41: A Portrait of My Father
Overview: Forty-three men have served as President of the United States. Countless books have been written about them. But never before has a President told the story of his father, another President, through his own eyes and in his own words. A unique and intimate biography, the book covers the entire scope of the elder President Bush’s life and career, including his service in the Pacific during World War II, his pioneering work in the Texas oil business, and his political rise as a Congressman, U.S. Representative to China and the United Nations, CIA Director, Vice President, and President. The book shines new light on both the accomplished statesman and the warm, decent man known best by his family. In addition, George W. Bush discusses his father’s influence on him throughout his own life, from his childhood in West Texas to his early campaign trips with his father, and from his decision to go into politics to his own two-term Presidency.
Pages: 496 Pages
Writer: George W Bush
Recommendations:
When Bush took office, I was in middle school. This gives you a good sense of my age, but also my is important, as following politics was not something that was really in my mind. I remember Desert Storm, actually watching it all unfold in my schools’ library. Outside of that, I didn’t really think much about politics. This book interested me as it was told from an outside perspective, but one that would also be kind. This book being written by a former President about a former President that was also his father was too good to pass up. The books spends just the right amount of time on each section of the 41st President. His early career, his influences, and right through him skydiving on his 90th birthday.
Overall, this book has a lot to like. It reminded me of things I had forgotten, informed me on things I didn’t know, and recreated moments of history. Having said that, I also have one major thing that didn’t work all that well. That was the author and son getting distracted away from his father’s story and often focused on his own story and experiences. At times, it seemed not the right time or place. Outside of that I really appreciated getting the story about George H. W. Bush from this lens.