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Decision Points is the extraordinary memoir of America's 43rd president. Shattering the conventions of political autobiography, George W. Bush offers a strikingly candid journey through the defining decisions of his life.
Born into a political dynasty, Jenna and Barbara Bush grew up in the public eye. As small children, they watched their grandfather become president; just 12 years later they stood by their father's side when he took the same oath. They spent their college years being trailed by the Secret Service and chased by the paparazzi, with every teenage mistake making national headlines. But the tabloids didn't tell the whole story of these two young women forging their own identities under extraordinary circumstances.
In this balanced, illuminating audiobook, Updegrove tells the story of the Bushes' relationship from the birth of George W. through their postpresidential years and Jeb Bush's failed candidacy. Drawing on exclusive access and interviews with both presidents and the key people in their lives, Updegrove reveals the Bushes' views on the current state of the nation and the GOP and how the party they both led and helped build is undergoing a radical transformation.
In this brave, beautiful, and deeply personal memoir, Laura Bush, one of our most beloved and private first ladies, tells her own extraordinary story. She writes openly about the White House during wartime, the withering and relentless media spotlight, and the transformation of her role as she began to understand the power of the first lady.
A native of Birmingham, Alabama who overcame the racism of the Civil Rights era to become a brilliant academic and expert on foreign affairs, Rice distinguished herself as an advisor to George W. Bush during the 2000 presidential campaign. Once Bush was elected, she served as his chief adviser on national-security issues – a job whose duties included harmonizing the relationship between the Secretaries of State and Defense.
Ronald Reagan is an American success story. From modest beginnings in a small midwestern town to a distinguished career in films and television, he lived the American dream; as governor of California and as the centurys most popular president, he embodied and revitalized the American spirit.
Decision Points is the extraordinary memoir of America's 43rd president. Shattering the conventions of political autobiography, George W. Bush offers a strikingly candid journey through the defining decisions of his life.
Born into a political dynasty, Jenna and Barbara Bush grew up in the public eye. As small children, they watched their grandfather become president; just 12 years later they stood by their father's side when he took the same oath. They spent their college years being trailed by the Secret Service and chased by the paparazzi, with every teenage mistake making national headlines. But the tabloids didn't tell the whole story of these two young women forging their own identities under extraordinary circumstances.
In this balanced, illuminating audiobook, Updegrove tells the story of the Bushes' relationship from the birth of George W. through their postpresidential years and Jeb Bush's failed candidacy. Drawing on exclusive access and interviews with both presidents and the key people in their lives, Updegrove reveals the Bushes' views on the current state of the nation and the GOP and how the party they both led and helped build is undergoing a radical transformation.
In this brave, beautiful, and deeply personal memoir, Laura Bush, one of our most beloved and private first ladies, tells her own extraordinary story. She writes openly about the White House during wartime, the withering and relentless media spotlight, and the transformation of her role as she began to understand the power of the first lady.
A native of Birmingham, Alabama who overcame the racism of the Civil Rights era to become a brilliant academic and expert on foreign affairs, Rice distinguished herself as an advisor to George W. Bush during the 2000 presidential campaign. Once Bush was elected, she served as his chief adviser on national-security issues – a job whose duties included harmonizing the relationship between the Secretaries of State and Defense.
Ronald Reagan is an American success story. From modest beginnings in a small midwestern town to a distinguished career in films and television, he lived the American dream; as governor of California and as the centurys most popular president, he embodied and revitalized the American spirit.
President Bill Clinton's My Life is the strikingly candid portrait of a global leader who decided early in life to devote his intellectual and political gifts, and his extraordinary capacity for hard work, to serving the public. It is the fullest, most concretely detailed, most nuanced account of a presidency ever written, and a testament to the positive impact on America and on the world of his work and his ideals.
Here is an intimate and revealing look at one of America's most private public figures. Although former president George Bush has been reticent in public, he has openly shared his private thoughts in correspondence throughout his life. This collection of letters, diary entries, and memos, along with Bush's commentary, provides an insightful portrayal of the forty-first president of the United States.
In her memoir, Mrs. Bush for the first time gives listeners a very private look at a life lived in the public eye for more than 25 years. She begins with a compelling portrait of her early years, including: growing up in Rye, New York, and meeting George Bush; life as a young bride and mother, moving far away from home to West Texas; and the almost unbearable pain of losing a child.
