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My American Journey
Colin Powell is the embodiment of the American dream. He was born in Harlem to immigrant parents from Jamaica. He knew the rough life of the streets. He overcame a barely average start at school. Then he joined the Army. The rest is history—Vietnam, the Pentagon, Panama, Desert Storm—but a history that until now has been known only on the surface.
Here, for the first time, Colin Powell himself tells us how it happened, in a memoir distinguished by a heartfelt love of country and family, warm good humor, and a soldier's directness.
My American Journey is the powerful story of a life well lived and well told. It is also a view from the mountaintop of the political landscape of America. At a time when Americans feel disenchanted with their leaders. General Powell's passionate views on family, personal responsibility, and, in his own words, "the greatness of America and the opportunities it offers" inspire hope and present a blueprint for the future. An utterly absorbing account, it is history with a vision.
Here, for the first time, Colin Powell himself tells us how it happened, in a memoir distinguished by a heartfelt love of country and family, warm good humor, and a soldier's directness.
My American Journey is the powerful story of a life well lived and well told. It is also a view from the mountaintop of the political landscape of America. At a time when Americans feel disenchanted with their leaders. General Powell's passionate views on family, personal responsibility, and, in his own words, "the greatness of America and the opportunities it offers" inspire hope and present a blueprint for the future. An utterly absorbing account, it is history with a vision.
688 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1995
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6115 people want to read
About the author
Colin Powell
48 books160 followersGeneral Colin Luther Powell, United States Army (Ret.) KCB (Honorary) was an American politician. He was the 65th United States Secretary of State (2001-2005), serving under President George W. Bush. He was the first Jamaican American appointed to that position. As a General in the United States Army, Powell also served as National Security Advisor (1987–1989) and as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (1989–1993), holding the latter position during the Gulf War.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 335 reviews
November 28, 2017
Wonderful read! about his leadership,experience,honor,army and public life...well written (paperback!)
September 5, 2010
Back in March 2007, I had the opportunity to attend breakfast of the International Housewares Association. It was here that I was an arms length from Colin Powell as he gave his speech. As he provided short glimpses of events and accomplishments in his life I recall that I had to read his autobiography. Now a little over three years later I finally accomplished that by reading “My American Journey” by Colin Powell.
I found it fascinating the story of how Mr. Powell’s life twisted from his early years, through his solider years to his Washington years and retirement. While the majority of the book gave a good overview of Mr. Powell’s life, I found the Desert Storm sections the most difficult to make it through. It just didn’t seem to flow as well as the other parts of the book. Perhaps it was the topic, but it seemed like just a retelling of the events of the war during this time.
That said, the primary reason I wanted to read this book was for any words of wisdom or bits of knowledge, and I was not disappointed.
“Being in charge means making decision, no matter how unpleasant. If it’s broke, fix it. When you do, you win the gratitude of the people who have been suffering under the bad situation”…”You cannot let the mission suffer, or make the majority pay to spare the feelings of an individual.”
“Leadership is solving problems. The day a soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them. They have either lost confidence that you can help them or concluded you do not care. Either case is a failure of leadership.”
Colin Powell’s Rules
1. It ain’t as bad as you think. It will look better in the morning.
2. Get mad, then get over it.
3. Avoid having your ego so close to your position that when your position falls, your ego goes with it.
4. It can be done!
5. Be careful what you choose. You may get it.
6. You can’t make someone else’s choices. You shouldn’t let someone else make yours.
7. Check small things.
8. Share credit
9. Remain calm. Be kind.
10. Have a vision. Be demanding.
11. Don’t take counsel of your fears or naysayers.
12. Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.
I found it fascinating the story of how Mr. Powell’s life twisted from his early years, through his solider years to his Washington years and retirement. While the majority of the book gave a good overview of Mr. Powell’s life, I found the Desert Storm sections the most difficult to make it through. It just didn’t seem to flow as well as the other parts of the book. Perhaps it was the topic, but it seemed like just a retelling of the events of the war during this time.
That said, the primary reason I wanted to read this book was for any words of wisdom or bits of knowledge, and I was not disappointed.
“Being in charge means making decision, no matter how unpleasant. If it’s broke, fix it. When you do, you win the gratitude of the people who have been suffering under the bad situation”…”You cannot let the mission suffer, or make the majority pay to spare the feelings of an individual.”
“Leadership is solving problems. The day a soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them. They have either lost confidence that you can help them or concluded you do not care. Either case is a failure of leadership.”
Colin Powell’s Rules
1. It ain’t as bad as you think. It will look better in the morning.
2. Get mad, then get over it.
3. Avoid having your ego so close to your position that when your position falls, your ego goes with it.
4. It can be done!
5. Be careful what you choose. You may get it.
6. You can’t make someone else’s choices. You shouldn’t let someone else make yours.
7. Check small things.
8. Share credit
9. Remain calm. Be kind.
10. Have a vision. Be demanding.
11. Don’t take counsel of your fears or naysayers.
12. Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.
June 8, 2025
I have, and always will love this man. He went through so much, and yet his positive attitude never faltered.
Colin Powell’s Rules:
It ain’t as bad as you think.
It will look better in the morning.
Get mad, then get over it.
Avoid having your ego so close to your position that when your position falls, your ego goes with it.
It can be done!
Be careful what you choose. You may get it.
Don’t let adverse facts stand in the way of a good decision. You can’t make someone else’s choices. You shouldn’t let someone else make yours.
Check small things.
Share credit.
Remain calm. Be kind. Have a vision. Be demanding.
Don’t take counsel of your fears or naysayers. Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.
He was definitely one of the good ones, and is sore missed today.
Colin Powell’s Rules:
It ain’t as bad as you think.
It will look better in the morning.
Get mad, then get over it.
