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Decision Points

3.71 of 5 stars 3.71 · rating details · 14,879 ratings · 1,943 reviews

President George W. Bush describes the critical decisions of his presidency and personal life.

Decision Points is the extraordinary memoir of America’s 43rd president. Shattering the conventions of political autobiography, George W. Bush offers a strikingly candid journey through the defining decisions of his life.

In gripping, never-before-heard detail, President Bush bring...more

Kindle Edition, 497 pages

Published November 9th 2010 by Crown

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Aug 06, 2012 J rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites

It was not a fast read! Each chapter took a while to get through and seemed to encourage pondering.

As a longtime supporter of Bush, I was surprised to find I disagreed with some of his decisions. Yet, overall, I was encouraged by his prayerful, honest approach to the decisions that faced him as president. Reading his book motivated me to think about the decisions in my life and my approach to them. It encouraged me to be a better person. I felt the responsiblity he felt and I appreciated his hum...more

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Oct 24, 2011 Jason rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition Recommends it for: conservatives, Republicans

Recommended to Jason by: Me

This may be one of the most difficult reviews I've ever attempted to write. Being as opinionated about politics as I am, I'm very tempted to launch into my opinions on various political matters covered in this book. However, once I start down the dark path, forever will it dominate my discourse, so I'm going to try my best not to go there. I was originally going to go through each chapter and state whether or not I agree with the decisions he made, and why, and what's wrong with the world today,...more

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Feb 19, 2011 Jo rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: biography-memoir, history, politics, nonfiction

Admission: I lean middle left politically, did not vote for GW Bush, and did not like him during his presidency. After reading this book I found I liked the man (although not all of his decisions) and respected him more (although not all of his decisions), and found that he was more intelligent than had been my previous impression.

This book is a interesting and enlightening reflection by President Bush (43) on his perception of his life, his decisions, and his actions. It is not a great literar...more Admission: I lean middle left politically, did not vote for GW Bush, and did not like him during his presidency. After reading this book I found I liked the man (although not all of his decisions) and respected him more (although not all of his decisions), and found that he was more intelligent than had been my previous impression.

This book is a interesting and enlightening reflection by President Bush (43) on his perception of his life, his decisions, and his actions. It is not a great literary work – he writes like he speaks, and that makes the book very accessible. The book covers a critical time period in our history and I learned interesting behind the scenes tidbits I had not known before. Bush explains in detail why he made certain decisions, and surprisingly, owned up to some bad/wrong decisions, and some things that could have been done better. He does not give a blow-by-blow, day-to-day account of his presidency. Some of the topics he covers include his early drinking problems & decision to quit, the 2000 election, 9/11, the decisions to go into Afghanistan and Iraq, the surge in 2007-2008, his crusade to provide aid (health care) to Africa, Hurricane Katrina, and the efforts to avoid another depression in 2008. He does not address all of the decisions in his presidency, nor even all of the major ones. (I would’ve like to have learned what was behind his energy and environment decisions, but they weren’t addressed.)

It was enlightening to read of his decision making processes in each case. They were more intelligent and practical than I expected – although I still believe he started from false premises & assumptions and did not make sufficient inquiry into some, such as the invasion of Iraq and I believe that he did not sufficiently plan for the aftermath of the war in that country (…and I think this book supports my opinions in this area. I really don’t like his use of speculative thinking to support/justify his decision to invade.) I also was not fond of the extent to which he blamed the Gov of LA for problems in responding to Katrina. But I do understand better why he made the decisions he did, and found it refreshing that he admitted mistakes and bad decisions. I admire his decision to press for greater aid to Africa, and the reason behind those decisions. I knew about it at the time but seeing it all together in one chapter heightened the impact and my respect.

Bush’s faith also permeates the book. I like how he spoke of it and acknowledged that it is central in his life, without becoming maudlin or overly effusive about it. I was surprised by the lack of rancor or bitterness towards those of us who derided him.

Whether or not you liked President GW Bush, it is definitely a good read if you like history!
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Mar 06, 2011 Brian rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: auto-biography, history, politics

Regardless of whether you like him or not, he presided over one of the roughest times in american history. This book will make you laugh, probably frustrate you, and it may even make your eyes well up with tears.

President Bush has a unique perspective that only one other person has had, that is being the son of a former president, he has been involved with the workings of this country for a long time and because of that this book offers great insight, comical stories, gripping eye witness accoun...more

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Feb 09, 2011 Jeremy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Love him or hate him, this book is worth reading.

