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Summary: Buy and Keep This Book
Review: We have lived in interesting times. Probably more interesting than we even realize, now. I predict this book, The Right Man, will be historic for its insider point of view of the White House as they struggled to keep the government going forward in the days and weeks following the incredible sneak attack on the World Trade Center and The Pentagon. We like to believe that our leaders have all the answers, know far more than we do, and are skilled in giving direction and getting essential information to make the right decisions - not so. Our leaders are human, fallible, and subject to the same emotions and obstacles to perfection as we are. A very human President Bush is perfectly depicted here. That is why you will love this book. It is full of the intrigues, relationships and emotions inherent in trying to lead in a time of agony, of growing with the challenge, of finding your way through the fog of a war. You feel the heartbreak and confusion of the staffers, trying to support a President and Vice President on the move and dreading the possible new terroist act each day might bring. The book captures many of the intrigues of the competing power-players who were never disloyal to the cause, but still always trying to advance their competing recommendations to the President. David Frum has a keen eye and ear. He has captured the events with a view you will not get anywhere else. Recommended reading and save this book for your grandchildren to read someday. They will better understand what we felt as we lived through it.
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Summary: Insider's telling look inside the Bush White House
Review: Having read Bush at War and Fighting Back, both expertly written books by journalist from an outsider's perspective, I was looking for a more prescient account from someone within the Bush White House. I found that David Frum, although a Canadian national, definitively delineates the inner workings of the White House from the day after the Clintons notoriously vandalized The White House well through the war on terror. Frum writes how, much to his surprise, he was chosen as a presidential speech writer, despite having written unfavorable newspaper articles reproaching Bush amidst the primary and throughout the election. Frum, infamously renowned for coining the now ominous "axis of evil" anecdote in Bush's State of the Union Address, comes across as a very intelligent conservative, one who doesn't mince words, and it is this refreshing candor that makes The Right Man a compelling and entertaining read.One rather funny account is told by Frum when, at a conference with the Hollywood elite, Barbara Streisand accuses Bush of "flip-flopping on emissions standards" due to the "campaign contributions he got from Enron." To which, Frum succinctly retorts, "This guy's not for sale, you know - not like the last one." Bravo. I couldn't help but laugh.
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Summary: WHO IS THE RIGHT MAN? FRUM OR BUSH
Review: The book seemed more about Frum than Bush. Granted some of the insight into the White House needed his point of view, but I didn't buy this book to learn about the daily workings of a speechwrite. I recommend BUSH AT WAR before this!
Rating: 
Summary: Won't Convert Many
Review: Here is the deal, if you have made your mind up before reading this book (or pretty much anything) then don't bother. Life is too short to waste your time like that. On the other hand, if you find yourself curious about what GW is like behind the scenes, if you want to separate hype from person, or if you are just interested in what someone a LOT closer to the president than you are has to say about working with him - go for it. It isn't a particularly difficult read, in fact in many ways it seems to mirror the Bush Presidency - plain english, straightforward concepts. Like it or hate it is up to you. For my money I enjoyed it, laughed more than a couple of times and would recommend it to all save the 'radical left' crowd that seem to almost mindlessly hate the President (and often times, America itself).
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Summary: Couldn't put it down....read it in 2 days!
Review: I read this book. Then I read this book's reviews on this site. To the writer who claimed 'Islamophobia!', well, having witnessed the events of Sept.11, 2001 from inside the White House, I am not at all surprised that Mr. Frum is a little frightened of what has been done in the name of Islam. (I, frankly, am terrified.)I suppose that as a woman, I am also 'Islamophobic' because were I living in a middle eastern Islamic state, I would be scared of the often brutal misogyny practiced today in the name of that religion. Politics aside, The Right Man is a clear and well written book; it is easy to read, thoughtfully meshing public knowledge with behind-the-scenes details only a White House insider can provide. It is truly a fascinating look at our current President and his administration. I recommend this book to everyone who questions the current leadership of this great country. Regardless of your political orientation (unless you're completely closed-minded or a closet sociopath), you are guaranteed to learn something new. God Bless America!
