#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
“History matters to McCain, and for him America is and was about its promise. The book is his farewell address, a mixture of the personal and the political. ‘I have loved my life,’ he writes. ‘All of it.’ The Restless Wave is a fitting valedictory for a man who seldom backed down.” —The Guardian (US)
“A book-length meditation on what it means to face the hard challenges of long life and the sobering likelihood of imminent death…A reflection on hardship, a homily on purpose, a celebration of life — and a challenge to Americans to live up to their values and founding principles at a time when both are in jeopardy.” —The Boston Globe
In this candid political memoir from Senator John McCain, an American hero reflects on his life and what matters most.
“I don’t know how much longer I’ll be here. Maybe I’ll have another five years…Maybe I’ll be gone before you read this. My predicament is, well, rather unpredictable. But I’m prepared for either contingency, or at least I’m getting prepared. I have some things I’d like to take care of first, some work that needs finishing, and some people I need to see. And I want to talk to my fellow Americans a little more if I may.”
So writes John McCain in this inspiring, moving, frank, and deeply personal memoir. Written while confronting a mortal illness, McCain looks back with appreciation on his years in the Senate, his historic 2008 campaign for the presidency against Barack Obama, and his crusades on behalf of democracy and human rights in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.
Always the fighter, McCain attacks the spurious nationalism and political polarization afflicting American policy. He makes an impassioned case for democratic internationalism and bi-partisanship. He recalls his disagreements with several presidents, and minces no words in his objections to some of President Trump's statements and policies. At the same time, he tells stories of his most satisfying moments of public service and offers a positive vision of America that looks beyond the Trump presidency. The Restless Wave is John McCain at his best.
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"truly enjoy both the reader and McCain book. i knew a lot about him but now i realize how much i respect him and would flow him in war any time. retire USAF 20 year. 4 years service in Vietnam form 1966 to 1969. He will away be a true hero in my hart.."
— Samuel Spencer (5 out of 5 stars)
“This series of reflections on an imperfect life provides an introduction and afterword voiced by the author. While his voice sounds tired and well worn, it does create an accurate sensibility of a man battling a deadly form of brain cancer…Beau Bridges’s narration appropriately captures the tone and timbre of McCain’s vocal qualities while injecting a dose of boyish charm.”
— AudioFile“It should be required reading for anyone who wants to lead in a democracy.”
— New York Times“Without preaching, instead by recounting stories of battles won and (often) lost, McCain unspools something akin to a self-help manual for a country that has, at least for the moment, lost its way.”
— Washington Post"[A] reflection on hardship, a homily on purpose, a celebration of life—and a challenge to Americans to live up to their values and founding principles at a time when both are in jeopardy.”
— Boston Globe“The Restless Wave coalesces a series of poignant and striking warnings of the perils facing the United States…He also expresses a theme of gratitude for living a life larger than he envisioned.”
— Stars and StripesBe the first to write a review about this audiobook!
John McCain (1936–2018) entered the Naval Academy in 1954 and served in the United States Navy until 1981. He was elected to the US House of Representatives from Arizona in 1982 and to the Senate in 1986. He was the Republican Party’s nominee for president in the 2008 election. He is the author of numerous books, including Faith of My Fathers, Worth Fighting For, Why Courage Matters, Character Is Destiny, Thirteen Soldiers, and The Restless Wave.
Mark Salter is an author who collaborated with John McCain on all seven of their books, including The Restless Wave, Faith of My Fathers, Worth the Fighting For, Why Courage Matters, Character Is Destiny, Hard Call, and Thirteen Soldiers. He served on Senator McCain’s staff for eighteen years.
Beau Bridges is a Grammy and Emmy Awardwinning actor and AudioFile Earphones Award–winning narrator.