Heartbeat: George Bush in His Own Words [Paperback]

George Bush (Author), Jim McGrath (Compiler), Barbara Bush (Introduction)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2003

"We are not the sum of our possessions. They are not the measures of our lives. In our hearts, we know what matters. We cannot hope only to leave our children a bigger car, a bigger bank account. We must hope to give them a sense of what it means to be a loyal friend; a loving parent; a citizen who leaves his home, his neighborhood, and town better than he found it."

-- from President George H. W. Bush's Inaugural Address, January 21, 1989

A charming collection of excerpts from the former president's speeches and other writings, "Heartbeat" reveals the basic ideals and beliefs that have served George H. W. Bush throughout his public and private life. He speaks often of what he calls "heartbeat." It is a simple word -- a code word -- referring to personal bedrock values concerning service, duty, honor, friends, faith, and particularly family.

As the Bushes prove themselves to be one of the most important political families in U.S. history, this warm and revealing look into the former president's guiding principles could not come at a more important time. Culled from Mr. Bush's speeches over the course of his presidency and beyond, "Heartbeat" discloses a surprising personal side to the forty-first president -- a warm, witty, and expressive man.

In chapters such as "1989: A New Breeze" and "1993-2001: Did It with Honor," the book features entertaining, eloquent, and emotional excerpts from the former president's words...

"Sure we must change, but some values are timeless. I believe in families that stick together, and fathers who stick around. I happen to believe very deeply in the worth of each individual human being, born or unborn. I believe in teaching our kids the difference between what's wrong and what's right, teaching them respect for hard work and to love their neighbors. I believe that America will always have a special place in God's heart, as long as He has a special place in ours...."

"Being president does have its advantages. And this is true: I have a TV set there in the White House with five screens, one big one in the middle, four small ones around it. Now I don't have to miss the nightly news when I watch "Wheel of Fortune.""

In this single, remarkable collection, Mr. Bush's speeches, interviews, and other statements paint a poig-nant portrait not just of the former president but of a man and a family.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

A compilation of excerpts from George H.W. Bush's speeches, interviews and statements, Heartbeat: George Bush in His Own Words is not, writes editor Jim McGrath, "a political book," but rather an attempt to show the private man through his public words. The excerpts are short, ranging from a few paragraphs down to an aphoristic two lines. There are plenty of thoughtful moments, such as Bush's reflection on Martin Luther King Jr. ("His life was a metaphor for courage"), but overall, the balance seems to swing toward the humorous ("I'm President of the United States, and I'm not going to eat any more broccoli").

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

This light collection of short excerpts from letters, speeches, public papers, and interviews by former president George Bush is an attempt to define his "heartbeat" by presenting a version of who Bush is through his written and spoken words. The content ranges widely from commentary on Millie, the Bush family dog, to the search for peace; from Manuel Noriega to the meaning of national pride; from a thousand points of light to the dark days of his electoral defeat. If Bush's words lack a certain flair, imagination, or drama, they present a portrait of a man deeply rooted in American values. While the editor claims that this is "not a political book," it cannot avoid being a book with deep political implications especially given that the current occupant of the White House is his son. This book helps us understand Bush the father and Bush the president. Recommended for public and academic libraries. Michael A. Genovese, Loyola Marymount Univ., Los Angeles
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Citadel; Revised edition (September 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0806524979
• ISBN-13: 978-0806524979
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,640,294 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fitting tribute to a great man!, November 12, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Heartbeat: George Bush in His Own Words (Hardcover)

The author, Jim McGrath, has compiled a well-edited look at the life of the former President. Readers who want a "behind the scenes" look of life in the White House without all the needless commentary should purchase this book immediately!! This is a must read for anyone interested in political life.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Core Values: Faith, Family, and Friends, April 14, 2002

By 

Clint Hunter - See all my reviews

This review is from: Heartbeat: George Bush in His Own Words (Hardcover)

"Heartbeat" is a collection of excerpts from the speeches and writing of President George H. W. Bush. The compilation delineates those "core" values that defined the policies and personal goals of Bush's presidency. The book is organized into chapters corresponding to his presidential years (1989-1992) with an additional chapter concentrating on his post-presidency. The writings,which characterize the "core" values consistently addressed, are presented in sub-sections in each chapter. These are: Faith, Family, and Friends; The Vision Thing; A Legacy of Service; and In the Arena. This is a convenient organizational tool which allows the reader, should he/she choose, to follow a particular thread through each of the four years of the president's term. Of course one may choose the conventional method of a chapter by chapter reading. I actually did both, occasionally flipping back and forth through the chapters as I read to remind myself of a particular point previously made.

I found the book to be absorbing and entertaining reading. Having visited the Bush Library in College Station, Texas, I was not surprised by the sense of honor, duty and love of country that permeates the text. Nor was I surprised and the wonderful rather self-deprecating sense of humor that pops up in sometime unexpected places.

All-in-all this is an effortless way to get an elementary grasp of the issues and complexities which confronted America at a time when events leading to The World Trade Center atrocity were already continuing to build.