Rating: 
Summary: AT LONG LAST, A REAL PERSON
Review: You may not agree with everything John McCain stands for or care for his political party but you will see a real, complete human being leap from the pages of this book. Books by politicians, especially politicians who have not yet retired, are normally on my top ten list of things to avoid--they oscillate between the tepid thank you note and the gratuitous hatchet job when they don't bludgeon the reader to death with platitudes. Well forget about those books and read McCain instead, he's real.The book starts with the naval careers of McCain's grandfather and father (both were four-star admirals in the Navy--one in World War II and one during Vietnam). The author comes from an incredibly martial family--the tree is loaded with Revolutionary and Civil War veterans. McCain then touches on his childhood, his passage through Annapolis Naval Academy, and lastly his career in the Navy as a flyer. The book culminates in McCain getting shot down over North Vietnam and suffering imprisonment for six years at the hands of sadistic guards and interrogators. The thing that makes the story especially compelling is that McCain COULD HAVE LEFT THE PRISON FOR HOME ANYTIME HE WANTED TO. The jailers would have released him because his father was an admiral but McCain chose to stay and suffer torture with his fellow prisoners. Truly, this reads like a biography of one of those ancient Romans or Greeks in Plutarch's Lives, thinking of nothing but duty and sacrifice. Fellow readers, the choice is clear, read the same old oatmeal from the same old gray people in office, or read a real book by a real person.
Rating: 
Summary: He Should Still be in Jail
Review: Bombing civilians and childern is one way to become a hero in an imperialist nation, and McCain's name is at the top of the list when we see how these parasites of society use any opportunity to feed at the through of government. The real crime is that John McCain is not still in a Vietnamese prison serving the life sentence he so richly deserves.
Rating: 
Summary: Faith of MyFathers
Review: This is quite a good book but it lacks feeling in McCains description of his time as a POW. His description of the ordeal and his attitude to his captors is too "nice". I have read other biographies of individuals held in POW camps under just as severe conditions and the last thing on their minds has been how much they love their country. It has been agression and hate towards their captors and how they could escape. Given McCains well known short fuse I would guess his attitude was closer to the norm than he describes in the book. The book was clearly written at a time aimed at maximising McCain's bid for the presidency which would explain the relatively "nice" treatment of his captors and the purity of his own thoughts. The book is relatively easy to read and interesting if you have some interst in the history of the war and McCain. It is very good in setting out how McCain was destined for the Navy and unlike some other reviewers I believe the detail about his father and grandfather are an essential part of the book in developing his pre-ordained future. The book is not just a pure McCain biography nor do I believe it was intended to be. I would recommend the book despite my earlier criticism.
Rating:
Summary: If you want to know why millions love John McCain ...
Review: ... then this is the book to read! John McCain, US Senator from Arizona and Republican Presidential contender, has written a powerful account of his time in the military. Faith of Our Fathers has it all; humor, honesty, grit and fearlessness. I found McCain's recollections of his hellish captivity in North Vietnam to be the most moving. Despite spending years in a hellhole, John McCain emerged from the war with his patriotism and idealism intact. Those qualities were in great display when the Senator ran for President, and will never die out in one of our greatest American citizens. To Senator McCain I say, God bless you, sir!
Rating:
Summary: American patriotism, personified
Review: When we think of a patriot, we may think of George Washington or Patrick Henry or Samuel Adams. There are those who think that American pride is dead in this era of globalization - but this is false. A modern-day patriot is John McCain. McCain, now a US Senator, was the son and grandson of two high-ranking admirals, was a fighter pilot in Vietnam, and was captured by the Vietnamese and imprisoned for five and a half years. He refused to be set free to lend his country its due respect. This man stands for America. I have many friends who do not agree with McCain politically, and many friends who did not agree with the war in Vietnam. Those who have been convinced to read "Faith of my Fathers" have learned two things: the American Dream is attainable, and America is the greatest nation on Earth.
