodbye,' chronicling the final years of an American original who bent history in the service of freedom. This is an invaluable book about an invaluable man."—Jon Meacham, Pulitzer Prize winning bestselling author
"Ronald Reagan may have had a Last Act in this life, but his principles are timeless. Craig Shirley reveals new information about Reagan's last days on earth in a deeply moving book that will bring tears to your eyes, strengthen your political resolve and inspire you to build on his legacy."—Cal Thomas, syndicated columnist
"As we consider the next Reagan, here is the last Reagan, whose legacy must serve as a roadmap for the next American comeback."—Monica Crowley, Ph.D., Fox News political and foreign affairs analyst & Washington Times editor and columnist
"Craig Shirley is a walking encyclopedia on all things Ronald Reagan. His latest, Last Act, delves into Reagan's post-presidential life with verve and insight, breaking plenty of new ground. The story of Reagan's battling the curse of Alzheimer's disease is utterly riveting. Highly recommended!"—Doug Brinkley, editor of The Reagan Diaries
"With this book, Craig Shirley cements his place as the premier Reagan biographer. As revealing as his earlier volumes on Reagan were, this one is especially fascinating, chock full of new revelations and captivating observations about the former president's twilight years."—Dr. Larry J. Sabato, founder and director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia; author of The Kennedy Half Century
"Craig Shirley's Last Act is a worthy successor to his earlier, fine accounts of Ronald Reagan's life and times. The book offers striking insights into Reagan the man—and also into America the country he so loved."—William Kristol, editor, Weekly Standard
"Through never-before revealed interviews and expert analysis, Last Act by Craig Shirley pulls back the curtain on the life, last days, and legacy of Ronald Reagan—an exceptional president who believed in American exceptionalism above all else. Important. Essential. Bravo."—Jane Hampton Cook, author of American Phoenix
"In the past, Craig Shirley meticulously documented Reagan's pre-presidential years; now, he meticulously documents Reagan's post-presidential years. His enlightening concept is punctuated by his usual exhaustive research and diligence in interviewing so many of the people who knew Ronald Reagan. And beyond the research is simply a touching story of a great man's final days. Last Act is a look at Ronald Reagan that is well worth your time."—Dr. Paul Kengor, professor of political science at Grove City College
"Ronald Reagan's story is so rich and resonant―so profoundly American―that it can only be told, in its full range and complexity, by a biographer of extraordinary dedication to subject and craft. LBJ had Robert Caro; and Ronald Reagan has Craig Shirley. In Last Act, Shirley brings us the final years of a twentieth-century icon, issuing a challenge not just to other Reagan biographers but to the discipline of biography itself."—James Rosen, Fox News Chief Washington Correspondent and author of The Cheney Tapes
"Stunning insights into the enduring legacy of our last anti-Establishment president. Kudos to Craig Shirley for this great book!"—Laura Ingraham, Lifezette
"Craig Shirley skillfully weaves in key events from the President's life and their indelible impact on people and history. He masterfully captures each moment and event. The truly wonderful and enduring contribution of Last Act is its message of hope and optimism."—Ben Elliott, Director of White House Speechwriting, 1983-1986
"Like its subject, the book is a class act. Shirley is especially good in his clear writing style and no-nonsense storytelling. There are thousands of anecdotes and scores of witticisms."—The American Conservative
"It's that sunset journey of Ronald Reagan that Mr. Shirley, author of two well-received books on Ronald Reagan, traces in clean and forceful prose..."—Washington Times
"No historian has done a better job of chronicling Ronald Reagan's rise to power than Craig Shirley. However, Shirley's latest book is the first book to focus on Reagan's post-presidential life and demonstrates that his importance extended far beyond the eight years he held America's highest elective office."—Breitbart
"Craig Shirley's Last Act is the quintessential guide for remembering President Reagan as we should, with respect to the facts and honor to the service of one of America's greatest political leaders... Last Act gives us the Reagan model for measuring a president's place in history."—Townhall
"Craig Shirley's masterful storytelling and attention to detail immediately bring the reader to the Gipper's bedside at Rancho del Cielo. The reader is lulled into a sense of actually being among the Reagans... Shirley carefully straddles the grey area between storyteller, biographer and historian to produce a volume that chronicles the legacy, the legend and the man himself."—Conservative Review
"The long time Reagan biographer has written a superb book that tells of the last days of the president millions of Americans had come to love and admire... The story Shirley unfolds...is detailed, colorful, and summons the emotions. For the Reagan fans out there, Last Act is a must―and a much needed reminder that yes, once upon a time America had a president who really did 'make America great again.'"—American Spectator
"Shirley makes meticulous notation of the duty-driven world upon the death of Ronald Reagan, yet all the information is not overwhelming. You listen, tear up a little, remembering Reagan, and then you look at the world now and, using his optimism, believe we can again experience the unparalleled strength of conviction that turned our upside-down world, right side up."—Conservative Review
"Shirley presents a narrative about Reagan's heart-breaking descent into Alzheimer's disease and the national mourning that took place after his death. Shirley is the Sherlock Holmes of Reagan historians. His research is exhaustive and he delivers great nuggets."—L. Brent Bozell III
"Craig Shirley's new book on Ronald Reagan, Last Act, chronicles the arc of the rise of Ronald Reagan's post-White House legacy and how public opinion has come to place him among America's best Presidents. All of these Craig Shirley treats in panoramic colors, but it is Shirley's study of the details of the funeral and the care lavished upon the week-long remembrance by Reagan's former staff that adds much to the book... If you want to understand Reagan's legacy and why and how it has grown since his passing, and how the drama of his funeral help frame that legacy, I urge you to read this book."—ConservativeHQ
"Premier Reagan historian Craig Shirley...uses the formerly unexamined post-presidential years of Reagan, and especially the national outpouring of grief and respect in the week between his death and funeral, as a window into what made the man and his presidency special."—Quin Hillyer
