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Product Description
Product Description
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.
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Most helpful customer reviews
9 of 10 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Intriguing Read,
By
This review is from: Decision Points (Hardcover)
I will be the first to admit that I am not a fan of George Bush. I disagreed with many of his decisions that he made as president. That being said, I picked up this book in hopes I would be able to understand him and the decisions he made while in office. I was pleasantly surprised at how well he explained the thought process behind each of his decisions, especially the war in Afghanistan and the extreme interrogation techniques that were used on suspected terrorists. I think we sometimes forget that presidents are still human and this book definately shows George Bush as exactly that. This book has definately given me a deeper understanding of what it means to be president and just how difficult it can be to make decisions that impact an entire country.
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars
More of a Historiography than a Memoir,
By Complex (Toronto, Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Decision Points (Hardcover)
Having read the book twice and reading the fellow reviewers inability to avoid a partisan or tempered response, I decided to provide a broader perspectiveOn the Amazon.com webpage of "Decision Points," George W Bush states that rather than provide an "exhaustive chronological account of my life and years in office," he wants to offer a memoir at a look back. Needless to say, he fails to do so, and gives a piece that resembles the latter. The book is written thematically, yet often offers a recap in chronological order, failing to provide an in-depth examination or an introspective outlook. The reader often does not know the motivation behind Mr. Bush's decisions, and are often left guessing whether its personal or political. "Decision Points" is carefully written, though often serves as a hind-sight justification for his decision-making rather than providing the utmost candor that one would expect (and as advertised). Mr. Bush does have a rather accessible and succinct style that you would expect of the straight-talkin' West Texan in international relations. Although it does not provide the most eloquent of proses, I particularly enjoy his style, yet hoped he would have provided more detail. Furthermore, Mr. Bush's "No Child Left Behind" is one of the most historic pieces of legislation in education yet is only given a small portion. Overall, I enjoyed the book but expected more. Its worthy of a read from the library if your strongly interested in his presidency, but it does not provide much detail or in-depth analysis that I was hoping for.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Very Basic but Helpful Assessment of Public Service,
By Ian Gordon Malcomson (Victoria, BC) - See all my reviews (HALL OF FAME) (TOP 10 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)
This review is from: Decision Points (Paperback)
I give George W. Bush full marks for offering us a candid look inside his presidency. While I find his memoir to be informative as to the circumstances that led him to make earth-shaking decisions during these tumultuous times, it doesn't offer much in the way of reflective analysis. That is not George W. Bush's style because he believes that what he did was right. What the reader will find in this book is a very polished and confident account of his public service packaged in a fairly standard definition of leadership: teamwork. George W. sees himself as a man who leads from the front with his 'generals' beside him and a vision to enhance and protect the international interests of the nation as embodied in the Constitution. To that end, Bush portrays himself as someone who has matured in his political values over time. His personal and family experiences are clear examples that he comes honestly by his beliefs in God, the church, family and individual freedom. On these, he does not compromise. When it comes to hot-button issues like defending the Patriot Act and water-boarding, Bush is unyielding in his defence of these measures in the ongoing fight against terrorism. There are numerous examples in this book showing his efforts to learn from his mistakes in judgment. Unfortunately, these revelations cover the leadup to his political career. Once president, Bush surrounded himself with a retinue of high-level advisors who were not always united in the advice they gave him as to making those critical decision points. "Decision Points" does offer some very revealing moments in the daily life within the West Wing as the stress level mounted over concerns such as Katrina, the Iraq invasion, the war on terrorism, and the growing financial crisis. It is through these moments that the reader gets to see how dependent Bush was on effective advice which he didn't always receive. The relations with key cabinet figures like Colin Powell, Donald Rumsfeld, Dick Cheney and Condoleezza Rice were often bitter-sweet. Through all this, however, Bush always showed loyalty to these people who worked under and with him to achieve what he believed was a safer place to live. He knew that without them he would never have made it out of the gate. His wife, Laura, and his parents come in for special praise for supporting him through eight years in the White House. This book is worth reading because it helps to define both the strengths and weaknesses of a very unique presidency.
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