Spoken from the Heart

By: Laura Bush

Narrated by: Laura Bush

Length: 9 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's summary

In this brave, beautiful, and deeply personal memoir, Laura Bush, one of our most beloved and private first ladies, tells her own extraordinary story.

Born in the boom-and-bust oil town of Midland, Texas, Laura Welch grew up as an only child. She vividly evokes Midland's brash, rugged culture, her close relationship with her father, and the bonds of early friendships that sustain her to this day. For the first time, she writes about the devastating high-school car accident that left her friend Mike Douglas dead and about her decades of unspoken grief.

When Laura Welch first left West Texas in 1964, she never imagined that her journey would lead her to the world stage and the White House. After graduating from Southern Methodist University in 1968, she became an elementary school teacher, working in inner-city schools, then trained to be a librarian. At age 30, she met George W. Bush, whom she had last passed in the hallway in seventh grade. Three months later, "the old maid of Midland married Midland's most eligible bachelor." With rare intimacy and candor, Laura Bush writes about her early married life as she was thrust into one of America's most prominent political families, as well as her deep longing for children and her husband's decision to give up drinking. By 1993, she found herself in the full glare of the political spotlight. But just as her husband won the Texas governorship, her father, Harold Welch, was dying in Midland.

In 2001, after one of the closest elections in American history, Laura Bush moved into the White House. Here she captures presidential life in the harrowing days and weeks after 9/11, when fighter-jet cover echoed through the walls and security scares sent the family to an underground shelter. 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.

©2010 Laura Bush (P)2010 Simon & Schuster

So happy with this

I've been wanting to read Laura Bush's autobiography since I read the novel, "American Wife," which was based quite a bit on Laura Bush's life. I wished I had downloaded this book a month earlier than when I did because my husband and I were on a road trip in West Texas. Ms. Bush has a wonderful way of writing and expressing the landscape and the realities of the land that she loves and that would have made our trip even better. Her love of West Texas comes out in her writing. That was my favorite part of the book--when she describes her home life, her upbringing, her family. When she gets into the political years it feels like it's a mix of detachment and wonderment (fascination of Who's Who as visitors arrive to the White House events), as she's thrust into a lifestyle that is so far removed with how she was raised and what is at the core of her, yet when she speaks passionately about the causes she championed, her writing picks up and you can tell it delights her. I imagine that when you have a life in the White House you do become a bit detached and there is not a lot to comment on--or that can be commented on without getting political, though I have to confess I rather enjoyed her voicing her frustration with some of the politics and those who you can tell she probably would never invite over for dinner. I was happy to finally get to the last chapters where she talked about post-White House life. Her syntax and beautiful descriptive writing returned back to what it was in the beginning and with that you can tell what really moves her--it's not what happened in the White House.

I too, didn't realize until much later in the book that this was abridged. OH NO! TOO BAD! I would have loved to have heard more. So, I bought the hard back for my mother for Mother's Day so I could page through and pick up parts I missed AND to see photos--I have to admit that's the part I wish Audible would do is provide a link to the photos that are in the book. That's my favorite part of biographies.

By the way, I totally recommend this book and have gushed about it to some of my friends.

Great Story

Laura Bush has a recognized voice and is an easy listen. It was terrific to know more about her family and life before becoming the wife of a US President. Loved her view point on politics and those around her during her husband’s two terms.

One of the BEST Books!

This is one of the best books I have ever listened to or read. It is a lesson in history over the 8 years of this presidency yet a personal look of Mrs Bush’s life from childhood through her adult years. It is written with a seamless transition from year to year as you relearn the events that shaped our nation to what it is today both foreign and domestically. I didn’t want this book to end!!!!

Laura Bush At Her Best!

This book was so informative and entertaining. Being read by Mrs. Bush really added to the experience. Full of insight into the first family and this incredible woman!

A lady first...

A fan of self-read memoir, I just couldn't resist this. This is the woman overshadowed and standing by the man who just may be the most divisive US President in history, held in contempt by international opinion... and what a class act she is. I thoroughly enjoyed this sincerely-read, well-crafted book. She is careful to stay away from controversy, but there is a fiery streak in there that comes through when she hits on topics that matter to her. You can tell. Surprisingly, a lot of Laura comes through what must have been a book heavily-reviewed by handlers, without coming off as tinned and overproduced. I would have chosen the unabridged version had one been available. There is a lot to this story that she isn't telling, but what she does say in her own words makes her a very likable First Lady indeed.

very personal and heartwarming

The fact that Ms. Bush reads this book makes it even better. I felt as if she was telling me her story. I laughed and cried.....I miss this gracious lady who represented our nation so well. Excellent!

So heartfelt and optimistic!

So many familiar events seen through the eyes of beautiful Laura Bush. I grew up in Dallas, taught school and love books. I could see so many of the events in my mind’s eye. This book was a pure delight. Thank you.

Splended Look From the First Lady

First off, this is a book not about Politics but about the viewpoint of a very smart and intelligent First Lady.

I expected more politics but was pleasantly surprised to get a full picture being painted of the life of Laura Bush.

I loved it!

Thanks Laura for revealing your life....especially those parts in which you differ from your husband's point of view. I normally like his perspective....but, yours is important too!

Great book!

Loved her descriptive writing and narration. Truly a brilliant woman. I am amazed at the enormity of her accomplishments as First Lady.