Ten Minutes from Normal

Karen Hughes works as a journalist in Texas, joins G. W. Bush's run for governor, and continues with his campaign for president and works for 18 months as a counselor to the president. She and her husband chose to move back to Texas for their son's 3 remaining years of high school. She still remained involved with the Bush White House and traveled to DC from Texas. She is a Christian and includes scripture in the book. I liked learning how communication and politics works in the White House. ( )

Karen Hughes, close confidant and advisor to George W. Bush, writes what may be the warmest memoir touching on the Bush Administration (except for the anticipated memoirs of Laura Bush). During her appointments as part of the Bush team, first in Texas, through the 2000 campaign, and the first 18 months of the administration, Hughes was the handpicked leader overseeing communications. During those years, she became a feisty on-the-record defender of her boss.

Her book is filled with the same intrepid spirit, partially telling her life story, but mostly telling of her extended professional, and personal, relationship with Bush 43 and other close advisors (especially Karl Rove and Condaleeza Rice). She tells of the sacrifices that she made as a working mother, and in the end, the hyperactive career she ultimately stepped away from to spend more time with her family.

If the book is not quite as revealing as George Stephanopoulos' first-rate political memoir All Too Human, it is a valuable glimpse into the challenges and opportunities of strong women in the Washington fishbowl. And it is a full-throated defense -- in the guise of a love story -- of George W. Bush, who comes across as strong, decisive, smart, funny, warm, and loyal through these pages.

More personal than Bob Woodward's inside the White House books, and more winning than books by seeming turncoats like Scott McClellan, the book is certainly an enjoyable and eye-opening read. Is it to be fully believed? I'm not sure, given the rose-colored portrait of Bush; on the other hand, Hughes gives no other reason to not believe her. ( )

An interesting look at the early years of the Bush Admin. Too bad she left so quickly, but I guess I would burn out too ( )

Actually, I live just five minutes from Normal -- the one the author refers to in the title.

I enjoyed this book and learned a bit of what life is like when one is a consultant to the President of the United States. Ms Hughes is a remarkable woman who had a unique opportunity to serve as an aide to one who is now becoming one of the least popular of all US Presidents, George W. Bush.

Regardless of one's politics, I believe the book has value, especially those interested in learning how Presidents make decisions and manage communications to the public. Many will find the book inspirational as well.

The book is indexed. ( )