The War Within, Bob Woodward
The War Within, Bob Woodward
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The War Within
A Secret White House History 2006-2008

Author: Bob Woodward

Narrator: Boyd Gaines

Abridged: 6 hr 25 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 09/08/2008


Synopsis

2009 Audie Award Finalist for the Judges’ Award

Bob Woodward once again pulls back the curtain on Washington to reveal the inner workings of a government at war in his fourth book on President George W. Bush.

The War Within provides an exhaustive account of the struggles of General David Petraeus, who takes over in Iraq during one of the bleakest and most violent periods of the war. It reveals how breakthroughs in military operations and surveillance account for much of the progress as violence in Iraq plummeted in the middle of 2007.

Woodward interviewed key players, obtained dozens of never-before-published documents, and had nearly three hours of exclusive interviews with President Bush. The result is a stunning, firsthand history of the years from mid-2006, when the White House realizes the Iraq strategy is not working, through the decision to surge another 30,000 U.S. troops in 2007, and into mid-2008, when the war becomes a fault line in the presidential election.

The War Within addresses head-on questions of leadership, not just in war but in how we are governed and the dangers of unwarranted secrecy.

About Bob Woodward

Bob Woodward is the author of three consecutive #1 New York Times bestsellers on President Trump—Fear (2018), Rage (2020), and Peril (2021) with Robert Costa—and an audiobook of 20 interviews with Trump. He has authored 22 bestselling books, 15 of which have been #1 New York Times bestsellers, covering every president from Nixon to Biden.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Will on October 06, 2021

The focus here is less on Bush per se than on the activities within the military, diplomatic and white house worlds on how to address the clear failure in Iraq. Bush seems almost a minor figure in the story told here. It is clear that contrary to the claim that he listens to his commanders, Bush list......more

Goodreads review by TheBookWarren on April 11, 2020

An in depth look into the Bush White House, behind the scenes & all encompassing - Woodward is able to paint a vivid portrait of the machinations of the W playbook & presents all key names & factors at play without ever getting to judgemental or over politicising the facts. A genuine look at one of t......more

Goodreads review by Lindsay on December 29, 2013

Bob Woodward is amazing at what he does, and this book is worth a read/listen. That being said, I quit the book 2/3 the way through. I could have finished, I just didn't want to; as I listened, I just kept feeling increasingly depressed and frustrated because, well, we all know how well hubris worke......more

Goodreads review by Bernard on December 30, 2011

The Bush at War series is a must read for anyone interested in US politics, history and the Iraq war. I actually found the four book series incredibly balanced in its assessment of the Bush White House - but this last book makes abundantly clear the level of mismanagement, obsfucation and resulting......more

Goodreads review by Quinn on October 13, 2015

This was an awesome book. I was expecting Woodward to say things like how Bush was completely wrong like he did with Nixon in All the President's Men. But he didn't. He looked at all the facts from all the sides and gave his personal opinion.......more