Book review Decision Points by George W. Bush

To those who accuse him of self-delusion and idealism, former US President George W. Bush states, “I believe it will be impossible to reach definitive conclusions about my presidency – or any recent presidency for that matter – for several decades,” believing he’ll be on the right side of history, one day.

Decision Points , Bush's thematically ordered memoir focuses on the most consequential decisions of his presidency and personal life, taking you from his decision to quit drinking and his decision to invade Iraq to his decisions regarding the financial crisis. You can almost immediately hear Bush’s southern accent and his casual and blunt language speaking to you as you turn the pages.

In the first chapter, you get a sense of who the non-public Bush is; his accounts of a family-oriented childhood, a rebellious adolescence, his struggles with alcohol in early adulthood and his subsequent discovery of an enduring faith in God, are all refreshingly candid and quite moving at times.

Throughout the rest of the book, his attempts at pathos are faint at best. While the memoir is packed with detailed accounts, justifications and mea culpa, the reader gets the sense that Bush is mostly concerned with his political legacy.

Regarding 9/11, Bush states, "the story of that week is the key to understanding my presidency...after the nightmare of September 11, America went seven and a half years without another successful terrorist attack on our soil. If I had to summarize my most meaningful accomplishment as president in one sentence, that would be it.”

When explaining his decisions, Bush often compares them to those made by his predecessors, including the FDR and Truman, and speaks of higher moral necessities, such as keeping critical intelligence from leaking to terrorists.

Bush acknowledges his mistakes, such as his administration’s lack of immediate response when Hurricane Katrina hit the country. Vis-à-vis Iraq, he regrets not having intervened more aggressively following the fall of Saddam’s regime and the deteriorating security situation.

Throughout the book, many issues raised by critics aren’t addressed, while others are simply downplayed. About Guantanamo Bay, Bush states that the detainees were given, “clean and safe shelters, three meals a day and a copy of the Koran.” Regarding water-boarding (an interrogation method that simulates drowning), he writes that it doesn’t constitute torture; a controversial opinion to say the least, regardless of whether it’s an effective solution or not.

No less surprising is his claim that he was “blindsided” by the news of an economic crisis. Perhaps that’s how some of us felt, but can the President of the United States feel this way?

Decision Points sheds light on one of the most controversial American presidents of our modern day era. A quote by Harold Nicolson comes to mind: “we are all inclined to judge ourselves by our ideals; others by their acts,” but when it comes to politics do we ever really judge anyone by their moral principles?