Customer Reviews

Nerve Center: Inside the White House Situation Room

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Mike Bohn has succeeded in opening to the reader a portion of the White House that few understand - let alone acknowledge its existence or function. The Situation Room truly is the "Nerve Center" for the country - both in times of crisis and in peace time. It is a central briefing room for the President, and a contact center for countries around the globe. Before reading this wonderful book, I hadn't thought about how calls to heads-of-state were made on behalf of the President, but now I can see why they would all go through the Situation Room.

If you are a fan of political movies, and want to know the truth behind the Hollywood fiction, or are just a political junkie, then this truly is the one book you want on your shelf!

A riveting look at crisis management inside the white house.
Provides insight about how current administration might be
handling their current crisis. Must read for political junkies.

I love, love, love this book.So much detailed history into the most powerful room on the planet! The info is slightly outdated since the Bush administration has updated the room. However, this book is a great read for any White House history buff!

Bohn, Commander Bohn. Shakes not stirs events in the White House from the Situation Room. He takes the pulse of the Sit Room and displays it with humor and humanity. This is the first account of the people who watch and report on events that shape our world. Well done and well written!

I enjoyed reading this book on the White House Situation Room. It offers readers great insight and anecdotes behind the scenes of government crises and every day political happenings.

I first read this book 2 years ago after purchasing it from Amazon, and loved it the moment I saw it. Sitting down to read it was almost like opening a chocolate box, with wonderful anecdotes from dozens of men and women who have served in the nexus of American Military decision making. I highly recomend this book to anyone who would like to find out more about the White House Situation room and it's impact on the world and the West Wing itself.

The author, who was one of the Directors of the White House Situation Room during the Reagan era, does a good job of tracing back it's history from it's inception under Kennedy through to the GW Bush era. It's also an insightful look at the situation room's purpose, how various President's have utilized it, and the politics involved of prioritizing and accurately communicating important news to everyone who needs to know it immediately.

It's particularly worthwile if you're interested in how communications with other countries and world leaders have evolved as technology has evolved, as well as the role that CNN has historically played in the White House effort to track world events.

That said, while the author has great insight and has done much research on his topic, the writing is a bit dry and laborious. A hodge-podge of anecdotal stories and research are thrown in - most of which provide little insight into any of major crisis of the day. (Partly, you realize, that's because you the Director of the Situation Room is mostly a meeting and communications coordinator. So, while it has front access to the meeting room and high-level communications, noone in that group really knows the political ins and outs of what happens with what they provide until it becomes public.)

BOTTOM LINE: Not the interesting page-turner which you'd expect from a book titled "Nerve Center". But interesting all the same, if you want a look at how the real situation room (and not the far more exciting movie version of it) operates.

Excellent sneak peak into the White House Situation Room, dispelling myths and showing us the American people how our leaders handle a crisis.