Laura Bush: An Intimate Portrait of the First Lady (Paperback)

by Ronald Kessler (Author)
Key Phrases: hostile terrain, miracle girls, protective detail, White House, Pamela Nelson, Anne Johnson (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
After examining George W. Bush's White House in 2004's A Matter of Character, Kessler turns his attention to Laura Bush. He's the first author to secure her cooperation for a book project, and he speaks not only with her but with several of her close friends. The resulting portrait is unsurprisingly flattering; "as first lady," Kessler writes, Laura "is in a class by herself." In placing her on a pedestal, however, Kessler engages in a string of unsubtle jabs at her predecessor, assigning Hillary Clinton a range of faults from meanness to poor interior decorating skills. He also smoothes out some rough edges; Laura's widely quoted response to her future mother-in-law's query about what she did ("I read, I smoke and I admire") gets abridged to "I read." Kessler stays away from controversial issues, although he does reveal Laura's input into executive appointments and in areas such as increased funding for the arts. Best viewed as a sympathetic rebuttal to Ann Gerhart's critical The Perfect Wife, this inoffensive biography examines Laura Bush without ever quite explaining her. (Apr. 4)
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.

From Booklist
Kessler, a former investigative reporter for the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal, is unabashedly admiring in this authorized account of Laura Bush. Kessler spoke with friends of George and Laura Bush, including Laura's old boyfriends who had not previously spoken to the press. The result is a portrait of a modest, self-assured woman, who has a subtle influence on the Bush administration. Kessler recalls the car accident when Laura was 17 years old that resulted in the death of a close friend. He disputes Kitty Kelley's claim in her 2004 book that Laura sold dime bags of marijuana in college. As a young woman, she considered herself a liberal Democrat and wasn't much interested in politics but showed a sense of public service in teaching and in spearheading literacy programs as a librarian. Though she has described herself as "traditional," Laura bristles at the limits that description implies. Kessler presents her in contrast to Hillary Clinton, and in relation to her daughters; a tight circle of lifelong friends; her mother-in-law, Barbara Bush; and Bush administration members from Andrew Card to Condoleezza Rice. Laura has evolved from a woman so shy she avoided all public speaking to a calming influence with greater popularity than her husband. Her admirers will relish this book while others may find it informative but a bit too saccharine. Vanessa Bush
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Broadway (April 10, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0767921917
• ISBN-13: 978-0767921916
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #314,971 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Laura Bush would be great to have as a friend, August 5, 2007

By	Constant Reader "lovetoread" (Madison, WI USA) - See all my reviews

I loved this book. I bought this book after reading a library copy.

This book is based on interviews with Laura Bush's friends. It reveals friendships that are full of caring, insight, jokes, loyalty and sincerity. I would like to be as good a friend to the people I love as I think Laura Bush is to the people she loves. Laura Bush is still friends with schoolmates from high school and college! And they are very smart and also funny!

In reading this book, I found out that Laura loves to clean. One of her friends said cleaning supplies are Laura's favorite substances. No one in my family feels that way! But I find Laura's attitude inspiring, funny and helpful. Now, when something around here needs cleaning, I think of Laura's enthusiasm. I find that it is much easier and more fun to tackle cleaning with enthusiasm than to go through it with a dismal attitude.

I liked Laura Bush before I read this book. Based on the impressions shared by her friends, it seems to me that she always tries to do her best but without taking herself too seriously. She is smart, sensible, witty and also kind. And she loves to read!! And I love to read!! And I love people who love to read!!

I liked her very much to begin with, and having read the book, I like her better. In fact, I have added Laura Bush to my virtual team and I consider her an awesome virtual friend and consultant.

I wish her well and thank her for her contributions as First Lady. Thank you, Laura!

I think this is an excellent book, with revealing insights into Laura Bush's friendships and life. It is not a snarky critical book and I was grateful for that. I'm not interested in snark and criticism (well, hardly at all). I'm interested in encouraging people to be their best and to enjoy life. I think this book does that, and I highly recommend it.

42 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A well-researched story of a very classy, elegant, and independent woman, April 11, 2006

By	Valerie Matteson "Bookaholic" (Ann Arbor, Michigan) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Laura Bush: An Intimate Portrait of the First Lady (Hardcover)

For all those women who thought/think Laura Bush is just doing what she is told and has no opinions of her own or who believe what Teresa Heinz Kerry so slanderously said, please, please read this book. Mr. Kessler has done a very thorough job researching every incident he reports in the book by interviewing multiple sources of Mrs. Bush's friends, acquaintances and others to bring a more complete picture of her background, childhood, teenage years -- including a tragic automobile accident -- and college days along with her careers as a teacher and a librarian.

Mr. Kessler also goes through how she handled campaigning and the limelight haviang to overcome her shyness to her most recent "comedic" performance in 2005 at the White House Correspondents dinner.

Throughout this book we can see that Mrs. Bush remains faithful to her own principles and moral values and faith as well as loyal to her friends and family. I have always thought when I have heard her on talk shows and elsewhere that she seemed like a very classy lady and she is. She would be a joy to have as a friend and is certainly improving the "First Lady" image and bringing back the elegance that was sorely needed in that office and the White House.

Read it!

41 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's like having dinner with laura bush, April 4, 2006

By	Goddess "anothergoddess" (New York, New York United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Laura Bush: An Intimate Portrait of the First Lady (Hardcover)

Kessler is a veteran journalist who brought down the head of the FBI, he penetrates even the most secret agencies in our country. Now he turns his attention to the first lady and we can finally get to know her in the most personal way.