41: A Portrait of my Father by George W. Bush is unique in that
a former president (43) is writing about his father (41), a former president.
This is a look into history and a love story of a strong family, a dynamic
admirable man, and a salute to a true American hero. It’s also not overly gushy,
and does have some minor comments or criticisms that hindsight 20/20 vision
does give. I, personally, was hesitant to read the book since I wasn’t overly
fond of George Jr., as president. (I think he’s a decent man and is doing a lot
of good work as an ex-president). I am, however, very interested in George, Sr.
and excerpts of the book intrigued me.
Sure enough, 41: A Portrait of My Father is well
written and has plenty of “Wow, I didn’t know that moments.” George H.W. Bush was born into privilege but
never overly took advantage of it. Graduated from high school, he volunteered
to join the Navy in WWII and was the youngest torpedo bomber pilot. He returned
home to marry Barbara Pierce, graduate from Yale, and then turning down
lucrative Wall Street offers, headed west to Midland Texas to make a name for
himself. After much success, he moved on to public service. There he
encountered defeats, successes, and a long career in politics, diplomatic
service to China, CIA director, and Vice President under Ronald Reagan. Then he
earned his own presidency in 1988. In
one term, he oversaw the end of the Cold War, oversaw liberation of Panama and
Kuwait, and guided the country through some tough economic times. Tax decisions
cost him another term, but probably set the path for Bill Clinton’s economic
successes.
The key to the book is the man behind the accomplishments.
George Sr. kept old friends, made new friends, shook hands across the aisle,
wrote personal letters, stayed true to commitments and loyalty, valued America
but was interested in the world, and is flat out a decent man with an excellent
sense of humor. That is what shines through this book. He took pride in family
and gave steady support to his wife and kids. From the cover – George H.W. Bush is one of the most beloved
statesmen of the twenty first century. 41
is a stirring tribute to an inspiring father and great American.
I highly recommend this book for a glimpse into history and
the Bush family. It’s a quick smooth read, and a powerful portrait of George
H.W. Bush (forever 41). He’s now 90 + and in frail health, but still took his
parachute jump in 2014. After finishing the book, you shall root for that jump
at 95 and 100.
