by Frank Bruni
First published 2002
George W. Bush seemed an unlikely president. The laid-back Texan lacked talent for formal speeches and preferred familiar settings to unpredictable situations. His interests ran narrow and his efforts to broaden them came in fits and starts. Yet he won the White House and faced September 11, 2001. The terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon left Bush responsible for leading Americans through unprecedented anxiety and uncertainty. New York Times reporter Frank Bruni covered Bush's campaign and his first eight months as president. Bruni draws on countless hours observing and interacting with Bush to explore whether he could rise to the challenge. The book reveals sides of Bush readers have never seen, finding big truths in small moments. Bruni examines Bush's well-known weaknesses and overlooked strengths, tracing his journey from natural levity to newfound gravity. The reporter also chronicles his own experience navigating presidential politics and the insular bubble of political reporting that often distorts coverage of politicians.
Genres: biography, american, political-science, politics, non-fiction, 21st-century, journalism, american-history
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, underdog
Setting: New York, Pentagon, Texas, World Trade Center
Period: 2001, 21st-century
278 pages · Hardcover · Harper