- Paperback: 512 pages
- Publisher: Broadway; Reprint edition (October 18, 2011)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0307590631
- ISBN-13: 978-0307590633
- Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.2 x 1.3 inches
Summary:
In this candid and gripping account, President George W. Bush describes the critical decisions that shaped his presidency and personal life.
George W. Bush served as president of the United States during eight of the most consequential years in American history. The decisions that reached his desk impacted people around the world and defined the times in which we live.
Decision Points brings readers inside the Texas governor’s mansion on the night of the 2000 election, aboard Air Force One during the harrowing hours after the attacks of September 11, 2001, into the Situation Room moments before the start of the war in Iraq, and behind the scenes at the White House for many other historic presidential decisions.
For the first time, we learn President Bush’s perspective and insights on:
His decision to quit drinking and the journey that led him to his Christian faith
The selection of the vice president, secretary of defense, secretary of state, Supreme Court justices, and other key officials
His relationships with his wife, daughters, and parents, including heartfelt letters between the president and his father on the eve of the Iraq War
His administration’s counterterrorism programs, including the CIA’s enhanced interrogations and the Terrorist Surveillance Program
Why the worst moment of the presidency was hearing accusations that race played a role in the federal government’s response to Hurricane Katrina, and a critical assessment of what he would have done differently during the crisis
His deep concern that Iraq could turn into a defeat costlier than Vietnam, and how he decided to defy public opinion by ordering the troop surge
His legislative achievements, including tax cuts and reforming education and Medicare, as well as his setbacks, including Social Security and immigration reform
The relationships he forged with other world leaders, including an honest assessment of those he did and didn’t trust
Why the failure to bring Osama bin Laden to justice ranks as his biggest disappointment and why his success in denying the terrorists their fondest wish—attacking America again—is among his proudest achievements
A groundbreaking new brand of presidential memoir, Decision Points will captivate supporters, surprise critics, and change perspectives on eight remarkable years in American history—and on the man at the center of events.
George W. Bush served as president of the United States during eight of the most consequential years in American history. The decisions that reached his desk impacted people around the world and defined the times in which we live.
Decision Points brings readers inside the Texas governor’s mansion on the night of the 2000 election, aboard Air Force One during the harrowing hours after the attacks of September 11, 2001, into the Situation Room moments before the start of the war in Iraq, and behind the scenes at the White House for many other historic presidential decisions.
For the first time, we learn President Bush’s perspective and insights on:
His decision to quit drinking and the journey that led him to his Christian faith
The selection of the vice president, secretary of defense, secretary of state, Supreme Court justices, and other key officials
His relationships with his wife, daughters, and parents, including heartfelt letters between the president and his father on the eve of the Iraq War
His administration’s counterterrorism programs, including the CIA’s enhanced interrogations and the Terrorist Surveillance Program
Why the worst moment of the presidency was hearing accusations that race played a role in the federal government’s response to Hurricane Katrina, and a critical assessment of what he would have done differently during the crisis
His deep concern that Iraq could turn into a defeat costlier than Vietnam, and how he decided to defy public opinion by ordering the troop surge
His legislative achievements, including tax cuts and reforming education and Medicare, as well as his setbacks, including Social Security and immigration reform
The relationships he forged with other world leaders, including an honest assessment of those he did and didn’t trust
Why the failure to bring Osama bin Laden to justice ranks as his biggest disappointment and why his success in denying the terrorists their fondest wish—attacking America again—is among his proudest achievements
A groundbreaking new brand of presidential memoir, Decision Points will captivate supporters, surprise critics, and change perspectives on eight remarkable years in American history—and on the man at the center of events.
My Thoughts:
4 Stars out of 5
Whether you love him or not, during his presidency this book Decisions Points by George W. Bush is a memoir beautifully put together that describes the real man behind the President; a true leader of the modern world that had made tough decisions without compromising his core believes.
In the book, he walks you through his early years talking about family, his children and the man he looked up to, his dad George Bush Sr. In the second half of the book, he highlights the turning points he faced during his presidency: Katrina, going to war and 9-11. The chapter relating to 9-11 in particular was interesting as he paints a clear picture of what was going on from his perspective while the world was in shambles. The past experiences he gathered throughout his career didn't prepare him for this, but yet somehow, at the end of the day, he did the best he could with the tools he had at his disposal, to help the nation move forward.
President Bush, smartly dividing the book into themes rather than telling the story chronologically, offers readers a close and intimate look at his thought processes as he made huge decisions that will affect the nation and the world for decades.
Whether you agree with the decisions he made and the way he led the country, this book teaches us that there many aspects to be considered when making tough decisions. And, that sometimes you need to hold true to your beliefs regardless of criticism.
In the book, he walks you through his early years talking about family, his children and the man he looked up to, his dad George Bush Sr. In the second half of the book, he highlights the turning points he faced during his presidency: Katrina, going to war and 9-11. The chapter relating to 9-11 in particular was interesting as he paints a clear picture of what was going on from his perspective while the world was in shambles. The past experiences he gathered throughout his career didn't prepare him for this, but yet somehow, at the end of the day, he did the best he could with the tools he had at his disposal, to help the nation move forward.
President Bush, smartly dividing the book into themes rather than telling the story chronologically, offers readers a close and intimate look at his thought processes as he made huge decisions that will affect the nation and the world for decades.
Whether you agree with the decisions he made and the way he led the country, this book teaches us that there many aspects to be considered when making tough decisions. And, that sometimes you need to hold true to your beliefs regardless of criticism.
Disclosure: I was sent a copy of this book in order to write up an honest review. The views above are mine and mine alone.
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