Historian Douglas Brinkley, the editor of both the abridged and unabridged editions, says the diaries “show Reagan much more engaged and hands-on than previously supposed.” In the unabridged version, Brinkley says, Reagan also offers his unvarnished look at people ranging from Pope John Paul to Mother Teresa to Mikhail Gorbachev.

Reagan “thought [Prime Minister Ariel] Sharon of Israel was a thug. He didn’t like him, which surprises a lot of people. He was terrified to meet Mother Teresa, and really had a special relationship with the Pope,” Brinkley says.