Avoid having your ego so close to your position that when your position falls, your ego goes with it.
It can be done!
Be careful what you choose. You may get it.
Don’t let adverse facts stand in the way of a good decision. You can’t make someone else’s choices. You shouldn’t let someone else make yours.
Check small things.
Share credit.
Remain calm. Be kind. Have a vision. Be demanding.
Don’t take counsel of your fears or naysayers. Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.
He was definitely one of the good ones, and is sore missed today.
November 2, 2021
Excellent read!! My third reading and I’m still inspired! As a 30-year Air Force Veteran, I remember reading this for the first time as new NCO and immediately printing out “Colin Powell’s Rules” and placing it on my desk to read and reread and practice. Those rules accompanied me for another 18 years to my retirement and are now on my wall in my library!! It was a sad day to hear of his passing, but his words and guidance will continue to live on!!
July 22, 2011
This autobiography was highly recommended to me by my cousin, who is herself a war veteran. I half expected to be in over my head in military jargon, but I was pleasantly surprised. His writing is insightful and reflective, and I am walking away with the sense that I have a true picture of Powell's value system and basic personality. I also appreciated the fact that he doesn't take himself or his circumstances too seriously. He's actually got a great sense of humor, which is evident throughout the book. I especially liked his descriptions of Gen. Hank Emerson (a.k.a. the Gunfighter) and his attempt to institute games like "combat" football and basketball, in an effort to make everyone feel like winners in the game of life. There really weren't rules to these games, and tackling, blocking, clipping, and blindsiding were accepted. Even better - whole units played each other, instead of your standard 11 and 5-man teams. Good stuff!
For me, this book was informative and entertaining, but also inspirational. He has a passion for America and democracy that comes from his first-hand experiences with others who lack our freedoms and privileges. He also offers a lot of observations about quality leadership and personal integrity, and I think the lessons he's learned from his own experiences can be generalized, regardless of your situation in life. I think this, more than anything, makes this book one that I plan to revisit again in the future.
For me, this book was informative and entertaining, but also inspirational. He has a passion for America and democracy that comes from his first-hand experiences with others who lack our freedoms and privileges. He also offers a lot of observations about quality leadership and personal integrity, and I think the lessons he's learned from his own experiences can be generalized, regardless of your situation in life. I think this, more than anything, makes this book one that I plan to revisit again in the future.
May 25, 2010
I read this book in chunks, and could not put it down, every moment I had free, that book was in my hand. General Powell is a very admirable person, someone who defeated the odds, and have endured a lot. This book should be required reading in schools, not because of the great story, but because it shows a small part of the bureaucratic machine in Washington, and how big decisions are made. Which I found fascinating.
I loved the little stories that are shared with the reader, the stories you don't get from everyone, the little jokes and humanising character I only hear about in the news.
I could not help but notice that the last part of the book is, or seems like, very self serving, where the General explains how he was right, while the others were wrong, and how he managed to come out as the good guy. I'm not doubting the man, but it seems a bit extricated, and becomes a bit too much. Still, this is a man who deserves admiration.
At the end of the book there is a list of General Powell's Rules. I printed a copy and have it hanging in my office
I loved the little stories that are shared with the reader, the stories you don't get from everyone, the little jokes and humanising character I only hear about in the news.
I could not help but notice that the last part of the book is, or seems like, very self serving, where the General explains how he was right, while the others were wrong, and how he managed to come out as the good guy. I'm not doubting the man, but it seems a bit extricated, and becomes a bit too much. Still, this is a man who deserves admiration.
At the end of the book there is a list of General Powell's Rules. I printed a copy and have it hanging in my office
November 28, 2012
This is an extremely long book. I think it could have been more tightly edited and shorter. Colin Powell fills his memoir with historical significance, which made it even more interesting to me. I have to question how he remembers details from 40 years ago, though. Did he document all his conversations and keep a daily journal?
The details make the stories interesting; however, his references to the people he quotes grow tiresome and the story would flow as well without so many of them.
His multiple remarks about how he was the first in his class or the youngest at everything he did are annoying. I get it, you're an overacheiver. I found myself skipping entire sections because I wanted to get to the end.
I have met General Powell. He is a compelling speaker and a fine storyteller. I would have enjoyed his book more if it hadn't been so rambling.
The details make the stories interesting; however, his references to the people he quotes grow tiresome and the story would flow as well without so many of them.
His multiple remarks about how he was the first in his class or the youngest at everything he did are annoying. I get it, you're an overacheiver. I found myself skipping entire sections because I wanted to get to the end.
I have met General Powell. He is a compelling speaker and a fine storyteller. I would have enjoyed his book more if it hadn't been so rambling.
November 11, 2017
Excellent. Lot of great leadership advice.
April 28, 2018
Read this years ago when it was first published and thought it was great!
January 25, 2014
I found this an interesting insight into a man who I have come to respect a great deal. General Powell takes us from his humble beginnings in a poorer section of New York, to the years immediately following his retirement from the Army in the mid-90s.
I found his candor refreshing, his opinions presented fairly and graciously, and his insight "behind the scenes of power" through many dramatic geopolitical changes over the last 20 or so years to be interesting.
I didn't realize he had served two tours in Vietnam, that he - for a time - was in the Department of Energy where I work, and his service to President Carter in the late 1970s.
I especially appreciated his insider's perspective into President Reagan's administration, and his time working for Casper Weinberger. He credits these men as being largely responsible for the dramatic turnaround of the US military in the early 1980s, following what he calls "the debacle of Vietnam". I experienced first hand that malaise in the late 1970s, and my enlistment ended the day before President Reagan took office for his first term. But I was privileged to work closely with the US Navy as a civilian in the late 1980s, and can attest personally to the dramatic changes that had occurred and were so evident between January 1981 and January 1985. After reading General Powell's perspective, the changes I observed make sense.