Bush seems to have been vindicated in several areas that were controversial during his presidency, especially stem cell research and the surge in Iraq. There are other areas for which he takes responsibility, including public perception of the Katrina response and the failure of immigration reform. He seems to have done some honest soul searching for things he could have done differently if he had them to do over again. He does a lot more explain...more

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Dec 17, 2010 Glenn Gargiulo rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I do not think Bush was best President. However realistically to blame the problems this country has endured in the past few years on one man is crazy and really shows the simple minded attitude too many Americans have. You spent more money then you had and now it has caught up to you. Take responsibility for yourself.
I do not think Bush handled many things very well in his time in office, but then again given the situations and the information available at the time, I don't know that many could...more

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Apr 05, 2011 Leesa rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I am currently listening to this on CD with my 11 year old son while we drive to and from school. First I have to disclose that I am a major fan of this president and all the morals he stands for. I am very sad that our country does not give him praise for how he kept us safe. Sure as a conservative I did not always support his spending policies but otherwise I truly admire his compassion,leadership and faith. This book is very good and I am so pleased to hear in his words answer his critics and...more

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Nov 17, 2010 Elizabeth Sulzby rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: memoir

I read this book because I wanted to know how Bush would defend himself and his administration. My answer about half way through and having skimmed the rest is: "Not well at all." (I have now read it entirely and reread specific parts and my comment still stands.) He doesn't seem to understand the events of his presidency, the repercussions of his actions, and the source-based historical books (and articles) about his presidency. I am reading with a "sick in the stomach, this truly can't have be...more I read this book because I wanted to know how Bush would defend himself and his administration. My answer about half way through and having skimmed the rest is: "Not well at all." (I have now read it entirely and reread specific parts and my comment still stands.) He doesn't seem to understand the events of his presidency, the repercussions of his actions, and the source-based historical books (and articles) about his presidency. I am reading with a "sick in the stomach, this truly can't have been written by a President," reaction. I cannot shelve this as history and, oddly enough, it's not even diatribe. He just writes as if he were president of the class and would do anything his buds wanted him to do.

Thanks to all the writers who have tried to keep our democracy alive during those 8 years.

Things I do appreciate about the book are some of the smaller chapters, such as Bush's efforts for HIV/AIDS. But he does not evaluate this very good and, I think, probably honest effort, alongside his attacks on women's right to choose and with refusing to allow our medical aid to women in foreign countries receiving our aid to be counselled on abortion.

Reading this book led me back to reading such as Richard Clarke's books and other investigative journalism during the early years of Bush's presidency. I contrasted Clarke's description of trying to get the Bush administration to attend to the imminent threats by Bin Laden (that Clinton had alerted him to), the events in the White House and bunker during 9-11 itself, and the push to attack Iraq which preceded 9-11 and quickly overtook the efforts in Afghanistan. The new book that I am currently reading and recommend to others interested in these times is Hubris by Isikoff and Corn. I was aware that Valerie Phlame Wilson was a NOC and what personal safety those non covered agents (and their sources) gave up. I did not know that she was the head agent in charge of on the ground investigations of mass destruction, yet she was not consulted during the build-up to Iraq. Many sources have reported the "stovepiping" of evidence in favor of attacking Iraq, but Hubris sets out the deliberate omission of the CIA's program on WMD and the substitution of analysts searching out the kind of evidence Bush and esp. Cheney wanted to go to war.

Bush writes about his care and concern for the troops and their families and I believe that he speaks truthfully from his concern (and, whether he is consciously aware of it or not, his guilt) about the troops and Afghan/Iraq civilians who lost their lives. He seems to have put that concern in a box and have isolated it from his "decision points."

On a personal level, when I saw and heard him on television at the start of his book tour, I felt very sorry for him. He looks so aged and beaten down. I think Americans, myself included, have a tendency to give former Presidents credit for their good actions and to down-play there harmful ones. In the case of Bush, I think we cannot afford to take his account of his presidency in isolation of other accounts.
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Sandi I read it cover-to-cover. I also listened to the audio book. If I were asked to review a book about Barack Obama I would turn it down. I know my biase...more
Jan 03, 2013 12:57pm

Sandi Pangiotis wrote: "Maggie wrote: "Sorry, but I strongly disagree with your opinion of President Bush. I believe he is a good and honesty man who had a...more
Jan 03, 2013 01:24pm

Dec 17, 2010 Kellie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2010-reads, autobiography-biography-memoir

"timeliness is important to make sure an organization does not get sloppy"

This was a fascinating book. Politics aside, I thought this was a well written, honest depiction of Bush 43's time in office. If you think about all that happened during W's 2 terms, 9/11, Afghanistan and Iraq wars, Hurricane Katrina and the financial crisis, to name a few, it was not an easy 8 years.

