cover image Heartbeat: George Bush in His Own Words

Heartbeat: George Bush in His Own Words

George H. W. Bush. Simon & Schuster, $24 (224pp) ISBN 978-0-7432-2479-6

A compilation of excerpts from George H.W. Bush's speeches, interviews and statements, Heartbeat: George Bush in His Own Words is not, writes editor Jim McGrath, ""a political book,"" but rather an attempt to show the private man through his public words. The excerpts are short, ranging from a few paragraphs down to an aphoristic two lines. There are plenty of thoughtful moments, such as Bush's reflection on Martin Luther King Jr. (""His life was a metaphor for courage""), but overall, the balance seems to swing toward the humorous (""I'm President of the United States, and I'm not going to eat any more broccoli""). (Nov. 27)