Rating: 
Summary: A good look at the "compassionate conservative"
Review: Yes, this was an anticipated read, given the rumors and innuendo floating around in the media recently. So perhaps many in the media - as well as many potential voters - were a bit let down by this first book from the Governor. I think the American public has become so used to tell-all books from celebrities that are filled with outlandish stories worthy of print in tabloids that Gov. Bush's book is a "letdown" of sorts. But don't let these cynics sway you.What has been largely ignored or missed altogether in many media reviews is that Gov. Bush does indeed expound upon the "compassionate conservative" philosophy that has defined his campaign for President. While the meat of this political philosophy comes in the last chapter, the Governor relates some stories from his political career and life before politics that give the reader a glimpse at the foundation of compassionate conservatism. It is not entirely an autobiography in the traditional mold, but it does draw from a good portion of his life. Besides, should we be expecting every detail of his life when he potentially has much greater things ahead of him? Like I said, don't let the cynics in the media or in the public steer you away from reading this. If you're unsure what entails a compassionate conservative, you'll get a pretty good idea here. And, thankfully, you get it without the tabloid exposes that are so regrettably trendy these days.
Rating: 
Summary: A Personal Perception For A Personal Agenda
Review: If you are a fan of GW Bush you will, of course, not be critical. But if you are objective you will see another perfect example of how people would like the world to see them. The book is a bore because there is nothing new to learn. And all the books that have his name on them as author or his family's name on them are self-glorifications. The truth about the man has already been revealed by his actions.
Rating: 
Summary: Highly Recommended - Even to Democrats!
Review: I don't really understand how anyone can find this book to be a bad one?? Let's put aside a few things first --- 1. Did President Bush write this book? --- Let's establish the fact that he received help from Karen Hughes on this book. However, in reading this book, much of the language and storytelling is a mirror image of the way President Bush delivers his speeches and interviews - direct, to the point, and in many ways, very humorous. While Hughes handled much of the writing, I really refuse to believe that President Bush was not directly invovled - in fact, I wouldn't be surprised if he wrote the majority of this book (despite his accusations of being 'stupid') 2. President Bush did not mention the 'drinking' and 'DUI' stuff in this book ---- This is a fair criticism. However, let's be mindful of the fact that this is a collection of President Bush's memoirs, not his mishaps. Yes, his drinking was an important part of his life, but let's not discount his successes, struggles, and issues outside of drinking. This book, in that way, is a great recount of the way his life is told from his perspective. After all, there are plenty of books available that recount his failures, but give him a break - its his story, told the way he wants to tell it. Okay ---- we got the two biggest concerns out of the way --- onto the review!!! When I say I really don't understand how someone cannot thorougly enjoy this book, I mean it! A list would serve me well here too..... 1. Readability ---- The book is written in a very simplistic and readable way. This is not a criticism; as a matter of fact, its a HUGE compliment, considering that many books are very unreadable. It takes a genius to write as clear and concise as the authors of this book did. Despite the fact that politico-buffs would enjoy this book the most, its readability makes it a great and fun read for really anyone that enjoys a good story. Honestly, I don't particularly enjoy reading things, but the readability of this book made the story that much more attractive. 2. Storytelling & Emotion ----- Instead of recounting his life by verbatim, one truly feels that President Bush is telling his life stories within the format of fictional storytelling. Not that this is fiction....... but the book leaves with the element that you're reading a fairy tale, in a way. The book induces my emotions, in very strong ways. In his chapter about Laura Bush, titled 'The Best Decision I Ever Made', I felt, as the reader, that I was falling in love with Laura myself. The authors clearly explained the beauty behind Laura, the allure, the attraction. In quoting JPeterman from a Seinfeld episode, I found myself saying "and I thought I knew what love is" by the end of this chapter. Similarly, the book also brought me to tears. In his chapter about his young sister who passed away at the age of 4, Robin, President Bush made me feel so depressed and sad. It was not that I was mad, it was simply the circumstances of the situation. I could feel how deeply hurt the passing of President Bush's young sis made him feel, especially considering that he was only 7. I've read many books about death, but few have brought me to tears the way this one did --- not only did President Bush eerily recall the events of that day, he was also very open about sharing his own emotions about the topic (as he did with all other topics from this book) which probably induced the most tears from my eyes out of anything else. President Bush spends a chapter talking about the passing of Tucker (the female convict who was on death row, but trying to get off of it, due to her conversion and submission to the Christian faith). Despite his decision to go through with the execution, President Bush details how difficult and exhausting the decision truly was. It makes you think to yourself, "Gosh, I would really hate to have his job"......... making me remember why he's so suited for his current job, having to face decisions, like this one, in Texas. The chapter takes you inside the mind of a decision maker whose making a VERY difficult decision ---- few others have been able to take me inside that mindset - one of empowerment, but yet, such venerability. 3. Personality ----- This book really does reflect President Bush's personality. His jokes, his humor, his sorrows, his desires ----- not only are they here, but they're expressed in a way that only President Bush could express them! CONCLUSION Overall, this really is a great book. If you're already a fan of President Bush, then the book is a MUST-HAVE. If you're a fan of politics, then once again, there is no book out there that can give you a better description of President Bush's inner most thoughts better than this book can. And for those of you who are not fans of President Bush ----- do not allow your political beliefs to distract you from picking up this book. We all know about President Bush and his decisions, and its really neat to see how his mind works and what motivates him to make the decisions he makes. In reading this book, whether you like him or not, you will come to see that not only has he lived a very interesting life, he is also a very complicated, yet so simplistic, person. Allowing your biases to block you from reading his story would be a tragedy, in itself. Do not see this book as a propoganda piece ---- look at it as a real testament of a man whose really putting his whole story out there, the way he wants it put out there. The book isn't trying to convince you to vote Republican, its simply a story - treat it as such. And take my word for it ---- you will benefit from reading this story, no matter where you stand on politics. Thank you for reading and thank you for your time!
