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Summary: Best of the numerous Bush books
Review: This book is the best of the countless George W. Bush biographies that are appearing all over the place. Minutaglio does a great job providing a well-balanced book about the ups and downs of our President's life and how his family has played apart. It clearly shows Dubya's attempts to move away from his father's shadow in order for him to make a name for himself. It is a great book, full of interesting stories and minimal political jargon that you will find in so many of the other books being written about Bush. If you want to read about our President, I suggest this book.
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Summary: W as Enigma
Review: This is a book packed with information but somewhat lacking in insight and analysis.And, maybe with the bias present in almost all books about famous people today that is not all bad. What I learned about Bush that was new to me was his close past association with Lee Atwater and that his chif strategist, Carl Rove, was also an Atwater acolyte. Maybe that is why W ran such an effective campaign.I also learned that he is a man who loves people, he has a prodigous memory for names and he is an extremely hard worker.I could care less about his youthful indiscretions which I suspect, whatever they were, pale in comparison with Bubba's.
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Summary: The history of the Bush/Walker clan and the rise of George W
Review: This is a nice book detailing the history of the Bush/Walker clan and the early life of George W. Bush. There is a lot of trash out there about this man and his politics, so it is hard to get a good biography of him. Make no mistakes, Minutaglio reveals a lot of the unsavory side of George W., but it is unbiased and he deals in facts. He also covers the strengths of this man, so the reader can get the good and the bad about him. The author only reveals the facts of his National Guard stint and the glosses over the drug allegations, so the reader cannot judge the current controversy over these allegations. I enjoy a book dealing in facts and not conservative/liberal conjecture. Minutaglio does a good job in this.
I especially like how Minutaglio reveals the personal relationship of George W. with his father. This is probably the most difficult aspect of this book, but the author summarizes their relationship well. Few other authors have attempted this with George W.
For those wanting a good biography of our 43rd President, this is nice book and read. For those wanting to read trash, go elsewhere--there is plenty to pick from.
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Summary: The definitive, unbiased biography of George W. Bush
Review: Veteran Texas reporter Bill Minutaglio, of the Dallas Morning News, interviewed more than 300 sources, including the Governor's younger brother Jeb, his uncles, and several of his cousins. Minutaglio also spoke with friends and acquaintances from each phase of Bush's life, including his childhood maid, his 3rd grade teacher, his roommates at Yale, his associates from the oil business and the Texas Rangers, high-ranking insiders from his father's years at the White House, and politicians and staffers who have worked closely with the Governor since 1994. FIRST SON places Governor Bush firmly in the context of one of America's most formidable political dynasties, which began with the election of his grandfather, Prescott Bush, to the U.S. Senate in 1952; continued with the long career of his father, former President George Bush; and reached a hight point in November 1998, when George W. won a landslide re-election in Texas and his brother Jeb was elected Governor of Florida. It's a fascinating story, filled with colorful personalities and vivid settings, from Connecticut to Washington to the most remote corners of West Texas. The resulting portrait of Governor Bush is exceptionally fair-minded, nuanced, and colorful, revealing many previously hidden complexities and contradictions. It proves that being a son of this impressive family has brought George W. Bush both enormous advantages and considerable disadvantages throughout his life. And as a biography written without personal or political bias, FIRST SON will be a crucial resource for both Bush's supporters and his detractors - and especially for those who are still undecided. Here's what people are saying about it: "FIRST SON, the first biography of George W. Bush, is thorough, colorful, revealing, and compelling - certain to serve as an essential political bible for the 2000 presidential campaign." -- David Maraniss, author of FIRST IN HIS CLASS "FIRST SON is fair, balanced, interesting and well-written. It's chock full of insights backed by extensive research and solid reporting. There is much to think about in this impressive work." -- Dan Rather, CBS News "FIRST SON is wonderfully readable, impeccably reported, and revealing. Bill Minutaglio has captured the ups and downs of what it's like to grow up in the shadow of a very, very famous father. Surely an important political book on the man who may well be our next president, but also a personal and poignant one." -- Buzz Bissinger, author of A PRAYER FOR THE CITY "FIRST SON is an intriguing and illuminating portrait of the way an American family has wielded power and influence in business and politics for three generations. Any family - nuclear or otherwise - that wants to learn how the game is really played should study the Bush dynasty." -- Mario Puzo, author of THE GODFATHER
Rating: 
Summary: Unbiased?
