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    41: A Portrait of My Father
    Unavailable
    41: A Portrait of My Father
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    41: A Portrait of My Father
    Audiobook7 hours

    41: A Portrait of My Father

    Published by Penguin Random House Audio

    4/5

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    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    George W. Bush, the 43rd President of the United States, has authored a personal biography of his father, George H. W. Bush, the 41st President.

    Forty-three men have served as President of the United States. Countless books have been written about them. But never before has a President told the story of his father, another President, through his own eyes and in his own words. A unique and intimate biography, the book covers the entire scope of the elder President Bush's life and career, including his service in the Pacific during World War II, his pioneering work in the Texas oil business, and his political rise as a Congressman, U.S. Representative to China and the United Nations, CIA Director, Vice President, and President.  The book shines new light on both the accomplished statesman and the warm, decent man known best by his family. In addition, George W. Bush discusses his father's influence on him throughout his own life, from his childhood in West Texas to his early campaign trips with his father, and from his decision to go into politics to his own two-term Presidency.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPenguin Random House Audio
    Release dateNov 11, 2014
    ISBN9781101913154
    Unavailable
    41: A Portrait of My Father

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    Reviews for 41

    4/5

    70 ratings12 reviews

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    • 3/5
      I liked this book, but not as much as I was hoping. I am glad "Dubya" wrote it, however, as his father did not write his own memoir and will not. And, it's the first book about a president written by his son, also a president. It was definitely written with much love by a son for his father. I do recommend it.
    • 4/5
      It is the son's story of his father. I just love how this book begins: "This a a biography of George H.W. Bush. There are many other books about my father. Some are probably less biased. This is not one. This is a love story." How touching. This was a simple, easy read and George W's voice is assuring. Glad I took the time.
    • 4/5
      I first became aware of and interested in politics during the 1988 Presidential campaign. (There may have been an unfortunate incident of me making a classmate cry by deriding her parents' preferred candidate...) So the first President I really remember is George Bush. Whatever one might believe about his politics and policies as President, this man has led a remarkable life and one dominated by the spirit of public service which so often seems lacking nowadays in public officials who more often are focused on personal gain and politics for politics' sake.This slim biography has a little bit of everything - family history, personal background, failed campaigns, funny anecdotes, fascinating behind the scenes details, and maybe most strikingly, a depth of emotion and sincerity that does credit to both subject and author. Obviously, it's not and never could be an unbiased account. But there is honesty in the pages. And while I might have rolled my eyes and wanted to skip forward through some of the author's rationalizations for his own actions, I appreciated having such a personal look at a former President who has written very little about himself.It's refreshing - as well as sad - to read about an "old school" politician who could make friends with his rivals, informally adopt as a fifth son the man who drove him from the White House in 1992, and let go of grudges as soon as they formed. Sad because there seem to be few, if any, of this type left.Also, I love that he celebrates his milestone birthdays by parachuting!
    • 5/5
      A beautifully written story from a son's point of view. George W. Bush uses a blend of humor, sarcasm, wit, and seriousness in this memoir. It really shows us the Bush family in a new light. I, for one, am delighted that I picked up the book. It truly was worth the all-nighter!
    • 3/5
      George Bush (43) loves and respects his father George H.W. Bush (41) very much, as does every single member of his extended family - that much is made clear in this book. The book covers the accomplishments of 41's life, both in and out of politics, although not in great depth, and 41 seems like an intelligent, kind and truly decent man. One can perhaps question whether 41 could possibly be as perfect as his son makes him out to be; nevertheless, one has to admire a man who does a parachute jump at the age of 90! And I'll tell you what - somebody should write a book about Barbara Bush, because she sounds really interesting.
    • 3/5
      41: A Portrait of My Father by George W. Bush is a love song to his father. It is sweet and touching but there isn't a lot of meat. George writes well but in the end I asked if I cared enough to have read the entire book. It is an easy read but needn't be read.
    • 5/5
      My book club read 41: A Portrait of My Father. I have to say that I enjoyed it. I liked the conversational style of the writing, and I thought George W. Bush's writing style came through.I did enjoy learning some things about our 41st president. I didn't realize how much foreign experience he had before he became president. A couple of stories surprised me, one when Taiwan didn't get the vote for representation in the UN. The Taiwanese representative had to leave the assembly. Our UN Ambassador and his wife, George and Barbara Bush, walked out with him in solidarity and Barbara Bush was spit upon. Another was a funny story of George H. W. Bush, age 83, driving a speed boat with Putin and his interpreter on board.The book holds touching family stories, especially about the death of their daughter from leukemia, plus how they came to acquire Walker's Point in Maine, etc. There are not many stories of Barbara Bush in here, but there are a few. You may agree with some of the stands and disagree with some, but you will also laugh and cry, cringe and applaud.Political memoir is not my normal reading fare, but it was a change of pace. I've never read the genre before because of the obvious bias. I actually requested this book because it crosses genres, leaning more towards a family memoir. I may or may not try more political memoirs in the future.
    • 5/5
      I enjoyed this book a great deal, lots of interesting stories also read by G.Bush son very good book I recommend it. Also gives insights into the life of the great man.
    • 4/5
      The notion of this book is very interesting. A Presidential biography written by a fellow President who is also a son. Parallels to the Adams family abound. George Bush the Elder, possessing a lifetime of experience in government, is like John Adams, also a one-term President. George W. Bush and John Quincy Adams are both sons who became President. Both sons had shortcomings which can be linked to their elite birth. Both sons knew how to work an establishment, and both faced the difficulty of seeming out-of-touch with the average American.

      Upon completion, this biography left me with conflicting emotions. First, I grew a deeper admiration of George H.W. Bush (the Elder). Obviously W genuinely admires his father, and the writing allows that to shine through. Second, I felt more strongly that W was not qualified to be an American President. He saw the Republican party as a country club of sorts and lacked any real engagement with liberalism. HW seems to have wrestled with the issues of the day. W seems just to have coasted along.

      I will dwell upon the positive. Reading about HW reminds me of a time before there was such a partisan divide in our politics. HW was a decent man who wanted to emphasize what we Americans have in common instead of dividing us to gain the upper hand. W chronicles several incidents in his life where HW chose the tougher road because of his commitment to decency.

      W ties HW’s decency to his start in forgoing Yale to serve in World War II. Entering (and exiting) a war with purpose united HW’s generation and cemented their broad patriotism. Most men of his generation had fought for each other in war. This provided a common ethic and a common narrative which united them in times of political discord. Unfortunately, we lack that ethic today. With W, I stand in admiration of his father – even as a Democrat.
    • 4/5
      It is the son's story of his father. I just love how this book begins: "This a a biography of George H.W. Bush. There are many other books about my father. Some are probably less biased. This is not one. This is a love story." How touching. This was a simple, easy read and George W's voice is assuring. Glad I took the time.
    • 5/5
      I'd picked up this book in bookstores a number of times and always set it down in favor of something else. But all of the tributes at 41's funeral made me think again - and I'm pleased that I did. His official biographer might have offered more details, but this is a son's portrait of a famous father. It gives a special depth to the tributes we heard earlier this month. It is an easy and often touching read of a truly decent and remarkable man. It will make you sad more of America's politicians are more like him.
    • 5/5
      Thank you for sharing your life story, you made me even more to say, "I am proud to be an American ."