This book ends before his years in the George W. Bush administration, and thus does not include his sensational (in my opinion) presentation before the United Nations making the case for intervention into Iraq after 9/11. I realize some people feel he participated in a lie by making that presentation, but if so, I believe that would have been be out of character for him - judging solely from my distant and historical perspective, to be fair. So, I look forward to reading his next book and learning about those later years as well.
I would certainly include General Powell in my list of great Americans, and I can recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning more about him.
I found his candor refreshing, his opinions presented fairly and graciously, and his insight "behind the scenes of power" through many dramatic geopolitical changes over the last 20 or so years to be interesting.
I didn't realize he had served two tours in Vietnam, that he - for a time - was in the Department of Energy where I work, and his service to President Carter in the late 1970s.
I especially appreciated his insider's perspective into President Reagan's administration, and his time working for Casper Weinberger. He credits these men as being largely responsible for the dramatic turnaround of the US military in the early 1980s, following what he calls "the debacle of Vietnam". I experienced first hand that malaise in the late 1970s, and my enlistment ended the day before President Reagan took office for his first term. But I was privileged to work closely with the US Navy as a civilian in the late 1980s, and can attest personally to the dramatic changes that had occurred and were so evident between January 1981 and January 1985. After reading General Powell's perspective, the changes I observed make sense.
This book ends before his years in the George W. Bush administration, and thus does not include his sensational (in my opinion) presentation before the United Nations making the case for intervention into Iraq after 9/11. I realize some people feel he participated in a lie by making that presentation, but if so, I believe that would have been be out of character for him - judging solely from my distant and historical perspective, to be fair. So, I look forward to reading his next book and learning about those later years as well.
I would certainly include General Powell in my list of great Americans, and I can recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning more about him.
April 24, 2013
I like how Colin Powell describes this book and will include a quote by him, “Mine is the story of a black kid of no early promise from an immigrant family of limited means who was raised in the South Bronx and somehow rose to become the national Security Advisor to the President of the United States and then Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Is is mostly a story of hard work and good luck, of occasional rough times, but mostly good times. It is a story of service and soldiering. It is a story about the people who helped make me what I am. It is a story of my benefiting from opportunities created by the sacrifice of those who went before me and maybe my benefiting those who will follow. It is a story of faith—faith in myself, and faith in America. Above all, it's a love story: love of family, of friends, of the Army, and of my country. It is a story that could only have happened in America.”
That's it in a nutshell. I enjoyed the book. Having lived through a lot of the events that the author describes made it even more interesting.
It was a journey not only through Colin Powell's life but for me a look back on the problems that people faced as I was growing up and making my way in life. I experienced through his writing a little of his family life as a child in the Bronx with strong family support, and problems they faced in making a living and getting ahead. The author joined the ROTC program and found something that he loved and did well. He became a Ranger and got his first foreign post in Germany in 1960. He finished graduate school at George Washington University in 1971, became a White House Fellow in 1972; a Battalion Commander in Korea; Brigadier General in 1982. As a military leader he worked under three presidents, Regan, Bush and Clinton. He sees himself as a fiscal conservative with a social conscience.
He showed a good command of the English language. His writings exhibited a peripheral understanding of situations. He believed in having a definite mission before entering into conflicts. It's an incredible writing. You felt the high drama through his words when national and international conflicts were confronted and dealt with in the most effective way and with the least injury to anyone. You felt the emotion and saw the personalities of the individuals who were responsible for these strategies and decisions. My understanding of some events were broadened.
His writings also opened up to his personal life with his wife and children, and family members and his favorite hobby, favorite music, etc. An individual can learn something from this book.
That's it in a nutshell. I enjoyed the book. Having lived through a lot of the events that the author describes made it even more interesting.
It was a journey not only through Colin Powell's life but for me a look back on the problems that people faced as I was growing up and making my way in life. I experienced through his writing a little of his family life as a child in the Bronx with strong family support, and problems they faced in making a living and getting ahead. The author joined the ROTC program and found something that he loved and did well. He became a Ranger and got his first foreign post in Germany in 1960. He finished graduate school at George Washington University in 1971, became a White House Fellow in 1972; a Battalion Commander in Korea; Brigadier General in 1982. As a military leader he worked under three presidents, Regan, Bush and Clinton. He sees himself as a fiscal conservative with a social conscience.
He showed a good command of the English language. His writings exhibited a peripheral understanding of situations. He believed in having a definite mission before entering into conflicts. It's an incredible writing. You felt the high drama through his words when national and international conflicts were confronted and dealt with in the most effective way and with the least injury to anyone. You felt the emotion and saw the personalities of the individuals who were responsible for these strategies and decisions. My understanding of some events were broadened.
His writings also opened up to his personal life with his wife and children, and family members and his favorite hobby, favorite music, etc. An individual can learn something from this book.
April 24, 2022
I learned about My American Journey from Mattis's reading list. I decided to pick it as I knew very little about Colin Powell and figured I should if he was on Mattis's list.
Colin Powell lived an incredible life. His level of excellence is inspirational. Time and time again he graduated at the top of his class, won competitions, or succeeded on the mission. This success did not come without sacrifice and was guided by his core values.
While the book gave a great overview of Powell's life and what he stood for I finished it without feeling like I knew him. This could be because how much content was covered (he did a lot), Powell wanted to keep the text to the facts as he saw them, or because he is a complex human and one book is only enough to scratch the surface. Either way while reading I watched a few of his speeches which helped me put the pieces together.
Because this book was published in 1995 I will need to read more about his time as Secretary of State.
I would recommend My American Journey to anyone who wants to learn about Colin Powell, read about a leader, or gain insight into race relations in the military and geo strategic politics during in the 2nd half of the 20th century.