Review: Well written and very readable, this was the first book I read on 'W', and it convinced me not to vote for him, despite the fact that First Son is basically a puff piece. Manutaglio soft peddles all the really questionable things in 'W's' life, from his failure as an oilman to his shabby record as Governor. Unbiased, it is not. Still, the author could not hide the fact that the subject was basically a spoiled vapid ignoramus. Any critical reader will be disgusted by the easy life of 'W', and arrogant presumption of his family, who obviously feel they are entitled to lead.
Rating: 
Summary: A great read
Review: What an enjoyable, informative read. I didn't know much about George W. Bush other than he's raised a lot of campaign money as a Republican presidential candidate. But like Richard Ben Cramer's classic WHAT IT TAKES, or David Maraniss's FIRST IN HIS CLASS about Bill Clinton's early years, this is a terrific, broad look at the man and where he came from, his family, his personality, his accomplishments and failures. I feel like I know "George W" after reading this book. The author of FIRST SON deserves a tip of the hat, not only for putting together a biography that provides great background on this politician, but also for writing a very entertaining book.
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Summary: Half-Baked Bio
Review: While Bill Munitaglio has written a very readable biography of George Bush the younger, he has (conciously?) left out far too many details for his book to be taken as the "definitive" biography the presidential "wannabe." George W. Bush was born to privilege and extreme affluence. Througout his life he has been cushioned from the struggles of austerity and poverty. He obtained preferential treatment to dodge the Vietnam era draft and allegedly abused drugs (both of which Munitaglio fails to explore in adequate detail), yet he beleives himself a excellent candidate for the presidency and spokesman for the underpriviliged in this country--a class of people with whom Bush has no experience and would never want to meet. George Bush the younger is an incomptent businessman of questionable intellectual abilities and a draconian governor who passes severe judgements on citizens of his state who commit crimes far less serious than what Bush himself committed (and got away with) as a youth. Praising this man, who would exploit the environment and humanity for personal profit is a mistake. Munitaglio blew it when he chose the soft-shoe approach to political biography. For a better look at "dubya," I strongly recommend Arthur Frederick Ide's "The Father's Son."
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Summary: It's so readable!
Review: While I don't normally read political biographies, after hearing the author on NPR I was convinced this one might be worth it. It was. FIRST SON is colorful, insightful and so well-written -- this is a must read.
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Summary: Good introduction to the candidate
Review: With a style unlike other quicky biographies of public figures, this book gives the curious a look at George W. Bush's life and some discussion of his policy. Party hacks will be disappointed, as the book is short of scandal or on sympathetic appraisal. It does give a good primer on how the scandal stories have never risen above the level of uncomfirmed rumor. One seeking an indepth discussion of policy too, may be disappointed, as the book is light on Bush's accomplishments as governor of Texas. But it is an unbiased analysis of the man's life and his rise to power. I'm sure both Bush's campaign and those running against him will have plenty of good and bad to spread around in the next year. This is a good place to look at the man's life.
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Summary: A cast of colorful American politicians all in one family!
Review: Wow- what a family- they are all rich and well educated and they all want to be the 'leader' - Senators, Governors, Presidents? Mr. Minutaglio's book, "First Son" answered many questions I had about George W. Bush, the candidate. The book is filled with data and research and pays close attention to the unique personality of George W. that seperates him from his other family politicians. I liked what I read, and I like George W., all the family and friends but it is hard not to think of these elections as simple, old-fashioned popularity contests.
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