Character Matters: And Other Life Lessons from George H. W. Bush

by Jean Becker

Former Chief of Staff to President George H.W. Bush and New York Times  bestselling author of THE MAN I KNEW, Jean Becker shares touching and pivotal life lessons from a leader that left a mark on people's hearts and souls. 

As America heads into what promises to be a tumultuous 2024 presidential election year,  Character Matters  will be a good reminder of the importance of character when defining true leadership. Colleagues, friends, and family will share their often very personal stories of what they learned from watching and listening to President Bush, including former United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice ; Secretary of State James A. Baker ;   stand-up comedian Dana Carvey ; "Queen of Country" star Reba McEntire ; American columnist for The New York Times Maureen Dowd ; American novelist Brad Meltzer ; presidential biographer Jon Meacham ; former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom John Major ; former Prime Minister of Canada Brian Mulroney ; Secretary of Defense Robert Gates ; the Oak Ridge Boys and best-selling author Christopher Buckley ; and of course his grandchildren.  Character Matters will illustrate how George Bush never stopped showing us the way to lead by example. 

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Politics, Leadership, History

368 pages, Hardcover

Published April 16, 2024

Reviews

[McKinley Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

A timely and pertinent reminder that character traits such as decency, humility, grace, and courage in our political leaders still matter, especially in an era when they are too often absent and even belittled.

I’d give this collection 5 stars but for some odd formatting choices that make me think the book could have used another pass from an editor.

[Molly Brannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely. It’s always so refreshing to read about the true character of such prominent figures in our history.. especially loved the excerpt written by my dad and the story shared about my grandfather and his incredible interaction with 41 after his presidency… a story of true humility and gratitude for one another as they both fought for freedom from Soviet rule.

Not a political book by any means, but more of a deep dive into a man I hope we all aspire to be like.

[mark mendoza · Rating 1 out of 5]

Even the hagiography cannot hide what a moron Bush was.

[Amy Bell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Character Matters by Jean Becker is a beautiful tribute to the life, legacy and Presidency of President George H.W. Bush. Jean is able to weave a powerful narrative of his life by pulling together letters and comments from the people he touched all throughout his political career. The main theme of his life was service and humility. I did tear up in a few places because of his tender responses to situations. If you don’t know much about the man that was George H.W. Bush then I recommend this book as a pretty good introduction to his legacy and character.
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book for my honest opinion.

[Sue Fernandez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read other books that are a tribute to US President George Bush, but this one is different. This focus is on leadership, which is something we should all be thinking about now.
I love reading the anecdotes, stories and more.
Reading and paying attention is more important than ever. It's also a good book that will help the reader understand the same in themselves.

Thank you to Twelve Books and Net Galley for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

#GeorgeBush #Character #Leadership

[Ashley McNeese · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a GHWB superfan, I loved every minute of this, but I also found it really hard to get through in the year of our Lord 2025 (*weeps in current events*). More George Bushes, please.

[Jfp · Rating 1 out of 5]

I admired GHW Bush, but 300 pages of platitudes is not an interesting read.

[Bethany Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's an amazing book about the life of #41. It is told from the perspective of many different people who knew him. My favorite stories were about how he wrote back to every kid who sent him a flat Stanley. Some of the stories of what Stanley did were hilarious. I also loved the telling of his jump partner when he went sky diving 80, 85, and 90.

[Adam Eversole · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great message, boring book. Read Jean’s book from 2021 - 5/5.

[Clint · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compiled by George H.W. Bush’s post-presidency chief of staff, this book contains reminiscences by 154 people of the character of the 41st president, and last (to date) to have the type of character an American president — and all of us — should have. The legion of kindnesses he exhibited in public and private have never been known to the wider public, but this offers a glimpse of what has been missing in more recent presidents.

[Suzanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This wonderful book! It will make you laugh and cry...and sooo wish for a return to this type of service to country, humility, quiet intelligence, kindness and integrity.

[RxReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Character Matters is a touching and insightful exploration of the life lessons exemplified by President George H. W. Bush. Jean Becker, his former Chief of Staff, curates a rich collection of personal anecdotes from an impressive array of contributors, including global leaders, family, friends, and even entertainers like Dana Carvey.

The stories highlight Bush’s humility, kindness, and unwavering commitment to leading by example. From his dedication to family to his diplomatic finesse, the book paints a portrait of a leader whose character transcended politics. The contributions from figures like Condoleezza Rice and Jon Meacham provide thoughtful reflections on the value of integrity in leadership—a timely reminder as we navigate today’s political landscape.

While the book's tone is celebratory, some readers may find it leans toward hero worship rather than balanced critique. However, the warmth and admiration woven through each story make it a compelling read for those seeking inspiration from authentic leadership.

Perfect for history buffs, aspiring leaders, and anyone looking for reminders of the impact of true character, Character Matters is a powerful homage to a president who lived by his values.

[Kim]

Anyone who knows ANYTHING about the Iran-Contra affair knows that George H. W. Bush and the virtue of “character” don’t belong in the same hemisphere. Good grief.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insights into the man…

Subjective, anecdotal and very personal. That is the feeling I walk away from after reading this book. A variety of people – from the lowly ‘summer lads’ to the higher echelons of White House staff, to the family that surrounded him – were asked to share their thoughts, stories and feelings about a number of topics relating to GHWB. Loyalty, leadership, family. What did the 41st US president really feel about these things? How did he live them as a father, grandfather, husband as well as a leader of a vast nation?

