Ten Minutes from Normal [Bargain Price] [Paperback]

Karen Hughes (Author)

Book Description

Release date: December 28, 2004

"The rule of thumb in any White House is that nobody is indispensable except the president," said The New York Times, "but Karen Hughes has come as close to that description as any recent presidential aide." Karen Hughes has worked beside President George W. Bush since, as she says, "the motorcade was only one car and he was sometimes the one driving it." As counselor to the president, she brought the working mom’s perspective to the White House, often asking of President Bush’s policies, "What does this mean for the average person?" Yet the move from Texas to Washington was hard on her family, and in a controversial, headline-making decision that reverberated across America, she summoned the courage to say, "Mr. President, I love you, but I need to move my family home to Texas." There, Hughes continues to advise the president, where the kitchen wall calendar marks the State of the Union message side by side with her son’s orthodontist appointments. Reading Ten Minutes from Normal - the title comes from the campaign trail - one is instantly absorbed in what it’s like to be a "normal" person who goes to work at the White House as a part of the president’s inner circle. Told in Karen Hughes’s disarmingly down-to-earth, warm, often funny, and frank voice, the book is a remarkable blend of an ordinary woman’s life, with all its compromises and everyday decisions, and a keenly insightful look at American politics and America’s forty-third president. This is a book for the legions of women and men everywhere who are seeking new inspiration for how to reorder their priorities and achieve balance in their lives. Most important, in a post-9/11 world, Hughes redefines the very notion of what is "normal" as something special and precious, never to be taken for granted in America again.

--This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Hughes, who surprised the political world by leaving her post as counselor to President Bush in July 2002, to pursue a more normal family life in Texas, here offers a relentlessly upbeat account of life as Bush’s chief communications strategist. Hughes begins by detailing her upbringing as an army brat, her career as a TV reporter in Texas and her entry into politics as a press officer for the 1984 Reagan presidential campaign. The heart of the story is her relationship with Bush ("my boss"), whom she has served since his 1994 campaign for governor of Texas. Hughes praises Bush’s "laser-like" mind, humble spirit and moral courage; she also praises almost everyone else in the administration, including political strategist Karl Rove, with whom she was reported to have frequently sparred. And not surprisingly for a famously disciplined, on-message spokesperson, she directs her most pointed barbs at those who leak information to the press. While Hughes doesn’t offer a balanced take on Bush and company, then, she does offer something equally tantalizing—a deep insider’s take on what it is like to work at the side of the most powerful man in the world. She also provides Bush fans with a well-crafted, robust paean to the president. And both these reasons are why this book has found a place on major national bestseller lists.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

Karen Hughes served as counselor to the president, was one of three people who ran his presidential campaign and worked as his communications director during his six years as governor of Texas. She is an elder and longtime Sunday-school teacher in the Presbyterian church. Mrs. Hughes lives with her husband and son in Austin, Texas, where she continues to advise President Bush from her home. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 346 pages
• Publisher: Penguin Books; First Edition edition (December 28, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0143034979
• ASIN: B000BSFQSM
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (121 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #984,197 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 57 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars book reviews shouldn't be about polical view bashing April 9, 2004

By Robert C. Senders

Format:Hardcover

Karen Hughes is an advisor and personal friend of the President. This book presents a postive view of the president and the White House policies and processes. Duh.

But that is not primarily what this book is about. This book is presents a relatively "normal" professional working mom who finds herself in an important role in the innermost circles of the Presidential Power. She describes what that experience is like, and most importantly the conflict between that appeal to the intensity and importance of that power and her role as a mother and spouse.

The book provides some limited insight (almost certainly the negative filtered away) of decision processes of the President, gives some insights into how Political PR (should) work, and confirmation that a number of the President's close advisor's draw heavily upon their Christian faith.

The book gives some insights into the current President. He is has tremendous discipline, he apparently is always on time or early...for those of you who interact with executives who run businesses and/or organizations know how rare this is--as the imporance of issues that CEO's deal with often mean subordinates learn to wait. He is either "simple-minded" lacking in-depth understanding or cuts immediately to the core of the issue, depending on your view. He does tend to see decisions as right and wrong (it's not just Karl Rove pandering to the hard-core right).

But again, those insights are sidebars to main theme of the book--a mom wrestlhing with the consuming requirements of very intense work environment versus desire to invest in one's family.

The book is am enjoyable read and a thought provoking book for those of us with consuming worklife and a family. On the other hand, if you're the kind of person who would write a review trashing a book that you haven't read because you don't like the politics should probably skip this one-you won't be able to get past the politics to engage with the book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Can't We Just Try to Get Along? December 7, 2009

By S. G. Fortosis

Format:Paperback

I think somewhere back in the misty recesses of history there have been a few times when Republicans and Democrats somehow laid aside their nasty animosities and worked together for some valuable compromises. I think on some very rare occasions, Reps and Dems have worked together because they knew they had to. I even think there have been a few cases in which there was deep, abiding respect between particular members of opposing parties. I'm tempted to think maybe that sentiment has died for good when I read many of these reviews. Could they be more rude and mean-spirited? Maybe, but not a whole lot. Kids, Bush was wrong on some issues and right on others, just like the rest of us human creatures...just like every Democrat who has ever served. Ease up a little.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Personal journal of a political leader, suporter of President Bush - Karen Hughes October 17, 2007

By Oregon

Format:Audio Cassette

I really enjoyed this book. It gives a good insight into a busy life of a politician..

BEAWERE, Karen Hughes is a friend and a supporter of President Bush, so if you lack respect for the president you won't rate this book very high!