Knopf, 2014 posted on march 31, 2014 by greatcharlie former us secretary of defense robert gates above wrote duty not to tritely vent anger and disappointment over his recent experience in the us government, but to engage in a sincere effort to improve the government. Bill gates calls this book the best nonfiction hes read in a long time. Trevor noah shelved 3 times as great memoirs avg rating 4. That evidently is a fertile frame of mind in which to write a book like this. Gates believed that he had left washington politics behind for. From the former secretary of defense, a strikingly candid, vividly written account of his experience serving presidents george w. There have been vast changes in the composition and role of the news media over the decades, and that is a cause for concern as well. In his new memoir, gates asserts that obama had more than doubts about his course in afghanistan. He also served as an officer in the united states air force and worked for the central. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Gates, who served so influentially as secretary of defense during the crucial years 20072011, deserves critical examination. Choice if you read only one book by a washington insider this year, make it this one. Robert michael gates born september 25, 1943 is an american statesman, scholar, intelligence analyst, and university president who served as the 22nd united states secretary of defense from 2006 to 2011. Bush and barack obama during the wars in iraq and afghanistan.
Historians and policy wonks will bask in the revelations gates provides on major decisions from late 2006 to 2011, the span of his time at the pentagon gates is doing far more than just scoring points in this revealing volume. Robert gates appears at the national constitution center in philadelphia to discuss his memoir, duty. Bush but was retained for service by president barack obama. Stories from a south african childhood hardcover by. One reason is that when the term witch entered my everyday life, it used to trigger me. Robert gates memoir shocks washington former defense secretary robert gates is the first to offer a scathing critique of president obama and. Memoirs of a secretary at war third printing, january 2014 by robert michael gates isbn.
Bill gates calls book the best nonfiction hes read. Memoirs of a secretary at war is a nonfiction book written by robert m. In a town blighted by partisan rancour, robert gatess memoir of his time as. Knopf, it was announced today by sonny mehta, chairman and editorinchief of the knopf doubleday publishing group. Bush administration 20062009, the obama administration 20092011, the afghan war, and the iraq war. Gates provides revelations about major decisions made from late 2006 to 2011. Duty memoirs of a secretary at war by robert gates 20140201. The first book will be a memoir and is tentatively scheduled to be published in 20. Gates received a call from the white house, he thought hed long left washington politics behind. Robert gates rages against the political machine in his. Books go search best sellers gift ideas new releases deals store coupons amazonbasics gift cards help sell. Memoirs of a secretary at war reprint by gates, robert m isbn. He served as defense secretary under presidents obama and george w. Memoirs of a secretary at war book by robert m gates.
Gates s new memoir is the first describing the obama administrations policy deliberations written from inside the cabinet. Memoirs of a secretary at war robert michael gates. I read a lot, but i dont always choose whats on the bestseller list, according to the billionaire and microsoft cofounder. Robert gates gets snarky in compelling memoir the former secretary of defense we saw doesnt jive with the one bubbling with fury revealed in duty. In his memoir duty, the former defense secretary robert m. Duty memoirs of a secretary at war by robert gates 2014. Gates received a call from the white house in 2006, he thought hed left washington politics behind. Duty memoirs of a secretary at war robert gates on.
Gates has much to teach about the practical idealism. A full list of bill gates favorite books in 2019and from. Theyre long nonfiction books that might look a little out of place beside the pool or on the beach. He was an officer in the united states air force and worked for. He served as secretary of defense under presidents george w. Robert gates, united states secretary of defense from 2006 to 2011, will publish two books with alfred a. After years working for both the cia and the national security. A biographical memoir by robert ladd thorndike, arthur irving gates isbn. Gates is hardly the first official to engage in such a doublecross, but its a surprise because hes always conducted himself with class. The time period is from 2006 to 2011, and includes the george w. Bill gates favorite book recommendations offer quite an eclectic mix.
B ased on the early excerpts of former secretary of defense robert gates memoir, duty, it is obvious that he has written a nuanced account of washington in the bush and obama years. Newsday this is a serious, thoughtful, illuminating, and valuable insider account of the final years of the george w. Gates gives us a forthright, impassioned, sometimes conflicted account of his four and a half years as defense secretary in his fascinating new memoir duty, a book. With iraq in a profound downward spiral and many believing that afghanistan could be next, the legacy of robert m.
Some of the books ive recommended as summer reads really arent. Popular great memoirs books showing 150 of 104 born a crime. Memoirs of a secretary at war has 3 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. Unfortunate situations, flawed coping mechanisms, mayhem, and other things that happened, by allie brosh, is an honesttogoodness summer read. Go search best sellers gift ideas new releases deals store coupons amazonbasics. I n a town blighted by partisan rancour, robert gatess memoir of his time as secretary of defence under both george w bush and barack obama has largely been read as a political morality play. From the former secretary of defense, a strikingly candid, vivid account of serving presidents george w. Gates served as secretary of defense from 2006 to 2011.
A year ago today, i could have never imagined that one of my favorite books of 2019 would be amanda yates garcias first and hopefully not last book initiated. I n a town blighted by partisan rancour, robert gatess memoir of his time as secretary of defence under both george w bush and barack obama has largely been read as a. When breath becomes air, a memoir by the accomplished neurosurgeon and writer paul kalanithi. Memoirs of a secretary at war unabridged by gates, robert m. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Gates is the author of duty, and a passion for leadership. After working for six presidents in both the cia and the national security council, he was happily serving as. The place to start is gates recently published book, duty. Robert gates signs twobook deal for memoir and book on. The simple reason is that i wrote a biography of a senior pentagon official that gates. When i first entered government nearly fortyeight years ago, three television networks and a handful of newspapers dominated coverage and, to a considerable degree, filtered the most extreme or vitriolic points of view. So can gates book, which ranges from generous and gracious to churlish and selfrighteous, sometimes on the same page.
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