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. That said, I think he does this, indirectly, as follows.



Bush points out, rightly I think, that the true measure of a president often can only take place well after a president leaves office. His examples include Reagan and the fall of Communism, Ford and his Nixon pardon, Truman and the Cold War. He does so to make it clear that he believes history will vindicate him and the secondary effects of his leadership decisions.



And so he presents in detail the decisions to go into the wars, enact stem cell policy changes, set up TARP, initiate the “No Child Left Behind” program, and more. At the very least, you come away thinking “that sounds rational and I still agree/disagree”. This is a more thoughtful way to review his presidency than watching Daily Show or Fox re-runs. It was worth the quick read that this book requires – the book was written at a grade school level as it should be for the wide readership he desires.



Bonus - Bush reads the audiobook version himself, which is actually a good way to encounter the book. Between the audiobook and the Kindle version, I finished this book in 3 days – it is very easy to digest.



I do recommend the book – it sums up the politics of the period rather well. I recommend it not as an opinion about him, but as a document of the era that we just left behind.