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119th out of 1,046 books
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5,564 voters
Barbara Bush: A Memoir
by
Barbara Bush
Barbara Bush endures as one of America's most popular First Ladies. She has won worldwide acclaim for her wit, compassion, and candor as both a presidential wife and mother. In this #1 New York Times bestselling memoir, Mrs. Bush offers a heartfelt portrait of her life in and out of the White House, from her small-town schoolgirl days in Rye, New York, to her fateful union...more
Paperback, 592 pages
Published
October 21st 2003
by Scribner
(first published 1994)
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This is a fun, rollicking read. Barbara Bush was very well-suited to the job of first lady. She is blessed with charm, fortitude, the ability to enjoy (or at least pretend to enjoy) attending one function after another, and a seemingly cast-iron stomach. She also has a wonderful sense of humor, which makes the book a joy to read. Looking for the inside story? Barbara Bush tells it like it is, and doesn't clean up her stories to protect the sensibilities of anyone, whether they be a former head o...more
I only have a few memories of Barbara Bush, all of them good, but it is funny how someone who once so dominated the headlines can disappear with nary a word later in life. Having found the time to read her memoir, it was a fun experience to step into the Bush 41 White House for a few days and meet a real terrific woman.
Barbara Bush: A Memoir is one of the best edited political autobiographies, it avoids the usually pratfalls that doom many a reader. The auto-bio always seems to start off page 1...more
Barbara Bush: A Memoir is one of the best edited political autobiographies, it avoids the usually pratfalls that doom many a reader. The auto-bio always seems to start off page 1...more
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A warm, honest memoir from a remarkable woman who will go down in history as one our greatest First Ladies. Barbara Bush is a remarkable woman who talks about the wonders and tragedies of her life. It will bring you a tear or more. Her relationship with her husband and children will touch your heart. A wonderful wife, mother and grandmother. She is an inspiration and has shared experiences we can learn from.
A wonderfully written book by a wonderful woman. Also, the audio book read by Mrs Bush is...more
A wonderfully written book by a wonderful woman. Also, the audio book read by Mrs Bush is...more
I had a very hard time getting through this book and yet there were parts of it that I thoroughly enjoyed reading; in particular the behind the scenes personal relationships with all the foreign ambassadors, pranks and private jokes, real life in the White House etc. The e-version of my book was chocked full of errors so that in itself was hard to ignore. How does this happen? Doesn't someone check these things? My expectations for the book were to "get the know" the former First Lady and that w...more
I found a copy of this book at our favorite used book store signed by her and G. Bush senior and we went at the presidential election rally for GWB and could have has it signed but of course I did not bring it. So really I bought it b/c it was double signed and I could have had it triple signed being in Austin at the time and all...
After I read the book, she's an interesting lady with trials most have not had. I'm glad I read it and will possibly re-read it in the next 5 years.
After I read the book, she's an interesting lady with trials most have not had. I'm glad I read it and will possibly re-read it in the next 5 years.
I love Barbara Bush, her style, her personality, her mothering, her stand on things she believes in, her love of family and her husband, her loyalty, and more! I supported her husband as our president, and later her son as our president. I believe she had great influence on these men in her life and helped them to be the great leaders and great in personal values that they were. I enjoyed reading about her in this book. It just helped me admire her more.
"Look for the best, forget the rest." (in others) Loved the stories she told about raising her family and being in a political family.
Especially about her daughter Robin, who died of leukemia at 2 and GWB asking why all the women in the building wore their nightgowns during the daytime. (His dad was going to Yale after WWII and the only housing they could afford happened to be an apt. building of ill repute.) Good read that has stuck with me.
Especially about her daughter Robin, who died of leukemia at 2 and GWB asking why all the women in the building wore their nightgowns during the daytime. (His dad was going to Yale after WWII and the only housing they could afford happened to be an apt. building of ill repute.) Good read that has stuck with me.
Barbara started her preface by stating that she had led a life of privilege and no one has ever had a better life. Seriously, it made me want to gag and I thought about not even reading the book. But I am so glad I decided to continue on. She truly made the best of everything that life dealt to her and made her own life of privilege.
I loved reading about her and George in their early years of marriage, and wish there would have been more of it.
She is such a devoted wife and mother. I had no ide...more
I loved reading about her and George in their early years of marriage, and wish there would have been more of it.
