Books Faith of My Fathers
Books and Publications Average Rating:

Rating: - John McCain's Autobiography
In this presidential election year of 2008, it is imperative to read books written by the candidates in order to assess strengths and weaknesses. I have lived thru more than 16 presidential elections, heard promises that were never kept, suffered thru wars, recessions, triumphs and terrorist attacks on our soil. Before I vote as an independent, I intend to do a lot of research.

I have read memoirs by both candidates, listened to their speeches, looked at body language, and am trying to form a fair and balanced opinion.

In this honest autobiography by the maverick, Senator John McCain, a former Naval aviator and prisoner of war for more than five years in Vietnam, I discovered why this man feels he is capable of leading our country. He reveals amazing stories about his famous grandfather and his father and their considerable contributions as navy commanders in world wars and also Vietnam and Korea. He explains his desire to honor their heroic deeds and values.

The McCain family has a long military history. You will read about life in the naval academy in Annapolis over the decades, and how officers are trained and about McCains in leadership and combat roles. John McCain was shot down during the Vietnam war and placed in solitary confinement,was tortured and in intense pain, even near death, yet he remembered the courage and committment of his father and grandfather McCain and vowed to honor them with his patriotism.

Only in this book can you really discover the worldview of a McCain. The book is riveting and filled with information about war and courage under fire. McCain describes his shortcomings,temper and outrage at injustice during his first thirty-four years. He never portrays himself as a hero. You will read about the Vietnam war from a different perspective.

Read this book not for inspiration, but to increase your knowledge, no matter who you vote for. See what motivates John McCain today. He has lived a life of adventure, service to his country in the Senate, and been unafraid to speak his mind. Before I cast my vote tho, I have decided to read his sequel to this book to see if he has made changes in his temperment.

---

Rating: - Very inspiring, but a tedious read...
I really admire John McCain, but I found this a tedious read because a lot of the technical Navy-speak that I am unfamiliar with. That said, John McCain is truly an American Hero with the country's best interests at heart. This tale confirmed my decision to vote for him- as Sarah Palin says it best "The only man in this race who has ever truly fought for Americans."

---

Rating: - I didn't understand McCain's Maverickness until I read this book.
There are many interesting things about John McCain I was unaware of before I read this excellent book. It's great that McCain has come clean about his many extramarital affairs. That was a tough thing to do! The chapter "Why I abandoned Carol and the kids," in which McCain outlined his decision to leave his first wife and three small children, is both heartbreaking and inspiring. I especially liked the chapter in which McCain chronicles the many fistfights he has gotten into while serving in the U.S. Senate. And while I was skeptical at first, I now understand that McCain's plan to tax health benefits, raise social security taxes and increase FICA 75% will untimately pay for the bailout plan.

---

Rating: - Amazing stories of courage through three generations
I read this book as part of my attempt to get a better understanding of the candidates in the 2008 presidential race. This book covers the lives and military careers of John McCain, his father and grandfather. Both father and grandfather were four-star admirals in the naval and had some amazing careers before and after World War II.

McCain is remarkable candid about his rebellious exploits during his years at the naval academy and early years in the naval as an aviator. The last half of the book is the story of his captivity by the North Vietnamese from 1967 to 1972. It is a fascinating account. He makes no attempt to hide the fact that many other suffered more than him or resisted more heroically.

What interested me is that while McCain is frequently at odds with the religious right he does have a calm and quiet faith both religious and in his country and fathers and this faith carried him through an amazingly trying time. This book is well worth reading.