Rating: 
Summary: Not now, not ever
Review: A feeble attempt to preserve a legacy. We've been dissecting this book at our lunchtime foreign policy discussion group. This book was supposed to serve as context for understanding today's problems. Bush, ironically, takes the blame for them and calls them successes. That would be a tolerable discussion for debate if the book itself wasn't cumbersome and disorganized.
Rating: 
Summary: The definitive account of the end of the Cold War
Review: A vital part of understanding the end of the Cold War. The book is at its most vivid and engaging during it's description of the events leading up to the fall of the Berlin Wall, the unification of Germany and the Gulf War. Bush and Scowcroft tag team throughout the book and complement each other well. Bush's knack for incorporating anecdotes and his personal relationships with other world leaders serves him well here. However, the book is lacking in some areas, and I couldn't quite bring myself to give it 5 stars. While billed as a major part of the book, the section on the Tianamen Square uprising in China was not particularly detailed or illuminating. The book could have benefited from Bush and Scowcroft's perspective on the Panama Invasion, Somalia, and especially on the crucial decisions on US policy towards the breakup of Yugoslavia, which began on Bush's watch. Still, this is an amazing book and it was easy to feel swept up in events that many did not believe we would see happen in our lifetime, myself included. On par with the great books of international relations such as Kissinger's "A World Restored" and Acheson's "Present at the Creation."
Rating:
Summary: The definitive account of the end of the Cold War
Review: A vital part of understanding the end of the Cold War. The book is at its most vivid and engaging during it's description of the events leading up to the fall of the Berlin Wall, the unification of Germany and the Gulf War. Bush and Scowcroft tag team throughout the book and complement each other well. Bush's knack for incorporating anecdotes and his personal relationships with other world leaders serves him well here. However, the book is lacking in some areas, and I couldn't quite bring myself to give it 5 stars. While billed as a major part of the book, the section on the Tianamen Square uprising in China was not particularly detailed or illuminating. The book could have benefited from Bush and Scowcroft's perspective on the Panama Invasion, Somalia, and especially on the crucial decisions on US policy towards the breakup of Yugoslavia, which began on Bush's watch. Still, this is an amazing book and it was easy to feel swept up in events that many did not believe we would see happen in our lifetime, myself included. On par with the great books of international relations such as Kissinger's "A World Restored" and Acheson's "Present at the Creation."
Rating: 
Summary: Essential Foreign Affairs work
Review: Although they left office only six years ago, it seems the world they describe is nothing like the one today. The collapse of communism, the Gulf War, and the crackdown in China seem so far removed from the current Balkan battles and Asian/Russian economic woes. The book is much more than a "kiss and tell" biography of the life and times of two during the Cold War. Bush and Scowcroft wisely limited their discussion to only a few matters and that allowed them to cover in more depth these important events than so many "What I Did in the White House" books that are on the market. Still, the hard core foreign affairs scholar may be seeking much more, but I think this is an important read for anyone wanting to know "how it was" at the end of the Cold War. The book provides insight into these decisions that I found refreshing to read. It showed the personal nature that is important to diplomacy, and it spoke a great deal about trust. I don't want to sound too political because this is going to be the best history of one of the most important times since the end of World War II, but as you read about the negotiations and "first name" diplomacy practiced with incredible skill and character, you won't want to put down this book and read the newspapers because you'll just feel depressed about the current state of the Presidency. As a friend of mine said, who hasn't yet finished the book, "It makes you long for the days when adults were in the White House."
Rating:
Summary: An astounding masterpiece!
Review: As a life-long "liberal" I was very skeptical of a book written by two Republicans, but also being fascinated by "geo-politics" I gave it a try - and WOW! was I surprised! What a marvelous book describing the 'behind the scenes' account of some of the most important and momentous events of the 20th century. By not focusing on domestic policies [i.e. politics] the book shows how deftly America (and Bush) managed these dramatic events (winning the Cold War, the Gulf War, etc.). In retrospect, it appears Bush served America very well and it is too bad he only served four years. In summary, politics (partisanship) aside, any reader interested in America's role in the dramatic geo-political events at the close of the 20th century will not be disappointed in this book!
