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 Candid and Timely View of Our Government

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Absolutely yes. It explains how our government works in a way I have not found elsewhere. It elucidates the interaction of Congress, the Administration and Foreign Governments, especially on military issues. That the book is written now, as opposed to 5 years from now, greatly enhances its value to the public.

What did you like best about this story?

The candid narrative from a person who was Secretary of Defense for two administrations Republican and Democratic. I believe Secretary Gates does his best to provide a true representation of the events described in the book. On several occasions he includes issues where he admits that he was wrong.

What does George Newbern and Robert M. Gates bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

A sense of the emotional context.

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

Yes

Any additional comments?

I was very surprised by the high level of influence that foreign governments have on military decisions made by our government.

Gates is Candid, Thoughtful

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

Whether you are interested in recent history, war policy, personal memoirs, or exemplary accounts of leadership, Duty fits the bill. It sets the record about some of the toughest policy decisions made in recent history, while telling the personal story of a man who reluctantly took up the call to aid his country in its time of need. His insight into the Bush and Obama administrations inner workings reveals the core decisions of our nation's defense, warts and all.

What other book might you compare Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War to and why?

Any book by Karl Marlantes. Both authors have a simple, honest and reluctant approach to the necessity of war.

Any additional comments?

What stands out most is Gates humility and lack of political motives through his time in office. Not particularly wanting the position and responsibility of Secretary of Defense, its clear that his motives were noble--in contrast with some of the politicking that occurs around him throughout his story. Gates was brutally and refreshingly honest, but always respectful of both administrations he worked with (Obama and Bush).

He is almost over the top with how much he expresses his love and concern for soldiers, but his feelings were deep and honest. I have seen him speak and was very impressed at the time, and can tell you that he isn't putting on a show when he talks about his care for soldiers, tears welling up in his eyes.

My respect and admiration for this man have only grown by reading his account.

Great insights

Worth the read
Reader was excellent
Gates was unique and his memoirs are very insightful into both the Bush and Obama White Houses

The Real U.S. Government Unveiled

Would you listen to Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War again? Why?

No, because I already listened to it twice. Excellent book and packed with so much I wanted to read it again to pick up what I missed the first time around.

Any additional comments?

Don't miss this book if you have ever desired an insider's candid view of how big decisions in our government are really made. Gates is a man of honor, respectful while being candid. If all of our Civil Servants had his devotion, a greater nation we would be. You will come away from this book realizing what you probably already guessed. . ."news" stories know very little about what is really happening, not because of incompetence, but because most of the realities are not revealed to them, and VERY often for good reason.

Honest, forthright, a little self-congratulatory

Is there anything you would change about this book?

I would not wish to second guess someone else's memoir. He wrote what he remembered and how he felt about his service. He was at times a bit self-congratulatory, but also good at self-effacement.

Would you be willing to try another book from Robert M. Gates? Why or why not?

I doubt I'd read another book by him, but I'm intrigued by a man who could so effectively serve two administrations from different parties during a very tense and dysfunctional time in U. S. government.

Did Duty: Memoirs of a Secretary at War inspire you to do anything?

I think Secretary Gates's memoir is a helpful read for anyone who wants to see how a statesman looks in action. Citizens of all perspectives could gain some perspective from listening to this book.

Any additional comments?

While I disagree with a number of key policy perspectives and the role of the military in a Democratic Republic, I admire Secretary Gates and the work he did as Secretary of Defense.

Great book, well written, and enlightening

True American hero and servant. I wish all citizens who served would do so with such honor, compassion, non-partisanship, and selflessness.

EXPERIENCE,INTUITION,& RATIONALITY

Robert Gates’ intuition and experience in the George W. Bush’ and Barrack Obama’ administrations is explained in his book, "Duty". Gates is a consummate government administrator.

Rationality in management of large organizations is a myth. Decision-making in large organization is too complex for executives to grasp. Human inability to grasp all the facts inevitably leads to unintended consequence. The boon and bane of all executives who make decisions for others is information overload. (In the future, information overload may be mitigated by artificial intelligence but risk taking humans will have to be prepared to temper intuitive decision-making based on superior analytic capability offered by A.I.)

"Duty" is a paean to the importance of intuition based on experience when managing large organizations that are responsible for actions that affect many people. Rational decision-making is limited by the nature of human beings. Only intuition remains and that remainder, though flawed, serves humanity best when it is tempered by real-life experience.

Gates shows himself to be the right person in the right place when the intuitive mistakes of Iraq and Afghanistan are made. American governments (not to mention corporations) need more managers like Gates to make big organization’ decisions that limit negative unintended consequences.

Duty - Unique Prespective

This is interesting look at the foreign policy of two US administrations from the inside. In particular, the author focuses on his time as SECDEF and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Mr. Gates had a large part of the DIME effort or the whole of government approach for those policy areas. He provides the background and mindset for the decisions of each administration. He highlights the successes and the mistakes.

Personally, I felt the book was well-balanced in its criticism and praise. This is a good approach, obviously, to provide a perspective of why some decisions were made and provides legitimacy to what he telling us. Most national leaders are not idiots, not totally motivated by politics or opinion polls, and most have the same goals of peace and prosperity. We just disagree on their assumptions and methods.

I'm speechless.

What an incredible book about an amazing individual. Fantastic performance as well. Highly recommend to anyone interested in having an insiders perspective on international politics, security, and defense.

Retired Military

I'm a retired army NCO. I love the fact that Robert Gates showed us how much he loves service members and their families. In the US Army we treat our soldiers like family. We take care of them like family. this book brought me many tears and smiles. I was also nice to see the inner workings of the government and the bureaucracy that a service members don't get to see or hear about.