Rating: 
Summary: Living the American dream - From Bronx to the White House...
Review: "My American journey" is the story of Colin Powell. He is the living symbol of the American dream. Powell was born in Harlem, and grew up in South Bronx. His parents were hard-working immigrants from Jamaica. He went to school in New York, and later joined the ROTC. "My American Journey" is a very well written biography. Together with lots of pictures from Powell's personal life, from his childhood in Bronx, and ending with his official career in the White House, the easygoing writing style makes this an interesting read. I truly enjoyed learning more about the Vietnam War and the bravery of the US soldiers who fought in the Vietnam War. Additionally, after reading what Powell and Schwartzkopf experienced during the Vietnam War, I can better understand Powell's Gulf goals and actions. Previous to reading this book, I did not have a lot of knowledge about Panama and the invasion, therefore I found this part to be very interesting too. The book provides us with a great study of leadership, while it also is a good study of military history and politics. "My American Journey" is an excellent story and example that shows us what possessing a strong motivation and integrity can lead to. You certainly do not need to be an American to appreciate the positive attitudes and the message that Powell sends through his book. I highly recommend it to anyone who wants to read about an interesting life, leadership, military history, and politics.
Rating:
Summary: One of the most Educational Books I have ever Read
Review: An American success story if there ever was one. Colin Powell vividly depicts his extraordinary life and career that could only take place in the setting of America. This autobiography wheels you through life in the poor neighborhoods in the Bronx to Washington Power broker. Colin Powell takes you though his life through his eyes, and into history, in some ways while reading it, I felt as though it was Forrest Gump on steroids, but the story is true.
Anyone interested in the policymaking process should read this book, as Powell describes his role as well as the role of other American leaders in making some of the most crucial decisions, the reader is swept into the pressures and challenges faced with America's leaders on a daily basis. The book delivers an account into the lives of Dick Cheney, George Bush, Ronald Reagan, and others, allowing you to take a more personal look at American leadership. It is so easy to criticize from the outside looking in, but usually criticism as well as praise, is done by the uninformed.
One aspect I found particularly educational was how Powell provided a small glimpse to me (A young white male) of an educated man, a commissioned officer of the United States Army, refused service in restaurants, and discriminated in others ways. It is a credit to Powell, how he rose above narrow-minded bigotry and focused on the positive; resisting the temptation of "victimization" to become one of the most powerful and respected men in the country. I recommend this book to anyone, black, white, Latino, male, female, liberal, or conservative.
Rating:
Summary: One of the most Educational Books I have ever Read
Review: An American success story if there ever was one. Colin Powell vividly depicts his extraordinary life and career that could only take place in the setting of America. This autobiography wheels you through life in the poor neighborhoods in the Bronx to Washington Power broker. Colin Powell takes you though his life through his eyes, and into history, in some ways while reading it, I felt as though it was Forrest Gump on steroids, but the story is true.
Anyone interested in the policymaking process should read this book, as Powell describes his role as well as the role of other American leaders in making some of the most crucial decisions, the reader is swept into the pressures and challenges faced with America's leaders on a daily basis. The book delivers an account into the lives of Dick Cheney, George Bush, Ronald Reagan, and others, allowing you to take a more personal look at American leadership. It is so easy to criticize from the outside looking in, but usually criticism as well as praise, is done by the uninformed.
One aspect I found particularly educational was how Powell provided a small glimpse to me (A young white male) of an educated man, a commissioned officer of the United States Army, refused service in restaurants, and discriminated in others ways. It is a credit to Powell, how he rose above narrow-minded bigotry and focused on the positive; resisting the temptation of "victimization" to become one of the most powerful and respected men in the country. I recommend this book to anyone, black, white, Latino, male, female, liberal, or conservative.
Rating: 
Summary: Excellent
Review: An excellent read that gives good insights to the person and the soldier Colin Powell.
There are plenty of good stories about Powell himself as well as the people he has served and those who have served him. It gives an insight into a person who (already at the time of the book) has had a tremendous impact on the Armed Forces as well as American polictics in generel.
We can only hope that there will be a sequal.
Rating:
Summary: Inspirational
Review: Back in the early 90's, I didn't understand America's love affair with Colin Powell. It was only after he was named Secretary of State by George Bush that I read My American Journey, originally published in 1995. While the book obviously doesn't provide much insight into Powell's sudden about-face in early 2003 on whether to invade Iraq, it does provide a great deal of background and context to allow Americans to understand that Powell probably felt he exhausted his options and had no choice but to support Bush's policy or to resign. It also makes plain Powell's disdain for Dick Cheney. Clearly, Powell did not expect to be working again so closely with Cheney when he published My American Journey. Powell's lessons are inspirational. There is a reason that Colin Powell is one of the most admired leaders in America, and his autobiography makes clear that he cares about his troops and his employees. Strange, then, that he would have forced his Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs to "retire" in 2002 rather than stand up to the pressure he must have been under from the press and other government colleagues, including, perhaps, his boss, in the wake of numerous visa scandals. That she was one of the most respected and successful Foreign Service Officers shows that even such bigger-than-life heroes as Powell are only human after all. My American Journey includes some of Powell's setbacks as well as his achievements. His vignette about a poor efficiency report he received at a crucial stage in his career helped me deal with a similar run-in with my boss. I practically quoted Powell to my boss, but was a bit more active than Powell has himself come across. (Powell essentially resigned himself to finding a new job.) In the end, Powell's first rule prevailed: "It ain't as bad as you think. It will look better in the morning."
