Family of Secrets

The Bush Dynasty, the Powerful Forces That Put It in the White House, and What Their Influence Means for America

By: Russ Baker

Narrated by: Oliver Wyman

Length: 24 hrs and 6 mins

Publisher's summary

French philosopher Jean Paul Sartre said that "words are loaded pistols". In the hands of Russ Baker, they are hydrogen bombs. Throughout Family of Secrets, he explodes the myths and lies that powerful forces have perpetrated on the American consciousness. He digs beneath the surface in a form of journalistic archeology to reveal the hidden history of one of America's most powerful families, leaving no stone unturned. Moreover, he names all of his sources and documents the materials he relies on to unmask the hypocrisy behind the myth.

From Prescott Bush's ties to Nazi Germany to Poppy Bush's secret role in the Watergate scandal that ousted Richard Nixon, which was, in fact, a "silent coup", to George W. Bush's deceit in launching the war in Iraq, Russ Baker unmasks the truth with a relentless brilliance unmatched by his peers. His publisher, Bloomsbury, is to be congratulated for its confidence in Russ Baker at a time when most publishers are hedging their bets and looking over their shoulders in acts of self-censorship.

Baker's revelations about George W. Bush's private life is worth the price of the audiobook alone. Here is Bush, forcing himself on a Danish beauty, stripping to the nude, while getting another girlfriend he knocks up an abortion, and then later, as president, opposing abortion and cutting funding for organizations that provide information about birth control. How he managed to get the Danish beauty to go on record, as he does with other key players in Watergate and the Kennedy assassination, is nothing short of astonishing.

He traces the true history of Poppy Bush's career, from his early ties to the CIA he pretended never existed, while declaring himself "out of the loop", to his strange phone call from Dallas to the FBI on the day of Kennedy's assassination, pointing a finger at a suspect who was in fact totally innocent, to his manipulation of Watergate to get rid of Nixon. It's a secret story forced out of the shadows by the powerful documentation of Baker in this tour de force, which will keep you listening in astonishment.

What he discloses is America's War of the Roses, as powerful families fight to the death for ultimate power. The history of Lee Harvey Osward in the world of wealth, power, and intelligence that was Dallas at the time is amazing. The anodyne courses in political science and history at American colleges and universities need very much to inject Family of Secrets into the curriculum so young Americans can be more able to understand what America is truly about. It puts the dots together in a way that makes any further naivety among Americans impossible. What he tells us simply cannot be ignored.

Family of Secrets takes to what Cyril Connolly so aptly described as the "blood crossroads of literature and politics". After Family of Secrets, neither will ever be the same.

©2009 Russ Baker (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

"A tour de force... Family of Secrets has made me rethink even those events I witnessed with my own eyes.” (Dan Rather)

“One of the most important books of the past ten years.” (Gore Vidal)

“Shocking in its disclosures, elegantly crafted, and faultlessly measured in its judgments, Family of Secrets is nothing less than a first historic portrait in full of the Bush dynasty and the era it shaped. From revelation to revelation, insight to insight—from the Kennedy assassination to Watergate to the oil and financial intrigues that lie behind today's headlines—this is a sweeping drama of money and power, unseen forces, and the emblematic triumph of a lineage that sowed national tragedy. Russ Baker’s Family of Secrets is sure to take its place as one of the most startling and influential works of American history and journalism.” (Roger Morris, former senior staff member, National Security Council, and author of Richard Milhous Nixon: The Rise of an American Politician and Partners in Power: The Clintons and Their America)

Don't know why I'm shocked

Any additional comments?

Read/listen too it and make up your own mind.

I think this book exposes a couple of inconvenient truths about democracy and power:
- democracy needs powerful backers, not only populous but financial wise too
- democracy might not be as democratic as we would like to believe it to be
- why should the American rise to fame and superpower saga be anything different from the rise of any other "empire" in earlier history?

It is a tough world out there, but we the people must put our faith in our institutuions, political systems and the rule of law. The sad fact seems to be that we cannot expect the people at the helm of these institutions to be so, and the media which is subject to the same rules of economy and short sighted quarterly earnings doesn't seem to be helping much.

I felt shocked, but upon reflection, that was probably because in everyday life you don't like to reflect on the reality of the game.

so eye opening

let me start off by saying I'm the last one to give validity to conspiracy theories... but that is Not what this book is. Read this book if you want to know how our government really operates and how the game is really played.

Every American needs to read this!

Learn the history the powers do not want you to know! This expertly researched text will take you yet another step down the rabbit hole.

Excellent reporting; strong work

This book is highly recommended. It not only covers three generations of the Bush family, but it too helps us understand what is happening in our country today with our leadership.

The nefarious deeds of Prescott, George H.W., & George W. are self-explanatory when you listen to the facts. What the facts mean to you and me are far more disturbing.

This book is well-written and executed and should be read or listen to what anyone who cares about our country's future, and of course our past.

A book I'll probably listen to again

Where does Family of Secrets rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I'm easily bored by books in this general genre (politics, even though the topic interests me), but this one kept me interested throughout.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

The JFK assassination part is obviously pretty compelling stuff. I also liked how the author documented small episodes (e.g. Ulmer/Zeppo, GHWB and his flying episodes) into his narrative. Helps tell the audible story. I'm about 2/3 of the way through.

What about Oliver Wyman’s performance did you like?

Performer was OK, no issues one way or the other.

Any additional comments?

The author deserves kudos, for the exhaustive research it probably took to write this book. I was just thinking about it while listening. Lots of cross-checking, planning, interviewing, etc. Great job.

I'm beyond Angry

We don't live in a democracy, we live in a feudal kingdom- must fight back

What an eye opener !

I never liked George Bush but after reading this I am appalled at the devastation this one family had on this country and how they got away with it - unreal everyone should read this book mind you the system is so rigged it would help nothing but it sure explains many many things . I am glad I bought this book and may listen again as there is so much to absorb .

Very Informative

Any additional comments?

Very informative and interesting history about the Bush family and their secrets, for me this was one of those books that was hard to put down I had to find projects to do so I could put the headphones on and listen

great book

the only thing I would say is that it's so long. but it's interesting throughout and the narrator was great. so I guess it's a plus

everything you know is wrong

A deep dive Into American politics you thought you knew. our leaders are criminals beholden to global oligarchs and this book provides the reciepts.