A Man of Faith: The Spiritual Journey of George W. Bush

by David Aikman

Overview

More than any other world leader in recent times, George W. Bush is a man of faith...a conservative Christian who has brought the power of prayer and the search for God's will into the Oval Office. His faith has proven to be a bedrock of strength and resolve during two of the most tumultuous years in our nation's history. According to Newsweek magazine, "This presidency is the most resolutely faith based in modern times. An enterprise founded, supported and guided by trust in the temporal and spiritual power of God." David Aikman, skilled journalist and former senior correspondent for TIME magazine, pens this dramatic and gripping account of Bush's journey to faith. Based on interviews and behind-the-scenes stories, you'll learn how...

• His life changed after a conversation with Billy Graham on the beach at Kennebunkport
• He walked away from alcoholism toward a new destiny
• The events following 9/11 caused many to view him as God's chosen man for this critical time in history
• His decision to go to war with Iraq became the ultimate test of his faith

A Man of Faith...an intimate look at how Bush's spiritual life has impacted his presidency, the nation, and the world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780849908705
Publisher:	Nelson, Thomas, Inc.
Publication date:	10/02/2005
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	272
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.60(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

David Aikman is former Senior Correspondent for TIME magazine. He has written numerous TIME cover stories, including three "Man of the Year" profiles. Aikman has also written for the Weekly Standard and Christianity Today. He is the author of Great Souls, When the Almond Tree Blossoms, Jesus in Beijing, and the bestseller A Man of Faith: The Spiritual Journey of George W. Bush.

Table of Contents

	Acknowledgments	ix
1	A Political Bombshell	1
2	Basic Training	15
3	The Long Shadow	39
4	Coming to the Crossroads	65
5	From a Shrub to a Bush	85
6	Preacher, Politician, and President	111
7	A New Conscience and Civility	135
8	A Nation Deeply Wounded	155
9	Faith: Our Heritage, Our Hope	175
	A Sermon Given	203
	Photograph Credits	217
	Endnotes	219
	Index	229

Editorial Reviews

In time for election fever is this favorable look at how George W. Bush's faith has influenced his life and politics. Aikman, a former senior correspondent for Time magazine and the author of several books, including Great Souls, opens with Bush's startling 1999 declaration that the philosopher he most identified with was "Christ-because he changed my heart." A seasoned journalist, Aikman proceeds to methodically unpack Bush's spiritual journey, documenting important touchstones along the way, much as Stephen Mansfield did in his book, The Faith of George W. Bush, but without Mansfield's colorful detail. Aikman offers some Bush family history, examines his wayward years and details Bush's transformation from churchgoer to a Christian who internalized his faith. The tone is solidly pro-Bush, with quick jabs at the likes of Maureen Dowd and generous flattery for the Texan. Some information offered for context borders on filler, including almost three pages of Methodist church history (related to the Bushes' affiliation with that denomination in 1989-1995) and the text of a sermon Bush preached in 1999. And, although he spends time summarizing Bush's positions on everything from Israel to 9/11, Aikman fails to address Bush's controversial environmental policies, something Mansfield also neglected. Still, in an election year when voters want to see if Bush's spiritual rhetoric is more than just surface chatter, there's plenty of evidence here that the man is sincere in his faith. (Apr. 15) Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Publishers Weekly

In this spiritual biography of the President, Aikman (Great Souls; When the Almond Tree Blossoms), a former senior correspondent for Time, stresses the important role Bush's strong faith has played in his life and the impact it has had on voters' perceptions. Aikman was given exclusive access to members of Bush's inner circle, such as Carl Rove and Karen Hughes. While the resulting work is not a whitewash, it doesn't disguise the author's enthusiasm for both Bush's presidency and his religious views (Aikman himself is an evangelical Christian). Consequently, he sees nothing improper in the manner in which Bush was admitted to Yale, the Air Force National Guard, or the Harvard Business School. And he doesn't even mention Bush's widely debated reassignment to Dannelly Field, AL. On the other hand, Aikman does provide extensive coverage of the President's drinking problem and the general aimlessness of his early years. Written with the competence one would expect from an experienced senior Time editor, this book should reassure evangelical readers and may cause dismay among secular ones.-Richard S. Watts, San Bernardino Cty. Lib., CA Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

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