Customer Reviews

Barbara Bush: A Memoir

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is a great book. You truly see what it is like to live in the political world. Barbara Bush uses humor and moving stories to show what her life was like in China, New York, Washington, D.C., and Texas. Her positive atitude towards people is truly encouraging. I look up to her.

First off, I must confess that I do not adhere to the politics of George Bush, Sr. or Jr. That said, I do heartily admire Barbara Bush, a woman of remarkable warmth, grit, and common sense. In the lengthy and wide-reaching memoir we meet Barbara and scores of other people who were significant in her eventful life.

Despite her privileged background, Barbara Bush is an ordinary woman with extraordinary qualities of wisdom and compassion. Both she and her husband were raised in the old New England tradition to make their lives useful and to do good. Throughout these pages, Barbara's dedication to these Puritan ideals shines through.

She is never pompous or ostentatious. You feel that you could sit next to her on a three hour flight and talk companionably with her, and depart from her with your mood lifted. This memoir is the gracefully written account of the life of a gracious lady.

First of all, this is NOT a biography. Once I digested that, I loved this book and I fell in love with this woman. She is strong, down-to-earth, has her priorities straight, not full of herself, and doesn't have any alterior motives (political or otherwise, unlike some we know) to be a good person and a good first lady. This book provided a perspective on the White House that is interesting, engaging and a joy to read. She is an example to me of a great mother, a great leader and a great human! Thank you Barbara!

Well written in an engaging style and based on Barbara Bush's personal diaries. It's easy to imagine sitting in your living room talking with your grandmother about family, friends, and history but the family of Barbara Bush is a presidential one, a number of friends are internationally known. The historical events are not seen through the eyes of the media stories most people know but are events personally lived by this remarkable woman. Purely personal and not at all political, this book is a must read for Barbara Bush admirers and history buffs alike. Highly recommended!

I was 18 when Bush ran for office in 1988 and that was my first election to vote in. Needless to say, I voted for George Bush. I only wish I would have paid closer attention to his presidency then, because all dignity, grace, and respect left the White House with Barbara and he. Barbara Bush tells the story about a good life with no apologies. Everyone strives for the American dream, but few people enjoy it once they possess it. As a mother of three now, myself, I can appreciate her willingness to love and support her husband and family. I appreciate that she is a self realized person in her own right and was never threatened by, nor felt she had to compete with her husband's success. I loved being introduced to "Bar's" George Bush. Here is a loving husband, devoted father and grandfather, and a decent human being. Most of all, I appreciate the words she repeats several times in her book... "In life, we can choose to love what we do or hate it, I choose to love it" This book is very inspiring and should certainly pull the reader out of any depression or slump he may find himself in.

Finally, I will be voting for another George Bush next month!

I wanted more stories, more letters, more diary entries, more anecdotes, more pictures and most DEFINITELY more years with George as President and Mrs. Bush as First Lady! I loved every word for its warmth and humor and depth and perception. I envy those Mrs. Bush refers to as "our dearest friend." Although it made me want to cry for what we lost in '92, it also made me want to celebrate Mrs. Bush's life by adopting her motto of "faith, family and friends."

In this book, Barbara Bush proves that the wife of a president,vice president and politition is not alway easy. She tells many amusing stories of her expeirences with many famous people (both bad and good) and gives an insiders look at important historical events that were part of her husbands career. This book gives you a better look at the job and hectic schedule that a First Lady is responsible for (even though she is not paid.) Her viewpoints on her responsibilities as a First Lady, a Wife and Mother are refreshing. It seems like she was able to "do it all" and "have it all" and do it well. After reading this book it is easy to see why she is one of the country's favorite First Lady's.

Ordinarily, this is not the type of book that I would have chosen to purchase or read, but it was given to me as a gift.

With all of the mass media infatuation with the Kennedy family, it is interesting to note that it is the Bush family that may have quietly assumed the position as the greatest American political dynasty since that of the Adamses: Prescott Bush was a United States Senator from Connecticut; his son, George Herbert Walker Bush, a certifiable war hero, relocated to Texas and served in the Congress before becoming Vice President and President; two of his sons, George W. Bush and his brother, Jeb Bush, have served as the governors of Texas and Florida respectively; George W. Bush is completing his second term as President.

Barbara Bush's memoir is a political love story. It is remarkable to see what a great beauty that Mrs. Bush was at the time of her engagement and marriage. When her husband left the oil business to concentrate on politics, Barbara Bush became a valuable political asset. She possessed a sense of humor and steel backbone that allowed her to be a tower of strength when needed. There are some poignant recollections included in the book also: George W. Bush proved to be a great comfort to his mother following the childhood death of one of his siblings. Clearly, he inherited his mother's sense of determination and tenacity.

It would have been interesting to imagine Barbara Bush as president.

This book is a hoot to read, all the things she and her husband did while in the White House was really interesting, she has a terrific sense of humor, its a good thing she does, some of the things that happen to them while in the White House were pretty harrowing. I have given this book as a gift and lent mine to other people I thought she was one of our best First Lady's we have ever had and I'm immensely proud that I voted for Her husband and Son, thanks for writing such an entertaining book, .P Stevens

Ordered on Nov 26 & received on Dec 2, 2010. Very satisfied with book & time of shipment.
B Mason