I appreciate W's honesty. He admits there were some decisions he made that were wrong. However, he explains in detail, why...more

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Jan 13, 2012 Andrew rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

After reading Tony Blair's political biography, I dove straight into read George Bush's "Decision Points."

Opponents ought to read the book in order to hear his side of things. Supporters ought to read it to get an inside look at the key decisions of his presidency. Those who loved him too much will be disappointed, and those who hated him probably won't bother picking up the book anyway (or might as well not, because they'll think what they want to whether or not they read it).

For the rest of...more

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Jan 18, 2011 Mare S rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2011-reads, autobio-and-biographies, history, political

I freely admit that I come at this book as a bleeding heart liberal who never thought much of President George W. Bush and his capabilities. I borrowed this book from the library - because yeah, wasn't going to pay for it - as I was curious to read his take on certain situations. I went into it fully expecting to feel annoyed with things and biased against his politics. I didn't expect it to be so very boring. It took me a whole week to get through fifty pages before I finally started skimming t...more

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Nov 24, 2010 Zelda rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Update: Loved every minute. Even when I was in fierce disagreement it was fascinating to watch the decisions unfold. And what a gift to read about the important events of my lifetime from such an inside angle.

I really opposed TARP. I didn't understand how someone supposedly committed to free market principles could have pushed so hard for this huge government overreach. To read his explanation made me reconsider my harsh judgment of his decision. Probably because one of the few things I value m...more

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Nov 21, 2011 Christie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

George W. Bush 2012!!!!! This was really interesting; Bush was elected when I was 17, the age when I was starting to get into politics and I can remember much of what was written and my own perceptions and interpretations at the time. Yet there was so much that I did not know.

Bush may not have been the best president but he was a man of integrity who put the country ahead of his own image. The book made me laugh, cry a few times, angry, proud, everything. I listen to this as a book on tape, rea...more

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Mar 07, 2012 Nicole rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

No matter one's political affiliations, this was a very interesting read, an in-depth look at the decison-making process of a wartime president. It is a shame that so much political division and outright hatred overshadow the many great things Bush accomplished as President. His initiatives in fighting AIDs and malaria have saved thousands of lives and greatly improved the economy, employment rate, life-expectancy, and quality of life in Africa and other nations around the world. He worked with...more

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Jun 26, 2012 Bill rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I'm not much of a biography, or even a non-fiction reader, but I'm glad I hung in there and finished this book. I have great admiration for the Office of President of the United States, and for each man who has served in it. To read one president's behind the scenes tale of a tumultuous eight years (from Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks less than nine months after taking office, through wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, to the financial crises in the world and our nation in the fall of 2008 as his s...more

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Mar 17, 2011 Brandon rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: kindle

It's obvious that President Bush wants to preserve and shape his legacy through this book, and I think he does an effective job. The book is structured as a revisit to some of the major--and controversial--decisions he made during his presidency. He seeks to clarify his thinking and explain what went on behind the scenes. It was enlightening to me to hear more about why he did what he did. President Bush obviously wasn't a stupid, bumbling man as portrayed by his detractors, and I personally thi...more

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Nov 30, 2010 Diana rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

"she thinks hard before she speaks- a trait so rare in Washington that it was mistaken for intellectual slowness." p.101
"I used to tell Towey that we sure have a litigious society if Mother Teresa needed a lawyer." p.279

Politics aside, i liked the book. He does remain true to the title. He goes over the decisions he made in office.

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Jul 18, 2011 Karen rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The famous movie line, "you had me at hello," definitely applies to this book. At page one I was hooked and crying by page 6 as the former president describes the death of his baby sister, Robin. I can't wait to read the rest, but so far I really relate and identify with his very personable charm. I think it would be fascinating to have a sit down chat with George W. Bush...I have a feeling that I would leave the conversation realizing that he asked and learned more about me than the other way a...more

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Nov 07, 2011 Victor Gentile rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

George W. Bush in his new book, "Decision Points" published by Broadway Paperbacks describes the critical decisions that shaped his presidency and personal life.

President Bush did not write an exhaustive account of his life or presidency. Instead he decided to tell the story of his time in the White House by focusing on the most important part of the job: Making decisions. Each chapter is based on a major decision or a series of related decisions. "Decision Points"is a read that shows a multi-si...more George W. Bush in his new book, "Decision Points" published by Broadway Paperbacks describes the critical decisions that shaped his presidency and personal life.

President Bush did not write an exhaustive account of his life or presidency. Instead he decided to tell the story of his time in the White House by focusing on the most important part of the job: Making decisions. Each chapter is based on a major decision or a series of related decisions. "Decision Points"is a read that shows a multi-sided President, one that maintained a level-head in adversity (being told that America was under attack during a reading session with second-graders), one that loves his family, and one that believes he made the best decisions possible given the cards he was dealt.

