Rating: 
Summary: The best dad to occupy the White House since Teddy Roosevelt
Review: My patriotism had wilted over the past two years following political scandals, but reading Mr. Bush's book has restored some of my optimism. Here is a man who is not afraid to meet problems head on as evidenced by his many letters to foreign leaders. At the same time, he never lost a grip on what was really important, a theme he reiterates: family, friends and faith. Not since the great Theodore Roosevelt has a presidential dad loved his wife and children with as much enthusiasm and expression. I dare say Mr. Bush may have written as many letters as the prolific TR! I loved the touching letters he wrote in the last days of his presidency. George Bush is a truly decent man.
Rating:
Summary: tasteful and informative autobiography
Review: This is an intriguing and enticing look at former President George Bush through five plus decades of letters and diaries. The writings demonstrate that Mr. Bush's personal life mirror his public demeanor as a quiet, uncomplicated individual who strongly believes in family values. The entries include impressions of world leaders of the past two decades, adding to the interest.Anyone seeking dirty laundry and partisan politics needs to skip this memoir. Instead, Mr. Bush treats everyone except the nagging press as a friend. The book serves as a refreshing look inside the guts of the former President as well as how he perceived some of his colleagues and events on the world stage. Fans of autobiographies, the American presidency, and American history will gain much pleasure from this memoir that is much more interesting than the sanitized version of greatness that many of the modern day autobiographies present. Mr. Bush shows his pride of simply being Mr. Bush. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: Not to be missed
Review: This is one of the best books I have ever read. It is funny, poignant and a revelation of the private man we all only knew publicly. Historians, teachers and the press should be forced to read this so they can teach people the true character of this man. If you liked George Bush before, you will love him after reading this. If you didn't like him before, I suggest you read this and discover who this man really is...you will certainly change your opinion. The letters transported me back to WWII, Watergate, etc...But this isn't as much about a President and his policies as it is about a father, a husband, a son and a friend. I laughed, I cried. Thoroughly enjoyable...the editorial reviews didn't give it enough credit. I was sad when I finished as I wanted more...what more can one say?
Rating: 
Summary: An insightful glimpse
Review: Unlike biographies and autobiographies which allow time to alter the perspective of events in the mind of the author, reading about George H.W. Bush's life through his letters and diary entries allows one to see events from the perspective Bush saw them as they were happening. I found this to be a refreshing approach to a life many may find in contradiction. I was in high school during the Bush presidency and watched, in amazment, the world as I knew it, change right before my eyes. While this book may not provide a look at the "real" George Bush (can any book really do that?), it does provide a glimpse into, perhaps, what it was that helped him steer us through those world changing events and make us a stronger country. Many of us know someone that is a letter writer who, for them any reason to write a letter is a good one. It quickly becomes clear that George Bush is one of those people. Most of the letters and diary entries are heartwarming and reveal a strong, kind and patriotic person with a soft heart who tries to keep his priorities straight, despite the pressures that come from the life he chose. While some of the letters are a little dry, there are many which will lighten your spirit and wet your eyes. But most of all, they demonstrate what kind of heart a leader should have and renew ones faith that there people in government who, for good or bad, are trying to do their best to make decisions which will benefit our country and its citizens.
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