Book Review - A Promised Land by Barack Obama

A Promised Land by Barack Obama is a weighty tome, and basically the first book of his memoirs.   Former President Obama confesses that he's wordy and can get bogged down with detail. However, I enjoyed this book and it made me think. He does go deep in descriptions, but it's still very readable, personable, and has a caring touch. I did feel like he put a lot of thought into his words. 

p.14 But the idea of America, the promise of America; this I clung to with a stubbornness that surprised even me. 

p. 223 What a gift my mother-in-law was. For us, she became a living breathing reminder of who we were and where we came from, a keeper of values we'd once thought ordinary but had learned were more rare than we ever imagined. 

Obama's descriptions of family - wife Michelle, daughters Malia and Sasha, Bo the family dog, and his late mother, late grandmother, etc.  are all a core of his life. No matter the crisis, he pretty much tried to have dinner with his wife and girls every night - spend a little time, hear about the girls' day, and then go back to the office for the late night reading, decision making, and  preparations for the hours, days, weeks to come. 

I learned a lot about decisions made that I glossed over at the time when glancing at headlines. The economy, more troops to send, the Middle East, Arab Spring, politics. and this book finishes with the killing of Osama Bin Laden (a lot of angst in the precision and timing).  

Throughout this book, he talks a lot about his cabinet, his staff, the hard working behind the scenes people that keep the White House running, and he's appreciative.  His humor shines through in his writing, often rather self-deprecating. And a running theme is the American people - how to help every day people from sea to shining sea - A Promised Land,  indeed. 

 

Book Review: 41 A Portrait of My Father by George W. Bush

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.