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Summary: HONOR AND MILITARY TRADITION AT ITS BEST
Review: I met John McCain, and was impressed by his obvious caring for me as a Viet-Vet...I read his book after...I wish i read it before..Every American should get to know this man from the inside...He is truly a hero...Bless you John McCain...sorry about the election.
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Summary: Listen to it
Review: I bought the audio version, and now I'm buying multiple copies for gifts, because I think everyone should hear McCain's voice as he relates the famous events of his life. America doesn't get stories like this often, or genuine commendable heroes whose appeal transcends ages and genders. McCain has the additional virtue of being able to tell a riveting story well.
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Summary: Honor to the Navy?
Review: I felt this book does not reflect on the expected behaviors of honorable servicemen in the Navy. Such conduct demeans Mr McCain and certainly the Navy Academy. Do all navy people have to depend on fathers and grandfathers for favors? The book leaves one with a less than favorable impression.
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Summary: a must read for anyone intrested in honor
Review: I was very concerned about buying this book during and election year for obvious reasons. However, it was a really good read. Mr. McCain never described himself as a hero, he described his comrades in arms as the heros. He only decribes himself as a man with great honor. The reading of the book is a little disorganized, it is almost as if he wrote the book as he thought of his experinces, going from one subject to another and back again. But that is the only problem with the book. I would recommend anyone that has served or is considering serving there country to read this book and try to emulate Mr. McCains honor and dignity. I also believe that our current commander and chief could take a lesson from Mr. McCain's book. Overall its a great book and should be read at least once by any american
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Summary: Makes me appreciate vets
Review: My father was 1 hr from going to Vietnam and is a medic. Chances are he would be dead if it hadn't been for a technicality. When anything comes up about the Vietnam war, my Dad's eyes have tears. I tried to understand the pain, but never quite got it. After listening to Sen. McCain's story, I feel I have a better understanding of the hell our fathers went through. John is a true American hero with a wonderuful, witty sense of humor!
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Summary: Former Sailor finds error in book
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed McCain's book. I have long admired the Senator ever since I heard of the tragic fire aboard the FORRESTAL during the Vietnam War and his subsequent imprisonment in North Vietnam. I thoroughly enjoyed learning about his grandfather's WWII accomplishments and about his father's WWII experiences as the skipper of the submarine USS GUNNEL. However, I was GREATLY DISAPPOINTED when I read the Senator's words about his father: "During the Korean War, as a captain, he served as second in command on the destroyer USS St. Paul." (p. 93) I served aboard the USS SAINT PAUL (CA-73)1949-51 and made two Korean cruises aboard her. The Senator's father was the Executive Officer (2nd in command) of the ship and at that time held the rank of Commander (not captain)! Further, the ST. PAUL is NOT a DESTROYER! It is a Baltimore class heavy cruiser which, unfortunately, has been scrapped and turned into razor blades. There are currently about 2500 former sailors who are members of the USS SAINT PAUL ASSOCIATION, many of whom served under the Senator's father. It was my privilege to have been personally appointed to the ship's Master at Arms Force by then, CDR. John S. McCain, Jr. He truly was a commanding officer who deeply cared for the enlisted men that served under his command and who deeply respected him! We all share the Senator's pride of his father's subsequent achievement of four-star Admiral and CINCPAC! The Senator owes all former sailors who served aboard the ST. PAUL an apology for misclassifying their ship. As a former sailor, he should not have permitted such a gross error to creep into or remain in his book! Other than that, the book is excellent and highly recommended!
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Summary: Yesterday's pain impacts tomorrow's service to generations
Review: Dealing with the realities of today and the promise of tomorrow we often forget yesterday. As a young army wife with a husband that served two tours in Nam and the mother of a Gulf era veteran reading this book rekindled the memories of the struggle of that horrible time. We do ourselves a dis service if we forget that war. John McCain's description of his captivity is an inspiration that will help me with my focus on our role of peackeeper in this world. I wore his bracelet and prayed for him as a POW, said a thanksgiving prayer when the POWs came home.Now I say thank you for writing a book that won't forget this war of yesterday as we pray that our sons and daughters will never face this ordeal.
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Summary: All right, brooklyn
Review: Ok,cynical Brooklyn reader from Feb. 8, 2000; it's a free country and you have a right to your opinion about maneuvering politicians, etc. In fact, I even share some of your views and do not give my allegiance lightly. In addition, I am a feminist union-loving pinko. However: who should we believe in? Who or what has inspired you? Anybody? Anything? Don't be such a party-pooper. And, whoever wrote it, the book rocks. Look (as Senator McCain might start a sentence himself), I am being sort of frivolous. But on a more serious note: People need to have faith in something or someone, or life is meaningless.
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Summary: A True American Hero in a Self-Absorbed Age
Review: This book contains quite a bit of military history and military details that some readers will not find interesting. I am one of those people; nevertheless, I found McCain's book delightful overall. It is inspiring to read the life story of a man who lives for something greater than himself, and has the humility to give extensive credit to his forefathers and his fellow POWS, many of whom he mentions by name. McCain tells his story with the help of a professional writer (one online reviewer, who obviously never read this book, says the book couldn't have been written by McCain because he wouldn't have had the time--and that that must be evidence of the man's inauthenticity!) In fact, Faith of My Fathers is full of credit graciously given to a vast array of friends and associates, including his ghostwriter. Today, McCain's once-athletic body still shows evidence of the abuse and torture he suffered. In a self-absorbed age with few heroes, we need to hear more from men of conviction, character and courage like John McCain. It inspires us to push on, regardless of the cost or of the disabilities with which we struggle.
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Summary: An outstanding book no matter what your politics
Review: My wife read this book and kept after me to read it too. At first I did not want to read it because I thought it was another book by a man with a political agenda. After I finally picked it up I could not put it down -- this book is very good. This book reminds me of Baa Baa Blacksheep (A book about a pilot from a different war who was shot down in the Pacific and faced hard times as a POW). Both books tell it like it is. McCain does not try to pretend that he is a saint and candidly tells of his errors in life. The book, however, is about more than McCain it is also about his remarkable family and, more importantly, about his fellow POWs. McCain does not try to pretend that he was America's best POW. In fact, he seems upset by feelings that he was treated better than the other POWs because of his father's rank. While McCain plays down his own acts, he describes in detail the extraordinary acts of heroism of his fellow POWs. If you read this book for no other reason, you should read it for the stories that describe how our fighting men honored themselves and this country by refusing to cooperate with the enemy.
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