In My Time

A Personal and Political Memoir

By: Dick Cheney, Liz Cheney

Narrated by: Edward Herrmann, Dick Cheney

Length: 20 hrs

Publisher's summary

In this eagerly anticipated memoir, former Vice President Dick Cheney delivers an unyielding portrait of American politics over nearly 40 years and shares personal reflections on his role as one of the most steadfast and influential statesmen in the history of our country.

The public perception of Dick Cheney has long been something of a contradiction. He has been viewed as one of the most powerful vice presidents: secretive, even mysterious, and at the same time opinionated and unflinchingly outspoken. He has been both praised and attacked by his peers, the press, and the public. Through it all, courting only the ideals that define him, he has remained true to himself, his principles, his family, and his country. Now, in an enlightening and provocative memoir with flashes of surprising humor and remarkable candor, Dick Cheney takes listeners through his experiences as family man, policymaker, businessman, and politician during years that shaped our collective history.

Born into a family of New Deal Democrats in Lincoln, Nebraska, Cheney was the son of a father at war and a high-spirited and resilient mother. He came of age in Casper, Wyoming, playing baseball and football and, as senior-class president, courting homecoming queen Lynne Vincent, whom he later married. This all-American story took an abrupt turn when he flunked out of Yale University, signed on to build power lines in the West, and started living as hard as he worked. Cheney tells the story of how he got himself back on track and began an extraordinary ascent to the heights of American public life, where he would remain for nearly four decades:

• He was the youngest White House Chief of Staff, working for President Gerald Ford - the first of four chief executives he would come to know well.
• He became Congressman from Wyoming and was soon a member of the congressional leadership, working closely with President Ronald Reagan.
• He became Secretary of Defense in the George H. W. Bush administration, overseeing America's military during Operation Desert Storm and in the historic transition at the end of the Cold War.
• He was CEO of Halliburton, a Fortune 500 company with projects and personnel around the globe.
• He became the first vice president of the United States to serve out his term of office in the twenty-first century. Working with George W. Bush from the beginning of the global war on terror, he was - and remains - an outspoken defender of taking every step necessary to defend the nation.

Eyewitness to history at the highest levels, Cheney brings to life scenes from the past and present. He describes driving through the White House gates on August 9, 1974, just hours after Richard Nixon resigned, to begin work on the Ford transition; and he portrays a time of national crisis a quarter century later when, on September 11, 2001, he was in the White House bunker and conveyed orders to shoot down a hijacked airliner if it would not divert.

With its unique perspective on a remarkable span of American history, In My Time will enlighten. As an intimate and personal chronicle, it will surprise, move, and inspire. Dick Cheney's is an enduring political vision to be reckoned with and admired for its honesty, its wisdom, and its resonance. 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.

©2011 Richard B. Cheney (P)2011 Simon & Schuster Audio

Patriots of Every Stripe

It's a good thing we can embrace patriots of every stripe in this country. Mr. Cheney story reveals a man of considerable talent and long service to his country. That he is sure he is a patriot I have no doubt. But he is a patriot of a stripe I am sure we need fewer of not more.

HIs story, a rebuttal to the critics

I listened to this book because at the end of the 2nd term of Bush/Cheney administration, I became disenchanted as to how they seemed to fall apart (yes, I voted for them). However, I always feel it's best to make sure you hear all sides of the story. I thought then, and still do, that Cheney took some heat from the liberal media for which he could not directly respond due to his being in office.

I'm still not sure I agree with all his diplomatic views, but I appreciated listening to his views and his openness and frankness with his interactions with Rice, Powell, and Bush.

If you truly dislike someone for their views, you should at least hear them out. For those on the fence with how they feel about Cheney, you need to listen to this book. He gives also gives some good background on Nixon, Ford, Reagan, Clinton, and their staff. HIs review of history (i.e., Vietnam war) outlines how this affected the decision making process for the interventions in Kuwait, Afghanistan, and Iraq.

It's a good think that Edward Herrmann narrated this book. The epilogue and prologue are spoken by Cheney but you can tell his speech is labored, perhaps from his health. I think Herrmann could narrate instructions on how to fill out tax forms and still make it sound interesting.

Person in charge

This is a book about a person that was and is in charge of his progress through the life. Absolutely loved it

Very interesting and engrossing

Could not stop listening. Very interesting and refreshing to hear decades of history and "behind the scenes" happenings written and narrated by D. Cheney. Can only recommend the book.

How government works.

An excellent incite into how government works. One day you are a hero, the next day you are the devil.

Very well done

I know many might not like him. However I am the type of person that is at least willing to listen to someone to see their point of view.
The book does a very good job of telling his life story and his experiences in the political arena.

How did we get HERE?

In My Time is an interesting, detailed, expansive look at the life and political career of one of America's most controversial figures. The book is well written, the narration is easy to listen to and I recommend it regardless of your like/dislike of Mr. Cheney. However, after reading his story it still remains a mystery to me how a young (Volkswagon driving) Dick Cheney, raised by new deal democrats, employed as union labor, and the beneficiary of many assistance programs begun in the new deal and furthered by the great society, goes to Washington to work in the moderate Republican administrations of Nixon and Ford and ends up as the most radical, partisan politician of our time. In telling his story Mr. Cheney takes time to tell us about the nuisance of W.I.N. (whip inflation now), Abscam, the election campaigns of Ford, Reagan, Bush Sr., Bush Jr. (no Dole) and of course endless details of war, intelligence, his love and fascination with all things military, 9-11, and his denial of torture. I found it amazing the he wrote not a single word regarding the Project For A new American Century (the bible for the NeoCons), nothing on the rise of right wing think tanks (Cato, Heritage, American Free Enterprise, Club for Growth) and their influence on the Republican Party, and mum on the rise of the evangelical right and the ever increasing pandering by Republicans to that religious right. His silence on the inaction of the Reagan administration and congress during the hiv/aids crisis, I expected that, it probably didn't even register on his radar of important events. It's not your father's Republican party anymore and Dick Cheney didn't become Gerald Ford even though he professes to have held him in highest regard.

Only Head Exploding is Mine

Good grief - Does Mr. Cheney need money so bad that he has to republish his first book? I am plodding through the first of the three downloads and so far it is all a rehash of his recent book.... feeling a bit ripped off. Hope it will get better ---soon!

Absolutely fascinating

Whether you like Dick Cheney or not, you have got to like this book. This is historical perspective at its purist. I'm not saying that Cheney's interpretation of every event in this book is right. Time and history will determine all of that. However, those who study history realize that contemporaries are often long dead before the final stories can be told. This is as close to the historical events as we are going to get. Cheney was involved in so many positions of responsibility that his stories and candor about those events are worth getting this book. Edward Hermann does a great job of reading. Download the book and listen to it as if you are listening to any person tell his or her life's story -- and you will love it.

Fascinating & Insightful

Where does In My Time rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

It's in the top 15.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Obvious.

What about Edward Herrmann and Dick Cheney ’s performance did you like?

Read well. Herrmann gave good voice to the book and hearing Cheney's voice wrap things up was excellent.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I really wanted to take breaks and process what I was hearing.

Any additional comments?

No.