Colin Powell lived an incredible life. His level of excellence is inspirational. Time and time again he graduated at the top of his class, won competitions, or succeeded on the mission. This success did not come without sacrifice and was guided by his core values.
While the book gave a great overview of Powell's life and what he stood for I finished it without feeling like I knew him. This could be because how much content was covered (he did a lot), Powell wanted to keep the text to the facts as he saw them, or because he is a complex human and one book is only enough to scratch the surface. Either way while reading I watched a few of his speeches which helped me put the pieces together.
Because this book was published in 1995 I will need to read more about his time as Secretary of State.
I would recommend My American Journey to anyone who wants to learn about Colin Powell, read about a leader, or gain insight into race relations in the military and geo strategic politics during in the 2nd half of the 20th century.
November 20, 2010
I particularly enjoy biography and autobiography, and this is an outstanding one. Powell did so much -- from his career in the military to his service on the National Security Council -- and brilliantly recalls his close up and personal experiences with presidents and senior officials of the U.S. Government. I met him several times when he was Secretary of State (which period is not covered in the memoir), and never ceased being impressed by his ability to connect, to inspire and to set an example that transcended race, time and politics. This is a fascinating account of an American life.
December 9, 2016
Who can't like Colin Powell. He's almost too good to be true. Too bad he went with the wrong party (Republicans) who sent him out to the UN to disgrace himself about weapons of mass destruction. What a shame to end his career that way. This book was written in 1995 and does not deal with that issue. It's a little odd to hear mention of President Bush and realize Mr. Powell is speaking about the competent President Bush, the father.
Read
September 6, 2019Read years ago,found it rather boring.
November 5, 2017
I read the updated edition of this book, the one with the surprise twist at the end. The one where the hero of the story, a man full of integrity, intelligence, sound judgement, clarity of thought, a passion for justice, and just a cornucopia of admirable qualities, foists a mishmash of lies and half-truths before the United Nations to justify going to war.
I can't think of another book that I enjoyed so much, up until the very last part, and then wanted to hurl against the wall, filled with disappointment and a sense of betrayal. This was an odd reaction, because I read the book long after the sordid mess in Iraq unfolded and no weapons of mass destruction were ever located and any alleged ties between Iraq and Al-Qaeda were demonstrated to be be limited to the strangely u-less letter “q.” I already knew the ending, but somehow it still enraged and depressed me, because after slogging through 600 pages of Powell’s extraordinary life story, my admiration for him had been ratcheted up sky-high, only to come crashing down and land in a pile of doo-doo.
There is so much upon which General Powell and I agree. Like him, I am disturbed by extremism on both the left and right. I agree with his point, oft-made throughout this book, that racial injustice has been and continues to be a central problem facing our nation. I also agree wholeheartedly with him that the U.S. and the west were on the right side of the Cold War, that free markets (with some sensible regulation) are an essentially good thing, that communism was a bad idea, and the collapse of the Soviet Union was a wonderful development for the entire world. Colin and I are on the same page with regard to all these things. We are also both fond of rum.
His life is a classic American success story. Son of immigrant parents rises from humble beginnings in New York City, overcomes entrenched racism, and rises to become one of the most powerful people in the world. Especially moving was his account of coming home from Vietnam where he risked life and limb on behalf of his nation, only to be denied service at a restaurant on the basis of the pigments in his epidermis.
Hundreds of pages of powerful imagery of this sort permeate the book. Examinations of racism and overcoming racism, from the perspective of someone uniquely qualified to opine on the subject. Ideas about how unclear political objectives inevitably lead to a floundering misuse of military power. And perhaps most powerful, inspirational and ironic: He describes his efforts to persuade other key military leaders to downsize the U.S. military in the wake of the collapse of the Soviet Union, and illustrates the reluctance on the behalf of many of them to read the writing on the wall, their insistence that we need to be prepared for a non-existent threat.
On this point, General Powell is crystal clear:
“I predicted Soviet military budget cuts of 40% , manpower cuts of 50%, a cap on naval shipbuilding . . . by 1994: no Soviet Forces in Eastern Europe, Warsaw Pact replaced, East Germany gone, all Eastern-bloc countries neutral states with multiparty systems. . . I began matching these projections to a commensurate strength and structure for the U.S. military . . . These levels would be tough to sell to Cheney.”
“Another cost cutter: the Army wanted a new radio jammer to thwart Soviet commando attacks in NATO’s rear. What attacks? What rear? What Soviets? We cut the request and $200 million more was saved.”
In a chapter entitled “When you’ve lost your best enemy,” he eloquently describes the natural tendency of military institutions to create an enemy even when there isn’t one. He had a front row seat to the collapse of the Soviet Union as well as the unwillingness on the behalf of many of his colleagues to even acknowledge that we had had the imprudence to actually go and win the Cold War.
That’s why the very last part of the book, added after its initial publication, is so very very disappointing. Because in that chapter (a transcript of the 2003 speech before the UN Security Council, outlining the alleged urgent need to invade Iraq ) Powell does exactly what we readers have just spent hundreds of pages admiring what he has stood up against. This was a reminder of the disappointment I and others felt after the details of that speech were revealed to be of an unmistakably bovine fecal nature, thousands of lives and a couple of trillion dollars too late. Because many of us didn’t put a lot of stock in the integrity of Dick Cheney or the judgement of George Bush, but felt that this guy, at least, was someone you could trust.
In a 2016 interview, Powell expresses great regret for those remarks to the U.N., admitting that the intelligence on which the decision to invade Iraq was based was deeply deeply flawed. I hope that any future editions of the book will include an addendum to the addendum. I think Star Wars has taught us that having a good guy seduced by the dark side of The Force is a great way to advance a plot, but it’s so much more satisfying when he becomes a good guy again at the end.