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Summary: Should be required reading
Review: At last! A book from the inside to tell it how it really is. Frum's review of the "inside facts", hidden to us by the left-wing media, lay to rest the anti-Bush ... circulating in our country and in Europe at this time. Frum does not admire the president without reserve, but his final conclusion is that Bush is doing the right thing and those that criticize probably have an ulterior motive.
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Summary: Good, but not as good as FIGHTING BACK
Review: Maybe my mistake was reading THE RIGHT MAN immediately after I finished Bill Sammon's FIGHTING BACK. The latter is so thrilling and enjoyable that even a good book like THE RIGHT MAN pales in comparison. But no, wait--that's not accurate. While Mr. Frum's book is at times fast-paced and exciting, there are whole chapters (like the one entitled "The Religion of Peace") that are slow and difficult to get through. I found myself putting this book down repeatedly, while Mr. Sammon's book hardly ever left my grasp. FIGHTING BACK is in a different league. It stands alone as a heart-stopping narrative of what was going on behind the scenes and in front of the cameras on that day of infamy, September 11, 2001, and in the months that followed. THE RIGHT MAN, however, is an often tedious account of one man's view of life inside the White House.
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Summary: Comment of "Objective & Accurate" reviewer.
Review: The review written by Kyle ...should not be used as a deciding factor when purchasing this book. The Junto Society claims to be "a place where you can depend on learning the facts, not the political spin on the issues" however the website is so ultra-conservative in content that there is nothing left but spin. They "encourage you to sign the petitions that we support on this site, and to email your representatives regarding upcoming votes". How is that a place where you can depend on learning the facts without political spin when only one viewpoint is given?
As for the book, I don't think anyone will come away with the notion that George Jr. is anything more than they thought he was before reading the book. It's not an in-depth study of the man or the office. How can anyone decide that Jr. is "The Right Man" based on this book? Simple. They can't. This book would be more useful on your coffee table as a coaster instead of reading material.
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Summary: Bush Hater Finds Much To Admire
Review: When I brought this books home to read, many of my family and friends thought I was nuts. Given my politics, and knowing how much I loathe George Bush, they were sure that I had gone over the deep end. Perhaps they thought I was looking for more salacious dirt or further proof of my insistence that "this man" should be run out of office fast. In reality, I wanted to understand George Bush better and this book provides that information. The book is not a balanced affair. Though Frum does have moments of very minor criticisms, he seems to overlook basic facts or inconsistencies of logic within the Bush administration so as to not to paint a too unflattering world. This lack of "reporting" also extends to the many accusations made of Clinton and his presidential decisions or actions in office. Because of this lack of truth telling, I found myself increasingly not trusting Frum?s analysis or opinions of a certain event. In most cases, Frum?s desire to stay conservative and/or remain loyal to Bush seems to overshadow what should have been a more evenly told narrative. But the book does shed some light on many of Bush's admirable qualities. He does run a "tight ship" and when he is committed to something, he stays the course. Qualities of leadership that is hard to dismiss and not appreciate. Though I still feel that Bush is not "the right man" for the job based on his decisions on policy, I do walk away after reading this book that he does believe in what he is doing. I may fault him on his choices, but I cannot fault him on his passion or commitment; and isn't that what we look for in a politician these days?
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Summary: Response to "Islamophobia" Review
Review: Simply put, this book is 384 (boring) pages of propaganda. What I want to quickly take issue with though is not the book but the comments in the review "Islamophobia." It is ridiculous and frankly, offensive, to suggest that any writings about Islam and its adherents by Jews would be automatically biased simply because of the religion of the writers. Similarly, it is just plain incorrect to assume that no German writer could ever compose an insightful piece about Jews. Not all Germans are Nazis and not all Jews hate Islam. Now, if you feel that the content is unfarily critical that's a whole different story, but you would never know that unless you bothered to pick up the book and read it and not just make prejudicial assumptions based on nothing but ignorance.
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