mary_brawley 's review for:

Here, Right Matters: An American Story by Alexander Vindman

4.0

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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.