An easy read, each snippet provided personal, and professional, insight into GHWB’s life. It was hard to separate the two as political colleagues would often become friends and shared both the world stage as well as the behind the moments. They painted a picture of someone who felt deeply about his work, his family and his word. Uber-positive, for sure, these were people who respected, if not loved, him. Even those who wrangled with him, had nothing but good things to say here.

I understand these stories may often be at odds with the actions and words of who he was as a political figure. Repeatedly, those who shared talked about his wisdom, his caring and his commitment to his wife and his family. What I appreciated about this book was that very personal glimpse into the man himself, and the (often lasting) impression he made on others.

A thought-provoking read, it has challenged me to learn more - to bridge the gap between these decidedly positive views of George Herbert Walker Bush with other, equally steadfast, negative ones.

*I happily reviewed this story
**Thank you to Twelve Books and NetGalley

[Andrea Engle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This collection of reminiscences about the character and virtues of George H. W. Bush comes from people around the world and across the economic spectrum … curated by the late president’s chief of staff for his post-presidency years, Jean Becker, and a companion volume to her biography of those years, “The Man I Knew” … poignant …
by Jean Becker (no photo)

[Gunnar Berg · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think GHWB is misunderstood in today’s politics. In today’s political world, confrontation and division lead headlines. Back then, he was a much more skilled long term negotiator. This books shows that he would much rather bring unity to the country than just “wins” for his legacy. He was a good man. This book highlighted how even the smallest of gestures/actions can lead to extraordinary changes for the better. President Bush seemed like somebody that used every opportunity to lift other up. He was a good man and this is a book worth reading to get a better sense of who he was as President and almost more importantly, who he was outside of the presidency…. I’m talking to you Conner…. You must find, and read, this bad boy! I implore you!

[Fredr · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book reminds me of how a real leader put the country first and not what was expedient for his career.
Quotes:
A part of his inauguration address:
“Let us negotiate soon and hard. But in the end let us produce. The American people await action. They didn’t send us here to bicker. They ask us to rise above the merely partisan. In crucial things “unity” -and this my friends is crucial.
Portion of remarks from Arab American Cultural and Community center in Houston in November 2002:
“My appeal is for tolerance and understanding, for avoiding polarizing rhetoric, for working as best we can for your goals of ‘peace and justice.’”
So uplifting and yet heartbreaking for where our country is now.

[Ann Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not a political book but a personal book about what kind of man H. W. was, his character, and the values that guided him. From his dedication to service to the way he handled challenges with grace, every page is a lesson in leadership, integrity, and how we should genuinely treat others.

If you are looking for a leadership book, this is it. It’s not just a good read; it’s a roadmap for living a life of purpose and leading with character.

We could all take a page from George H.W. Bush's life and strive to be leaders who want to make a difference in what we say and do to those we meet and work with every day.

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author served as the Chief of Staff to President Bush. She shares many lessons one could draw from thee life and service of the President. She makes a point to emphasize in this year when we have a closely contested race for the Presidency she shares personal stories from people who knew the former President. While there were things I didn’t agree with Bush (when he was President) I have admired the ways he was able to work with President Clinton and other Presidents. He never stopped leading by example. It’s clear his family meant a great deal to him, and I do admire him for that.

[Susan Wesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book about an extraordinary man. Character does indeed matter. Reading this book is almost painful in light of the political leaders we are subject to today. I think every student should have to read this book so they can see the potential for what could be. They will likely never read of a contemporary leader that compares.

[Tim LeBlanc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great stories and insights. Not 5 stars given the structure of the narrative which is clunky at times given lack of chronological order.

Some really cool nuggets around his military plan crash, his handwritten letters, points of light, humility and desire to work with everyone.

“Mr. Rogers trying to be John Wayne”

[Susan Asimakis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! So good and I highly recommend. The personal stories from so many remarkable people was the perfect way to showcase how President Bush embodied character and thoughtfully cared about each person he encountered. Really makes you think about how to live your life better.

[Leon Atterberry · Rating 5 out of 5]

As with the other biography of Bush 41…I really enjoyed this book. It’s another great example of the importance of being a good person and treating people right.

The title says it all…”Character Matters”.

We can all learn from his life.

[Pete Williamson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delightful book about one of the last Presidents who seemed to understand that what the job required was character, humor, and a passion to serve others. Here's hoping we find some way to value those things again.

[Becky Edwards · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an awesome book. Regardless of whether you grew with his politics, George HW Bush was a remarkable man and leader. I loved the stories of his caring acts and selfless service. Character truly mattered to him. So sad that most of our leaders today do not demonstrate this in any way.

[Aidan R. McNabb · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting look at one of the most forgotten presidents of the modern age. Those who knew President Bush the best dive deep into the man he was outside of political office, and the lessons they learned from him. Giving an insightful look at one of our more storied presidents

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full review to come. But at this point, let’s just say my wife has declared (not just to me but to the author in person) that we are giving this book to everyone on our Christmas list. The author graciously offered to provide bookplates personalized to each recipient.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

To Jean Becker, #41 and to all who contributed, thank you for this book.

[Jace Stansbury · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I've read, especially having read it during the tumultuous times we are in right now. A much needed message.

[Courtney McClellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deserves 41 stars