Rating:
Summary: "To stand for office, you must stand for something."
Review: The title is inspired by A Charge To Keep, a hymn written by Charles Wesley based upon the 1 Corinthians 4:2 verse, which states, "Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful." A Charge to Keep makes for a candid and inspiring look into the life experiences of George W. Bush growing up as a Willie Mays baseball fan and Little League catcher in Texas, going off to Andover & Yale, serving in The Texas Air National Guard, falling in love with an unassuming librarian named Laura, being blessed with the unexpected announcement of twins, owning The Texas Rangers, unseating Ann Richards as Texas Governor, and ultimately becoming the Republican Presidential Candidate in 2000. George W. Bush, unlike the Democrats running in 2004 spewing forth name-calling invective, definitively delineates his substantive beliefs in the book. He masterfully elucidates the virtues of being a conservative: "I am a conservative because I believe in the work and dignity and power of each individual. My philosophy trusts individuals to make the right decisions for their families and communities, and that is far more compassionate than a philosophy that seeks solutions from distant bureaucracies." Bush extolls his strong belief in a limited government that encourages innovation and competition, low taxes, a strong national defense, locally-controlled education with an emphasis on reading and accountability for failure, a support of free markets and free trade, personal responsibility, bipartisanship teamwork, and the adherence to irreproachable personal standards of integrity, honor, and decency while in public service. Bush, unlike his predecessor, has done a remarkable job of achieving an impressive benchmark of ethical decorum as he has rightfully returning respect and dignity to the Clinton-tainted White House. Bush, in his trademark self-effacing humor, tells of how when he was owner of The Texas Rangers and a fan kept heckling him with, among other caveats, "Hey, Bush, more pitching!" for almost the entire game. Bush subsequently invited him down to his field level seats and asked him whether he liked having his name yelled out loud in public in a derogatory way. After the man, who was a teacher, indicated that he did not, Bush replied, "Neither do I." They went on to have a great baseball discussion. Several years later when he became Governor, a man tapped one of his security officers on the shoulder and said he needed to see him. The man, he said, was one of the Governor's "ballpark friends." "The fearful build walls. The confident tear them down."
-George W. Bush
Rating:
Summary: A Brilliant Masterpience
Review: Written in a stream of consciousness style, this book is a nightmare peopled by secret agents, mad doctors, gangsters, zombies, phallic monsters, vampires and extraterrestrials involved in sadomasochistic orgies, transformations, diabolical plots and interplanetary warfare. Wait a minute, I'm thinking of William S. Burrough's _Naked Lunch_ . My mistake.
Rating:
Summary: veracity is hard to come by
Review: Even conservatives such as Tucker Carlson can see straight through Karen Hughes: Tucker Carlson suggested last year that her willingness to lie for Bush "almost crosses over ... into mental illness." This is little more than a campaign leaflet for Mr. Bush. Don't waste your time.
Rating:
Summary: Insightful Look into a Future President
Review: Bush's 2000 campaign book proves to be an insightful look into a man who wears many hats: oil mogul; sports team owner; son of a prominent politician; and born again Christian. He explains his journey and most of his philosophies for his positions enunciated during his campaign for the presidency in 1999 and 2000. His religious beliefs are manifest in this book, an obvious byproduct of his reassessment after trouble wit the law. Contemporary readers will find ample evidence of his moral ground in this work which may help to explain policies created and espoused by the Bush administration today.