___________________________________________________
P.S. If you don’t agree with my politics, that’s totally okay with me. You are entitled to your worldview, but please believe me when I say that I am not the slightest bit interested in trying to convince you that you are wrong, nor listen to you explain why you think I am wrong. I’m pretty sure there exist places on the internet where people engage in that sort of thing. I am not so sure than anyone has ever actually successfully convinced anyone else that they were wrong about anything, but hey, hope springs eternal. Go for it! Just not here. Thanks and have a great day.
I can't think of another book that I enjoyed so much, up until the very last part, and then wanted to hurl against the wall, filled with disappointment and a sense of betrayal. This was an odd reaction, because I read the book long after the sordid mess in Iraq unfolded and no weapons of mass destruction were ever located and any alleged ties between Iraq and Al-Qaeda were demonstrated to be be limited to the strangely u-less letter “q.” I already knew the ending, but somehow it still enraged and depressed me, because after slogging through 600 pages of Powell’s extraordinary life story, my admiration for him had been ratcheted up sky-high, only to come crashing down and land in a pile of doo-doo.
There is so much upon which General Powell and I agree. Like him, I am disturbed by extremism on both the left and right. I agree with his point, oft-made throughout this book, that racial injustice has been and continues to be a central problem facing our nation. I also agree wholeheartedly with him that the U.S. and the west were on the right side of the Cold War, that free markets (with some sensible regulation) are an essentially good thing, that communism was a bad idea, and the collapse of the Soviet Union was a wonderful development for the entire world. Colin and I are on the same page with regard to all these things. We are also both fond of rum.
His life is a classic American success story. Son of immigrant parents rises from humble beginnings in New York City, overcomes entrenched racism, and rises to become one of the most powerful people in the world. Especially moving was his account of coming home from Vietnam where he risked life and limb on behalf of his nation, only to be denied service at a restaurant on the basis of the pigments in his epidermis.
Hundreds of pages of powerful imagery of this sort permeate the book. Examinations of racism and overcoming racism, from the perspective of someone uniquely qualified to opine on the subject. Ideas about how unclear political objectives inevitably lead to a floundering misuse of military power. And perhaps most powerful, inspirational and ironic: He describes his efforts to persuade other key military leaders to downsize the U.S. military in the wake of the collapse of the Soviet Union, and illustrates the reluctance on the behalf of many of them to read the writing on the wall, their insistence that we need to be prepared for a non-existent threat.
On this point, General Powell is crystal clear:
“I predicted Soviet military budget cuts of 40% , manpower cuts of 50%, a cap on naval shipbuilding . . . by 1994: no Soviet Forces in Eastern Europe, Warsaw Pact replaced, East Germany gone, all Eastern-bloc countries neutral states with multiparty systems. . . I began matching these projections to a commensurate strength and structure for the U.S. military . . . These levels would be tough to sell to Cheney.”
“Another cost cutter: the Army wanted a new radio jammer to thwart Soviet commando attacks in NATO’s rear. What attacks? What rear? What Soviets? We cut the request and $200 million more was saved.”
In a chapter entitled “When you’ve lost your best enemy,” he eloquently describes the natural tendency of military institutions to create an enemy even when there isn’t one. He had a front row seat to the collapse of the Soviet Union as well as the unwillingness on the behalf of many of his colleagues to even acknowledge that we had had the imprudence to actually go and win the Cold War.
That’s why the very last part of the book, added after its initial publication, is so very very disappointing. Because in that chapter (a transcript of the 2003 speech before the UN Security Council, outlining the alleged urgent need to invade Iraq ) Powell does exactly what we readers have just spent hundreds of pages admiring what he has stood up against. This was a reminder of the disappointment I and others felt after the details of that speech were revealed to be of an unmistakably bovine fecal nature, thousands of lives and a couple of trillion dollars too late. Because many of us didn’t put a lot of stock in the integrity of Dick Cheney or the judgement of George Bush, but felt that this guy, at least, was someone you could trust.
In a 2016 interview, Powell expresses great regret for those remarks to the U.N., admitting that the intelligence on which the decision to invade Iraq was based was deeply deeply flawed. I hope that any future editions of the book will include an addendum to the addendum. I think Star Wars has taught us that having a good guy seduced by the dark side of The Force is a great way to advance a plot, but it’s so much more satisfying when he becomes a good guy again at the end.
___________________________________________________
P.S. If you don’t agree with my politics, that’s totally okay with me. You are entitled to your worldview, but please believe me when I say that I am not the slightest bit interested in trying to convince you that you are wrong, nor listen to you explain why you think I am wrong. I’m pretty sure there exist places on the internet where people engage in that sort of thing. I am not so sure than anyone has ever actually successfully convinced anyone else that they were wrong about anything, but hey, hope springs eternal. Go for it! Just not here. Thanks and have a great day.
March 23, 2022
Holy hannah. I have not powered through a nearly 700 page book in two days before and I doubt I will do so again.
I wish I could've met this man. I wish I could've shook his hand, got his autograph, something.
I started to take from Mad Dog Mattis and compile people I wanted to read about- tacticians, soldiers, leaders. Colin Powell was all three.
I 98% of the time did not feel my interest lag. I didn't have the trouble of other books of keeping the rotating cast of characters straight. I gained a much deeper appreciation of people who used to be funny names to me like " Caspar Weinberger". I FELT LIKE I WAS THERE, in the war rooms planning invasiond of Granada or Panama, or the after effects of the Desert One fiasco. This book was well severed by his direct style and no-nonsense explanations.
It was fascinating to see Desert Shield/Storm from the planners perspective instead of from the eyes of on- the ground commanders such as Jim Mattis or other writers. It really rounded out the overall idea of it.