It is not often that we are given access to the inner workings of the White House and how decisions are made so this book is a gem in that regard. President Bush was faced with various events that he had to make decisions about especially holding the country together when America was challenged by terrorists. Do we agree with every decision that President Bush made? Probably not. However, he made his decisions and he stands by them which shows us the kind of man he really is. I think everyone should read this book to get a clear understanding of a really difficult job.

Read Chapter One: http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/catalo...

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oT1ep5...]

If you would like to listen to interviews with other authors and professionals please go to www.kingdomhighlights.org where they are available On Demand.

To listen to 24 hours non-stop Christian music please visit our internet radio station http://www.kingdomairwaves.org

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”(less)

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Aug 09, 2011 Will James added it · review of another edition

If your motivation for reading 'Decision Points' is to learn explosive insider details of George W. Bush's time in the Oval Office, you are going to be disappointed. Whilst there are some very interesting anecdotes, Bush only goes skin-deep in describing them, and many areas/issues where you wish he would expand on - for example his 2000 primary battle with John McCain, or his relationship with Dick Cheney - he remains stubbornly vague. Who wants to hear heart-warming jokey stories about Ben Ber...more If your motivation for reading 'Decision Points' is to learn explosive insider details of George W. Bush's time in the Oval Office, you are going to be disappointed. Whilst there are some very interesting anecdotes, Bush only goes skin-deep in describing them, and many areas/issues where you wish he would expand on - for example his 2000 primary battle with John McCain, or his relationship with Dick Cheney - he remains stubbornly vague. Who wants to hear heart-warming jokey stories about Ben Bernanke's socks when we could have had another paragraph or two about major rows between Rumsfeld and Colin Powell?

Overall, this is an indication of how defensive this memoir is. You get a sense that Bush isn't quite prepared to tackle the major mistakes of his presidency, but contextualise them for the reader; explain why he made the decisions that he did, and create some historical perspective. This doesn't mean that he refuses to recognise his mistakes - he does, frequently. On Hurricane Katrina, WMDs in Iraq, tackling Iran etc. - Bush admits he should have done more/less/something different. However, there is a philosophical disconnect, for example, in saying that Tommy Franks, Paul Bremer, Donald Rumsfeld and co. did a cracking job liberating Iraq, and then saying that in 2007 he changed the strategy and appointed Gates, Petreaus and Crocker without condemning those who advocated the previously failing strategy.

In spite of these criticisms, however, 'Decision Points' is still a very well written memoir, and a genuine reflection of Bush's mentality/world-view that helped shape the opening decade of the 21st century. Unlike Tony Blair's 'A Journey', Bush doesn't layer his prose with self-serving nonsensical pseudo-politics, but presents his experiences, insights and views in plain terms that reflect well on the man. He also defies many of the lazy stereotypes of himself that developed over a lifetime in politics, casting himself - especially in domestic politics - as a moderate centrist. All in all, as perhaps the most prominent and controversial statesman of the last decade, you can't fail to find 'Decision Points' a thoroughly remarkable book.(less)

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Aug 06, 2011 Gary Lang added it · review of another edition

W pivots his presidential autobiography around major decisions he had to make while in office. In doing so we get a narrative that shows one rational decision after another being made.

It would have been a better book if he discussed not just the decisions he made but more of the variables and alternative decision paths he considered and did not take. Likewise, I would have liked to hear how he feels about the unintended secondary effects of his decisions that occurred subsequent to making them....more

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Aug 04, 2011 Roger Haskins added it · review of another edition

I didn't agree with a lot of the decisions that came out this administration, but I wanted to see what President Bush had to say in his own words and consider his point of view. I'm glad I did. It certainly didn't change my view of everything, but I can see how some of the things he took the wrap for were well beyond his control. And how will the perspective of things change over time? I didn't agree with his choice to put troops in Iraq, but did the liberation of that country inspire many of th...more

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Jul 26, 2011 Robert Davis added it · review of another edition

In an age when Presidential Memoirs are vain, meandering biopics that focus on the interminable minutiae of the subject, Decision Points stands apart.

The critics have been relentless and are frothing at the mouth for one last chance to satiate their intense and unrelenting hatred for George W. Bush. But their criticism of the book falls flat. Far more engaging than Bill Clinton's interminable My Life, Decision Points deliberately focuses on only the interesting bits of Bush's life.

While it lack...more

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Mar 11, 2013 Shauna rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: non-fiction

3.5 stars if I could. Why would anyone like this job? Still too much vitriolic partisan posturing but I liked hearing W’s side of the story and I thought he was mostly honest with himself.

Quotes:
“..being the sober guy helped me realize how mindless I must have sounded when I was drunk.”

