By His Own Rules: The Ambitions, Successes, and Ultimate Failures of Donald Rumsfeld

by Bradley Graham

Book Overview

Once considered among the best and brightest of his generation, Donald Rumsfeld left office as the most controversial Defense Secretary since Robert McNamara, widely criticized for his management of... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1586484214
• ISBN13: 9781586484217
• Release Date: June 2009
• Publisher: PublicAffairs
• Length: 803 Pages
• Weight: 2.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 2.4" x 6.6" x 9.5"

Customer Reviews

Very Good Book

Very detailed and yet not bogged down. Enjoyed reading it. The author captured the true essence of this complicated and driven man.

The Best, Pure and Simple

About time someone took the time and energy to write a complicated book about a complicated man. Graham seems to be the only one who's more interested in telling the truth than telling us what to feel. This book goes DEEP, mines ALL the facts, and allows the reader to make up their own mind about Rummy. Personally, I now condemn him as much as I ever did, but now feel like my condemnation is based on a more educated, well rounded understanding of this man, and not just parroting what I might have heard on cable news.

Seems like candid history

Despite the author's access to the subject, the author seems to have written an honest, unbiased account of Rummy's tenure.

Superb!

This is a remarkable book about a not so remarkable man. Fox News people should read the book to get a true picture of fair and balanced. I dislike Mr Rumsfeld intensely and this book did not change my mind, but it is thorough, fair, excellently written and well researched. Rumsfeld is certainly given credit where it is due and properly called to task for his foibles and blunders. Rumsfeld comes off in the book (and in most accounts I have read) as a Jekyll and Hyde figure, impossible to get a firm grip on. He was ambitious, arrogant, seemingly smart but loyal to power and himself (butt kisser)..and certainly not someone to turn your back on. A master of selective engagement and cutting and running. First and foremost a "Me first" guy, which in the Iraq cost countless thousands of lives and America's reputation. True to form, Rumsfeld would not discuss Iraq with the author (although he was interviewed on various occasions for the book. Love or hate him, this book is remarkably well written and in Don's word "Calls a spade a spade".. Just wish Rumsfeld had been dealt out the political game by Nixon way back when. A lot of brave young men would be alive today.