I read this as a leadership guide and it did not dissappoint. From such gems as " Don't step on enthusiasm" to " turning a loss into a win by using what you got" to Powell's Rules, I need to go back and evaulate how to lead and develop your own style. Addtional commentary on excessive pomp and circumstance, the necessity of logisitics and how to build a team were amazing gems.
Fittingly, Colin is his own worst critic at times, questioning decisions in an earnest monologue and breaking down every single possible thing that could go wrong. It is illuminating and insightful. He also illuminates others having private moments of doubt, never letting on to those they serve the weight of their decisions.
The other thing that this did is it made me miss my Grandfather. This man was of the same era, born in WWII, raised and served in the early Vietnam Era, but with wildly different end results. Similar vein of talking to people however.
One final note is how on point he would be with predictions of how we are as a society right now. He offers a message of hope that we can heal a fractured divide and urges us to truely become a family- petty squabbles and all. His remarks on racism and expectations and his own experience are a phenomenal take.
I cannot rate this higher than a five. I would rate this a 6 on that arbitrary scale.
I wish I could've met this man. I wish I could've shook his hand, got his autograph, something.
I started to take from Mad Dog Mattis and compile people I wanted to read about- tacticians, soldiers, leaders. Colin Powell was all three.
I 98% of the time did not feel my interest lag. I didn't have the trouble of other books of keeping the rotating cast of characters straight. I gained a much deeper appreciation of people who used to be funny names to me like " Caspar Weinberger". I FELT LIKE I WAS THERE, in the war rooms planning invasiond of Granada or Panama, or the after effects of the Desert One fiasco. This book was well severed by his direct style and no-nonsense explanations.
It was fascinating to see Desert Shield/Storm from the planners perspective instead of from the eyes of on- the ground commanders such as Jim Mattis or other writers. It really rounded out the overall idea of it.
I read this as a leadership guide and it did not dissappoint. From such gems as " Don't step on enthusiasm" to " turning a loss into a win by using what you got" to Powell's Rules, I need to go back and evaulate how to lead and develop your own style. Addtional commentary on excessive pomp and circumstance, the necessity of logisitics and how to build a team were amazing gems.
Fittingly, Colin is his own worst critic at times, questioning decisions in an earnest monologue and breaking down every single possible thing that could go wrong. It is illuminating and insightful. He also illuminates others having private moments of doubt, never letting on to those they serve the weight of their decisions.
The other thing that this did is it made me miss my Grandfather. This man was of the same era, born in WWII, raised and served in the early Vietnam Era, but with wildly different end results. Similar vein of talking to people however.
One final note is how on point he would be with predictions of how we are as a society right now. He offers a message of hope that we can heal a fractured divide and urges us to truely become a family- petty squabbles and all. His remarks on racism and expectations and his own experience are a phenomenal take.
I cannot rate this higher than a five. I would rate this a 6 on that arbitrary scale.
February 2, 2022
I've only read the first 150 pages and have been mesmerized. Not that I can compare myself to Colin Powell but there are two characteristics we share: First I was never good in sports, art, music or writing. Second, I hand painted my Volkswagen with latex paint (red-orange, not white) and drove it around for five years. I think the similarities end there. I'll keep you posted as I progress with his story.
Just finished the book today. What a great American story, from the Bronx to the upper echelons of the US and foreign governments. Colin Powell balances his gratefulness to the country and the military, the latter which provided equal opportunity as long as you worked off your butt, to the injustices that blacks endured before and after the civil war. However he did not excoriate the whites for behaving in the manner in which they did since their behaviors were ingrained in the Zeitgeist that existed. And, more importantly, he did not harbor racist thoughts and he did not view himself as a victim. Instead he approached racism from two fronts since, as he stated, if you segregate against one group your also segregate against the other group. This was a long book but well worth the read to discover the inner workings of governments and the inspiration that allowed Colin Powell to succeed to the highest levels of power, yet continuing to retain his humbleness and dedication to his family and friends. We need more Colin Powells, especially during today's extremely turbulent times.
Just finished the book today. What a great American story, from the Bronx to the upper echelons of the US and foreign governments. Colin Powell balances his gratefulness to the country and the military, the latter which provided equal opportunity as long as you worked off your butt, to the injustices that blacks endured before and after the civil war. However he did not excoriate the whites for behaving in the manner in which they did since their behaviors were ingrained in the Zeitgeist that existed. And, more importantly, he did not harbor racist thoughts and he did not view himself as a victim. Instead he approached racism from two fronts since, as he stated, if you segregate against one group your also segregate against the other group. This was a long book but well worth the read to discover the inner workings of governments and the inspiration that allowed Colin Powell to succeed to the highest levels of power, yet continuing to retain his humbleness and dedication to his family and friends. We need more Colin Powells, especially during today's extremely turbulent times.
March 7, 2011
I really liked this book. It reads like a novel - engrossing and tough to put down. Powell and Persico (sp?) are great storytellers, and you get a true sense for the experiences that shaped Powell's perspective on leadership, the military, race relations, etc. I didn't love the brief asides on "leadership principles I took from this experience" - felt a little patronizing - but those were relatively infrequent and probably actually helpful. I was also surprised to really understand the extent to which Powell really views himself as a military man, not a politician or a bureaucrat who simply 'checked the box' on military service. Really a great (and quick) read.
October 2, 2013
Interesting life and story, but not very well written. A bit self-serving in the view of history and written before the decision by the Bush administration to enter into the second Iraq war so it is missing the defining time period of his service to our nation.
May 22, 2014
I read this book nearly ten years ago, and his experience of seeing a Vietnamese monk perform a self-immolation in front of the US embassy still confounds me.