Based on rigorous research, hours of private interviews, and extraordinary access to Bush's diaries and to his family, Destiny and Power paints a vivid and affecting portrait of the distinctive American life of a man from the Greatest Generation: his childhood in Connecticut, his heroic service in World War II, his entry into the Texas oil business, and his storied rise in politics from congressman to UN ambassador to head of the CIA to 41st president of the United States.
Secret Service agent Clint Hill brings history intimately and vividly to life as he reflects on his 17 years protecting the most powerful office in the nation. Hill walked alongside Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard M. Nixon, and Gerald R. Ford, seeing them through a long, tumultuous era - the Cold War; the Cuban Missile Crisis; the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Robert F. Kennedy; the Vietnam War; Watergate; and the resignations of Spiro Agnew and Richard M. Nixon.
In his unmistakable voice and with an insider's eye on history, former Vice President Dick Cheney tells the story of his life and the nearly four decades he has spent at the center of American politics and power. In My Time is truly the last word about an incredible political era, by a man who lived it and helped define it - with courage and without compromise.
In November 2014, 13 members of the Biden family gathered on Nantucket for Thanksgiving, a tradition they had been celebrating for the past 40 years; it was the one constant in what had become a hectic, scrutinized, and overscheduled life. The Thanksgiving holiday was a much-needed respite, a time to connect, a time to reflect on what the year had brought, and what the future might hold. But this year felt different from all those that had come before.
President Bill Clinton's My Life is the strikingly candid portrait of a global leader who decided early in life to devote his intellectual and political gifts, and his extraordinary capacity for hard work, to serving the public. It shows us the progress of a remarkable American who, through his own enormous energies and efforts, made the unlikely journey from Hope, Arkansas, to the White House - a journey fueled by an impassioned interest in the political process that manifested itself at every stage of his life.
Not since Abigail Adams has one woman been both the wife and mother to a president. Barbara Bush's prominent place in American history is matched by her extraordinary popularity: Republicans and Democrats alike appreciate her wit, her compassion, and her devotion to her family. Dignified, loyal, and unpretentious, Barbara Bush defied skeptics to become one of the most admired First Ladies in history; she remains a beloved public figure today.
What do Dick Cheney and Rahm Emanuel have in common? Aside from polarizing personalities, both served as chief of staff to the president of the United States - as did Donald Rumsfeld, Leon Panetta, and a relative handful of others. The chiefs of staff, often referred to as "the gatekeepers", wield tremendous power in Washington and beyond; they decide who is allowed to see the president, negotiate with Congress to push POTUS' agenda, and - most crucially - enjoy unparalleled access to the leader of the free world.
MercyMe's crossover hit, "I Can Only Imagine", has touched millions of people around the world. But few know about the pain, redemption, and healing that inspired it. Now Bart Millard, award-winning recording artist and lead singer of MercyMe, shares how his dad's transformation from abusive father to man of God sparked a divine moment in music history. Go behind the scenes of Bart's life - and the movie based on it - to discover how God repaired a broken family, prepared Bart for ministry through music, and wrote the words on his heart that would change his life forever.
From the former secretary of defense, a strikingly candid, vivid account of serving Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. When Robert M. Gates received a call from the White House, he thought he'd long left Washington politics behind: After working for six presidents in both the CIA and the National Security Council, he was happily serving as president of Texas A&M University. But when he was asked to help a nation mired in two wars and to aid the troops doing the fighting, he answered what he felt was the call of duty.
George W. Bush, the 43rd president of the United States, has authored a personal biography of his father, George H. W. Bush, the 41st president. Forty-three men have served as president of the United States. Countless books have been written about them. But never before has a president told the story of his father, another president, through his own eyes and in his own words. A unique and intimate biography, the book covers the entire scope of the elder President Bush’s life and career, including his service in the Pacific during World War II, his pioneering work in the Texas oil business, and his political rise as a Congressman, U.S. Representative to China and the United Nations, CIA Director, Vice President, and President. The book shines new light on both the accomplished statesman and the warm, decent man known best by his family. In addition, George W. Bush discusses his father’s influence on him throughout his own life, from his childhood in West Texas to his early campaign trips with his father, and from his decision to go into politics to his own two-term Presidency.
If you could sum up 41 in three words, what would they be?
Integrity, Leadership, Family
What other book might you compare 41 to and why?
Don't know
Which scene was your favorite?
