Rating: 
Summary: Faith of my Fathers kept him alive!
Review: A bit of a slog for those of us not militarily minded, however, a must if you are to grasp a modicum of what this American son is all about. I relished learning about his life before politics, the times of his ancestors & the unrelenting saga of imprisonment on the other side of the world. I found myself reading such unusual words as: honor, dignity, duty, pride, humility. A man who has examined his life & found he was not wanting. A good read! For more of my reviews check out [my website] Fuhrman, Duke, or Nguyen makes little difference.Like most of the reviewers here, I enjoyed reading McCain's biography. I read about three generations of service to this country. I read about five and a half years of torture, and I learned a deeper meaning of perseverance. I gained valuable insight into the character of a man currently running for president.
Rating: 
Summary: McCain could be Colfax in the Gibraltar Conspiracy
Review: This was a moving novel. McCain shares both his life and his insight. It is very sad that a hero like McCain is not one of our choices for President. It would not matter if you were a democrat or a republican, you finish the book and have an enormous amount of respect for the man. After reading this book I read the Gibraltar Conspiracy and found that it could be a guide book for McCain to run for President as an Independent.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book
Review: I've just finished the book and found it to be exceptionally interesting and heartwarming. He does an excellent job of telling what it is like to be a third generation, Navy brat and the standards they have to live up to and how difficult it can be. This was particularly true with the McCain family because of their being the first and I believe only with two four star admirals. I personally feel that Senator McCain did an excellent job of telling the family's story and putting it in type. He didn't hold back on his belief that because of his background a certain degree of leniency was given by his captors until they realized he wasn't looking for favors. He also doesn't evade the possibility of being granted special favors while a midshipman because of his family background. He wasn't the first nor will he be the last to reap those rewards. I had the pleasure of meeting his father while serving with the U. S. Navy in the Phillipines during the early 70's and seeing the pain on that man's face. Admiral McCain, Jr. was well received by his peers and subordinates and had many difficult decisions as CINCPAC! I personally believe he handled them well and without prejudice. I also believe that John III did an admirable job of being a good officer before, during and after his capture. It is too bad that people like our present Commander-in-Chief, his assistant, and the Republican nominee can't match up to this person. It goes to show that the best person doesn't always reap the rewards. One thing that is missing in the book is the effect of his captivity, post-war events and how they affected his first marriage. Most navy wives, career or otherwise, have a much more interesting and dramatic story to tell than their husbands. Mrs. McCain's suffering and the effect it had on their lives during and after his captivity could have been included as a closure. Senator McCain's mother is also a grand lady and her memoirs would make for some very good reading. She was an excellent example of the "good Navy wife". God bless our veteran's, and particularly those like Senator John S. McCain III, Captain, U. S. Navy (Retired).
Rating:
Summary: Indeed a stiring story
Review: Fact or fictuin, Senator McCain's story is excellent. I believe it is true. In the primary just past it help him & hinderd him. A one trick pony. Tell about the war Senator McCain, never mind about what you'd like to do as president. Character-wise he has George W beat. But I didn't need this book to tell me that.
Rating:
Summary: Insight into a notable politician
Review: I began reading Faith of My Fathers with a certain degree of skepticism. I was afraid the book would be self-serving given McCain's Presidential bid at the time. Yet I came away impressed, both by the deeds of his grandfather and father in the Navy, and the modest way in which McCain tells the story of his rambuctious youth and his trials as one who didn't quite fit in at the Academy. His account of his years as a POW is sobering and equally well-told. I came away from this book with a newfound respect for John S. McCain. I highly recommend this book for the casual historian. Also a good book for a young man or woman you might know heading off to a service academy this fall.
Rating:
Summary: Intriguing, Absorbing, Captivating Book
Review: I am not a person to read military history books, but happened, somehow, to stumble on the editorial review of this book, was extremely curious, and wanted to read more. I am glad I did. Faith of Our Fathers chronicles John McCain's Grandfather and Father, two incredibly impressive Naval Admirals in our country's history. I found the history of his father and grandfather, lively, amusing and very, very interesting. The chronicles were exceptionally written and lively - not at all boring and dry. John's candor and honesty on his expectations of following in the tradition of his forbearers at the Naval Academy, as well as filling unwritten expectations, and the high expectations that he placed on himself was a captivating read. Living so close to the Academy myself, it is even more interesting to read of life in the "Yard" and the strict discipline of the military. After reading this book, I know understand so much more. I was too young when Vietnam was really going on and vaguely recall the POWs being released. Nonetheless, I now have a new found admiration for these men and McCain goes to great lengths to name quite a few of these men and bestow recognition and thanks to all of them. I never quite understood the "military code" and again, came away with admiration and understanding for the men in the military and that entire way of life. In our day and age of high tech, it was refreshing to read of "heroes" and "patriotism". Our country could use more of these kinds of men and women. I was laughing and crying throughout this book and it was so heart wrenching to read of the POWs, but their faith and belief was inspiring, and the term heroes kept coming to mind, yes heroes - very much so. A quote that appealed to me from McCain, "Nothing in life is more liberating than to fight for a cause larger than yourself, something that encompasses you but is not defined by your existence alone." Another one - "But in Vietnam I had come to understand how brief a moment a life is. For I had learned that you can fill the moment with purpose and experiences that will make your life greater than the sum of its days. I had learned to acknowledge my failings and to recognize opportunities for redemption." McCain is incredibly hard on himself for signing a confession and no one can fault or judge him for doing that. Put in his position, the torture and beatings for over 6 years - what would any of us have done? The sheer will and determination combined with the unbelievable hope, faith, and love of their country, as well as each other, kept these men alive. This remarkable story left me with admiration for the McCain men. Each generation has left an indelible mark on the continued freedom of this country. Each of these men showed what honor is and that honor was passed to each generation. I highly recommend this book to anyone - you will definitely walk away with a profound sense of admiration and new perspective on our military - I know I did.
