Customer Reviews

Rumsfeld: A Personal Portrait

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

I love Rummie. This book, however, offered no analysis, insight, or behind-the-scenes anecdotes. It is an empty book filled with run-on sentences, mysterious modifiers, and simple observations. Rumsfeld fans like me deserve better.

A reviewer for the American Conservative terms this book a biography of "shameless sycophancy". It is, like, Neocon meets Warmonger and promptly falls in love. To get this crappy piece of nonsense out of your system one needs to read the recently published antidote: "Rumsfeld, His Rise, Fall and Catastrophic Legacy."

I understand this book is not an attempt to have an in-depth accounting and objective historical analysis on Rumsfeld. What it is, and it does a good job, is this book provides a somewhat personal narrative about Rumsfelds life (and brief, it is a quick read). There were many things I did not know about his life or upbringing, and this book fills in many of the blanks. For example, I did not know his father enlisted in the navy at age 38 to go fight WWII, and I did not know he came from modest means. He made lots of money in the pharmaceutical buisness, and he appears to be very loyal to whomever he serves.

Having said all that, those who wan some historical record would probably want more than what this book offers. But it does its job well. If you wanted to know the good things about Rumsfeld, they are in this book. If you want to know the dirt you might want to look elsewhere.

I conclude in saying this book made me view him as more of a human being. I have been quick to scrutinize much of what he has done under Bush, but after this read I think perhaps I have been too critical. It is a shame politics is so extremely venomous. Books like this could go a long way in restoring some faith, no.. not faith, but an understanding the other person is human just like we are.

Rumsfeld, along with McNamara will be one of the controversial SecDef for quite some time. He certainly has made his mark on American history and on the U.S. Armed Forces. This book was published at the height of Rummy's popularity. Since that time, the Iraq War has gone through endless issues as the U.S. has become bogged down in this country. Rummy has since been thrown out of his job.

The first four to five chapters are actually very informative. It is the last five that puff up Rumsfeld's image. Unfortunately, Rumsfeld did not quit in time. The last five chapters are hard to read. If you are a selective reader, check this book out and read the first five chapters.

Rumsfeld is one of the most interesting individuals in politics in recent years. But this book is so poorly written it is worthless. It is certainly no critical analysis, and is very shallow. Rumsfeld is obviously a much more complex man than this cutesy book would indicate. The writing style is so distracting I keep losing the purpose of the book. Save your money and hope for a better biography of Rumsfeld in the future. I gave the book two stars because I think Rumsfeld is an extremely interesting subject. I would give the author a zero minus.

It took twice as long as it should have to read this book due to long sentences filled with useless qualifying phrases. Also, from birth to White house in 50 pages, many of which have full page photos? Rumsfeld is surely more interesting than that. Lacks even a respespectable level of detail.

Let me start by saying I certainly am no fan of Rumsfeld or his policies. Still, I wanted to read something about him that would give me a better understanding of who he is, what drives him and what events shaped his life.
Unfortunately, this book offered none of the above. From the first chapter it becomes abundantely clear that the author is a starry-eyed sycophant. Sure, it's an intimate portrait, one no doubt that's supposed to be flattering to the subject. I knew that going into it. But there is not even an attempt at objectivity anywhere in the book, and the ending about his endearing quality being "masculinity" is truly horrendous. Any controversy or criticism Rumsfeld experienced is glossed over, refuted or chalked up as some kind of liberal smear campaign. He receives credit for planning the Iraq war, yet when the author grudgingly acknowledges that the aftermath has not gone as planned, she says it's something "certain policymakers" never predicted. Uh, hello, the key "policymaker" was Rumsfeld, yet she never comes out and associates his name with underestimating the aftermath.

Also, the book is poorly sourced, relying on a smattering of quotes from Rumsfeld and an occasional colleague. But there are ample citations of material that ran in other publications or on TV.
Sorry the review is so harsh, but I'm just not sure what audience this book is trying to reach. Venturing a guess, I'd say the same pre-teen girls who read Tiger Beat.

A very partisan puff piece. According to the author, Rumsfeld has no faults. Those who have criticized him suffer from either jealousy, sour grapes or knee-jerk orneriness. However it is an easy read and as an introduction to Rumsfeld for those who know little about him, it gives a good account of his background and accomplishments and of his management style.

I read this book some months back. Reads more like a chronology, and an incomplete one at that. I didn't gain any insight into who this man really is by reading this book. It sugarcoats many of his actions (or completely omits them) and does not ask any hard questions.
This man's actions speak volumes more than the words that are written in this book.
Wouldn't really recommend. The title of the book is "Rumsfeld: a Personal Portrait". Nothing personal about this book. Just my opinion.

Midge Decter's blessedly compact and fascinating study of Donald Rumsfeld tells the story of how a 70 year-old guy became a sex symbol and how his appeal is tied to his Midwestern values and old-fashioned manliness. It's really great and a very good-looking book.