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Summary: The true tale of an American Hero
Review: John McCain reflects on his father and grandfather before talking about his gut wrenching trials as a prisoner of war who would not use his fathers power to get freed from a Vietnamese prison camp. McCain is an honest man about his not so clean lifestyle, and a real American hero. This book outlines his courage and respect for the two navy generations preceeding him and for America. What a great book.
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Summary: Worth Reading
Review: This is a terrific book for two reasons. First, it is not an "aren't I great" story of a war hero. It is instead a simple but profound story of an extraordinary man in extraordinary circumstances. Second, the book is written tremendously well, managing to keep the readers' rapt attention without sensationalizing. I am busier now than I have ever been in my life, but I found this book hard to put down.
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Summary: A Tonic for the Clinton Era
Review: A great autobiography by John McCain looking back two generations to the careers of his father and grandfather through his tribulations as a POW and return home. Describes McCain's personal growth and redemption in the crucible of imprisonment, taken in the context of his recent forebearers.This book does not sink into self-promotion, but rather tells a compelling story that is (pardon the cliche) a page-turner. Go for it.
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Summary: Faith of my fathers
Review: Faith of My Fathers is not just a testament to Sen McCain's courage and devotion to duty. It clearly spells out C-H-A-R-A-C-T-E-R, a trait sorely lacking of late in our society. McCain comes across not as Superman but as a person of great humility and determination. His descriptions of his ordeal at the hands of his captors are riveting. His admiration of the heroism displayed by most of his fellow prisoners is apparent throughout the book. The fact that McCain does not name the two US collaborators in his book is eveidence of his dignity and class. This is an exemplary work by a proud man.
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Summary: John McCain's Faith of My Fathers Shows His Character
Review: Senator John McCain's biographical book, Faith of My Fathers is not only unique in that it details McCain's experiences as a POW in Hanoi during the Viet Nam war, but it is a window into the man's soul. He describes the life and Navy careers of his father and grandfather, two men he not only loved deeply, but felt tremendous respect for. McCain values honesty and character more highly than any other attributes a person can possess, something not usually professed by a political person. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting a different perspective on the Viet Nam War, and wanting to know John McCain better. He is an extraordinary human being.
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Summary: A straight forward and honest account of the heroic McCains
Review: This is a gripping read that tells both the good and bad of this heroic family and their history with the U.S. Navy. Senator McCain tells the experiences with honesty, admitting his flaws, yet telling the way the Navy is without "glossing over" the less than favorable memories. A great overview of the life and accomplishments of his grandfather and father, brave, yet very human heroes of WWII. Being a Navy Veteran (15 years of service) I can readily identify with the frustrations that the Senator had while serving in the Navy. The problems of yesterday still plague the Navy today. Senator McCain's account as a prisoner of war in Vietnam is spoken with honesty and a depth of soul searching that all the POW's went thru. This is not a book to give himself a pat on the back, but a book that "shoots from the hip" and tells it like it is (and was)...I highly reccomend this book to anyone who is interested in 20th Century Military History and the life of this hero from Arizona.
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Summary: Faith of My Fathers
Review: I was given a copy of the book for my birthday by a friend who is a good friend of John and Cindy McCain's. Not a Republican, but an Arizonan and sister of an Annapolis graduate, I was mildly interested, and picked up the book to at least look at the pictures. Guess what?--the only ones there are are the two on the cover. But I started reading--and finished three days later fascinated by the man. His spirit and feistyness, and love of a good story are most evident. The description of life in the prison camps is riveting--he survived six years of what most of us would have trouble dealing with for six hours. One keeps in mind that this is a man who is running for US president. Intelligent, driven, well-informed, proven tough--yes. But, what is he trying to prove? A snide comment that occurred to me was that since his prison experience kept him from being also a 4-star admiral, why Commander-in-Chief would neatly uphold the family tradition. One stylistic device that really annoyed me was constantly referring to "my father","my grandfather", "my mother" rather that "Dad, Gramps, Mom" or however they were called in the family. It seemed to deprive them of any individual personality, and to rather make them simply appendages of himself. I was also disappointed that he did not extend his tale past his imprisonment. Would love his take on his subsequent life and actions. And yet, criticisms aside, I emerged with a tremendous respect for the man, and think he would make a excellent president. A personal comment is that I read the Annapolis section with great interest, and found that it significantly increased my understanding of my brother.
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Summary: Thank you for your courage.
Review: There are too few memoirs that speak to the human condition under the unimaginable stress of capture and brutal, systematic torture with such humility and insight. I wish the best for Senator McCain. Arizona is a marvelous, wild and unfettered state. I hope John McCain will remain their Senator. Somewhere in the interlude between the events in Faith of my Fathers and his subsequent political career, he lost me. This is, in the end, unimportant. I, with other Americans, honor his survival, his courage, and his humanity, under circumstances too horrible to ever appreciate. Such terrible knowledge cannot be experienced vicariously. I fervently hope no American will have to endure the same. Jerry Furland, Author of "Transfer-the end of the beginning".
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Summary: Well written, inspiring, must read book
Review: I don't usually buy hard cover books, but I bought three copies of this one, two as gifts for others. The family saga that McCain recounts is so well told, so gripping, and so inspiring that it should be required reading by all Americans who think that honor and integrity no longer exist and can't be found in our political life. They are present in abundance in this fascinating narrative by a true American hero. McCain's book recounts a memorable family saga, his own youth, and later years of captivity in Vietnam with unsparing candor, yet with much grace, intelligence, warmth, and a lot of humor. This isn't a campaign biography, it is a memorable tribute by one son to a military family from whom much was asked and by whom much was given. I highly recommend it.
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Summary: An American Hero.
Review: As I read Senator McCain's book I was reminded, time and again, of amazing parallels between McCain's life and that of Theodore Rosevelt- sons of prominent figures (TR's was a leading member of the Republican Party, McCain's father and grandfather were both Admirals) who over-came great tramas in their lives (McCain's 5 years as a POW, TR lost his wife to child birth) and rose to the top by questioning party orthodoxy (TR broke his party away from big business and made Republican policies more progressive, much akin to McCain's desire to reform campaign finance and his commitment to internationalism). John McCain is a real American hero, a man who has gone through so much and seems destined to go even further. Reading this book has certainly had an effect on me- this Democrat is voting for Senator McCain next year.
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