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A review by slfergus
Decision Points by George W. Bush
3.0
I added this book to my To Read list after reading an article about the favorite books of former Presidents and First Ladies. This was a favorite of a Democrat and I wanted to know why. As a book it was written in an approachable, engaging style that is humorous and sincere. The format was an interesting one in focusing on what he felt were his most significant decisions while still managing to give a good overview of his and his family’s lives. I found him to be surprisingly insightful in some areas yet narrow and too basic in others, but more moderate and progressive than I had previously thought. He is more intelligent and thoughtful than he has been portrayed. One of my favorite quotes from this book is when he said “But our economy, our security, and our culture would all be weakened by an attempt to wall ourselves off from the world.”
I found I liked, agreed, disliked, and disagreed with him on varying issues which is the case with most of us on anything. Reading this book reiterated another lesson I have learned, which is to listen to and ask questions of all sides, follow sources that rely on facts and not just opinions, and learn as much as possible before forming an opinion or making a decision. Be willing to talk to (or read about) people who see the world differently than you do. Be willing to change your mind if new information becomes available. A person can also entertain ideas and beliefs without accepting them which helps broaden one’s knowledge.
He says in his book “I believe it will be impossible to reach definitive conclusions about my presidency-or any recent presidency, for that matter-for several decades. The passage of time allows passions to cool, results to clarify, and scholars to compare different approaches.” On some things of course we didn’t have to wait that long but on others we will.
I found I liked, agreed, disliked, and disagreed with him on varying issues which is the case with most of us on anything. Reading this book reiterated another lesson I have learned, which is to listen to and ask questions of all sides, follow sources that rely on facts and not just opinions, and learn as much as possible before forming an opinion or making a decision. Be willing to talk to (or read about) people who see the world differently than you do. Be willing to change your mind if new information becomes available. A person can also entertain ideas and beliefs without accepting them which helps broaden one’s knowledge.
He says in his book “I believe it will be impossible to reach definitive conclusions about my presidency-or any recent presidency, for that matter-for several decades. The passage of time allows passions to cool, results to clarify, and scholars to compare different approaches.” On some things of course we didn’t have to wait that long but on others we will.