She is such a devoted wife and mother. I had no ide...more
This book took me nearly a week to read. Whew. It is full of lots of fun facts about the Bush family I never knew. Barbara Bush seems to be a very loving woman who cares deeply for her family. I enjoyed the pictures that were in this book too. In summary, Barbara Bush is a nice person devoted to helping others. Very inspiring. =)
A statement Barbara Bush makes in the beginning of her memoir is "you can like it or not. I have chosen to like it". A credo she developed observing her mother, who apparently, was not a content woman. That credo resonates throughout the book. Barbara appears to take any situation and make the best out of it.
I found this to be interesting, particularly George and Barbara's early years together. They lived in some very modest places; in some sharing a bath or kitchen with other couples!
I found this to be interesting, particularly George and Barbara's early years together. They lived in some very modest places; in some sharing a bath or kitchen with other couples!
I think we all needed to know Barbara Bush better and this book will certainly do that. Her dedication to literacy, her remarkable family (she raised remarkable children, while partnering everything her husband was involved in), and pets! Read this and be astounded by how much she has done.
I really enjoy Barbara Bush's sense of humor. I heard her speak at Baylor several years ago. She doesn't take herself or her family too seriously, what a wonderful asset, since she is who she is! I did get bogged down in some of the campaign details, but the stories of behind the scenes are fun.
Old George Sr. had to pry good Barbara's thighs open with the Jaws of Life; rough time indeed. I imagine it looked like something that would have taken place in Planet of the Apes. If every young lady had as many cobwebs between her legs as good Barbara, oh how happy I'd be!
Barbara Bush is a fun, engaging, interesting, poignant, self-effacing writer. I learned a lot about the Bush dynasty through her book; which is an intriguing subject by itself. It was fun to read about their lives as seen through her eyes. After reading this I ended up listening to it as an audio book, which is read by the author. I think I enjoyed it more! It was wonderful to listen to her tell her own stories. Whether you are Republican or Democrat, liberal or conservative, most can agree that...more
Didn't finish. About two-thirds through, I got tired of the sameness.
I like Barbara, but everyone was nice and a very good friend. I don't think she really said what she felt so as not to hurt feelings or politically.
I like Barbara, but everyone was nice and a very good friend. I don't think she really said what she felt so as not to hurt feelings or politically.
I've always loved the "silver fox" and her outspoken nature. This book is great--very witty, entertaining, and enlightening. No matter what you think of the Bush family and their politics, this is a great biography.
My O My what a fantastic lady, no wonder she has been voted one of the most popular 1st Ladies of all time. To get an insiders view of life in politics and more importantly to be the wife of the President of the United States, was amazing. She traveled with and entertained some of the most important people in modern history, but beyond that she managed to be a wonderful mother and grandmother with great affection for all. A very good read!
Definitely one of my favorite memoirs. She writes about her life just as she is in person - very humble and funny. She often makes fun of herself and her personality shows through in the writing.
I enjoyed reading this memoir. The book was a good mixture of family and history, written from an insiders standpoint. Will definately read more books by Barbara Bush. Love her wit and humor.
She certainly has her priorities straight. A little too much name dropping but a fascinating look at a life in politics. I wonder if she wrote the book partly to show the truth behind the rumors.
It's tough to rate this one. Barbara Bush is by no means a writer, but her sparkling personality and wicked sense of humor make this a fun read. Just skip the slow parts and enjoy the rest.
Had no opinion about Barbara Bush before I read this for a book club. After reading her comments, she seemed like a vapid name dropper. Not worth the lengthy read.
Loved almost every single word. Such a positive person. A great example of "growing old" gracefully and full of wisdom.
Am really enjoying this book. Her insights into the world of politics is sad, funny and not malicious
What's not to love about everybody's grandma who moved into the white house?
A lot of wonderful history! Terrific stories and accounts. I loved this!
I love this book! Her writing style reminds me of conversations with friends.
I think she's a great woman but the book was a little hard to stay with....
I remember watching my mom read this book when I was five or six. I remember watching my sister read it when I was 11 or 12. When we picked it up at Goodwill this month, I decided that it was finally my turn to read it. It was an extremely enjoyable book and it was very good for me to read it during this election year, because it reminds me that every person involved in politics is just that...a person. A very timely reminder. I also appreciated how much Mrs. Bush expressed her deep love and res...more
I loved reading and getting more history on the family.
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Barbara Pierce Bush is the wife of the 41st President of the United States, George H. W. Bush, making her First Lady of the United States from 1989 to 1993. Preceding that, she was the Second Lady of the United States from 1981 to 1989 while her husband was Vice President to Ronald Reagan. She is the mother of U.S. President George W. Bush and former Florida Governor Jeb Bush.
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