Obama's Wars

Obama's Wars/Bob Woodward 441 pgs.

I thought from the title that this would be about Iraq and Afghanistan but really it had a lot to do with the internal war of trying to figure out what the heck to do in Afghanistan. After letting that "war" simmer for so many years with a lack of strategy and focus, the American public is getting a bit tired of it. Obama's administration spent some time trying to figure out what to do, and how to do it. Obama himself seems intent on not letting this be the continuous quagmire but the various agencies and staff who are advising him are revealed to have some real problems coming together and agreeing. I always marvel at Woodward's books and wonder why they just don't invite him to the meetings since he seems to get all the materials and direct quotes just like he was there. It is always interesting to me to get a glimpse of the "action" and this book has such a different perspective than the ones I've read lately written by soldiers in the field. - Christa

Game Change

Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin and the race of a lifetime/John Heilemann & Mark Halperin 448 pgs.

Sex! Lies! Drama! and did I mention sex? This book has it all, oh yea, also an election that was an important collection of firsts. If you paid any attention at all, this book is better than anything you remember. Sometimes I shudder at the reality of politics, other times I relish it. -Christa