Duty memoirs of a secretary at war by robert gates 2014. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The place to start is gates recently published book, duty. From the former secretary of defense, a strikingly candid, vivid account of serving presidents george w. Gates has much to teach about the practical idealism. In a town blighted by partisan rancour, robert gatess memoir of his time as. A biographical memoir by robert ladd thorndike, arthur irving gates isbn. So can gates book, which ranges from generous and gracious to churlish and selfrighteous, sometimes on the same page. Gates served as secretary of defense from 2006 to 2011. Gates received a call from the white house in 2006, he thought hed left washington politics behind.
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. Go search best sellers gift ideas new releases deals store coupons amazonbasics. Duty memoirs of a secretary at war robert gates on. Trevor noah shelved 3 times as great memoirs avg rating 4. 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. A 2014 new york times notable book probably one of the best washington memoirs ever. The first book will be a memoir and is tentatively scheduled to be published in 20. Memoirs of a secretary at war reprint by gates, robert m isbn. Bill gates favorite book recommendations offer quite an eclectic mix. Memoirs of a secretary at war third printing, january 2014 by robert michael gates isbn. Gates is the author of duty, and a passion for leadership.
He was an officer in the united states air force and worked for. Choice if you read only one book by a washington insider this year, make it this one. The time period is from 2006 to 2011, and includes the george w. Bush but was retained for service by president barack obama. Popular great memoirs books showing 150 of 104 born a crime. I read a lot, but i dont always choose whats on the bestseller list, according to the billionaire and microsoft cofounder.
Robert gates memoir shocks washington former defense secretary robert gates is the first to offer a scathing critique of president obama and. He served as secretary of defense under presidents george w. In his new memoir, gates asserts that obama had more than doubts about his course in afghanistan. After working for six presidents in both the cia and the national security council, he was happily serving as. Bush administration and early years of the obama presidency. Theyre long nonfiction books that might look a little out of place beside the pool or on the beach. Gates, who served so influentially as secretary of defense during the crucial years 20072011, deserves critical examination. Memoirs of a secretary at war by former secretary of defense robert m. Robert gates rages against the political machine in his. 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. Unfortunate situations, flawed coping mechanisms, mayhem, and other things that happened, by allie brosh, is an honesttogoodness summer read.
That evidently is a fertile frame of mind in which to write a book like this. He served as defense secretary under presidents obama and george w. Books go search best sellers gift ideas new releases deals store coupons amazonbasics gift cards help sell. After years working for both the cia and the national security. Memoirs of a secretary at war robert michael gates. 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. 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. Bush administration 20062009, the obama administration 20092011, the afghan war, and the iraq war. The simple reason is that i wrote a biography of a senior pentagon official that gates.
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. With iraq in a profound downward spiral and many believing that afghanistan could be next, the legacy of robert m. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Duty memoirs of a secretary at war by robert gates 20140201. Robert gates appears at the national constitution center in philadelphia to discuss his memoir, duty. Memoirs of a secretary at war has 3 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. Bush and barack obama during the wars in iraq and afghanistan. Gates believed that he had left washington politics behind for. Memoirs of a secretary at war book by robert m gates. Gates is hardly the first official to engage in such a doublecross, but its a surprise because hes always conducted himself with class. Gates provides revelations about major decisions made from late 2006 to 2011. Knopf, it was announced today by sonny mehta, chairman and editorinchief of the knopf doubleday publishing group. 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. When breath becomes air, a memoir by the accomplished neurosurgeon and writer paul kalanithi.
Bill gates calls book the best nonfiction hes read. Stories from a south african childhood hardcover by. Memoirs of a secretary at war unabridged by gates, robert m. Gates received a call from the white house, he thought hed long left washington politics behind. Memoirs of a secretary at war is a nonfiction book written by robert m. Robert gates signs twobook deal for memoir and book on. One reason is that when the term witch entered my everyday life, it used to trigger me.
Gates s new memoir is the first describing the obama administrations policy deliberations written from inside the cabinet. 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. In his memoir duty, the former defense secretary robert m. He also served as an officer in the united states air force and worked for the central. A full list of bill gates favorite books in 2019and from.