The Perfect Wife: The Life and Choices of Laura Bush

by Ann Gerhart

An intimate portrait of Laura Bush draws on unparalleled access to the First Lady to reveal the complex woman behind the image, discussing her youth in a segreated and traditional West Texas town, the tragedy that changed her life, her courtship and marriage to George W. Bush, and her diverse roles as wife, mother, and public figure. 150,000 first printing.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, Politics, Biography Memoir

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Emily · Rating 2 out of 5]

Most of you know that I adore American Wife and it made me want to read more about Laura Bush. Mind you, my political views are the exact opposite of her husband. American Wife had given me hope that even though Laura is married to a man I despise that she may have some good and fun in her. While, I do think she does think a lot more liberally than her husband, this book made me mad at her and her "choices" she has made in her life.

Ann Gerhart was assigned to cover the first lady by The Washington Post and the information she shares is from various interviews with Laura, her friends/family/acquaintances/employees and from observing and research. The book is broken into different sections but the timeline jumps around a lot and that really bothered me. I understood the reasoning to break up the different parts of her life into different sections but the repeating of facts and quotes really irked me. I only need to read it once!


I really found the sections about her life as a young adult working as a teacher and getting a grad degree as well as the section on the Bush twins. Ms. Gerhart was NOT kind to the Bush twins. They were portrayed as bratty, spoiled and immature. She really railed into them and I also think she was a bit perturbed at Laura's lack of a public action on their wildness.


It was interesting to learn a little more about her, and some truth as opposed to the fiction in American Wife, but I really think I would have been happy not reading the book.

It irritates me that someone who hints at being progressive or a teacher or a WOMAN could portray yourself the way she does in public. The demurring to her husband or "whatever he thinks/says" just doesn't fly with me. I also honestly do not know how you can be married to someone if you differ so much on issues, so frankly I don't know how she stands on things but I cannot accept that as an educator she could have rallied behind No Child Left Behind. One of the worst bills ever. Seriously. I guess I just get so angry at that type of a woman and that made the book a little sour to me.

[Pam · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author presents a variety of sources and very seamlessly pieces together a biography of former First Lady Laura Bush. I enjoyed learning about her life, especially how she built and maintained her seemingly perfect image as a wife and public figure. It’s really in the last chapter that some of her flaws or shortcomings begin to show, adding a layer of honesty and complexity that made the book even more engaging.

[Cara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Got curious about the real Laura Bush after reading American Wife but this book isn't doing much to fill in the gaps. It's well written and a breezy read, but most of it has consisted of repeated exclamations about what a private person Laura Bush is, how little anyone from the outside knows about her, and how much being in the limelight sucks for someone like that. That doesn't leave room for much substance in this book, although the chapter on the twins is pretty scathing. I'm about to get to 9/11, which I expect will be gushy, emotional, and overly fawning on Mrs. Bush. I'll probably read it anyway, just because I'm so close to the end. Meh. So far, the writing is good, but the book is pretty pointless.

...

As expected, the end of the book was kind of infuriating--Laura Bush retreats from even the few, stereotypically "woman's work" issues she was willing to stand up for in the first place and reduces herself to hypocritically encouraging parents to pick up the slack between the cost of a bogus federal education mandate and the resources available to make it work. Let's all make cupcakes! That will fix everything! I wanted to slap her. Also, when she was planning another literary summit as the war was ramping up and found out some of the poets were going to read anti-war poetry at the event, she canceled the whole thing! Wow! I think that's the most pro-censorship, anti-free-speech move I've ever heard of by a librarian, not to mention the childish taking her toys and going home attitude. Pathetic.

I will probably still read her autobiography when the library gets it for me, but that will probably make me even madder. Maybe I'll just skim it. This book really didn't answer any of my questions about the real Laura Bush, just presented a timeline of well-known events. At this point, I have a pretty strong suspicion the autobiography won't be any better, but I hope I'm wrong. I guess I really want there to be some redeeming factor or explanation for her complicity in the mess. Not that I think she could have, or even should have, shoved W aside, taken the reins of the country, and stopped the war--he is the one who was elected, after all. But backing away from any stance at all on even her few pet issues and letting everything go down the toilet without even saying anything? That seems wrong. I would like to understand her perspective; I hope she has one.

[Hank Stuever · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent example of how to report, deeply, an entire nonfiction book about a subject who will not deign to give you even an hour to answer basic questions or clear up misconceptions. Most authors would flail about. This book shows us how to get at the facts anyhow, and then determine a truth. And disclosure: It's written by one my dearest friends. But nevertheless! (And I agree -- it's essential reading for anyone who liked Curtis Sittenfeld's novel, "American Wife.")

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written and a surprisingly interesting read for this Centrist gal.

