Customer Reviews

Ten Minutes from Normal

5 star:		(40)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(51)

 

 

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.

This book is a delightfully syrupy love letter to the "real man" Karen Hughes always wanted to be. She graciously shows us the George W. Bush that the liberal media just won't let us see.

He's very compassionate ("If my dog Barney was a real person, I'd give him a helluva big tax cut!") He's intellectually curious ("Do you know where they put my coloring book?") He's unfailingly polite ("Would you please ask the Vice President if I could run the country for a little while?")

"Ten Minutes From Normal" is also chock full of insider name dropping ("As Condi Rice said to me. . ." or "As I once told Pervez Musharef. . ." or "As Konrad Adenauer once whispered in my ear . . ."). Oddly, many of the names would almost certainly be mysterious to the current resident of the Oval Office.

Karen Hughes' stark candor about the object of her affection begs the question: Where is the righteous indignation from White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan about opportunistic White House insiders who write books about their former boss?

The author, who constantly reminds us of what a devoted mother she is, sets the worst possible example for her children by fabricating lies for a living. Karen Hughes is such a talented weaver of contemporary myth that she makes Edith Hamilton look like a slacker.

Okay, I voted for Bush in 2000. I thought this book would give me insight into his administration. Instead, I get a book full of fluff and stories about cheeseburgers! Don't waste yer money on this.

What a complete suck up! This is pure trash looking for another suck up to buy it. No insight here, just a boring broad with an ax to grind about liberal Americans. Talk about hate mongering...this fool takes the cake. If this is the best and the brightest of the Bush Administration, our Country is in very sad shape...but then, who didn't know that already without reading this paper waste. This crap isn't even worth burning. Recylcle the paper already!

a. Have spent enough quality time with family, done "being there with the son"
b. "Genious" boss is in deep trouble, time for Super Spin Master to save his ass again
c. Realize her access to White House will expire by the end of year, don't want to miss out on the last chances to make some money off this guy -- people less willing to pay for a book about a jobless guy after he lost the office, better do it quick!
d. A last opportunity to show off her spnning skills in a style of a crossover between a religious fanatic and an used car dealer
e. All the above

You know, I voted for Bush in 2000. I supported Iraq. I read this book. It's looking more and more like I made three mistakes, three more than Hughes says Bush has made. This book is nothing more than Hughes showing that she is Bush's cheerleader.

If this is how deep this administration is, they've lost my vote. Unfortunately, I can't get back the time I spent reading this claptrap of a book.

It's really a shame that Ms. Hughes did not offer more insight into "her boss" and the inner workings of her political world. Instead, the book is primarily p.r. spin. While that was her job when working for Bush...one would think she would take a more in depth look once she left the White House. But, she could not get past her P.R. role...here is one p.r. person who really did believe her own press releases. A sad disappointment.

Anyone who can compare the ability of women to choose what to do with their lives to 911 and the war on terror is a terrorist herself. Don't buy this book and support this kind of mind set. What the bushies want to take complete control of your lives and to create rules of what we can and can't do. I though the wall came down years ago. Apparently they shipped it to the US and are building here. Stand up for what you believe and the right to make our own choices. Boycott her book and book tour!!!!!!!!!!

I got this from my sister, and just finished it. It is one of the worst politcal books I have ever read. As a republican, I am totally disgusted by these people who are supposed to be representing my party and my country. This whole thing is all about "the message" instead of improving the state of the country.

In a word, it is junk. Whatever happened to real leaders like Reagan?

Let's see, according to Hughes:

1. Pro-choice folks are terrorists
2. Only republicans are normal
3. George Bush is our best president ever
4. This administration is flawless

Here we have yet another attempt to dumb down our country. These are the same folks who left a mess in Texas.