Book Review: A Pope and a President by Paul Kengor

“Ronald Reagan, from his governorship to his presidency, kept a sign on his desk that read, “There is no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn’t mind who gets the credit.”

Paul Kengor, A Pope and a President

Review:

As soon as I heard about this book I knew it was too intriguing a subject to let sit it on my TBR shelf for any length of time. I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect going into it as I’ve never given any thought to which U.S. presidents were in office while Pope John Paul II was in the Vatican. I ended up getting a lot more out of it than I could have anticipated. 

Though the book advertises the parallels between the lives of Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II, it’s also a thorough discussion regarding communism as well as the faith journeys of both men, one Protestant and the other Catholic. I’d say more of the religious focus is on Catholicism as many 20th Century saints and martyrs are discussed at considerable length. Politics both in the East and the West are also a central focus. 

While this is a general biography of both Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II, I would hesitate to categorize it predominantly under the biography genre as their life stories are more like footnotes in the greater scheme of things. The basis is more religion and politics. Going in, I assumed it would be purely a biography with discourse about the life parallels and their backgrounds. It wound up being a unique history of Poland and other communist regions and their freedom fighters. 

I found this book as a whole to be extremely educational on multiple fronts. There is a lot I didn’t know about Poland and its government, I didn’t know the stories of some of the saints and martyrs in the region, and I found there was a lot I didn’t know about Ronald Reagan, either. By the end, I was so mesmerized that I spent six hours straight finishing it. Already planning a reread! 

Likes & Dislikes:

What I liked:

• Well-researched.
• A fantastic look at Catholic figures of the 20th Century and the world around them.
• A fascinating look at parallels between Ronald Reagan and Pope John Paul II lives.
• Provides a unique look at Our Lady of Fatima and the impact of the prophecies.

What I didn’t like:

• It had a tendency to stray off-topic.

Afterthoughts:

It’s been a little while now since I’ve finished the book and I am still constantly thinking about it. I cannot say enough good things about it.

Where to buy the book: