Rating: 
Summary: Great Man -- Good Book
Review: Autobiography that starts two generations ago. Those readers accustomed to the usual self-serving political memoir will be plesantly surprised. McCain's book begins with mini bios of both his father and his grandfather, hence the title. While the early third of the book dealing with his family tree may be a bit slow going once he gets into his own bio in the middle third, the book really starts to heat up.
John's willingness to reveal his own personal peccadillos and weaknesses is truly refreshing for a former and hopefully future Presidential candidate. For example, in the chapter entitled Low Grease, John recounts a quite hilarious anecdote about a visit to meet his girfriend's proper Main Line Philadelphia family for the first time. Unfortunately his train connections allowed him to accept the offers of several fellow travelers to join them for some beers. He relates how, after several hours of drinking at the 30th Street Station in Philly, he finally catches the last train to the girl's town. You can easily conjur the vision of him making his grand entrance wearing his Naval Academy Dress White Uniform.
The book really becomes a page-turner in the final third when John details in often excrutiating detail his time spent in a Vietnamese prisoner of war camp now infamously known as the Hanoi Hilton. His descriptions are surprisingly not tinged with bitterness or rancor. Apparently enough time has elapsed to allow his mental (but not physical) wounds to heal. This period details how the POWs used various mental techniques to survive, how they created alternative means of communication, how they organized and how they relied on one another.
The book ends with his and his fellow POWs release from the POW camp. This abrupt ending clearly leaves the readers hungry for more information, more narrative of his post-POW life. Luckily there are other later John McCain volumes which are available to nourish the hungry reader. But that's another review.
This volume should be required reading for all students of the Vietnam War and for every American regardless of their age, race, gender or poltical party.
Rating: 
Summary: INSPIRING WORK BY A REMARKABLE MAN
Review: FAITH OF MY FATHERS in John McCain's book about service, courage, duty, and family honor. The first 100 pages deals with McCain's grandfather and father. Both were admirals in the Navy. His grandfather fought in both World Wars and his father fought in WW2 through the Vietnam War where he was CINCPAC. McCain followed the family tradition of the Naval Academy and service as an aviator until he was shot down over Hanoi in 1967. While McCain was a POW at the notorious Hanoi Hilton, his father was in charge as CINCPAC, which caused him lenient treatment by his captors at the expense of his fellow prisoners.
Most remarkable about McCain's story is his self-deprecation, apology, and forgiveness. He often remarked that other prisoners were tortured more and treated far worse than himself because of his father's admiralty. (This from a man who endured two broken arms and a broken leg upon ejection from his downed aircraft and then received wholly inadequate medical care.) He has no reason to apologize, in this reader's estimation.
McCain refused early release and endured more torture for refusing to save his father embarrassment and preserve family honor. Touchingly, it is during McCain's imprisonment that he loved his country the most. Deprived of all he held dear he was thankful to be an American and all the privilege that entailed.
For a man who endured 6 years of torment, it is amazing to me how easily he forgives those who collaborated with the enemy, or misguidedly supported the antiwar movement at his expense. His forgiveness is not confined to those who were the worst offenders either. McCain extended his forgiveness to those who abused him earlier in life at the Naval Academy because they resented the station of his father and grandfather. McCain never named names, and surely spared many alive today the shame they richly earned.
John McCain comes off as a genuinely compassionate and thoughtful man. His words humble the reader in his love of country and sense of duty and honor.
The book ends with McCain's release by his captors, leaving the reader wanting to know much more about his career of continuing service to the United States and his attempt to become President. Truly an inspiring work.
Rating:
Summary: very moving story
Review: I often wonder how the being a POW would shake your resolve and faith for the country, and wonder if I could do it. After reading this book I am no closer to the dicision that I could survive it, but it makes you proud to know that there are americans like John Mccain out there. This book doesn't just cover the time in prision though, but rather his life up until he was released as well as the lives of his father and grandfather. A must read for anyone interested in history.
Rating:
Summary: A Great Patriot
Review: I couldn't put this book down. A great, smooth read about the three John McCains. An awesome family history that teaches about fathers and sons and wars. The relationships between these men were stronger than I imagined. I recommend this book to everyone to see how a true patriot serves their country.
Rating:
Summary: What it's really like to be a POW!
Review: Although this book starts off a little slow, you need to know John's background to understand him and why he is where he is, at this time. What powerful family figures to look up to! As a Navy veteran myself, I really enjoyed this family memoir and due to his details of when he was a prisoner of war, I think this story will appeal to many readers, but even more so, to veterans or members of our services. He is to be admired for his endurance and faith!
Rating:
Summary: He Serves His Country
Review: A great book to read for all Americans, especially for non-military families. After reading this book, I began to understand the hardships and sacrifices that people in the military and their families must go through. I also knew very little about what happened in the South Pacific during WWII, what the various strategies were, the major battles, etc. before I picked up the book. The book was hard to put down, was very entertaining to read, at times lighthearted, at other times quite serious, especially during the time McCain was in a POW camp in Vietnam. I liked how the stories were told, I almost felt I were close by, on the scene, and witnessing these events. At times, the military lingo was, let me tell you, totally Greek to me, but I felt I was immersed in naval culture which made the book even more fun to read. McCain is one of the very few Republicans I like; in fact, I greatly admire him! And I really believe that no one can say that he did not serve his country. He truly did and he continues to do so today.
Rating:
Summary: If you don't like this you're not an American
Review: John McCain, long renowned for his singular iconclastic political ideology, has written a book in Faith of My Fathers that should be read by all Americans. While devoid of his political views and political history, Faith of My Fathers delves into the very soul of the person, not the politician, that is John McCain. From his adventurous childhood to his rebellious youth, McCain recounts everything - all the while making for an insightful, entertaining and poignant read. Injecting his dry sardonic humor, McCain tells of his trying ordeal in the Vietnamese POW camp as he was beaten, tortured, and starved - all after suffering a broken leg and back while ejecting from his fighter plane after being shot down. McCain's righteous indignation towards his hostile captors while refusing to devulge nothing more than "The big three" as they beat him senselessly evokes a paradoxical feeling of disdain for his captors as well as an overwhelming sense of pride and patriotism as well. Faith of My Fathers proves to be a most provocative and profound work - one that should be on every American's bookshelf.
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