Rating:
Summary: Not another political book
Review: This book tells the life story of John McCain. It digs into his childhood and his role models, mainly his grandfather and father, both Naval officers. He knew at a young age he was destined for military, even with difficulties in the Naval Academy and doing poorly there, he still went on to excell. He tells of his experiences as a POW and other war stories. I am not a fan of political books, but this is more than that. He is an exceptional person and this is more than a McCain For President advertisement. This is highly receommended. From reading this book I am impresses with him and think the Senator is one of the good guys.
Rating:
Summary: Whether you are for him or against him this is a great book
Review: Whether or not you wanted him to be the Republican candidate for President or no; or whether you despise him or love him; this is a fantastic book. It is filled with anecdotes and interesting stories from his life that I am surprised he can remember so vividly. It not only has tales of his struggle as a POW, but it contains equally appealing stories of his tough-as-nails grandfather in World War II, and of his father who made a tough decision as a high ranking commander in Vietnam to approve the bombing of the area near the prison camp that he knew his son was in. A fabulous book.
Rating:
Summary: AMERICA'S SHAME
Review: THE FIRST FEW CHAPTERS READ TO MUCH LIKE A HISTORY BOOK. STICK WITH IT AS CONTINUING ON WILL PROVIDE THE READER WITH REWARD ONLY A GREAT BOOK CAN SUPPLY.. I WEPT AT TIMES REMEMBERING HOW AMERICA TURNED IT'S BACK ON THOSE WHO SERVED. I SMILED REMEMBERING FRIENDS WHO DID NOT RETURN. I WASN'T THERE BUT I CARE. I WAS RIVETED AND COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN..IT SHOULD BE REQUIRED READING FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS AS BOTH HISTORY AND CIVICS LESSONS . DO THEY STILL TEACH CIVICS IN SCHOOL?
Rating:
Summary: Bio of a Dynasty
Review: As other reviewers have written, politicians' campaign bios are seldom worth reading. This one is actually good, and rises to the level of other military memoirs. Having read the POW memoirs of Stockdale (In Love and War), Denton (When Hell Was In Session), Reisner, and Alvarez, I can say that this one is of comparable quality. What helps to set it apart is that it is the story of a family. The McCains are American warlords, seemingly bred for little else. McCain claims familial ties to the houses of Charlemagne and Robert the Bruce. (Modesty is, alas, not often found between the the covers.) I enjoyed the chapters on his grandfather, Slew McCain, more than any other part of the book. The man was a compelling figure; hard-living, salty-tounged, beloved of his sailors, from the old school. He served with Nimitz in the Phillipines in the years just after the insurrection triggered by our victory over Spain. The experience of being a young officer in a remote post often sharpens command skills more than would be the case with a more plum assignment. The early independence of action groomed other great captains, like Slew's contemporary, Erwin Rommel, for greater things. The portrait McCain gives of his grandfather is of a seafaring Sam Damon ('Once An Eagle'). The second biography is of McCain's father, like grandpa a four-star admiral. This McCain chose submarines over his father's carriers, and saw extensive combat in World War II. McCain's own story does not dominate the plot until well into the middle of the book. Like the rest of his family (and many other martial luminaries), he barely makes it out of Annapolis, finishing fifth from the bottom of his class. The generational differences between the founder of a dynasty and his decendants is often similar. Whether it is the Fords at Ford Motor Company, or the McCains at sea, being the offspring of a legend can be difficult to handle. McCain is honest about his shortcomings in his early years. The POW section reads like other accounts of the Hanoi Hilton do. Coming after all that went before, it is not anticlimax, but nearly so, given that it is what the reader probably already knew about John McCain before picking up the book. This is ironic, given that those years left such an indelible impression on the Senator - one that his recent trip to Viet Nam shows to still be haunting him. -Lloyd Conway
|
