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Rating: 
Summary: Required Reading
Review: Anybody who thinks that Bush is the moral salvation of this country, needs to read this book. Molly Ivins exposes why the same people who loved to rant about Clinton's lack of content are eager for a man with an admittedly worse record. Because Ivins does not rely on one-liners or comedy matterial, this book is much more credible than the joke books that are problaly rolling off the presses now that Dubya's selection as the Republican nomination has been confirmed. She simply lets the governor's lack of a good record speak for itself. Bush is a spoiled little rich boy who is ruining Texas, but Ivins and the rest of the educated world are not going to let him get away with such debauchery. Texas ranks first in the number of executions and last in education---and we wonder why people from OUTSIDE the state were praising his education record at the convention.
Rating:
Summary: Very Insightful
Review: I recently finished Shrub and will say that I definitely enjoyed it. The book is written a concise, witty style that is very easy to digest and fun to read, and the content isn't too bad, either. Ivins basically examines Bush's political record as the governor of Texas, focusing on issues such as education, the environment, and especially his relationship with the Christian right, which I found to be the most interesting. Though it is obvious Ivins herself is a liberal, she does not stoop to speculation about Bush's past (drugs, etc.), instead choosing to focus on relevant political issues. She is also not afraid to criticize certain Democrats when they deserve it, and similarly to laud Bush in areas where she feels he has honestly tried to make a positive difference, such as education. All in all, Shrub is a must-read for anyone wanting to know about Bush's political past and Texas politics in general (which I personally felt she focused on a bit too much for a book claiming to be specifically about Bush, but a lot of it was interesting nonetheless). You will get an insight in to where many of his policies as president originated from and should be shocked at how much misinformation is spewed about him today by liberals and conservatives alike.
Rating: 
Summary: Not for Bush supporters (or maybe that's just who its for)
Review: Molly Ivins, not typically known as a horror writer, has penned the most terrifying book I have read in years. Through detailed descriptions of George W. Bush's term as Governor of Texas-itself a largely ceremonial post-she describes a man with neither the talent for nor any discernable interest in being the President (or holding any other elective office for that matter). W. was born into a degree of wealth that most of us can not even dream about. This privilege has formed his entire outlook on life, and policy. He instinctively believes that what is good for corporate America is best for the Country, and simply can not imagine thinking about issues in any other way. He has zero intellectual curiosity, and no interest at all in figuring out how to work the levers of power in government. He left the governing of Texas to others-appointed and elected heads of Boards, Commissions, and the (part time) legislature. This worked (sort of) in Texas, where the Governor is largely a symbolic office. However, it could spell disaster in the White House, where foreign leaders (not to mention us of the general populace) might expect him to actually have some interest and perhaps even knowledge about the issues confronting the nation. Aside from the informative content, Ivins is a terrific writer. Anyone not familiar with her columns is in for a pleasant surprise. Humor, information, and terror, all in the same book. Who can beat that?
Rating:
Summary: Quick and Insightful
Review: One of the best anti-Bush books out there. Not because it is heavy and deep with insight and lengthy connections that lead to utter shock but because it's fast, sharp and somewhat balanced--sort of. Ivans has wit and twist of phrase that makes her writing especially enjoyable no matter what subject she's taking on. This is just one of a number of excursions into Bush-land that she guides us on. I'd like to see the collected works someday. There's something to be said for media that has a specific stance but allows you to feel your own feelings about the subject. Kind of an Erroll Morris approach--Fog of War (see it), Kurt Vonnegut --(read him), USA The Movie (definitely see it!), Trials of Henry Kissinger (see it). All available on Amazon or through other outlets. We should all read more and watch more media that teaches and preaches rather than revs us up with emptiness.
Rating:
Summary: Revealing
Review: While I already knew bits and pieces of G.W.'s past record, this book brought it all together. If more people had read "Shrub" before going to the voting booth, we would have witnessed a very different outcome to this past election. As in all of Molly Ivins' writings, she brings wit and a little Twain satire to the political world. She helps you laugh at the serious realities that make you want to cry. I have read all of her books, and while this isn't as hilarious as some, she tells it like she sees it and has lived it; and like all individuals who do so, you either love her or hate her with a passion depending on your personal idealogies. I for one am a devoted fan and hope that she continues her writings to reveal more about the records of Texas politicans like Bush in the light of day.
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