In honor of our celebration of Presidents during February, let me tell you about two new biographies. The first biography is entitled, “41: A Portrait of My
Father,” by George W. Bush. We have it
in print and audio-book (CD format). This is a great book written about
President George H. W. Bush (George Herbert Walker Bush; born June 12, 1924)
written by his son President George W. Bush (George Walker Bush; born
July 6, 1946). It tells the personal
insights to the man that became our 41st president (thus the title,
“41”). He tells of his military career, politics but also important to people
such as myself is the personal background and story. Men and women can be great leaders but can
they also live a life of love, endurance, faithfulness and victory with those
closest to them, their family. This book
shows such a man, one that true leadership classes, books on character and
encouraging speeches and articles would be do well to glean and learn from.
I read a lot of biographies on presidents,
their wives and those around them. I
have read the biography entitled, “Barbara Bush: A Memoir” (written in 2003).
This book told of the Bushes family background as well. It also highlighted the
preparation of the Bushes in service to their country. I came away from that book with the
understanding the George H.W. Bush was one of the best prepared men to be
president in the 20th Century.
This newest book, “41” will also help the reader to glean even more of
the preparation of a man for the Presidency.
Another recent
non-fiction book on a President is entitled, “The Stranger: Barack Obama In the
White House,” by Chuck Todd. Todd is the
moderator of Meet the Press and Former NBC News Chief White House Correspondent
(front cover). Todd endeavors to tell the reader how President Barack Obama (Barack
Hussein Obama II; born August 4, 1961) won the Presidency as an outsider of
Washington (2008). He tells how his vision of hope and change became very hard
to implement in a culture within Washington D.C. (from both parties) that
challenged his agenda. Todd brings hundreds of interviews in this book to
discuss the victories and the failures of this man as president. He thinks that the title, ‘“The Stranger”
defines what “Obamaism” really is and what the president stands for. . .’
(front flap). He shows the power struggles and agendas of many of the important
players within Washington. Like all books written about someone famous, the author always brings their colored glasses to the presentation. Be sure and consider the authors reasons for writing the book, their political leanings and the audience they are writing to. These will all influence the tone and presentation.
After reading
many biographies and books outlining political careers of mighty men and women,
what I always come away with is that there is never any shortage of intrigue,
power struggles and agendas on all sides.
Many of us average citizens are just not privy to them. Read, learn and challenge yourself to read
and see from the author’s point of view.