“Ultimately, faith is a walk – a journey toward greater understanding. It is not possible to prove God’s existence, but that cannot be the standard for belief. After all, it is equally impossible to prove He does...more

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Feb 18, 2013 Peter Wolfley rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I will support George W. till the day I die because he is an honest, humble, and faithful leader. The media and liberals everywhere love to vilify him and portray him as an illiterate hillbilly who ruined the country, but anyone who reads this book with an ounce of objectivity will see a sharp, hard-working, family man who always tried to do what was best for the country and the world.

I respect him for always doing what he believed to be right even when it was terribly unpopular. Even more so,...more

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Dec 29, 2012 Michael added it · review of another edition

There is so much said on both sides of the fence regarding Bush. His presidency was certainly controversial. I listened to the audio cd during work commute. His voice telling his own story certainly adds a human touch that makes it genuine rather than grinding over the grammar of this not-so-gifted speaker on a written page
This book Is worth reading for a clearer understanding of those tumultuous 8 years that have brought us to this current president.
From his own voice I began to feel the grav...more

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Dec 09, 2012 Bryon rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Author: George W. Bush
New York, Crown Publishers, 2010
Number of pages: 481

It's hard not to be fond of the George W. Bush written about by George W. Bush in his autobiography Decision Points. It's a narrative of his early life and presidency. He tells of swearing off alcohol so he could grow closer to " the Almighty." He gives us a look into the day fourteen year old George W. drives his mom to the hospital after she has a miscarriage. He remembers seeing the fetus in a jar. He writes about the...more

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Nov 29, 2012 Nvrgdenuf rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Decision Points…I mean, price points, that has been the contrast between Bush’s life and mine. The contrast was a life of economic uncertainty, like playing Texas hold em’ without a full hand being dealt you. Originally that is what fueled my desire for economic thought. When I read Decision Points it sounded like I was talking to myself, not like George W. Bush was talking to me. That lends the notion that either 1. I think like Bush, 2. I write like Bush, or 3. I am Bush. Apart from the Texas...more Decision Points…I mean, price points, that has been the contrast between Bush’s life and mine. The contrast was a life of economic uncertainty, like playing Texas hold em’ without a full hand being dealt you. Originally that is what fueled my desire for economic thought. When I read Decision Points it sounded like I was talking to myself, not like George W. Bush was talking to me. That lends the notion that either 1. I think like Bush, 2. I write like Bush, or 3. I am Bush. Apart from the Texas anachronisms, the former might be true. But there are some incongruencies in the plot line that I am uncertain about. Namely, The Tarp fiasco, Fannie & Freddie Mac, and Hurricane Katrina seem too secret to me. I’m wondering if the invisible hand of 2008 was not just invisible, it was intentional. I hate to jump to conclusions but how can so many people be suckered into buying houses that they know, and the lenders know they cannot pay for, happen in America? It must be the political cycle, boom and bust. It seems that in America we are our own worst enemy. The statistics from “Decision Points” on what kind of country Afghanistan was pre and post war remain a rally point for me. “Afghanistan was the world’s third poorest country as of 2001 (204).” Not even ten percent of Afghanis had healthcare. If Iraq and Afghanistan were this bad off economically, i.e. bottom tier internationally monetarily then we actually helped them, by having a war against them. The U.S. economy has become so big we literally need a war to fully support all of our urges now. The democrats don’t want war and the veterans who have been training up and fighting for eleven plus years are tired. They’re tired of paying for Mary Kate and Ashley’s mistakes and not having an equal footing with corporate America. But needles to say, America will almost always need a war in some form or fashion. If there really is evil in the Middle East, and it isn’t a trumped up evil, that we control, then why isn’t it worth fighting and dying for. Good is good and evil is evil right. The point I’m getting at is if the U.S. has this much control on it’s on soil, then why can’t it have that much control on another countryman’s soil if we control the air. I just don’t want there to be any doubt that the war in Iraq and Afghanistan is artificially manufactured. The bottom line is if there is no need for war, then why wage it? War is evil in itself. Maybe we’re inadvertently creating terrorists by using up too much of our planets natural resources, we just don’t know it…It’s a natural thing because of scarcity. Maybe it’s because we have so much good over here in America, there must be a counteracting bad on the other side of the world. The fact is, we know terrorism happens.
Adversely, I hate to say it but I identify with G.W. but the Bushisms sometimes threw me off. I feel like our country intentionally hid Bush’s intellect, like it was a national security issue. I felt like we put up a front that said, “ our leader isn’t smart enough” to Germany and the G5 as a security measure. The mode of thinking would be that a country would attack because they truly thought our leadership was not good enough, and then we would have them. From a historical perspective Roosevelt would not have had that, there would be no doubt. I mean, Texas is a great state and all; they just need some more green leafy vegetables…I mean, trees!
As for the war, I think it is economically feasible, a boost to our economy, but if there is no use for a military anymore, then just disband it, and create a “civilian liberation tech corps”. Is there going to be a military in twenty years? There isn’t a stitch of the WWII era military left now, what will be the remnant of our time? What I’m getting at is, it may be the secrecy. It would be nice to be able to stay in either the military or civilian service from the start of one’s career till the end. That is the most efficient way, no change. But if budgets stay the way they are and people have to flip flop in and out of the military or civilian life because there’s a Democrat in the White House, its inefficient.

