The three-star rating is supposed to mean "I Liked It". In this case, it means I liked half of it - the first half. After that it got a bit repetitive and lingered on points that I didn't find compelling. If McCain gets elected President today, I'd recommend you read this book (and probably his other for more of his biographical background). If not, then don't worry about it, because he'll just be the maverick senator from Arizona again. ( )

As an apolitical observer of the American political scene, John McCain used to fascinate me, to the point that when I saw his book at a library sale a few years ago, I snatched it up, wanting to learn more about the "maverick" of the U.S. Senate. I think I may have been looking for his first memoir [b:Faith of My Fathers: A Family Memoir|99965|Faith of My Fathers A Family Memoir|John McCain|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1348755680s/99965.jpg|390110], but this one also sufficed. While describing his life since his return to the States after being a Vietnam War POW, McCain takes the reader through his political education, including the Keating Savings & Loan disaster (bad) and his brokering of efforts to improve the relationship between Vietnam and the United States (good).

Since I've never quite figured out how the radical Republican Party of Lincoln and Thaddeus Stevens became the Tea Party of today (can't even connect the dots), McCain always seemed as though he would somehow be the difference maker, until his submission to the extreme right in his efforts to secure the Presidency made him just another politician from a conservative state. Actually, McCain reminds me most of Cato from the Roman Republic. It's clear he believes in his American Republic and wants others to uphold the same values (not 100% certain what they are, but Americans do have values). I must say I also can't figure out the Democrats, which may explain why I'm apolitical.

In reading this memoir, one thought did strike me quite clearly...how the Americans always seem to come up with leaders who change the world (not McCain, just saying he made me think this). Washington, Lincoln, two Roosevelts, Truman...even Reagan. Is it in their blood? Fascinating country and a decent read.

Book Season = Winter (because that seems to be the Republicans' discontent) ( )

I'm a McCain fan, so I was almost sure to enjoy this book anyway; nonetheless, I found it inspiring and well worth reading. Not quite on par with "Faith of My Fathers," but close. ( )