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  • Decision Points

  • By: George W. Bush
  • Narrated by: Ron McLarty
  • Length: 20 hrs and 6 mins
  • 4.3 out of 5 stars (2,514 ratings)

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Decision Points

By: George W. Bush
Narrated by: Ron McLarty
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Publisher's summary

President George W. Bush describes the critical decisions of his presidency and personal life.

Decision Points is the extraordinary memoir of America’s 43rd president. Shattering the conventions of political autobiography, George W. Bush offers a strikingly candid journey through the defining decisions of his life. In gripping, never-before-heard detail, President Bush brings listeners inside the Texas Governor’s Mansion on the night of the hotly contested 2000 election; aboard Air Force One on 9/11, in the hours after America’s most devastating attack since Pearl Harbor; at the head of the table in the Situation Room in the moments before launching the war in Iraq; and behind the Oval Office desk for his historic and controversial decisions on the financial crisis, Hurricane Katrina, Afghanistan, Iran, and other issues that have shaped the first decade of the 21st century.

President Bush writes honestly and directly about his flaws and mistakes, as well as his accomplishments reforming education, treating HIV/AIDS in Africa, and safeguarding the country amid chilling warnings of additional terrorist attacks. He also offers intimate new details on his decision to quit drinking, discovery of faith, and relationship with his family.

A groundbreaking new brand of memoir, Decision Points will captivate supporters, surprise critics, and change perspectives on one of the most consequential eras in American history - and the man at the center of events.

©2010 George W. Bush (P)2010 Random House

What listeners say about Decision Points

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Very insightful!

I found this book to be very interesting. To have his point of view on the decisions he made through his presidency, when years later some things are still not black and white, but to have to make an on the spot decision without every single fact is obviously not an easy thing. I never agreed with a lot of things he did, like using tax dollars as a charity for aids and malaria in Africa, while a noble cause, we have private charities around the world that could have taken on that cause without the American tax payers being forced into making donations. But, if you want to know his side of the story over how the media painted him take the time to listen to this.

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14 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Not a bad choice

First of all, I did not find this a spellbinding listen. It is a basic memoir but I'm glad GW did it. None-the-less, this should not detract from a good job done by the reader - Ron McLarty. However, I did find the book organization somewhat challenging. The story follows a chronological path to the White House then it jumps around per topic (or crisis).

You've got to admit, it is sobering to reflect back on how the story of GW's term in office was basically one crisis after another - 911, Katrina, wars, financial meltdown. Which makes it more interesting to read this today with the recent debt crisis. Yes, GW provides explanations for his decisions, but I did find some of his explanations not very satisfying (e.g. the auto bailout). So I rate this book (not unlike his term in office) - not especially great, but not especially bad either.

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10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

W's justification of his decisions

The book is not in a chronological order or in any order for that matter. Its about the decision the president had to make in his life and his presidency. Some chapters like the decision to chose the supreme court judge and few others were at least politically disinteresting for me. I always wanted to read or listen to George Bush's reasons for why he did to what he did. It doesn't justify everything but it does make sense. You can say that there is a lot of finger pointing in the Katrina chapter but it is his book. So, if you were ever curious about what was going on in his head and around him, this book states it all.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

Eye opening

While I voted for Bush and have felt sorry for all the bad press he has received since he left office, I found there were several items in the book that caused me to have second thoughts. After learning about the processes of the political decisions and moves, I was impressed with Bush's knowledge of the situations and the experts he consulted before taking action. He is not an ignorant man! He did make some decisions to "Aid" other countries with US Taxpayers' money that I felt would have been better spent to feed and clothe and house the needy at home. It is a good listen and, although Bush does NOT narrate the book, the narrator is close enough that you often forget it isn't Bush talking. Should be "read" by both Bush fans and "enemies". Eye opening on both sides.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

More interesting than I thought

I thought this was an excellent book. Like other people wrote, this won't change your mind about the his presidency. It did not go in chronologic order, and occasionally I had to go back to tie ideas together. I was touched in parts by this man's love for his parents, wife and children as well as his love for the people of our country. He does not whitewash his past issues but it does give insight into why he made the choices he did. Is also an interesting "story" of the American system of poltics good and bad. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars was the narration. Had it been narrated by him, I would have given it the 5 stars.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Clear and educational

I was fascinated by the explanation of the key decisions W made during his presidency. He did a great job of providing the important developments in his life that help us understand the decisions he made. I developed a sincere respect for him and his presidency.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Like Him or Hate Him Great Book

Where does Decision Points rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is a great book for those wishing to see George Bush's decisions from his point of view. Love him or hate him, read this book to see his perspective. It may change your mind or solidify the view you already had.

What does Ron McLarty bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The narrator was great. He was easy to listen to, and brought the story life.

Any additional comments?

I love to listen to presidential perspectives on the events that occured durring their time. There is no greater office and no greater burdan than the Presidency of the United States. Because hindsight is often 20/20, much can be learned of life in their time, compared to life now. Granted not much time has passed for this one, but perspectives of the President himself cannot be disputed. They are his view of the problems he encountered.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Outstanding book - highly recommended!

Outstanding book! Like him or not, he was the president of the USA for 8 years and had to endure probably the worst challenges a president can face - from natural disasters, to economic crisis, 2 wars among others.

In this book he reveals what was behind the decisions he had to make - and by revealing his side of the story you will discover a man with moral principles, clear goals and someone who knew where he wanted to take the country.

He is not afraid of showing the decisions he got wrong, his weakness nor to tell exactly what people did or said, which also reveals interesting facts about other global leaders.

A well written book that makes you feel inside the White House and participating in great moments of "history", in addition to revealing what happened behind the scenes. One of the best books I've read lately.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Reflections of history through the eyes of a great man serving during challenging times

Throughout his book former President George W Bush gives his perspective of the challenging and controversial decisions he had to make during his presidency. Love him or hate him, his reflections on the events of history are well laid out, explained, and informative. History will ultimately judge his presidency with the clarity of hindsight, but this book allows the reader to glance into history through the eyes of the man who was there and lived the decisions. Throughout his presidency many in the media, the general public, and congressmen on both sides of the isle seemed to second guess every decision he made. This book helps the reader to see why thing we're done the way they were and will help history judge the man for what he was, a great man serving during challenging times.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars

A basic memoir, more personal than expected.

An interesting memoir. GW reviews what he considers the major points of his presidency, and why he made the decisions he did, who was involved, and in hindsight how good or bad he did. No, he does not think he was perfect, nor does he think he got everything wrong. Some of the personal high points he reviews not many would have even realized existed.

A really interesting personal review of himself...but then I guess that is what a memoir is all about. I do wish it was read by the author though.

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13 people found this helpful