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Aug 15, 2012 Patti rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Decision Points is an autobiography written by the 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush. The memoir was released two years after the former President completed his second term and details the most notable decision points in his lifetime and presidency.
George W. Bush was born in 1946 to Barbara and George H. W. Bush, who would later become the 41st President of the United States. He was the Governor of Texas from 1994 to 2000 when he was elected President in an extremely close el...more Decision Points is an autobiography written by the 43rd President of the United States, George W. Bush. The memoir was released two years after the former President completed his second term and details the most notable decision points in his lifetime and presidency.
George W. Bush was born in 1946 to Barbara and George H. W. Bush, who would later become the 41st President of the United States. He was the Governor of Texas from 1994 to 2000 when he was elected President in an extremely close election. He won despite having less popular votes than his opponent, Al Gore. Al Gore, the Vice President under Bill Clinton, did not receive enough votes in the electoral college to win the election. Everything seemed to be going great for the new President, until the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
In chapter 5, Bush says “September 11 redefined sacrifice. It redefined duty. And it redefined my job. The story of that week is the key to understanding my presidency. There were so many decisions that followed, many of them controversial and complex” (151). These new decisions included the War on Terror, the PATRIOT Act, and new interrogation techniques, all of which are discussed in Decision Points. In his second term, his popularity took a dive which deepened with Hurricane Katrina, the longevity of the Iraq War and the 2007 recession. He left his office with disrespect and ridicule.
It is clearly the focus of this memoir to show the public that he is not crazy, heartless or an idiot and give insight on the tough choices he had to make as President. He also writes to take blame for mistakes made in the government from 2001 to 2009 off of his shoulders alone.
Bush organizes Decision Points into fourteen chapters which discuss topics from the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq to the stem cells debate and AIDS relief in Africa. I admire Bush for discussing every important decision in his presidency instead of shying away from them.
In the first two chapters, he writes about his life before the presidency including his decision to quit drinking, his faith and his time as Governor of Texas. In the next chapters he discusses his staffing choices and the stem cell controversy. But at chapter 5, titled Day of Fire, the book and Bush’s life take a different turn. Chapters 5-8 detail the September 11, 2001 tragedy and the preparation and excecution of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. Chapters 12 and 13 jump back to the War on Terror with thoughts on the surge of troops in Iraq and other threats to the Freedom Agenda outlined in the Bush Doctrine. The rest of the chapters discuss his attempts to pass education and immigration laws, Hurricane Katrina, fighting of AIDS in Africa and the 2007 depression that plagued his last days in office.
Decision Points paints Bush in a positive light, as is the nature of autobiographies. The author writes from his perspective on himself and this is significant because it creates a bias. No person wants to write that they were mistaken, especially a person after redemption from the public. Not once in this book did Bush write that he made a mistake. It was always the press making him look bad (Hurricane Katrina and the “Mission Accomplished” banner), or Congress being unhelpful (social security and immigration reform) or received intelligence being wrong (the WMD’s in Iraq, a nuclear facility in Syria). I would’ve found this book much more truthful if Bush had claimed an error as his just once. I do not believe anyone could’ve gotten through eight years of the hardest job in America without one mistake.
However, this memoir does shed light on many little-known facts about the presidency. During the Hurricane Katrina disaster, Bush couldn’t evacuate the people of New Orleans because the mayor was unresponsive. He couldn’t give aid to Katrina victims because the governor was belligerent. Since he was in a federal position, he couldn’t do anything until the State had given him permission. The criticisms of Bush after Katrina and the beginning of his decline in popularity were unfair.
Bush’s evidence for his case is his extensive knowledge of each situation, which the average American does not have. Decision Points does this through multiple pages of pictures and Bush’s written narrative. He reveals details that the media did not. And his narrative shows that often the press was biased, members of Congress were selfish and intelligence that the entire world believed to be true was inexplicably wrong.