Rating:
Summary: Inspirational
Review: Back in the early 90's, I didn't understand America's love affair with Colin Powell. It was only after he was named Secretary of State by George Bush that I read My American Journey, originally published in 1995. While the book obviously doesn't provide much insight into Powell's sudden about-face in early 2003 on whether to invade Iraq, it does provide a great deal of background and context to allow Americans to understand that Powell probably felt he exhausted his options and had no choice but to support Bush's policy or to resign. It also makes plain Powell's disdain for Dick Cheney. Clearly, Powell did not expect to be working again so closely with Cheney when he published My American Journey. Powell's lessons are inspirational. There is a reason that Colin Powell is one of the most admired leaders in America, and his autobiography makes clear that he cares about his troops and his employees. Strange, then, that he would have forced his Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs to "retire" in 2002 rather than stand up to the pressure he must have been under from the press and other government colleagues, including, perhaps, his boss, in the wake of numerous visa scandals. That she was one of the most respected and successful Foreign Service Officers shows that even such bigger-than-life heroes as Powell are only human after all. My American Journey includes some of Powell's setbacks as well as his achievements. His vignette about a poor efficiency report he received at a crucial stage in his career helped me deal with a similar run-in with my boss. I practically quoted Powell to my boss, but was a bit more active than Powell has himself come across. (Powell essentially resigned himself to finding a new job.) In the end, Powell's first rule prevailed: "It ain't as bad as you think. It will look better in the morning."
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book
Review: First off, I am superficialy everything Powell is not: I am white, young (21), a Democrat, and wholly uninterested in serving my country in the armed forces. However, I do have a keen interest in serving my country as a diplomat, citizen, or in some other capacity (which brought me to wanting to read this book on better understanding the workings of a person of influence and the organzation and workings of government). Now that my cards are on the table, I want to say this is a book well worth reading. It gave me a better appreciation of the armed forces and a better appreciation for our imperfect but effective system of promotion based on merit in America. An inspirational book, but can at times be dull if one is not an aficionado of the bureaucratic workings of government.
Rating:
Summary: The General who kept it "REAL"
Review: I learn much about General Colin Powell by reading this book. The book is well written and provides me with enough information that I was left me feeling that I know the General personally. The book revealed the side of the General that most of America can identify. I am able to sense the his pride my his accomplishments (the Buffalo soldier statue, providing the house that his wife enjoyed, his daughter performance, his son choice of career, etc.). I would not have ever invision him working on a "busted" car for resale.
Rating:
Summary: Wow
Review: I used to 'despise' Colin Powell for he was one of the few people to oppose U.S. military action against Serbian terrorists who while wearing police and army uniforms slaughtered hundreds of thousands inncoent people's lives in Croatia,Bosnia and Kosovo.
'He must be a pro-serb" - I thought and that's what spurred me to read his autobiography - hoping that in it there might be clues why and how come a grandfather in power do nothing or create obstacles when people's lives were at stake.
To my greatest surprise, as I read his book he became my hero!
There's no limit to my respect I have for him now! Because he is the best example of what SUCCESS or I shall better say, what LIFE is all about!
Obstacles to him were not holes that people get stuck in them all of their lives. To him obstacles were nothing more then Challenges. He was discriminated and intimidated because he was black but that didn't make any difference on him. To him that meant Challenge, again.
His autobiography is over 600 pages. The three long, yet very fast days, that it took me to finish Colin's book - were definitely my best reading days ever so far. Colin writes so honestly and so beautifully that he made me feel that I know him and his lovely family personally.
No Stephen Covey or Anthony Robbins or any self development writers can raise your self-esteem better then Colin Powell - my hero.
Remember his over 600 pages book is a re-readable book. There's heaps to be learned not only about success, him and his family but about other people too such as President Regan, Bush and so many other prominent figures.
ENJOY
Rating:
Summary: A Hero For All Seasons
Review: It seems everywhere you go these days, there is Secretary of State Colin Powell, "America's Promise." This book shows why. Secretary Powell's character shines through and will continue to do so despite his detractors, who are truly attacking President George W. Bush (who is distantly related) as well as anything the ultra-agenda-driven media, with their WMD (Words of Mind Destruction) 24-hour anti-Bush shark attack. Secretary Powell's lessons on life, his devotion to his wife Alma, his service to his country and his fond recollections of being "Luther and Arie's Son" create a portrait of a multifaceted man who planted the seed, via Jamie Sepulveda-Bailey, of "The Valley's Promise," a remarkable youth organization in Palm Springs, Secretary Powell's family, including his cousin Sir Rupert A.L. Perrin, author of his own inspiring story, ORDINARY MIRACLES: My Incredible Spiritual, Artistic and Scientific Journey, are undoubtedly as remarkable as he is.
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