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4.37 AVERAGE
4.37 AVERAGE
Alexander Vindman recounts what he witnessed during Donald Trump's notorious phone call with Ukraine's President Zelensky - the call that led to Trump's impeachment. Vindman also details his life before the event, from his rambunctious, educationally unfocused boyhood in Ukraine, in Russia, and finally in Brooklyn, New York, through his coming of age and maturing in the military. He writes dispassionately about himself, but with deep awareness of the timeline and his role at every point. I suspect the style was developed during Vindman's varied career as he deliberately sought to become expert at every new task. His solid ego shows; but it's the confidence of someone who's done the work. This reportorial approach is quite good for telling of the event that could have threatened national and world security and did actually change the course of his own life. I'd give the book five stars; but the last chapter about the after-effects on Vindman, his family, and his career, becomes somewhat self-serving. It's not bad. I was glad to hear they all came through the ordeal after his testimony before Congress. But I think it was happening while he was writing the book. The anxiety comes through as he talks himself through handling it.
This is an important book. Vindman reports a nationally significant event in a straightforward, easily understood manner. Along the way, he educates the reader on obscure, relevant military, foreign policy, and White House insider processes. Americans should read this book.
This is an important book. Vindman reports a nationally significant event in a straightforward, easily understood manner. Along the way, he educates the reader on obscure, relevant military, foreign policy, and White House insider processes. Americans should read this book.
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
props to Alexander Vindman for making some hard choices...
This memoir was so well done. Highly recommend to get a glimpse into a life of courage and a philosophy that carried a man and his family through tough times.
Absolutely outstanding! One of the best memoirs I have read. Supremely well written, the author’s sense of dedication to family and country (and his sense of humor) leap off the page. I was fascinated by his path from immigrant child through his various postings ending with the NSC in the White House. This inspiring memoir is one everyone should read. Thank you for your service.
I couldn't put this down. What a family story! Truly the American Dream. What he faced at the end of his exemplary military career is heartbreaking. Highly recommend!
I really enjoyed this read. I, like most Americans I know, was glued to the Impeachment hearings looking for all the information I could glean from a notoriously secretive government. The scandal was real, the fears we had about the under-table dealings were true. And we all knew what the final outcome would be regardless due to hyper-partisan political shenanigans. But through it all I felt like the boots-on-the-ground testifiers were genuine and not caught up in all the riff-raff. Thus, my interest in seeing the process delved into by Lt. Col. Vindman was a true must-read. And, thankfully, this book did not disappoint. I enjoy his writing style, in every way possible the good "sitting here with a beer" sort of discussion often times punctuated by true, hard facts. And the best thing is that it goes beyond his testimony into the WHY he did what he did, what motivated him and his compatriots to risk it all, and eventually what the consequences were to him and his family. Simple things often get brought into better focus in his telling. His historical background for himself paints a cleaner picture from his background in the Army to his decision to point out the quid-pro-quo from Jan 25th on a call directly related to his area of purview. So if you are a fan of political history and you are NOT a huge Trump supporter then this book might be a great one to add your shelf. If you ARE a big Trump supporter then you will solidly hate this book as it is anchored in facts to back every single word he said in testimony and that will not align well with what Republicans were trying to smear during the trial. Regardless, I give it 5 stars as it was everything I was looking for from him.
I'm always amazed when reading biographies of men of how many times they've almost died and basically just got really, really lucky.
I hope some day we will actually live up to the "Here, Right Matters" motto.
Also, I like Rachel a lot.
I hope some day we will actually live up to the "Here, Right Matters" motto.
Also, I like Rachel a lot.
Here, right matters, but sometimes at a terrible cost, if you do the right thing against a narcissistic, vindictive person
This is an important book and everyone should read it! Lt. Colonel Alexander Vindman was a US Army Foreign Area Officer assigned to the White House. He was an expert on Russian, Ukraine and the surrounding area. Vindman was the only person present at a telephone call between the President of the United States and the President of Ukraine who reported the previous Presidents improper actions. The former President of the United States tried to get the President of Ukraine to fabricate damaging evidence against a political opponent. Other high officials in the room tried to ignore the improper actions but Vindman knew that no matter what the cost to himself he had to report it. Most people alive today know that Vindman's action cost him his career in the Army. It also led to the impeachment of the former president and indirectly may have contributed to his loss in the 2020 Presidential election. This book is the author's story of why he did the right thing even though it cost him his career that he loved.