Spoken from the Heart

First Lady Laura Bush provides the first electronically archived and perhaps the last fully accurate national perspective of the duties of the First Lady. During this presidential couple's eight year term of office year, amid the aftermath of Nine Eleven Tragedy and Katrina, Laura Bush records our national perspective. As a teacher with a Library Science degree, mother of twins, Jenna and Barbara, wife of Texas Governor George Bush, then a president's wife and First Lady, her work emphasizes the duty she accepted in her position: creating the National Book Festival, initiating America's Youth Program, heading up the women's True Heart cardiac information program, initiatives on the repressive lives of Afghan and Burmese women. She worked tirelessly to preserve our culture, art, and heritage, restoring, repairing the White House, preserving period furniture and art of previous presidents (bandannas from Jackson's campaign). She makes incisive, though unsettling connections between events and people lives, as in her discovery of the Pentagon construction that begun September 11, 1941. The reader can't help but wonder, did the Taliban's advance team use that in their plot to take down the U.S. economy? On the lighter though formal side of White House security, it was humorous that four women invited to an event, showed up in the same red gown as Laura. Pictures were taken, Laura changed her gown, and only one of the remaining women could not get over her anger for the evening. Laura says, "the White House gives up its secrets one by one." The political capital that Laura and George Bush amassed together was cemented by the friendships they had with Vladimir and Lyudmila Putin and Tony and Cherie Blair. Their first visit with the Putins in this Office was November 13, 2001. Laura and George entertained the Putins and Blairs subsequently at their ranch and Camp David. The Bush's visited the Putins and Blairs multiple times, during their foreign trips for G8 Summits, and on trips to establish and maintain international diplomacy with France, Japan, China, Poland,Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Lithuania, Germany, Canada. Truly, this Presidential couple and the entire delegation of support that was their advance team, and the military protection provided them speaks of their commitment, their service to the people of the United States. And this service never wavered. They emboldened our troops protecting our values in Iraq and Afghanistan. But their work as our First Lady and President emboldened us here at home, when our economy was ravaged by Nine Eleven and our homeland by Katrina. (And it was Governor Blanco who slowed the response of aid to her own state following Katrina. She refused Federal aid, wanting to manage it state side. Some NYT journalists are equally graceless in their inaccuracy of events.) If there is any discrepancy of information in trip logs during that eight year term, her book stands as the definitive source. It is telling that approximately every six weeks Laura had a formal event at the White House. The State Dinners and other events require a necessity to formality, that is uniquely our American style, just as much a part our national heritage as is the annual Egg Roll. In contrast, it is interesting that Mamie and Ike had separate TVs side by side in the sky parlor. She watched I Love Lucy, and Ike liked westerns. And it was three years after Nine Eleven the Hallmark card that Laura chose as prototype for the White House Christmas card surfaced in a mail sack. Laura softly imparts signs of the times in their gifts to foreign leaders and close friends, as in their gift to Japan's Prime Minister Koizumi, the juke box filled with all Elvis Presley tunes, and the arranged meeting between Prime Minister Koizumi and Pricilla Presley and her daughter. We read that Tony Blair strummed the guitar and sang at the Crawford ranch. Laura executed the duty of her Office as First Lady as one who took the job seriously, preserving and recording history, an involved First Lady with her projects and goals. The pace of the White House is brutal. She says the demands of the White House is not one of celebrity but one with the demands of a nation that is fierce and "unrelenting." She visited seventy-five countries in her eight years. That means every five weeks, she was traveling, developing international ties, reaching out, advancing American ideals. As history looks back on Laura Bush as our First Lady and George W. Bush as our President we will appreciate (1) this presidential couple preserved their respective Offices of our Nation, (2) they cemented international friendships that helped the U.S. economy after Nine Eleven, (3) and they sustained our military as a global leader of strength with their genteel art of comfort and compassion. The southern charm that this Texas couple shared with us and the world is now most accurately spoken from the heart, by Laura Bush, our First Lady. Respectfully Submitted, Nancy Faudree, Madison Wisconsin

