President George W. Bush describes the critical decisions of his presidency and personal life.
Decision Points is the extraordinary memoir of America’s 43rd president. Shattering the conventions of political autobiography, George W. Bush offers a strikingly candid journey through the defining decisions of his life.
In gripping, never-before-heard detail, President Bush brings readers inside the Texas Governor’s Mansion on the night of the hotly contested 2000 election; aboard Air Force One on 9/11, in the hours after America’s most devastating attack since Pearl Harbor; at the head of the table in the Situation Room in the moments before launching the war in Iraq; and behind the Oval Office desk for his historic and controversial decisions on the financial crisis, Hurricane Katrina, Afghanistan, Iran, and other issues that have shaped the first decade of the 21st century.
President Bush writes honestly and directly about his flaws and mistakes, as well as his accomplishments reforming education, treating HIV/AIDS in Africa, and safeguarding the country amid chilling warnings of additional terrorist attacks. He also offers intimate new details on his decision to quit drinking, discovery of faith, and relationship with his family.
A groundbreaking new brand of memoir, Decision Points will captivate supporters, surprise critics, and change perspectives on one of the most consequential eras in American history – and the man at the center of events.

President George W. Bush describes the critical decisions of his presidency and personal life.

Decision Points is the extraordinary memoir of America’s 43rd president. Shattering the conventions of political autobiography, George W. Bush offers a strikingly candid journey through the defining decisions of his life.
In gripping, never-before-heard detail, President Bush brings listeners inside the Texas Governor’s Mansion on the night of the hotly contested 2000 election; aboard Air Force One on 9/11, in the hours after America’s most devastating attack since Pearl Harbor; at the head of the table in the Situation Room in the moments before launching the war in Iraq; and behind the Oval Office desk for his historic and controversial decisions on the financial crisis, Hurricane Katrina, Afghanistan, Iran, and other issues that have shaped the first decade of the 21st century.
President Bush writes honestly and directly about his flaws and mistakes, as well as his accomplishments reforming education, treating HIV/AIDS in Africa, and safeguarding the country amid chilling warnings of additional terrorist attacks. He also offers intimate new details on his decision to quit drinking, discovery of faith, and relationship with his family.
A groundbreaking new brand of memoir, Decision Points will captivate supporters, surprise critics, and change perspectives on one of the most consequential eras in American history – and the man at the center of events.

In the final year of my presidency, I began to think seriously about writing
my memoirs. On the recommendation of Karl Rove, I met with more than a
dozen distinguished historians. To a person, they told me I had an
obligation to write. They felt it was important that I record my perspective on
the presidency, in my own words.
“Have you ever seen the movie Apollo 13?” the historian Jay Winik asked.
“Everyone knows the astronauts make it home in the end. But you’re on the
edge of your seat wondering how they do it.”
Nearly all the historians suggested that I read Memoirs by President
Ulysses S. Grant, which I did. The book captures his distinctive voice. He
uses anecdotes to re-create his experience during the Civil War. I could
see why his work had endured.
Like Grant, I decided not to write an exhaustive account of my life or
presidency. Instead I have told the story of my time in the White House by
focusing on the most important part of the job: making decisions. Each
chapter is based on a major decision or a series of related decisions. As a
result, the book flows thematically, not in a day-by-day chronology. I do not
cover all of the important issues that crossed my desk. Many devoted
members of my Cabinet and staff are mentioned briefly or not at all. I value
their service, and I will always be grateful for their contributions.
My goals in writing this book are twofold. First, I hope to paint a picture of
what it was like to serve as president for eight consequential years. 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. My hope is that this book
will serve as a resource for anyone studying this period in American history.
Second, I write to give readers a perspective on decision making in a
complex environment. Many of the decisions that reach the president’s
desk are tough calls, with strong arguments on both sides. Throughout the
book, I describe the options I weighed and the principles I followed. I hope
this will give you a better sense of why I made the decisions I did. Perhaps
it will even prove useful as you make choices in your own life.
Decision Points is based primarily on my recollections. With help from
researchers, I have confirmed my account with government documents,
contemporaneous notes, personal interviews, news reports, and other
sources, some of which remain classified. There were instances in which I
had to rely on my memory alone. If there are inaccuracies in this book, the
responsibility is mine.
In the pages that follow, I have done my best to write about the decisions I
got right, those I got wrong, and what I would do differently if given the
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chance. Of course, in the presidency, there are no do-overs. You have to
do what you believe is right and accept the consequences. I tried to do that
every day of my eight years in office. Serving as president was the honor of
a lifetime, and I appreciate your giving me an opportunity to share my story.
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George W. Bush, the 43rd President of the United States, has authored a personal biography of his father, George H. W. Bush, the 41st President.
Forty-three men have served as President of the United States. Countless books have been written about them. But never before has a President told the story of his father, another President, through his own eyes and in his own words. A unique and intimate biography, the book covers the entire scope of the elder President Bush’s life and career, including his service in the Pacific during World War II, his pioneering work in the Texas oil business, and his political rise as a Congressman, U.S. Representative to China and the United Nations, CIA Director, Vice President, and President. The book shines new light on both the accomplished statesman and the warm, decent man known best by his family. In addition, George W. Bush discusses his father’s influence on him throughout his own life, from his childhood in West Texas to his early campaign trips with his father, and from his decision to go into politics to his own two-term Presidency.

Overview of America'sInternational Strategy ""Our Nation's cause has always been larger than our Nation's defense. We fight, as we always fight, for a just peace--a peace that favors liberty. We will defend the peace against the threats from terrorists and tyrants. We will preserve the peace by building good relations among the great powers. And we will extend the peace by encouraging free and open societies on every continent."" President Bush, West Point, New York, June 1, 2002