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating Biography of Family and Heroism
Review: I am a registered Democrat and a very partisan one, but have always like Senator John McCain, even before his run for the GOP nomination in 2000. He has often seemed willing to be direct, to say what's on his mind, even if others may condemn it. We may not agree on many political issues, but he is someone I have always respected. It is that respect that led me to read Faith of My Fathers, and I found it to be a fascinating story of a man who has lived most of his life in the Navy, and the war that almost broke him. McCain first writes of his beloved grandfather and father, both Navy men who rose to the rank of Admiral, and who both inspired admiration and respect from their fellow sailors. There is much World War I and World War II history here; I am not a reader of war history, but one need not be to enjoy this book. McCain writes that his family simply expected him to go to the Naval Academy in Annapolis that way that someone else is expected to receive property from a will; he never voices any doubts about doing anything else in life. The next portion of the book is devoted to his life at Annapolis, and then in Vietnam - the Forrestal Fire, and his life as a POW. This latter portion, as would be expected, is graphic and harrowing. The torture that McCain received, and to a greater extent, that his fellow POW's received, is often difficult to read and even more difficult to comprehend. Yet, here it is, told with all of its honesty and brutality. McCain also feels strongly about the poorly developed Vietnam strategies of the Johnson administration, and how our nation fought in Vietnam in a foolhardy manner. John McCain, serving in the United States Senate from Arizona since 1986, has lived a remarkable life, from difficult youngster to the POW who fought so hard to maintain his physical and mental strength in the Hanoi Hilton. This is his passionate and inspirational biography.
Rating:
Summary: Faith Of My Fathers- John McCain
Review: I cannot put into words how incredible this book was. I could not put it down and it touched me deeply. This book made me cry, made me laugh and it made me very proud. I would recommend this book to anyone because it contains something for each person who reads it. I wish that I could give this a better review. I cannot put into words what a great time I had reading this book, I have already read it again. This book makes you really proud to be an American and grateful to those who so courageously have sacficed for America.
Rating:
Summary: AN AMERICAN HERO
Review: No matter what your politics may be, Senator McCain's story is nothing short of awe-inspiring. Senator McCain is a real American hero in a time when we are sorely short of heros. This book should be required reading for anyone who may send our sons and daughters "into harms way".
Rating:
Summary: AAI KNOW A HELL OF A GUY WHEN I MEET ONE
Review: PROUD TO SAY I KNOW JOHN MCCAIN. HE IS EVERYTHING PEOPLE SAY ABOUT HIM...ALL I HAVE TOLD HIM FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS IS RUN. SND I HOPE HE WILL IN 2004....BURT KENNEDY
Rating:
Summary: Just in case you missed it the first time
Review: John McCain's story has been everywhere. If you did not know that this former-presidential candidate had a father and grandfather that were admirals in the Navy; or you did not know he was shot down a taken captive and held as a POW in Vietnam; and you did not know that he graduated FIFTH FROM THE BOTTOM in his Naval Academy class then I personally want to welcome you from your long trip to the moon. I knew more of these stories, and then some, from all of the coverage that Mr. McCain has received over the last year. And yet, I was drawn to this book. I had to read it and I am glad that I did. The media coverage never did any justice to the inspirational heroic story that is John McCain's life. Most of us can relate to is view, though it is extraordinary how. I have never grown up in a military household. I have never flown a plane and I never attended the Academy. I was barely born when the Vietnam War was raging and I know no one that has been taken prisoner in any war. I can relate to John McCain, because he writes with such intimacy that you feel you are there with him. That you are a close friend and that he is sharing a painful story with you. This is rare from any politician and even more rare from a presidential candidate. I am also serving as a petty officer in the US Navy. The relationship he had with his father and grandfather brought tears to my eyes and I will remember his words when I leave my family on deployment. Within his stories of his father and grandfather he reminds me that there is a higher purpose within those men (and women) that serve their country and are willing to die for its values. And of course he sobers us completely with his tragic account of being a POW in Vietnam. It was difficult to continue reading during many instances. I don't want to go into too much depth, becuase to many folks this election year, John McCain is already quite familiar. But do yourself a favor and read HIS view. John McCain is a treasure to America. I recommend this book anyone in the military, especially those with families and kids of their own. I also recommend this book to all the people who believe there is still optimism and something to be proud of in America.
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