Rating: 
Summary: Sense of the Family
Review: I've read most of Mr. Andersen's popular biographies with pleasure: they generally reveal and synthesize the interesting details that flesh out the most celebrated people of our times. "George and Laura" surpassed my expectations!
While George was not my choice for president (I admit to being a third-party liberal), I was comforted by the personal side of him and was very impressed by Laura's inner strength. I still don't agree with GW's politics, but Mr. Andersen has given me an excellent sense of our First Family.
Rating:
Summary: Sense of the Family
Review: I've read most of Mr. Andersen's popular biographies with pleasure: they generally reveal and synthesize the interesting details that flesh out the most celebrated people of our times. "George and Laura" surpassed my expectations!
While George was not my choice for president (I admit to being a third-party liberal), I was comforted by the personal side of him and was very impressed by Laura's inner strength. I still don't agree with GW's politics, but Mr. Andersen has given me an excellent sense of our First Family.
Rating:
Summary: Andersen Scores Again
Review: I've read some of Christopher Andersen's previous biograhies and always found them entertaining and packed with new information. But frankly I didn't think the story of George and Laura Bush's marriage would --or could -- be as much fun to read as his books on Princess Diana, the Clintons and John F. Kennedy, Jr. I was wrong. This up-close "portrait of a marriage" brings their relationship and personalities into much clearer focus. I still don't like George Bush's politics, but I was fascinated by this behind-the-scenes glimpse into what brought him and Laura together and why their marriage works. It kept me turning pages from start to finish.
Rating: 
Summary: So So
Review: Nothing really new to read in this latest book. He never interviewed the Bushes, so how he came up with all of this "info" is questionable. Bottom line: It's easy to stay in a marriage where two people have nothing in common when the husband has a bottomless "old money" trust fund to live on. Cheers!
Rating:
Summary: Intelligent
Review: Once again Christopher Andersen has intelligently delved into a high profile relationship, giving ordinary readers insight into the workings of a marriage carried out on the world stage. You don't even need to like Bush to find this a great read, as it is so easy to appreciate Andersen's talent with words, and ability to get the facts. This was a very interesting book to sit down with.
Rating:
Summary: Intelligent
Review: One again Christopher Andersen has intelligently delved into a high profile relationship, giving ordinary readers insight into the workings of a marriage carried out on the world stage. You don't even need to like Bush to find this a great read, as it is so easy to appreciate Andersen's talent with words, and ability to get the facts. This was a very interesting book to sit down with.
Rating:
Summary: A Marriage That Made a Presidency Possible
Review: Regardless of where you stand politically, Christopher Andersen's portrait of President George W. Bush and his wife and balance wheel, Laura, will inform and fascinate. For this reader, who did not vote for Mr. Bush, but who wanted to know more about him, Andersen's "George and Laura" creates a remarkable amount of understanding and in a number of instances, a generous amount of justified sympathy. The political road to the presidency travelled by George W. Bush was a short one, remarkably short-less than seven years in elective office. And it's clear from Andersen's reporting that there were a number of chances for him to go off the political road into a ditch. Without Laura by his side it easily could have happened. In short, Bush never would have been a contender without her, and as Andersen surmises, Laura Bush continues to be a sounding board, critic and advisor. The author says of his own wife in the acknowlegments section, "...no one is more deserving of my gratitude (not to mention my love) than Valerie, my wife, partner, and best friend for thirty years." George W. Bush no doubt could say the same about his Laura. "George and Laura" is a fascinating read, and like everything Andersen takes on (my wife and I are fans of his), it is very well written, researched and a page-turner. Enjoy it.
Rating:
Summary: Mmmm, tangy
Review: The best part of this wonderful tribute to commercial marriage was the sound effects CD. I mean how often do you get to hear Laura and George grunt. I tell you, it gave me the shivers. Then, when I thought it couldn't get any better I found the scratch and sniff section. That was too much. I was beyond redemption at that point. Frankly, I don't know how they are able to sell this gem for so little. I suppose they stiffed the ghost writer. (Do you think it was Lynn Cheney?) Anyway, if you want a presidential grunt and sniff fest for you very own bedroom then this is the book for you. I've literally gotten minutes of pleasure from this book and so has my peeping Tom neighbor, Alonzo, downstairs.
Rating:
Summary: Recommended for non-Bush supporters
Review: The insights into Bush's character, past experiences, and the events that shape his values & decision making are the highlights here. I was surprised to learn more about the successful business career in the oilfield his absentee father built and how that impacted W. I was surprised to learn the depth of W's "good times" exploits. Laura Bush emerges as very human, very mature and very much in the right place & time for America & its President. Without Laura, W. would no doubt be a successful businessman & probably a major wheeler-dealer. But, he would not be President. If read with an open mind, the unfolding story is one of a man's maturing, leading and just now flourishing. "Warts & all" is a good description, except these warts may be proving to be leadership beauty marks. Time will tell, but we already know a lot! A very good book......
Rating:
Summary: A Poor Contribution
Review: The real story behind this book is in the back. There are a lot of source notes and what the author has done is based almost entirely on those--not first-hand accounts. This makes the book very suspect and challenging why the book should be bought.
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