Known and Unknown

A Memoir

By: Donald Rumsfeld

Narrated by: Donald Rumsfeld

Length: 30 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's summary

A powerful memoir from the late former US Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.

With the same directness that defined his career in public service, Rumsfeld's memoir is filled with previously undisclosed details and insights about the Bush administration, 9/11, and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. It also features Rumsfeld's unique and often surprising observations on eight decades of history.

Rumsfeld addresses the challenges and controversies of his illustrious career, from the unseating of the entrenched House Republican leader in 1965, to helping the Ford administration steer the country away from Watergate and Vietnam, to the war in Iraq, to confronting abuse at Abu Ghraib. Along the way, he offers his plainspoken, first-hand views, and often humorous and surprising anecdotes about some of the world's best-known figures, ranging from Elvis Presley to George W. Bush.

Both a fascinating narrative and an unprecedented glimpse into history, Known and Unknown captures the legacy of one of the most influential men in public service.

©2011 Donald Rumsfeld (P)2011 Penguin Audio

Best book ever!

Would you listen to Known and Unknown again? Why?

I have listened to this book over and over. So interesting.

Any additional comments?

It is full of information never disclosed before. I am a political junkie and could not put it down.

Inside view of five decades in politics

Rumsfeld is such a polarizing figure in American politics, that I know it will be tempting for some to rate this book on whether they agree or disagree with his views. Set that aside. Whether one agrees or disagrees, it's simply a riveting look at the world of politics from an insider's point of view. Rumsfeld does a great job of reading his own material, so much so that it really feels more like listening to a storyteller in the old fashioned sense. Enjoyed it tremendously.

Reality

He is self critical and even kind to some who probably don’t deserve it. I thank him for his service and wish we still had the ability to raise our children to be as driven as Secretary Rumsfeld is. I applaud him in his service to all Americans and citizens of the world!!

Rummy makes a great narrator

Any additional comments?

I truly loved it. Rummy sets the record straight from his often maligned perspective. I might not agree entirely, but now I certainly see much more clearly into this time and history than before. A better narrator could not be found, he knocked it out of the ballpark.

It's hard to beat learning history from the first person narrative. Well done, Rummy!

Wonderful insight inside America

This is a fantastic book for anyone seeking to gain insight on domestic and foreign policy over the past 40 years!

I couldn't put it down. The author has the perfect voice and it was refreshing to hear it once more and as he tells us his story!

Awesome book

Would you listen to Known and Unknown again? Why?

Yes, it was great getting to get a behind the scenes glimpse of some of America's history.

What does Donald Rumsfeld bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Like hearing his own words, read by him.

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

I did, but required that I spread it out over a week of driving to and from work.

Really nice book...

What did you love best about Known and Unknown?

I love books that are read by their authors, but Don is so dry, he could have upped the energy level a bit.

Any additional comments?

This book really brings out many of the points that the media seemed to skip over during the War on Terror and the events leading up to it.

The only thing that turned me off from this book, is I get the feeling that Don is trying to prove to us that he was smarter than everyone else.

He constantly brings up memo's or other events that are amazingly coherent and timely, just prior to big events.

If all this book is total fact, than he is some kind of seer into the future, I think its a bit skewed trying to go back and write a book on the past, when you know how all the events played out.

Anyway, a really great listen, I was strangely addicted.

A Long Slog, but Highly Informative

This is an excellent, thoughtful and insightful account for anyone with an interest in how the US government works at the highest levels. Don Rumsfeld???s government service in influential positions began during the Presidency of Lyndon Johnson and continued through his service as Defense Secretary to George W. Bush. What emerges is a picture of high-level policymaking based on incomplete information, evolving facts, good-faith differences among Cabinet officials, and subject to pressures from damaging news leaks, often-inaccurate news reports and partisan opponents, as well as the changing mood of public opinion. Throughout his account Mr. Rumsfeld offers his personal critiques of colleagues he differed with on particular issues and of policy choices that were made. He does not exclude himself from such criticism. However, the book never descends into personal attacks or attempts to ???trash??? his former colleagues. Rather, the critiques appear more in the nature of explaining why he felt things could have been done better or why a colleague???s statements or actions were ???unhelpful,??? as he often liked to say.

There are opinions he shares in this account with which many will disagree. His defense of the decision to go to war against Iraq is one such example. He points out, however, that the critics of the war have to answer whether we would be better off with the alternative: a Saddam Hussein regime still in power and having reactivated its WMD programs in clear defiance of UN resolutions. I personally was not persuaded by his criticism of Jerry Bremer???s early decision when on the ground as the Coalition administrator in Iraq to slow down the pace of the handover of government to the Iraqis.
I think Bremer may well have been right to be concerned that handing over power too early to an Iraqi group not equipped to govern might have resulted in something like the ???Weimar Republic??? that led to disaster for Germany in the 1930's

Fascinating, arrogant, educational!

If you could sum up Known and Unknown in three words, what would they be?

This is how big decisions are made.

What other book might you compare Known and Unknown to and why?

Decision Points by George Bush.

Which scene was your favorite?

I loved Rumsfeld's description of his time as the Chief of staff in the White House. This is an unobserved position by the public, but it is the most important position in the US Government.

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

Not possible.

Any additional comments?

Listen to the book and understand our decisions to go to war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Understand how government actually works. Listen to this book and Cheney's and you will have a clear understanding of the bureaucratic decision making process in the White House.

Wonderful book from an incredible American

Simply wonderful book from a pivotal person in America's and the world's modern history. An honest and fascinating recount of a patriot's stellar life.