-In Service to Community Cooperation for All Humanity,
Shira
MEOW Date: Monday, May 20. 12014 H.E. (Holocene Era)
-In Service to Community Cooperation for All Humanity,
Shira
MEOW Date: Monday, May 20. 12014 H.E. (Holocene Era)
June 23, 2009
It was a somewhat dry journey to learn about Mr. Powell. Read once, then return it to the library. Not bad, just not a classic.
June 14, 2022
Great
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 4, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I really enjoyed this autobiography/memoir written by Colin Powell in 1995. It covers his life from childhood in the South Bronx until his retirement from the service and tenure as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 1993. I think I enjoyed the first third of the book the most, his growing up years and his early college life where he finally found his calling in Army ROTC at CCNY (City College of New York).
His early military years, the late 1950’s were eye opening for him, especially when he was sent to Fort Bennington Georgia where he experienced racial segregation. He and his wife had limited housing choices because most of the neighborhoods were all white. There were restaurants where he couldn’t buy a burger, not even at a drive-thru.
Later, after this book was written, he served again as George W. Bush’s Secretary of State from 2001 to 2005.
A couple quotes from the epilogue: “With the end of the Soviet Union and the death of Communism as an ideology, we face a world so far without a new structure or a new set of rules.” And “nuclear annihilation, the horrific possibility that hung over the world as long as East and West were locked in distrust, no longer threatens.” How I wish his optimism had remained true!
I read online that he denounced Donal Trump after January 6, 2021 and left the Republic party. Sadly, this great statesman passed later the same year.
The 52 Book Club Challenge - 2024
Prompt #21 - Written by a ghost writer
I really enjoyed this autobiography/memoir written by Colin Powell in 1995. It covers his life from childhood in the South Bronx until his retirement from the service and tenure as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 1993. I think I enjoyed the first third of the book the most, his growing up years and his early college life where he finally found his calling in Army ROTC at CCNY (City College of New York).
His early military years, the late 1950’s were eye opening for him, especially when he was sent to Fort Bennington Georgia where he experienced racial segregation. He and his wife had limited housing choices because most of the neighborhoods were all white. There were restaurants where he couldn’t buy a burger, not even at a drive-thru.
Later, after this book was written, he served again as George W. Bush’s Secretary of State from 2001 to 2005.
A couple quotes from the epilogue: “With the end of the Soviet Union and the death of Communism as an ideology, we face a world so far without a new structure or a new set of rules.” And “nuclear annihilation, the horrific possibility that hung over the world as long as East and West were locked in distrust, no longer threatens.” How I wish his optimism had remained true!
I read online that he denounced Donal Trump after January 6, 2021 and left the Republic party. Sadly, this great statesman passed later the same year.
The 52 Book Club Challenge - 2024
Prompt #21 - Written by a ghost writer
June 20, 2022
From his time in jungle in Vietnam to his ascent to the position of Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Colin Powell had a tremendous military career. This well-written autobiography entertainingly details his rise, touching on everything from his upbringing in New York to his struggles serving as a black officer in the U.S. Army in the American south.
There are many things that I appreciated about this book, but there are two reasons in particular. First, it's fascinating to read the "state of the world" discussion at the end of the book. It was a time hopeful for the opportunities that could be after the recent fall of the Soviet Union and the early days of military operations in the Middle East.
Secondly, I appreciated Powell's candid description of how his relationships evolved with the people that he worked with throughout multiple presidential administrations. I thought this book did a great job of explaining his perspective "in the moment," rather than describing the relationships as if they had always been so strong after years of service together.
I have tremendous respect for all that General Powell accomplished throughout his career. If you haven't read this book, I recommend it!
There are many things that I appreciated about this book, but there are two reasons in particular. First, it's fascinating to read the "state of the world" discussion at the end of the book. It was a time hopeful for the opportunities that could be after the recent fall of the Soviet Union and the early days of military operations in the Middle East.
Secondly, I appreciated Powell's candid description of how his relationships evolved with the people that he worked with throughout multiple presidential administrations. I thought this book did a great job of explaining his perspective "in the moment," rather than describing the relationships as if they had always been so strong after years of service together.
I have tremendous respect for all that General Powell accomplished throughout his career. If you haven't read this book, I recommend it!
May 2, 2020
Great book.
Focuses on his time as a Company Commander in Vietnam - shows why we failed as a nation to set a political objective and we were involved in a conflict that only self-reinforced the reasons for us to be there.
Most of the second half of the book spoke about his relationship with the Reagan and Bush administrations. It showed how aloof Reagan was in national security and how hard he was driven by his advisors. During Bush’s administration it was clear Secretary Cheney was driving a large part of the foreign policy and in his lone cowboy way dominated that arena and constrained Powell.
Interesting how his life comes full circle and he is involved in the de-escalation of conflict with USSR (INF Treaty) when as a platoon commander he was stationed in Germany only a few miles away from the opposing Soviet threat.
A life that is inspiring, and shows how lucky and competent Gen Powell was. Too bad his legacy was only further written as this book was written before his Bush 2 days where I can only imagine Cheney and Rumsfeld would only further overbear on this true political servant.
Focuses on his time as a Company Commander in Vietnam - shows why we failed as a nation to set a political objective and we were involved in a conflict that only self-reinforced the reasons for us to be there.
Most of the second half of the book spoke about his relationship with the Reagan and Bush administrations. It showed how aloof Reagan was in national security and how hard he was driven by his advisors. During Bush’s administration it was clear Secretary Cheney was driving a large part of the foreign policy and in his lone cowboy way dominated that arena and constrained Powell.
Interesting how his life comes full circle and he is involved in the de-escalation of conflict with USSR (INF Treaty) when as a platoon commander he was stationed in Germany only a few miles away from the opposing Soviet threat.
