Rating: 
Summary: The real biography of W
Review: I saw this author on the Today Show talking about his new book. I bought it really because of all the interesting information he revealed about Bush's early life. Then when all the controversy came up this week about the other biography of George W. Bush written by that criminal, I decided to put this note up. FIRST SON is a very good book, full of great information about Bush and his family. The reporter really did his homework. I'm buying another copy for my father-in-law for Christmas!
Rating:
Summary: Great Page Turner
Review: I though this book was a very accurate portrayal of the Bush family background and success story. A difficult book to put down, it is educational on W. and obviously relevant to present day.
Rating:
Summary: well balanced, well written, well thought out
Review: If you are looking for tabloid like Bush Bashing, don't look here (you might try The Father's Son, that one is quite good at trying to instill some what outdated class war fare dribble). This particular book is extremely well balanced. If you love the Bush clan, or hate them, you will find something within. Personally, I found it an insightful and interesting tale of one of our nations most powerful pollitical families. Is George W qualified to be President? Well that is a question that only time will answer. My thoughts are he is as qualified as the guy we have recently given the nod to twice, except, maybe George will actually care more for the country than himself. He does seem to learn and grow. Now that would be a pleasant change. However one thing is for certain, the Bush family is a political dynasty (now more impressive than the Kennedys) and the people of Texas sincerely love both of their Georges.
Rating:
Summary: Enlightening
Review: It was fascinating to read the true story of the Bush family, not the assumptions often reported. Who knew that he came from such a downtrodden background, worked so hard to rise from the ashes and achieve greatness at Yale? It's no small wonder that we have this great man leading our country through the holy wrath of war!Like his father, George W. is a stern and honorable, if not particularly well-spoken, fella'. He reads a teleprompter with unequalled ease and skill, a testament to his ability to comfortably rely on others. AS this book shows, these are all traits he learned while growing up with the help of many other wealthy and able men who were able to take the burden off of poor George W.'s shoulders. He truly is great, not to mention lucky, and he has strutted his lightened shoulders into the White House with only the slightest help from his father's friends in the Supreme Court. Were it not for men like Bill Minutaglio, the world would be in horrible danger of being exposed to the false and misleading face of the truth. Buy this book!!!
Rating:
Summary: Enlightening
Review: It was fascinating to read the true story of the Bush family, not the assumptions often reported. Who knew that he came from such a downtrodden background, worked so hard to rise from the ashes and achieve greatness at Yale? It's no small wonder that we have this great man leading our country through the holy wrath of war! Like his father, George W. is a stern and honorable, if not particularly well-spoken, fella'. He reads a teleprompter with unequalled ease and skill, a testament to his ability to comfortably rely on others. AS this book shows, these are all traits he learned while growing up with the help of many other wealthy and able men who were able to take the burden off of poor George W.'s shoulders. He truly is great, not to mention lucky, and he has strutted his lightened shoulders into the White House with only the slightest help from his father's friends in the Supreme Court. Were it not for men like Bill Minutaglio, the world would be in horrible danger of being exposed to the false and misleading face of the truth. Buy this book!!!
Rating: 
Summary: Entertaining but BIASED!
Review: Maybe I'm slow...or too trusting. Previous reviewers kept insisting again and again that this book was "unbiased". WRONG. From the first page, the author had an attitude about Bush - and the GOP. It gradually became clear that the author is a passionate Democrat, as he approvingly whitewashed all personal Clinton and Democrat party issues and glorified people like Al Gore. The bias abounds throughout the book... RNC party strategists are called "political terrorists", while their DNC equals are portrayed as sincere victims at each turn of the two year campaign. And you Mom's and Dad's out there, tell me: what parent (such as George, Sr) would hug the son he loves (George W.) on the happiest day of his life, but instead of thinking of the incredibly close relationship of family love, pride, and respect that the father and son have always shared, the father is now thinking only of the three times in a lifetime that father/son had been briefly angry with each other. And why remind the reader again and again, as much as four times over hundreds of pages, of each small tidbit of negative information? Was he afraid we would forget? Why did it take me hundreds of pages of wasted time to finally realize that no matter what the Bushes say or do, this author is biased to hate Bush and the Bush family, and to love Gore - and the Democrats - and the RNC. Period. Every possible issue and personal examination is slanted toward contempt for the one, and pride in the other. BOTTOM LINE: This book was promoted DECEPTIVELY. If Mr. Minitaglio wanted to write a hate-piece, fine - but why not be up front about it? My recommendation for busy people who love to read is simply that you beware. Know before you go. I'm rating the book a 3, because my friends who are Democrats may enjoy this book. (but why waste time, since he is already president and there's nothing you can do about it?) BUT... my Republican friends, STAY AWAY from this book, because it is unfair, duplicitous, full of seething, underhanded bias that Bernard Goldberg courageously exposed in his excellent book "BIAS". The bias peeks out from - and underneath - every sentence. Hope this helps reverent readers like me who just want to read, and who just want the TRUTH.
