New York Times Literary Treat of the Week....

Bush, George W. Decision Points. Crown Publishers.

Some detractors had hoped he would fade into permanent obscurity. Yet at this writing tax cuts originally formulated in the last years of George W. Bush’s presidency are being signed into law. This memoir of the 43rd president further highlights his legacy in telling the experiences and thought processes that affected Bush’s handling of major issues. He is quick to point out that those “weapons of mass destruction” in Iraq and the means of making it was a belief also held by Bill Clinton and John Kerry. Bush accuses the then governor of Louisiana and other state representatives of dragging their heels in asking for federal help in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. But he concedes that the “Mission Accomplished” speech on the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln in May 2003 was a major blunder given all that still needed to be accomplished in the terrorism war. Divided along themes instead of a day by day account of those two terms, the former Chief Executive weaves in family, religion, and impressions of foreign heads of state and political foes. The last part includes an affectionate salute to the late Senator Edward Kennedy.

For more about George W. Bush and his presidency, the Merrick Library has the following:

Rove, Karl. Courage and Consequence.
Bush, Laura. Spoken From the Heart.
Sanger, David. The Inheritance.
Barnett, Thomas. Great Powers.
Haass, Richard. War of Necessity, War of Choice.

Reviewed by Librarian, Bob.