Destined for Destiny: The Unauthorized Autobiography of George W. Bush

By Peter Hilleren and Scott Dikkers

Book Overview

In Destined for Destiny, George W. Bush offers readers an intimate, plainspoken, and often readable look at the character-shaping achievements that led to his inevitable rise to the office of President of the United States.

Written from the heart, not from the brain, this definitive autobiography takes readers on a journey through the 43rd President's life, including his hardscrabble beginnings as the child of West Texas oil millionaires, the remarkable academic performance that earned him entry into the finest East Coast schools, and his proud service to the country as an occasional member of the National Guard sometime around 1972 or 1973.

He proudly recounts his years as a successful oil-business failure and the owner of a baseball team. He even dares to dream the ultimate dream: to become Commissioner of Baseball.

The great man we meet here displays his mother's steely resolve and vindictive temper, his father's keen mastery of language, and his own unique gift of deciding.

His gripping life story deepens when a faith in God hits him one day "like a bottle of Jack on an empty stomach," and he has an encounter with the Prince of Peace that sets George W. Bush on a path to become the greatest War President in history.

To help craft this lasting account of his life and leadership, George W. Bush turned to two writers who have earned not only his trust but his deep friendship: Scott Dikkers, editor-in-chief of The Onion and coauthor of the #1 bestseller Our Dumb Century, and Peter Hilleren, former producer for public radio and some of the nation's finest public-access cable-television stations. Dikkers and Hilleren call on their finely honed journalism expertise every week to write and record the President's weekly radio address on WeeklyRadioAddress.com. Their work on such stirring addresses as "June Terror Update" and "The Pope Is Dead" made them the ideal choice to meet the challenge of chronicling the visionary mark left on history by its shining light, President George W. Bush.

* * *

Free from all the filters, handlers, and facts . . .

I tell the untold story of my inspirational life. You will struggle with me in my strugglesome youth. During the Vietnam War, you will be right there at my side as I face down the terrible enemy of my sinful partying. Together, we will meet and fall head over heels for the love of my life -- Jesus. And through me you will become a beloved, terror-fighting hero in the greatest hour of my presidency, September 11, 2001.

I embarked upon this important and historical work against the advice of my advisors. Come what may, I wanted you to hear my story from me, in my own talking.

God bless,
George W. Bush

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0743299671
• ISBN13: 9780743299671
• Release Date: February 2008
• Publisher: Scribner Book Company
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.5" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

A Wickedly Funny Book

Having read various accounts of the life of George W. Bush, I was familiar with most of the chapter information. As with most people in this country, we've also heard the "manglification" by Bush of the English language. And there is wide-spread press about his 91 IQ and how that relates to his thought process, attention span, interpersonal relationships, etc. This is the finest, and funniest, book that I've found that puts all of these elements together in one satire. We may never know what Bush is thinking - we might not want to know what he is thinking - but odds are that the authors have got the mindset of Bush pegged in this book, and if one of the events in Bush's life randomly comes to his mind, Bush's memories and rememberances are probably pretty close to what these guys have written. It's a hilarious book, a bit harsh once or twice, but very entertaining.

Eerily so like Dubya wrote this

Give me a break people. The Chapter on Laura is not to be taken seriously. I mean no one has really taken a potshot at her, since she is not as controversial as Hillary or Nancy. LOL I turned heads at Borders when I was laughing out loud as I read it, so I definitely bought the book. Look at the pictures in the middle first because they are just creepy, hilarious, but creepy, perfect for Halloween. This book is so much written in Dubya's signature English, it's scary, the authors were definitely channeling him. ;D

Red, White and True

Not since THE LITTLE GOAT has one single epitome so greatly exemplified the triumph of the human spirit. With disarming, almost childlike grace and vocabulary here is the story of "George W. Bush" in his own inimitable and endearingly simplistic idom. Hear the tale of his humble rise from a childhood of extreme economic privilege, which few could imagine, let alone endure. Then of his remarkable military record and distinguished business career which explain his appeal to the average, (and even below average) citizen. Then finally of his truly stunning rise to become our 44th or 45th President, (I'm not sure which). Page after page we are left wondering what the American people ever did to deserve such a book, let alone the man himself. I highly reccomend this book, as you will be filled with new found inspiration and a hunger for free hot dogs. I myself bought the audio book, since some of the werds in the printid version looked to diffikult to understamd.

"Like Roots, Only White"

That description from one of the opening chapter headings is a good indication of what's in store! This book is a roller coaster ride from humor so subtle and intuitive that you conclude that the authors are actually channeling Bush to wit so ascerbic and wickedly funny that you cringe in puritan guilt while laughing so hard that tears roll. I loved the forward "by" Dick Cheney. He ends his remarks with those similar to ones he has made on the floor of the Senate (anyone remember that?). The audio book is also really entertaining, with loads of added sketches and gags narrated by the voice of Bush from [...]. If we cant' be rid of this bunch, at least we can laugh through the next (painful) 2+ years!

A little too true to life

Obviously, if you're a fan of the weekly satire at weeklyradioaddress.com, then this book is for you. But the book succeeds on its own (lack of) merits, and while it's clear some people will call it mean for the stuff on Laura, that's probably the funniest part of the book. Why has Laura been off-limits? Hillary, Nancy, Rosalyn sure weren't. I think people are overprotective because they feel a little bit sorry for her... Anyhow, the book is savage, but the attacks would seem harmless if the book wasn't so eerily dead-on in its voice. What sticks with you is that a real Presidential autobiography (one that wasn't ghostwritten) would sound a lot like this. And the pictures are fantastic.