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Bush at War (Abridged): Inside the Bush White House Audiobook
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(3.01) - 1,697 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
With his unmatched investigative skill, Bob Woodward tells the behind-the-scenes story of how President George W. Bush and his top national security advisers, after the initial shock of the September eleven attacks, led the nation to war.
Extensive quotations from the secret deliberations of the National Security Council—and firsthand revelations of the private thoughts, concerns and fears of the president and his war cabinet—make Bush at War an unprecedented chronicle of a modern presidency in time of grave crisis.
Based on interviews with more than a hundred sources and four hours of exclusive interviews with the president, Bush at War reveals Bush’s sweeping, almost grandiose, vision for remaking the world. “I’m not a textbook player, I’m a gut player,” the president said.
Woodward’s virtual wiretap into the White House Situation Room reveals a stunning group portrait of an untested president and his advisers, three of whom might themselves have made it to the presidency. In Bush at War, Bob Woodward once again delivers a reporting tour de force.
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"This first in a current set of five titles detailing the various US Administrations from 9/11 onwards details the decision to attack Afghanistan by the main players in the Executive Branch of Government - Bush (II), Rice, Powell, Rumsfeld, Chaney et al. The book was well written as you would excpect from Woodward, without setting the world on fire. It was light on analysis (but this was to be expected to a certain extent) but he was able to interview the main protagonists giving a 'insiders' view of invasion prepartions."
— Taruia (4 out of 5 stars)
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“Remarkable...Bush at War is akin to an unofficial transcript of 100 days of debate over war in Afghanistan.”
— New York Times Book Review -
“Human and convincing in its telling detail.”
— Newsweek -
“Woodward has produced the best book yet written about the September 11 terrorist attacks on America and how Bush fought back.”
— Chicago Sun-Times -
“A work of spareness and authority...We are fortunate to have this richly detailed view of our nation’s central policy command.”
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“A great read...Bob Woodward has unearthed important new information on the behind-the-scenes struggles that have led to success—and failure—in President Bush’s War on Terror.”
— New York Observer
Awards
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ANew York Times bestseller
Bush at War Listener Reviews
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" Fairly objective. Good details of what was happening on a governmental level during September 11. "
— Jake, 2/15/2014 -
" One may not care for the actors or the author of this book but it does offer an explanation of how this fool and his criminal enterprise got us into this mess. The book offers in depth analysis on how to bungle most everything. Donald Rumsfield trusted no one, had immense power and owned the presidents ear with his madness. Hardline Dick Cheney and Condoleezza Rice are acute players in Bush's " sweeping, almost grandiose, vision for remaking the world." Only Colin Powell comes away with some repect after being duped by false information. If you like history or political writing you may take a chance on this one. "
— Frank, 2/6/2014 -
" An interesting read. Makes Bush look more like someone who should not have been in power and the rest of his cabinet (except for Powell and Rice) look more like war criminals. "
— Zugaii, 1/27/2014 -
" What can be said about a commander in chief who would rather drop care packages on our enemies rather than bombs. This book could also be called at tale of intellectual paralysis. "
— Kevin, 1/12/2014 -
" This one I read at the beginning of the Iraq war... It was very complimentary of Bush, quite a change from the books he would later write. "
— Chris, 1/10/2014 -
" Interesting insights into why and how we ended up where we did. "
— Maureen, 1/6/2014 -
" Great book by Woodward. Dwells into the decision-making immediately after 9-11. He has amazing access to the President and his advisors. He rebuffs all of his praise in State of Denial. "
— Jaime, 12/29/2013 -
" A really interesting perspective about the aftermath of 9/11 and the beginning of the war with Afghanistan. "