Well written and interesting memoir. This gives insight into Mrs. Bush's life and background before she married and became a public figure; excellent reminder of what life was like in America's small communities in the mid-50s and 60s. Mrs. Bush made the transition to public life very well and brought honor to the positions she has occupied. Mrs. Bush and her husband have served America well under the circumstances and have done much more for this country than many realize. They have been unjustly maligned on too many occasions. I was glad to have a chance to read the other side of the story. Mrs. Bush is a gracious lady not to have used this avenue to say unkind things about those who have been so rude and vicious to her and her family. I think history will be kinder to them than the current media has been. There were, no doubt, many unflattering and embarrassing episodes she could have related about public figures, and she did not. I think this book gives the reader an in-depth look into what's it's like to constantly live in a "gold fish bowl". It is impossible to please everyone all the time. No matter what is done, there will be criticism. I would highly recommend reading and not just skimming the pages in search of juicy tidbits.

Laura is a lovely lady. I love to hear her speak. Her book was very well written. She shares her life with the American people showing she is a real person like everyone else. She is a humble person, admitting her faults, showing care for others and giving praise, where praise is due. I found her life in the White House very interesting. I was reading the part of the book about 911 while it was the 911 anniversary; I wish every American would read that part of her book. It was a gentle reminder of all the emotion experienced by all Americans, not to mention the family members of those who lost their life in that tragedy. I think people would understand why people are so upset a building erected so close to this site used for worship or any other event for Muslims would be sensitive to people. I found this book pleasurable and relaxing to read.

Laura writes from her heart... as a woman, a wife, a mother, a teacher, leaving no doubt about her priorities in life. A refreshing and informative account of one woman's journey through trying and joyful moments of a varied and busy life in the public eye. It is always with the thread that life is just that... a journey. To be strong to face difficulties or challenges takes a discipline and a willingness to try and being true to oneself without exception. This is that lady... and I say "lady" with conviction. She is kind to others in this book, when others weren't kind to her or to her family. She credits those who have inspired her and disparages no one. A learned person who thrives on learning and is joyed to help promote that desire to learn in children and in others worldwide with lesser opportunity to learn. This book bespeaks a person who lives honestly and who inspires others to do the same. I would love to meet her some day and tell her that her book is exceptional and thank her in person. She has written herself into the pages with a quiet, subtle way and emerges as a woman of substance and a good heart. Reading her book, one learns things more important to the people of this country than any politician could hope to spout off about. We should all be so open and straightforward...and kind.

I loved this book because it completes her life story up to and including White House activities which we otherwise would not have know about this very special lady. The tabloids like nothing better than to scourge the Bush marriage and nothing could be further from the truth. They seem to have a solid marriage build on love and respect for one another. There is something very wrong about a party who seem capable of little else other than smearing opponents using their wife and children as fodder. This book tells us how much heart and soul Laura Bush put into helping her husband's Presidency. She used her position as First Lady to better the lives of so many people by promoting better education and reading, setting up schools in third world countries, assisting women and children in countries under the rule of the Taliban and those afflicted and dying of AIDS. Bet you didn't know she and her husband visited Katrina victims many times. Bet you didn't know Katrina victims were ill served first and foremost by their own Governor who refused to listen to the President when he urged her to call for an immediate evacuation and state of emergency, preferring instead to protect her turf and play politics with people's lives. I am very glad she wrote this book to bring light to how it really was in light of a very unprofessional media who will not give coverage to either the Bush Presidency or anything right of center in politics in this country. I enjoyed reading this book and believe it makes a good statement for the history of this era.

