Duty

Memoirs of a Secretary at War

By: Robert M. Gates

Narrated by: George Newbern, Robert M. Gates

Length: 25 hrs and 38 mins

Publisher's summary

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.

©2014 Robert M. Gates (P)2014 Random House Audio

A Conservatives's Lens...

An interesting perspective & personal experience shared. Firm views. Passion driven. Yet it appeared unbiased.

Great Detail of Two Wars

Fascinating recollection of two wars by a Defense Secretary that served two Presidents - one Republican the other a Democrat. I remember the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were not able to handle the insurgencies in either country. Secretary Gates led the push to surge in both wars and each President supported him. The detail of people, places and events links together a history all Americans should know. We all need to heed his warning against going to war except as a last resort to defend vital American interests.

Iraq and Afghanistan veteran comments

As an Iraq and Afghanistan veteran. I was appreciative of this glimpse into the Secretary's perspective and work during his duty period for 2 Presidents. Enlightening and thought-provoking especially in current election campaign year.

Backstories Outstanding

Gates was candid to his mistakes and emotions throughout which I found refreshing. I found much of the budget wrangling detail to be difficult to get through, but that is probably because I did not really care about those fights. That said, it's clear that Gates's audience were the military, administration officials, politicos, and the troops.

I really enjoyed learning all about his perspective of Presidents Bush and Obama and all of his backstories that the normal American never sees or experiences.

Gates is a true patriot and one that all Americans should be most grateful for his tireless work.

The best part of this book for me were the many descriptions of first-hand encounters meeting combat troops and those in training.

More interesting than I expected.

This was a much better book than I expected. When I saw how long it was, I thought that it would be boring, but it wasn't. It tells a lot of behind the scene stories that you never hear about, and doesn't seem to hold back anything.

You will be impressed

Where does Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Near the top. The story and the performance were both very strong. I had no opinion of Robert M. Gates before I read this book. Now, I have an opinion and it is very positive.

What did you like best about this story?

At first, the inside story on the administrations of Bush and Obama but in the end his compassion for the soldiers; the men and women who gave all for this country.

Have you listened to any of George Newbern and Robert M. Gates ’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No other George Newbern performances and no other Robert M. Gates books.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

While I most looked forward to his comments about the two presidents he served, I was blown away by his temperate and even handed dealing of the two very different men.

Any additional comments?

During his tenure in office, there was much in the news about Robert Gates that I can recall; I did not pay much attention to him when he was in office. I am sorry now that I didn't. Having read Duty, I am very impressed by the man, his accomplishments, his heart, determination, his character and his poise.

I for one, hope that this great nation will always have people like Robert M. Gates to serve the people.

Great inside details

This was a very informative book and well worth the credit. The book provided a unique look at what goes on behind the scenes of a mega bureaucracy. The only negative I have is that I would have preferred the book to be read by Gates himself. The narrator did a good job but he miss pronounced some of the words and it would have had a greater impact coming from the man himself.

The inside view

Amazing book from a guy that was there for the last 40 years. A must listen to book. I have just completed my second time

stunning insight

loved Gate's viewpoints especially under two distinct Presidents. I most enjoyed hearing through his thought process on leadership decisions and how he handled the politics within the White House.

Clear and evenhanded

What made the experience of listening to Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War the most enjoyable?

Robert Gates served as Secretary of Defense under both the Bush and Obama White House administrations. Gates was the first Secretary of Defense to serve two administrations from different political parties. Gates was also former head of the CIA, President of Texas A&M, and one of the original members of the Iraq study group (2006). It is widely accepted that Gates is respected (and revered) by both Republicans and Democrats. He is not a polarizing political figure or a talking head espousing a political agenda. For these reasons, Duty has immediate credibility and should evoke reader interest.

Duty is not full of details that rehashes major historical/political events of the Obama and Bush administrations (Iraq war, Afghanistan war, bin Laden’s death, the Surge..). Instead, these situations are briefly summarized to allow Gates the opportunity to provide the reader his problem solving process when dealing with these events. Duty is ultimately about how to be an effective manager in the largest and most complex organization in the world. Gates reveals his approach to defining the problem, analyzing a problem, and developing a solution. The reader take away is Gates was an effective listener, implementer, and manager of complex personalities.

Much of the attention Duty has received from critics involves identifying the winners and losers of the Bush/Obama administrations. For example, Joe Biden takes a pretty bad beating in Duty that will adversely impact his chances of winning the Presidency in 2016. However, Gates is very complementary and critical of various generals, presidents, politicians, and White House staff, regardless of political affiliation. Also, critical comments about the decision-making skills of our leaders are rooted in observable facts. I never felt the criticism of any political leaders was the main emphasis or intent of the book. Gates also effectively communicates the sacrifice and dedication exhibited by the US soldiers.

Overall, I would recommend Duty to anyone who keeps current with the world news. At times the book is shocking (the militaries lack of preparation/planning for the Iraqi war) and revealing (the courageous decision-making skills exhibited by Barack Obama).