First published 2010
George W. Bush opens the doors to the Oval Office and reveals how he made the choices that defined his presidency. He takes readers inside the Texas governor's mansion on election night 2000, then aboard Air Force One as the September 11 attacks unfold. Bush explains his decision to quit drinking and embrace Christian faith, his selection of key officials like his vice president and Supreme Court justices, and his relationships with family members. He discusses the administration's counterterrorism programs, the federal response to Hurricane Katrina, and his choice to order the Iraq troop surge despite public opposition. Bush examines his legislative wins including tax cuts and education reform, alongside his failures on Social Security and immigration. He assesses world leaders he trusted and those he didn't, explains why failing to capture Osama bin Laden remains his greatest disappointment, and argues that preventing another terrorist attack on America stands as his proudest achievement.
Genres: history, american, political-science, politics, non-fiction, biography-memoir, 21st-century, american-history
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: insider-perspective, memoir
Setting: Oval Office, Texas
Period: 2000, September 11
497 pages · Hardcover · Crown Publishers