A life that is inspiring, and shows how lucky and competent Gen Powell was. Too bad his legacy was only further written as this book was written before his Bush 2 days where I can only imagine Cheney and Rumsfeld would only further overbear on this true political servant.
March 2, 2020
Safe to say I have little to nothing in common with Mr. Powell, except at the core of being human. This man always had a drive that I will NEVER know. Growing up, Mr. Powell's name was on the TV and radio all the time, so it was common, but learning about his life, especially from his own perspective, was honestly riveting.
It's a wonderful story about the children of immigrants and what they can achieve and experience. If only we were all so driven!
It's a wonderful story about the children of immigrants and what they can achieve and experience. If only we were all so driven!
November 26, 2020
Fantastic lessons in leadership, from one of the greatest leaders of our time!
October 9, 2009
Again, I'm going to try and keep this short and sweet.
This book was a bit outside my usual reading habits, but Tony Blauer had it on his list of recommendations, so I thought it would be worth checking out. And I was right. It was worth it.
As the title implies, My American Journey is the story of how Colin Powell went from sub-average school student of Jamaican immigrants in the Bronx to being the commander of the one of the most powerful militaries in the world. It is a quintessential rags-to-riches sort of story that many Americans enjoy as children and dismiss as propaganda as teenagers (adults fall on all sides of the debate, of course). This is all nice, of course, but not necessarily worthwhile reading on its own. There are plenty of books that tell a similar kind of story, either factual or fictional, and if all you want is a feel good read, this isn't necessarily what you want.
Powell works his way through the story of his life with a level of introspection that might surprise readers who expect him to be a military-minded thug. His voice comes across as honest and genuine, and he is more than willing to admit when he thinks mistakes were made--especially if they were his own. This may be a success story, but it's not one where the author is gloating; Powell acknowledges when he screwed up, if he feels he does. And he acknowledges when OTHER people thought he screwed up, even if he doesn't think so.
And that, really, is what makes the book so fascinating; not just the life Powell has lived, which is admittedly impressive an interesting, but the way he thinks about that life. The book is a fantastic insight into the thinking of a very successful man. Even if you find his politics abhorrent, his thought processes are still worth understanding and thinking about. This is a man who knows how to succeed, and there's a lot to be learned from this.
This book was a bit outside my usual reading habits, but Tony Blauer had it on his list of recommendations, so I thought it would be worth checking out. And I was right. It was worth it.
As the title implies, My American Journey is the story of how Colin Powell went from sub-average school student of Jamaican immigrants in the Bronx to being the commander of the one of the most powerful militaries in the world. It is a quintessential rags-to-riches sort of story that many Americans enjoy as children and dismiss as propaganda as teenagers (adults fall on all sides of the debate, of course). This is all nice, of course, but not necessarily worthwhile reading on its own. There are plenty of books that tell a similar kind of story, either factual or fictional, and if all you want is a feel good read, this isn't necessarily what you want.
Powell works his way through the story of his life with a level of introspection that might surprise readers who expect him to be a military-minded thug. His voice comes across as honest and genuine, and he is more than willing to admit when he thinks mistakes were made--especially if they were his own. This may be a success story, but it's not one where the author is gloating; Powell acknowledges when he screwed up, if he feels he does. And he acknowledges when OTHER people thought he screwed up, even if he doesn't think so.
And that, really, is what makes the book so fascinating; not just the life Powell has lived, which is admittedly impressive an interesting, but the way he thinks about that life. The book is a fantastic insight into the thinking of a very successful man. Even if you find his politics abhorrent, his thought processes are still worth understanding and thinking about. This is a man who knows how to succeed, and there's a lot to be learned from this.
January 31, 2009
After watching Powell announce his support of Barack Obama on Meet The Press, I wanted to know if the criticism he received for doing so was appropriate. I wanted to know how this man climbed the ranks of the military so quickly and how all this intersected with his racial identity.
The criticism (being called a traitor) wasn't appropriate. He believes in fiscal responsibilty and that is the only match I see with the republican party. He served Reagan and Bush because it was his duty. His strong respect for the chain of command and his duty to his country (and the men and women serving it) was a strong force.
He was brought into each new position as an implement of change. For every appointment he had, he couldn't wait to get back to the military. And in every position he made major changes(he reduced the size of the military after the cold war - no a popular idea at the time and don't ask, don't tell was his idea). Never afraid of being on the wrong side, he spoke his mind. This master of compromise and change was called on time and time again to fix things, make things work.
Powell said something that I think sums up his view of his racial identity in the context of Black American progress: You need to pull yourself up by the boot straps. The problem is, not everyone has boot straps.
All you have to do is read the last few pages to see how similar his philosophies and political nature are to Obama.
Lastly, I really enjoyed hearing Powell's view on war so many years before the Iraq war. Very interesting. I look forward to another book by Powell, filling me in on the last 13 years.
The criticism (being called a traitor) wasn't appropriate. He believes in fiscal responsibilty and that is the only match I see with the republican party. He served Reagan and Bush because it was his duty. His strong respect for the chain of command and his duty to his country (and the men and women serving it) was a strong force.
He was brought into each new position as an implement of change. For every appointment he had, he couldn't wait to get back to the military. And in every position he made major changes(he reduced the size of the military after the cold war - no a popular idea at the time and don't ask, don't tell was his idea). Never afraid of being on the wrong side, he spoke his mind. This master of compromise and change was called on time and time again to fix things, make things work.
Powell said something that I think sums up his view of his racial identity in the context of Black American progress: You need to pull yourself up by the boot straps. The problem is, not everyone has boot straps.
All you have to do is read the last few pages to see how similar his philosophies and political nature are to Obama.
Lastly, I really enjoyed hearing Powell's view on war so many years before the Iraq war. Very interesting. I look forward to another book by Powell, filling me in on the last 13 years.
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