Bush achieves the obvious goal with which he wrote Decision Points; this book proves that he is not crazy, heartless or an idiot. The chapters are organized by theme, each one detailing a specific, often controversial decision he had to make as President. In each chapter, Bush describes the problem, how he felt at the time, his options, which one he chose and the outcome. He spends most of the chapter explaining why he chose what he chose. In these portions of the chapter, it is clear to see that he is not a madman. He chose the option he thought was best to protect the American people and their rights.
The former President is clearly not heartless like so many Americans assumed after Katrina when a photo emerged making him looked detached and uncaring. He has put many heartfelt letters from citizens into Decision Points, proving that he kept and cherished such things. He illustrates the guilt that he felt each time he received the monthly death toll from both wars. On page 203, he writes “I wanted to honor their scrifice, express my sorrow and extend the gratitude of the country. […] I sent letters to the families of every service member who laid down his or her life in the war on terror. By the end of my presidency, I had written to almost five thousand families”.
Bush also proves that he is not an idiot by detailing his experiences at the prestigious Yale and Harvard universities. He references books, famous quotes and previous events in history. For example, he compares himself to Harry Truman (174), quotes Edmund Burke (368) and references over ten books including classics such as Brave New World and Theodore Rex.
It is clear that he writes this book to the American people, particularly people that had disagreed with him during his presidency. He often starts paragraphs with what the American people had said about him and how it was absolutely false. He does this so often, that his frustration begins to show. He explains unfamiliar concepts like stem cells, but not concepts that Americans would already know, like 401(k)s.
Bush doesn’t use language that makes him seem condenscending, even though he is more educated than me. His diction is simple, but effective and indicates he’s a humble man from West Texas. People in the book are always referred to by comfortable names (for example, “Andy” instead of “Andrew”). Occasionally, the Texan dialect bothered me, like his constant usage of the phrase “Laura and me” or “Tony Blair and me” instead of “Laura and I”. It was a huge distraction for me everytime I saw that simple, grammatical infraction and it did not help him prove he wasn’t an idiot.
He often included comical scenarios between world leaders. For example, Bush recounts the story where he showed Russian president Vladimir Putin his dog, Barney, and Putin was not impressed. The next time he was at Putin’s dacha in Russia, Putin introduced Bush to his dog, Koni. Bush recounts “we walked the birch-lined grounds of his dacha, a big black Labrador came charging across the lawn. With a twinkle in his eye, Vladimir said, ‘Bigger, stronger, and faster than Barney’. I later told the story to my friend, Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada. ‘You’re lucky he only showed you his dog, he replied” (433).
I would rate this book a 3 out of 5. For those who don’t like non-fiction or despise Bush, it would be a difficult read. Personally, I don’t prefer non-fiction. I find it boring and I often have to force myself to read it and I dread re-opening the book. But Decision Points was compelling, and well-written. It occasionally dragged because Bush would repeat himself, but in different words, just trying to find a way to get the reader to understand. The passion from the author made the book easier to care about. And personally, I didn’t despise Bush. I didn’t have an opinion of him before I read Decision Points, because even as a child I knew there had to be a medium between my parent’s praise and the media’s criticism. I didn’t want to have an opinion until I got the blatant facts. And while Bush obviously puts his opinion in the chapters, he does not spin the facts about what had happened and what his options were. I now have my opinions, which, as a soon-to-be voter, are extremely important.
For me, a 3 out of 5 score on a book is very good, especially for a non-fiction book that I had to read on an assignment. I would recommend this book to any of my peers that disagree with Bush’s decisions. Unforetunately, the people of my generation carry the opinions and outrages of their parents, but without the reason. Everytime I hear a person my age say “Bush sucked” or “Obama sucks” I ask why. And everytime I get an “uhh…” response. I only hope that time proves my generation to be more than loud mouths with empty brains.
Bush ends Decision Points on a similar note. He says “Decades from now, I hope people will view me as a president who recognized the central challenge of our time and kept my vow to keep the country safe; who pursued my convictions without wavering but changed course when necessary […] [a]nd I hope they will conclude that I upheld the honor and dignity of the office I was so privileged to hold” (476-477). After reading Decision Points I hope they do, too.
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Aug 07, 2012 Vincent rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This book was a definite read, but not for many reasons that books are normally entertaining.