Rating: 
Summary: COME OUT OF THE CLOSET, Mr. Minutglio!
Review: Maybe I'm slow...or too trusting. Previous reviewers kept insisting again and again that this book was "unbiased". WRONG. From the first page, the author had an attitude about Bush - and the GOP. It gradually became clear that the author is a passionate Democrat, as he approvingly whitewashed all personal Clinton and Democrat party issues and glorified people like Al Gore. The bias abounds throughout the book... RNC party strategists are called "political terrorists", while their DNC equals are portrayed as sincere victims at each turn of the two year campaign. And you Mom's and Dad's out there, tell me: what parent (such as George, Sr) would hug the son he loves (George W.) on the happiest day of his life, but instead of thinking of the incredibly close relationship of family love, pride, and respect that the father and son have always shared, the father is now thinking only of the three times in a lifetime that father/son had been briefly angry with each other. And why remind the reader again and again, as much as four times over hundreds of pages, of each small tidbit of negative information? Was he afraid we would forget? Why did it take me hundreds of pages of wasted time to finally realize that no matter what the Bushes say or do, this author is biased to hate Bush and the Bush family, and to love Gore - and the Democrats - and the RNC. Period. Every possible issue and personal examination is slanted toward contempt for the one, and pride in the other. BOTTOM LINE: This book was promoted DECEPTIVELY. If Mr. Minitaglio wanted to write a hate-piece, fine - but why not be up front about it? My recommendation for busy people who love to read is simply that you beware. Know before you go. I'm rating the book a 3, because my friends who are Democrats may enjoy this book. (but why waste time, since he is already president and there's nothing you can do about it?) BUT... my Republican friends, STAY AWAY from this book, because it is unfair, duplicitous, full of seething, underhanded bias that Bernard Goldberg courageously exposed in his excellent book "BIAS". The bias peeks out from - and underneath - every sentence. Hope this helps reverent readers like me who just want to read, and who just want the TRUTH.
Rating:
Summary: Terrific and well-balanced
Review: This biography ought to be read by everyone, "W" supporter or not. It's insightful, clear, colorful and gives a great sense of background about this man's early years. Minutaglio is a real WRITER who doesn't have any apparent political agenda other than giving readers the information they need to make their own decisions. Since it looks like the man may be president, this book will -- without doubt -- become THE info. source. I've lent it to several friends who also praise it highly. If it were out in paperback, they would have bought copies for themeselves...
Rating:
Summary: Minutaglio's First Son: George W. Bush
Review: This book has been so well reviewed by the Editor and others that I'll just make a few comments. The book is well written, fascinating, non-partisan in my opinion, and could well be used as a reference book on Texas politics in addition to its other aspects. I may be dense, but I can't find anything wrong with Bush from this book. No hard evidence emerges of Cocaine or anything heavier than alcohol in his young years. If we subtract the people who drink alcohol in their young years, we won't have anybody running for political office much less dog catcher. He may not be a Rhodes Scholar, and he may say a lot of half truths for political purposes, but anybody who thinks Professors would make better Presidents has not met very many Professors (most of them probably wouldn't want to meet a non-Professor anyway, except perhaps in bed). Even his family doesn't seem so bad. The Kennedys had Harvard, the Bushes have Yale. They all made money. ...
Rating:
Summary: Amazing Book!
Review: This book is about so much more than just George W. It is about an American dynasty that could far surpass any we have yet to see. Written by a Texas reporter, it is well-balanced: neither glowing nor hyper-critical. It does a great job of showing all of the forces contributing to just who George W. Bush really is. I loved this book and could not put it down. If you want to get a grasp of who your next president may be, this is the definitive book to read.
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