Bob Woodward: By the Book

Once again, we're treated to a "By the Book" in which the writer either doesn't read anything written by women (with one exception in this case - MacKenzie Bezos. Yes, that Bezos), or none happen to occur to him in interviews. I don't know if it is a sadder commentary on readership, on publishing, or just plain sad. If this were the occasional happening, it would seem less so. Two weeks ago, not a single woman mentioned except a singer, in passing. As I'm heading out to speak to the local library association on how to create successful book clubs, I think I will emphasize that a broad understanding of life and the human condition includes reading texts from the spectrum of gender, culture, and ethnicity. I won't be citing "By the Book" as a model.

My husband is currently listening to "Fear" on audible (an excellent way to read books, in my opinion). He tends to read the "tell all" books about the Trump avalanche disaster as it is unfolding before us.... Sorry, I just can't. Too depressing as well as too fast moving, all of it downhill...

I find it very interesting and surprising that a wordsmith like Mr. Woodward is a slow reader. But maybe his slow reading is not the same as other people's slow reading. I envy him both for being surrounded by his favourite books old and new and his ability to write new ones. His legacy will live on long after he is gone (not too soon I hope.) I bought Fear today and am looking forward to reading it. Thanks for your books Mr. Woodward.

A most telling quote especially for our time: “As Nixon said in his farewell address the day he resigned, ‘Always remember, others may hate you, but those who hate you don’t win unless you hate them, and then you destroy yourself.’” I wonder if the current occupant of the Oval Office will have the same realization. Somehow I doubt it.

Like others who comment, I always feel abashed by these little features. My stars! what insatiable readers. My tiny carillon remained mute through most of Mr. Woodward's long list. . . . . ..except one bell rang faintly. "Once An Eagle." Years ago, there was a Readers' Digest and they did condensed books. "Once An Eagle" was one. So I read it. I wonder if there is not something Manichean in Mr. Woodward's mind. I say this because the books follows not ONE but TWO military honchos through innumerable ups and downs. ONE is a man of sterling virtue and unsullied patriotism. The name escapes me. But he performed prodigies of valor during World War I--where he acquired the nickname "Night Clerk." Lots of fighting took place in a small, deserted hotel. Where enemy soldiers got a blazing reception. They CHECKED OUT--if you follow me. The OTHER guy--just the opposite. Two beady eyes fixed upon nothing but his own advancement. The news of the atomic bomb fills him with well-dissembled wrath--he'd hoped to make a name for himself, conducting (at a safe distance) the invasion of Japan. His name was Courtney Something. Or Something Courtney. It sounded snooty, whatever it was. Years ago, they based a miniseries on this book. It was okay. But Mr. Woodward's other innumerable reads. Oh dear. Well, sir. . . . . .. more power to you. And hey! Gotta get into "Fear" sometime. Right now, I'm afraid NOT to.

Woodward's bedside accumulation is impressive. Trump calls his new work, "fiction." That word had to have supplied to him by an aide. Trump likely has never read a book of any kind, even as a child. Whether to blame his Scot mother or his German father won't save him from the absence of reading. He may have been forced to read in his elementary school but only in class. And I submit that's the explanation for his love-affair with reality TV; that became his escape; and yes, reading is a kind of escape for millions. But a president who shuns the actual events of the day captured in non-fiction is doomed.

Not may writers mention two of my favorites - Cutting for Stone and Wallace Stegner - so I was thrilled to find Bob Woodward had read and enjoyed them. I love this section of the Book Review. It's the first thing I read.

Without complaint, I will have to buy FEAR because, on Thursday of this week, my library's reserve list for Mr Woodward's book totaled 627.

A very interesting article. I am shamed by Mr Woodward's bed-side books. On the other hand, I can light heartedly say when it comes to books by former CIA employees I was little impressed with the Red Sparrow book, and much more with Olin Steinhauer.

Out of the 20 or so books Woodward mentions three were written by women, one was his wife, one was his boss. All others were written by men about men. Though I admire Mr. Woodward, I cannot say someone with this lopsided reading list is 'well read' or is likely to have a complete understanding of the world when he is uninterested in what 50% of its people have to say.

I've always found Bob Woodward to be an interesting pundit on TV and have also enjoyed his books. His analysis is usually right on the money and I'm glad he's back in the mix. We need his relentless pursuit of the truth now more than ever. All The President's Men & The Final Days, as well as his book on the CIA (Veil) were all important in bringing me into the political fold, and his book on G.W. Bush & Iraq was simply infuriating. I hope there are more books to come.

Gormley's book is amazing. I'd rather have ten thousand Hillary Clintons over Trump, but the Clintons ... I'm glad their moment is (for now) over.

Given that Mr. Woodward has written nine books about past presidents, I would be curious to know which of those he felt had an impact on our nation's history and served as a significant catalyst for positive change in our democracy. I would venture to say "All the President's Men" but this is just my personal opinion. I also would want to hear where he envisions his book to go from here while Trump daily imposes long-lasting damage to our country and the world. Will it have short-lived media converage, initial enthusiastic reader interest and hopefully administration acceptance and analysis by like-minded influential administration officials? With respect to its influence in the Republican Congress, I doubt the book's meticulously exposure of the truths in the White House will affect them in their mind-boggling complicity in the dangers of this president. I fear that the book may fade from the shelves until the next book like Comey's, Wolffe's, Omorosa's and others have had their short-lived time in the limelight without discernable impacts. Thank for your hard work in writing this book. Hopefully it will inspire millions of resistors as it has me to promote its sense of urgency. In my own small way. I will be reiterating some of the most salient and well-founded passages of "Fear" in my phone bank work this week to inspire others to register and vote in November. I might even try them out on a few Trump supporters but do not hold my breath in this era of post truth!

I have requested " Fear" from our Public Library. My most favorite book of poems is " Gitanjali", by Rabindranath Tagore. I have read " Fore and Fury" by Michael Wolf an old story now, pointless to spend money to buy it.

I waited with baited breath for your question, "What book would you recommend the President to read" but you did not ask it. Bob Woodward's response would be helpful.

I have just finished “Fear”and want to thank Mr.Woodward for a great read. A classic fly on the wall look at the House of Chaos a.k.a. The Trump White House. To think that our future is in the hands of an illiterate,unstable and ego driven man/child is certainly something to FEAR!

Crowe was the CNO of in the 1980s when the battleship Iowa had its disastrous explosion in one of its big gun turrets. I was in the Navy at the time and had met one of the guys killed by the explosion. The Navy investigators came up with outrageous story that one of the people in the turret actually caused the explosion because he was in a unhappy homosexual situation. Crowe was going to go along with the story. But for the family of the dead sailor that brought attention to the preposterous accusation that conveniently deflected responsibility from the Navy.