Being born in 84, I was aware of some of the decisions President Bush had made, but this book goes into so much more depth than I would have ever encountered before. I have learned a lot about the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the many decisions he made behind education, the circumstances surrounding 9/11, and many other extenuating circumstances surrounding President Bush's presidency.

His book is divide...more This book was a definite read, but not for many reasons that books are normally entertaining.

Being born in 84, I was aware of some of the decisions President Bush had made, but this book goes into so much more depth than I would have ever encountered before. I have learned a lot about the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the many decisions he made behind education, the circumstances surrounding 9/11, and many other extenuating circumstances surrounding President Bush's presidency.

His book is divided into chapters based upon his important decisions he made as President, ranging from Iraq and Afghanistan to Education and HIV/AIDS awareness Each chapter is done chronologically so the reader can follow easily along, although he does make references back to previous chapters so the reader can get a full context of all the overlapping decisions he made as President. There are some parts in the book that are difficult to follow because he sometimes lost connection with how things worked chronologically speaking, but then he gets right back on track.

Additionally, this book was very easy to get through. President Bush has a knack for writing like he speaks - very simple and non-scholarly. I love educating myself by looking up words that I do not know, but I never had to do it once in this book. He wrote in very simple declarative sentences, akin to "Fun with Dick and Jane," books. So if you are looking for something challenging to read, might skip over this one until you want something to just gain more information. You will be able to get through fast and quick.

However, one critique I must make is how defensive President Bush can be perceived in his book. There are numerous instances where he explains his point of view, goes into explicit detail on what the critics have said about him (whether at the time or currently), then continues to express why they are verifiably wrong. To him and the view expressed in his book, there can be no way the other critics were right in any sense of the word. His decisions were correct. That made this book very hard to read when coming across those paragraphs. However, it was definitely worth getting through just to be able to gain more historical knowledge and see how President Bush's brain operates.

Overall, this book was worth reading to get inside President Bush's head or learn more about the historical context in which President Bush made his decisions. You get a lot of information about his personal background, along with his professional Presidential opinions on how America should have been run. Great book worth reading overall!(less)

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About George W. Bush

George Walker Bush was the forty-third President of the United States of America, serving between 2001 and 2009. He previously served as the forty-sixth Governor of Texas from 1995 to 2000 and is the eldest son of former President George Herbert Walker Bush and Barbara Bush. He was inaugurated as president on January 20, 2001.

After graduating from college, Bush worked in his family's oil businesse...more George Walker Bush was the forty-third President of the United States of America, serving between 2001 and 2009. He previously served as the forty-sixth Governor of Texas from 1995 to 2000 and is the eldest son of former President George Herbert Walker Bush and Barbara Bush. He was inaugurated as president on January 20, 2001.

After graduating from college, Bush worked in his family's oil businesses. In 1978, he made an unsuccessful run for the U.S. House of Representatives. He later co-owned the Texas Rangers baseball team before returning to politics in a campaign for Governor of Texas. He defeated Ann Richards and was elected Governor of Texas in 1994. Bush was elected to the Presidency in 2000 as the Republican candidate in a close and controversial contest, in which he lost the nationwide popular vote, but won the electoral vote.

Bush signed into law a $1.35 trillion tax cut program in 2001, and in 2002 the No Child Left Behind Act. In October 2001, after the attacks on September 11, 2001, Bush announced a global War on Terrorism and ordered an invasion of Afghanistan to overthrow the Taliban, destroy Al-Qaeda, and to capture Osama bin Laden. In March 2003, Bush ordered the invasion of Iraq, asserting that Iraq was in possession of weapons of mass destruction and that the war was necessary for the protection of the United States. On May 1, 2003, Bush gave the Mission Accomplished speech aboard the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, proclaiming that "in the battle of Iraq, the United States and our allies have prevailed."

Running in the midst of the Iraq War, Bush was re-elected on November 2, 2004; his presidential campaign against Senator John Kerry was successful despite controversy over Bush's execution of the Iraq War and domestic issues. After his re-election, Bush received increasingly heated criticism and began losing support from his Republican base largely due to his stance on illegal immigration and government spending. During his two terms he has had both the highest and among the lowest domestic approval ratings of American presidents, ranging from around 90 percent immediately after the September 11, 2001 attacks, to 26% or lower in mid-2007.
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George W. Bush on God and Country: The President Speaks Out about Faith, Principle, and Patriotism

We Will Prevail: President George W. Bush on War, Terrorism and Freedom: Foreword by Peggy Noonan; Introduction by Jay Nordlinger A National Review Book

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“I will not forget this wound to our country or those who inflicted it. I will not yield; I will not rest; I will not relent in waging this struggle for freedom and security for the American people.” — 5 people liked it

“I introduced Putin to our Scottish terrier, Barney. He wasn't very impressed. On my next trip to Russia, Vladimir asked if I wanted to meet his dog, Koni. Sure, I said. As we walked the birch-lined grounds of his dacha, a big black Labrador came charging across the lawn. With a twinkle in his eye, Vladimir said, "Bigger, stronger, and faster than Barney." Prime Minister Stephen Harper of Canada [said], "You're lucky he only showed you his dog.” — 3 people liked it

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