America.... Have we slipped below the waves of a biased media. Have we closed our ears to all; to listen and digest all points of view. Our Founding Fathers included the Freedom of Expression and Speech so we as Americana's would not be subjected to imprisonment, and censorship like that of Imperial Britian in 1776. Yet there are critics here that, are begrudge the autobiography by Former First lady Laura Bush, which I seriously even doubt even read the book. "Snora Bush", please people.. your mother told "..you if you don't have anything good to say about someone don't say it", it's degrading to you. People around the world look up to America, and Amazon.com to read constructive reviews, and to admire our freedom of speech. Your comments are hurtful to America as a whole, and continue to drive our country apart from within and further away from both alias and other friendly nations. So those that have read this book like it or not, give constructive critizim or positive reviews; because nobody like negative people. Really! I will be the first to say I disagree with most (not all) of President Obama's, policies. Yet I honor the Office of President of the United States, the Leader of the Executive Brach of our Government, I will always address him as Mr. President; just as I would show First Lady Obama the same respect. I would never think of telling or writing about First Lady Obama's memoir..."[as] written by an uneducated house wife, not the First Lady." And yes I did like the book. A good read, flows well from chapter to chapter, and in good context. Are autobiographies my type of book no. But I made a point to buy this book, and it was well worth the price on amazon.com, and a great Mothers Day gift.

Excellently written. I loved the autobiography of her years growing up, the expression of grief she felt at her friend Mike Douglas's death and the remorse she felt even now, the portrait she painted of the years she spent in the White House, the trips she made, the projects she began for the betterment of women all over the world, and for literacy here and around the world, and the fierce love and respect she has for her husband. They are all far better people than people have given then credit for being. I have greater respect for her and for her husband after having read the book. She is a magnificent woman. I thank her for the book and for the way she handled herself in the White House. She is a treasure--a real treasure! I cannot believe the media's response in many instances and some of the comments made about her. Criticisms about what she wore and her intellect certainly seemed wrong and inaccurate. I loved the deep turquoise suit she wore the day of the first inauguration. Jackie Kennedy had a lovely style and the beige coat she wore were beautiful, but I think the criticism was meant as an unkind remark as it applied to Mrs. Bush. The color on her was becoming. The comments said more about the people who actually revealed themselves through whatever was asked or printed. The slight made in newpapers by referring to her as a cowgirl were equally silly and stupid. I think James Michener made a good point about people coming from small towns in his novel SPACE. I always reminded my own students that great people come from small towns. The Bush family has not been fairly reviewed in the past. Time will prove their place in history. One day I hope I will have a chance to thank her for the grace she brought with her.

With the skill of a good librarian, Mrs. Bush introduces vignettes of her life - some more carefully drawn than others. The tone of her book is personal, up to a point; her reticence is understandable. Recounting her childhood, she introduces us to a time and town that explain why she is as steady as she is gracious. But the remainder of her memoirs is like a sunny reading of her daily-planner, reminding us of how fast and deeply our nation changed from the mid-sixties, through 9/11- and through 2008. In an age of too much information, Mrs. Bush's restraint was refreshing and at the same time frustrating. I admire Mrs. Bush and respect her husband; their courage and steadiness have been admirable -- as has their generosity to Africa. I would have appreciated and was hoping for more than what she wrote -- but two years may not have afforded her the time to reflect and absorb all she was a part of? Her recollection whets the appetite for learning more about these times - evidence of a skillful librarian -- but not as an eyewitness to history she was a party to. I hope historians and biographers will emerge who are up to the challenge.

Alles war perfekt! Ich bin ganz zufrieden! Danke!

Absorbing book. I saw her in a tv interview where she came over as very warm and sincere with many stories of her time in the Whitehouse. I bought the book and wasn`t disappointed. Gives a real insight into her background, and how she coped in the media spotlight and the workings of the Whitehouse. Having said that - the answer to one question still eludes me. How DID she find George Dubya attractive? I guess that`s a whole other book.

This is a must read for anyone interested in American politics. Not because the book is political, far from it. She has detailed both her early life and life in the White House. Some real fascinating gems on people who have impacted her life. The love she has for G.W.Bush shows on every page.

Loved the sample, but when I bought the Kindle edition there were numerous missing pages. Very annoying so have returned.

Es ist auch mal Interessant, mal die andere "Seite" zu Wort kommen lassen. Wer Biographien mag, so wie ich, dem kann ich diese Buch nur empfehlen.