Not a favorite scene - but an eye opener. It is amazing to discover that the Clintons are actually very good friends with the Bush Family. They don't tear each other apart. They work with each other. Wish we all did the same.
Any additional comments?
Heartwarming. The reader will appreciate the love that was put into writing this book. It is full of respect, admiration, and stories that will make you smile. The book's value is increased due to it's characters still being alive and so much part of us. History in the making, but also History that's unique in its father/son relationship.Worth a credit.
8 of 8 people found this review helpful
If you could sum up 41 in three words, what would they be?
Man who lived the True American dream
What was one of the most memorable moments of 41?
Through everything the Bush family has accomplished, they have always remembered the importance of family.
Any additional comments?
Overall a great movie depicting the love a man has for his father. One of the best books I have ever read.
12 of 14 people found this review helpful
Very well done. I learned much more than I knew previously about father and son and also about other characters on the world stage, including Bill Clinton.
It was particularly enjoyable to listen to George Bush talk about his dad. It seemed much more powerful than it would have been simply to read it.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
If you could sum up 41 in three words, what would they be?
Moving, Inspiring, captivating
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
There were points of tears, during the description of the loss of George H.W. Bush's daughter, Robin. Very emotional.
Any additional comments?
Easy to listen to, great to hear President George W. Bush narrate it. Gave me a lot more insight into G.H.W. Bush and a better respect for him as a husband, father, businessman and public servant. Enjoyed it immensely.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Would you listen to 41 again? Why?
Yes I would listen to it again, because George W.'s reading is so incredibly honest, sincere, and full of love and respect as he talks about his father.
What other book might you compare 41 to and why?
I cannot compare this book as I cannot recall ever reading another like it.
What about George W. Bush’s performance did you like?
See my answer under the first question.
If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?
War hero. Business man. 41st President of the U.S.. A story told by one who knows him best as... father.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
George W. Bush writes what he calls a “love story” about his father. The book is folksy and a fun read. The book is obviously not unbiased but the author tried to paint a true picture of his father and family from his own viewpoint. George W. discusses his father’s influence on him throughout his own life.
George W writes of his father’s early success. He writes his father gave him “unconditional love.” He discusses his father’s well-known generosity, his talent for friendship and his willingness to take risks. The most interesting parts of the book deals with the personal side of the George H. W. Bush. The author discusses his father’s service in the Pacific during WWII, his pioneering work in the Texas oil business and his political rise as a Congressman. He reviews his work as U.S. Representative to China and the United Nations, CIA director, Vice President and President.
This is the only presidential biography of a father written by his son who was also a president. It is also the closest thing to an autobiography of Bush 41, since he has never written a memoir. George W. Bush narrated his own book. I fully enjoyed learning about the personal side of 41.
9 of 11 people found this review helpful
The Bush v. Clinton election in '92 is the first one I remember. I believe I was in 2nd grade and we followed it in school. I remember feeling sad for Bush when he lost. I'm now 32 years old and I realized I didn't really KNOW George H W Bush, even though I attended his school at Texas A&M and met him twice while there. So I picked up this book. I couldn't stop. I feel as if I now know him. And also, that I respect, admire and even love him. What an amazing man of character and principal. One whom it would be an honor and benefit to strive to emulate.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
What did you love best about 41?
I learned a lot about both George H W Bush and George W Bush. I've been alive for both presidents but I did not realize what all went on during the first Bush's presidency. I was a young child then and it was interesting to take a closer look at the politics involved.
What was one of the most memorable moments of 41?
He talked about how "Grandpappy" prepared for his presidential debate by leading a search for his granddaughter's lost stuffed animal.
What does George W. Bush bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
I love that George W. Bush read the book because he brought a warmth and sincerity to the reading. You can tell by his voice that he meant what he wrote.
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
I laughed in some parts. I don't think I cried at all. The book kept my attention though as he brings in as many stories as he could.
Any additional comments?
I loved the book so much that I bought a copy for my mother's birthday and she is looking forward to reading it. I don't read a lot of nonfiction but I enjoyed this book.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
The best president written by second best president. What a family. There will never be another like him, that's for sure.
4 of 5 people found this review helpful
What a great story about a great American. I was proud to serve under George H. W. Bush 41. The story was made even better being narrated by his loving son George W. Bush 43. Highly recommended!
1 of 1 people found this review helpful