— Paul, 12/26/2013 -
" Bush did not buy the WMD info from CIA but pushed that issue anyway. Shame on him. "
— Douglas, 12/16/2013 -
" I read this in a few sittings it was that interesting, if disturbing. "
— Marc, 12/15/2013 -
" I don't want to debate, but this book kept me in, and left me, in a state of supreme anger! "
— Kandice, 9/12/2013 -
" We read all Woodward's books - always a fascinating insight into "what were they thinking?" in the corridors of power. "
— Michelle, 6/28/2013 -
" Bush is an a-hole. No, really--he's an a-hole. "
— Jen, 6/19/2013 -
" Interesante libro para entender a este presidente. "
— Jose, 6/16/2013 -
" Surprisingly Bush comes across as not a complete idiot! "
— Kartik, 1/2/2013 -
" Another good book that makes you think how the hell did this guy get elected in the first place. "
— Sebastian, 11/28/2012 -
" One of a many illuminating political-military chronicles of the post 9-11 era. "
— Luis, 11/10/2012 -
" This is well researched and well sourced. "
— Will, 2/15/2012 -
" Woodward's books on Bush are must-reads! "
— Dena, 2/6/2012 -
" This book is just as readable as his others, but I felt like I didn't learn as much as I have from his previous books. "
— Timothy, 1/10/2012 -
" I had the chance to meet President Bush just days before sending troops into Afganistan. This book outlines the work done by our special forces before the first 'troops' went in. Readers will better understand the culture of the 'Stan' countries and what it will take to win the war on terrorism. "
— Stan, 12/29/2011 -
" the alarming part of this is how much Colin Powell was ignored and how ready President Bush was ready for war with Iraq. "
— Richard, 12/8/2011 -
" Very interesting to read this book years after the fact. We know so much more about what happened that a book that initially seemed to be pro-Bush now seems anti-Bush, probably a credit to its neutrality. "
— Isaac, 10/10/2011 -
" I only got about halfway through. I kept getting frustrated that they couldn't do anything about the terrorist attack right away. Maybe I'll pick it up again at some point. I hate the political bureaucracy anyways. "
— Stephanie, 9/26/2011 -
" Came out one year after 9/11. Particulary interesting is the work of CIA agents on the ground in Afghanistan just 2 weeks after 9/11. "
— Corey, 8/27/2011 -
" Hard to believe that Woodward gets access to everyone that he does. It's as if he was sitting in the room for every meeting, or present at every event. "
— Sean, 6/5/2011 -
" Interesting. Nice to have a point for point account of what the hell was going on... "
— Johnathan, 11/8/2010 -
" This is well researched and well sourced. "
— Will, 7/10/2010 -
" Informative, but Woodwards writing was so goddamn tedious that the events being depicted lacked the emotional punch that should be expected in a book on this subject matter. <br/> <br/>I was hoping for a right hook to the solar plexus, but all I got was a slap on the wrist. "
— Timothy, 6/21/2010 -
" Very interesting to read this book years after the fact. We know so much more about what happened that a book that initially seemed to be pro-Bush now seems anti-Bush, probably a credit to its neutrality. "
— Isaac, 6/8/2010 -
" This is a good read. Woodward is a reporter and writes like a reporter. It is helpful to understand why Bush felt we needed to go to war. It attempts to be impartial but ultimately I do not think it succeeds. "
— Jackson, 4/18/2010 -
" My favorite part about this book is that Karl Rove is not mentioned until page 205. "
— Sarah, 2/4/2010 -
" Surprisingly Bush comes across as not a complete idiot! "
— Kartik, 10/24/2009 -
" Who else better to tell the truth! "
— Robert, 6/28/2009
About Bob Woodward
Bob Woodward is an associate editor at the Washington Post where he has worked for forty-nine years and reported on every American president from Nixon to Trump. He has shared in two Pulitzer Prizes, first for the Post’s coverage of the Watergate scandal with Carl Bernstein, and second twenty years later as the lead Post reporter for coverage of the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
About James Naughton
James Naughton is an actor and director. He first came to prominence in the television series adaptation of the Planet of the Apes movie series of the same name. Since then, he has starred in dozens television shows and appeared in numerous Broadway plays. He is a two-time Tony Award winner, one for his performance as Sam Spade in City of Angels and the other portraying Billy Flynn in the 1997 revival of Chicago.