Rating:
Summary: At Least He Could Define What "Is" Is
Review: Columnist Eric Alterman of "The Nation" recently and sneeringly labeled former President George Bush a "do nothing patrician." Alterman and others who believe that might or might not change their views if they read "A World Transformed," an excellent history of an administration that squarely faced and carefully guided this country through one of the most difficult and tremendous events in history--the ending of the Cold War on the West's terms, with all of the broad social, philosophical and political ramifications that it implied. But they would be wise to open this book. They might learn something. Bush and former administration national security adviser Brent Scowcroft commmunicate in a easygoing, thoughtful but dignified and decisive manner, about everything from Mikhail Gorbachev to Desert Storm to the economy, an approach that has practically disappeared amid the spectacle of a White House now dominated by a politically correct spoils system, perpetual poll-driven indecision and celebrity-obsessed pandering. Bush and Scowcroft freely admit their shortcomings and mistakes without rationalization, rancor or excuse and their work should, if nothing else, reaffirm the truth of Bush Labor Secretary Lynn Martin's 1992 campaign statement, "You can't be one kind of man and another kind of President." Reading this book has really awakened me to how dangerously high a price we are now paying for not heeding those words.
Rating:
Summary: At Least He Could Define What "Is" Is
Review: Columnist Eric Alterman of "The Nation" recently and sneeringly labeled former President George Bush a "do nothing patrician." Alterman and others who believe that might or might not change their views if they read "A World Transformed," an excellent history of an administration that squarely faced and carefully guided this country through one of the most difficult and tremendous events in history--the ending of the Cold War on the West's terms, with all of the broad social, philosophical and political ramifications that it implied. But they would be wise to open this book. They might learn something. Bush and former administration national security adviser Brent Scowcroft commmunicate in a easygoing, thoughtful but dignified and decisive manner, about everything from Mikhail Gorbachev to Desert Storm to the economy, an approach that has practically disappeared amid the spectacle of a White House now dominated by a politically correct spoils system, perpetual poll-driven indecision and celebrity-obsessed pandering. Bush and Scowcroft freely admit their shortcomings and mistakes without rationalization, rancor or excuse and their work should, if nothing else, reaffirm the truth of Bush Labor Secretary Lynn Martin's 1992 campaign statement, "You can't be one kind of man and another kind of President." Reading this book has really awakened me to how dangerously high a price we are now paying for not heeding those words.
Rating:
Summary: Bush Does Well
Review: G. Bush gives us his acount of how things occured during his administration. It is always tough to be totally unbiased when writing about oneself. But I think that he does about as good of a job as can be expected. I was impressed with the detail that I was presented with. I did not read this book for the purpose of being moved by action packed stories. I wanted a good insight into those difficult times towards the end of the Cold War and I got just that.
Rating:
Summary: Those who want to understand global politics should read it.
Review: Generations that follow us will look back and be glad we had a wise, experienced president like George Bush in the White House at this critical juncture in history. This book combines history with compassion and humor to tell how Bush handled world-changing events. It is especially effective in illustrating the value of relationships to world diplomacy.
Rating:
Summary: Detailed and Thrilling Account of Historic Change
Review: George Bush and Brent Scowcroft have written a great book about a fascinating subject. This is very engaging and at times is very much a page turner. I was left thinking that a more detailed account of history being made by the movers themselves may not exist. The end of the Cold War is a great story in and of itself, but also a story that could have had a very different ending were it not for the team that managed to bring it to a successful close. This is a very honest book by honest men. Evenly though successful on all of the big issues, they write of miscues, uncertainty and difficulties in reaching the "right" decision. It is not a self-praise tome, but a book that is not afraid to lay out an accurate rendering of the facts and atmosphere. The reader has enough information and background to put himself in the role of President and ask, "What would I have done in that siguation." It's the mark of a thorough book. One can not help but come away impressed by the Bush foreign policy apparatus and the President's own grasp of events, the players and the vital interests of the United States. He, aided by one of the best foreign policy / national security teams ever assembled, played America's hand superbly. After reading this book, anyone who still believes that any President's main responsibility is "the economy, stupid" is.....well, stupid.
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