Newsday this is a serious, thoughtful, illuminating, and valuable insider account of the final years of the george w. Bush but was retained for service by president barack obama. Robert michael gates born september 25, 1943 is an american statesman, scholar, intelligence analyst, and university president who served as the 22nd united states secretary of defense from 2006 to 2011. Memoirs of a secretary at war robert michael gates. Robert gates rages against the political machine in his. The simple reason is that i wrote a biography of a senior pentagon official that gates. Robert gates gets snarky in compelling memoir the former secretary of defense we saw doesnt jive with the one bubbling with fury revealed in duty. Memoirs of a secretary at war by former secretary of defense robert m.
Popular great memoirs books showing 150 of 104 born a crime. In a town blighted by partisan rancour, robert gatess memoir of his time as. Duty memoirs of a secretary at war by robert gates 2014. Robert gates appears at the national constitution center in philadelphia to discuss his memoir, duty. In his new memoir, gates asserts that obama had more than doubts about his course in afghanistan. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Stories from a south african childhood hardcover by. Choice if you read only one book by a washington insider this year, make it this one. When breath becomes air, a memoir by the accomplished neurosurgeon and writer paul kalanithi. Bill gates calls book the best nonfiction hes read. After years working for both the cia and the national security. He served as secretary of defense under presidents george w. In his memoir duty, the former defense secretary robert m. Memoirs of a secretary at war third printing, january 2014 by robert michael gates isbn.
Bush administration and early years of the obama presidency. A 2014 new york times notable book probably one of the best washington memoirs ever. One reason is that when the term witch entered my everyday life, it used to trigger me. Bill gates calls this book the best nonfiction hes read in a long time. The first book will be a memoir and is tentatively scheduled to be published in 20. Gates, who served so influentially as secretary of defense during the crucial years 20072011, deserves critical examination. That evidently is a fertile frame of mind in which to write a book like this. I n a town blighted by partisan rancour, robert gatess memoir of his time as secretary of defence under both george w bush and barack obama has largely been read as a political morality play. Two memoirs from hillary clinton and robert gates should make us wonder if politics are redeemable. Knopf, 2014 posted on march 31, 2014 by greatcharlie former us secretary of defense robert gates above wrote duty not to tritely vent anger and disappointment over his recent experience in the us government, but to engage in a sincere effort to improve the government. Gates received a call from the white house in 2006, he thought hed left washington politics behind. Memoirs of a secretary at war reprint by gates, robert m isbn. He served as defense secretary under presidents obama and george w.
B ased on the early excerpts of former secretary of defense robert gates memoir, duty, it is obvious that he has written a nuanced account of washington in the bush and obama years. From the former secretary of defense, a strikingly candid, vivid account of serving presidents george w. With iraq in a profound downward spiral and many believing that afghanistan could be next, the legacy of robert m. Memoirs of a secretary at war is a nonfiction book written by robert m. Bill gates favorite book recommendations offer quite an eclectic mix. Books go search best sellers gift ideas new releases deals store coupons amazonbasics gift cards help sell. From the former secretary of defense, a strikingly candid, vividly written account of his experience serving presidents george w. Memoirs of a secretary at war unabridged by gates, robert m. Memoirs of a secretary at war has 3 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace.
Gates s new memoir is the first describing the obama administrations policy deliberations written from inside the cabinet. Trevor noah shelved 3 times as great memoirs avg rating 4. Bush administration 20062009, the obama administration 20092011, the afghan war, and the iraq war. Gates has much to teach about the practical idealism. A biographical memoir by robert ladd thorndike, arthur irving gates isbn. The time period is from 2006 to 2011, and includes the george w. Robert gates memoir shocks washington former defense secretary robert gates is the first to offer a scathing critique of president obama and. Gates is the author of duty, and a passion for leadership. Gates gives us a forthright, impassioned, sometimes conflicted account of his four and a half years as defense secretary in his fascinating new memoir duty, a book. Some of the books ive recommended as summer reads really arent.
Historians and policy wonks will bask in the revelations gates provides on major decisions from late 2006 to 2011, the span of his time at the pentagon gates is doing far more than just scoring points in this revealing volume. After working for six presidents in both the cia and the national security council, he was happily serving as. Unfortunate situations, flawed coping mechanisms, mayhem, and other things that happened, by allie brosh, is an honesttogoodness summer read. A full list of bill gates favorite books in 2019and from.
A year ago today, i could have never imagined that one of my favorite books of 2019 would be amanda yates garcias first and hopefully not last book initiated. Duty memoirs of a secretary at war by robert gates 20140201. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Knopf, it was announced today by sonny mehta, chairman and editorinchief of the knopf doubleday publishing group. He also served as an officer in the united states air force and worked for the central. Gates served as secretary of defense from 2006 to 2011. Gates believed that he had left washington politics behind for. Bush and barack obama during the wars in iraq and afghanistan. Theyre long nonfiction books that might look a little out of place beside the pool or on the beach. Gates provides revelations about major decisions made from late 2006 to 2011. There have been vast changes in the composition and role of the news media over the decades, and that is a cause for concern as well. Memoirs of a secretary at war book by robert m gates. So can gates book, which ranges from generous and gracious to churlish and selfrighteous, sometimes on the same page.
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