Rating: 
Summary: Simple
Review: Like many another left-leaning moderate (or right-leaning liberal, or whatever the hell I would call myself these days), George W. Bush wasn't my choice for president, but with smarmy Al Gore his only serious opponent, his victory (if that's what you'd call it) didn't distress me too much. After all, if the lesser of two evils (Gore) is still evil, the greater of two evils (ahem) is almost comforting. If Forrest Gump's famous observation is correct ("Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get"), one could argue that the greater of two evils is preferable. You know exactly what you're gonna get, and if you get something you didn't expect, chances are you'll be pleasantly surprised rather than bitterly disappointed at having been betrayed. It's a tradition of sorts to give any newly elected leader the benefit of the doubt, and in that spirit, I read Georgie boy's book (albeit three years into his presidency). Why not? After all, it's a quick read. Of course, it's a "quick read" because, like all "books" supposedly written by presidential candidates prior to seeking the presidency, it's really not a book at all. It's campaign material, propaganda meant to paint the candidate in the flattering colors of his own choosing, and it's no surprise that Bush's tract does not challenge the established formula of this peculiar genre. It's also no surprise that Bush probably didn't write his book. He doesn't strike me as much of a reader, much less a writer, and one can take it for granted that he spent most of the four years preceding his "election" working on his 2000 campaign, not writing drafts of any memoir. This is the work of Karen Hughes, the credited co-author, and, in one sense, she does a brilliant job. Even though it's unlikely Bush spent even one moment behind a word processor or typewriter, Hughes nontheless captures his spirit in her prose, creating a book very much like the one Bush would write if he were to bother with such things. The sentences are all short and to the point, never complex enough to require a comma, all reinforcing the image of Bush as a very simple man. Simplicity has its virtues, but one can argue whether it's the best virtue for a man whose job requires day-to-day decisions regarding enormously complex life or death matters, but, like Reagan, his simplicity is part of whatever charm he has. The prose never reveals much, certainly nothing that would indicate Bush was anything other than what he claims to be (which is?), and is as instantly forgettable as similar books by Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and other seekers of the highest office in the land. This is political propaganda and nothing more, but who would think it was anything but?
Rating:
Summary: A CHARGE TO KEEP
Review: Words to live by, At least our President Does Live by Such Words. This name is based on a picture that the President Of the United States Prizes and has set in the Oval Office just accross from his desk. It is also the name of a rather old Hymnal that speaks of Serving something Greater than yourself. This Presidents Life Was Changed by a Huge Spiritual Encounter, and eversince that day he has looked out to a needy world and has tried to influence the hurting in a possitive way. I love this book, and it is a sort of behind the scenes into the heart and ming of a family man that happens to be President of the United States. This is a must read !!!
Rating:
Summary: Please keep your promises
Review: This book is full of reasonable ideas. Well, maybe it's only got a few. For the most part there is really nothing too interesting here. He left out nearly every detail that would be exciting for the average American: having a dad that was U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia, the C.I.A. director, vice-president, and president. I'm sure that there had to be something that was worth dwelling on out of all that, but W just wrote about his father's elections and the loyalty that went with them. He also left out large chunks of his life: the time he spent on the East Coast (basically junior high, high school, undergraduate studying, post-graduate studying), the episode where he went AWOL for 18 months while in the Texas National Guard, his cocaine addiction, the DUI's, and the business failures (his descriptions of them just kind of faded out without any reason why they ended; but he does manage to slip in that he found every single employee another job afterwards). Anyway, his ideas of compassionate-conservatism are all fine and dandy: pro-education, pro-reading, and what not. These are good ideas that everyone can agree with. The issue is that his words and his actions are not in agreement. For a guy that values honesty, truth, and democracy, a strong contradiction of beliefs and actions exists. I think that if you read this book and afterwards examine recent news about his environmental policies, how progressive the Texas school systems acutally aren't, how he really doesn't have that much respect for democracy (see his 2000 election, his discouragement for Taiwan's independence), freedom (see the amount of business done with China, who has extremely poor worker's rights and has violated countless human rights laws)nor justice (see Henry Kissinger still living freely in the U.S. and countless dictators living freely while exiled in the U.S.) Actions ARE more important than words, yet Bush's actions have gone largely ignored and people still believe his condescending, patronizing rhetoric. Two more things: In regards to his "historic" visit to Iraq, he made the troops eat Thanksgiving dinner at 5:45 A.M. just so it could be broadcast during prime-time on Thanksgiving in the U.S. and, in reference to that picture of him carrying the turkey during dinner in Iraq, that turkey was plastic and was never intended to be consumed or served. He spends our tax money wisely.(sorry that I have two reviews. My first one disappeared at one point. I wrote a second one, then the first one returned.)
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