[Maria N · Rating 4 out of 5]

From seeing the title of this book my grandmother had, I sure hoped it was satirical. Come to find out, it sure was one that did not allude to a traditional 1950s wife- checkpoint passed!
A few thoughts though... the lady seems pleasantly proper and eager to please those around her. It's clear to see by the author's storytelling that Laura is admirable and yet holds onto her opinions and private life like treasures. In an age where most in the public eye feel the need to share most of their thoughts and daily lives on screens, it felt like drinking a crisp glass of water on a 109 degree day reading about someone in the opposite direction. We should all infuse a bit of her essence into ourselves for mental health's sake.
Toward the beginning of the book I found a tidbit that I wanted to expand upon. The author goes to say, "People who look uncomplicated may instead be preternaturally disciplined, or disinclined to reveal their complications in public." The truth this holds is rather interesting because why do we feel the need to hide the complications we face? Or is it something not under our conscious control? I find I often present a more calm demeanor when in reality I get stressed easily by the smallest inconveniences a lot. I feel like I do it under the pretense of "I got it, Don't worry about me when there are thousands of other things to worry about!!" Holding back one's emotions and everything that makes us us seems tiring on it's own, I couldn't imagine how she did that when in the spotlighted position she was in. Then again, it seemed to be her disposition. I don't think it was an act or that difficult of a thing to do for her, she didn't say otherwise. The woman fiercely loved books and showed that time and time again so in a way she was sharing that large part of herself with the public.
In the book, the author discusses the small town of Midland that Laura is from and how in that time segregation still remained, straining and limiting contacts between the races. The racism was blatant and interactions between black people and white people were few and far between. Laura however never held racist beliefs and instead devoted ample time teaching kids of races other than her own and intensely loved and enjoyed doing so. A central theme can be found in the book, she gravitated towards kids and showed them education has the power to take a person to places beyond limits. It's beautiful to read her accounts of teaching children, you can tell she prioritized them. After all, she had shown an inclination toward becoming a teacher even from second grade. She had a passion for it from the start.
Furthermore, touching on the role she played as First Lady, she was determined to stay the same Laura as before her transition to the White House. She was in the most public arena and yet remained her reserved genuine self, not allowing the spotlight or political figures surrounding her to change her essence. She didn't even outwardly express any contradictory beliefs that weren't necessarily in line with her husband's policies and motives. If she disagreed on a topic with the president, you were not going to know about it, which is sassy when you think about it and admittedly selective. She kept the public from intruding on her marriage and her core beliefs, it wasn't for prying eyes or opportunists. She wasn't the president, why do you need to know where she stands on all key issues? "And that's just how she is. She is only revealed over time, and with some thought on your part." She's not an open book but what she enjoys most is open books! It's beautifully ironic. (I feel like I'm writing an essay at this point, I regrettably took notes and needed to share em.) When feeling constricted in the role of first lady or the life that came with that title, she created little spaces of freedom. Places where she could reflect and simply be. She emphasizes the importance of authenticity through her actions and these spaces allow her to flourish. Laura seems to be a fascinating, strikingly attentive, quietly confident woman who does not flail through tough times, or if she does she doesn't show it. She guards her emotions and a lot of herself from those not included in her inner circles so its a privilege to get to know her personally, which must be a profound experience. She seems steadying, meditative, grounding and a pleasure to be around.
Concluding this lengthy review is my final thought that through and through, Laura believed education and learning experiences could provide solutions to problems nationally, globally and personally. This is a wisdom that deserves to be shared and that's why I felt moved to expand upon this idea. Education, we see it now, is undervalued and our teachers don't get paid enough. (Which, is it because it's a dominantly female career choice or something else... besides the point...) We need to give more attention to the education field and uplift students for excelling in academics and giving them time and spaces to feel inspired to learn, that's where it all begins. We all have creative, curious minds tuned to thinking up new ideas, let's put them to use.

[Diane Carter · Rating 1 out of 5]

I did not finish this book. After 1 chapter I had enough of this biographers political opinions of George Bush and “ racist” Midland Texas. Calling George Bush. “ War Monger” and Laura would still be in Midland except for “ the outsized political aspirations of her husband” . This is supposed to be biography and not the authors opinionated take on what was happening at the time. I was totally disgusted and did not finish this work. I will instead read Laura Bushes own autobiography!

[Theresa · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting book about the first lady. The book starts with Laura growing up in Midland Texas and going through the Presidency of George Bush. This is a light biography and not full of the details that children would use for a school paper. I think the must surprising thing for me was learning that Laura Bush is a smoker.

[Suzanne Skelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Totally enjoyed this biography about Laura Bush. Written before her husband started his second term in office.

It gives wonderful insight to the calm and steady personality of Laura Bush from childhood into being First Lady of the U S. It gives wonderful insight to her relationships with her extended family, George, her children and the people of America.

[Nan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would like to read her personal autobio. This one was respectfully done.

[Chele Hipp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable and interesting. I feel like I have a good sense of who LB is.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read.

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

No ending really

[Caroline · Rating 2 out of 5]

**recommendation: get this book from your library, don't buy it!**

Ann Gerhart is a journalist who wrote a book about her "beat": Laura Welch Bush. An interesting lady, our Laura. She's an avid reader, a determined cheerleader (but never a lobbyist) for education reform, and she approaches homemaking as an art form, even in the White House. In other words, she's that nice girl we knew in college whose boyfriends we never really liked, but whose kindness and strong sense of self charmed us anyway.

Gerhart divides the book into sections that she thinks reflect highlights/turning points in Laura's life, and will therefore give us some sort of overall portrait of the first lady who hates to be called "first lady." (She prefers Mrs. Bush, if you please.) We see her adolescence in West Texas, complete with a teenage tragedy, her time spent in college and then teaching and librarian-ing in Austin and Houston, her courtship with Georgie, and then the political career. Throughout the book, Gerhart relies mainly on L. Bush's own words and oral interviews with her friends to reconstruct the woman's life and innermost thoughts.

I have to say, the book derails a bit when it gets to a chapter entitled "The Twins." Rather than discuss Laura's home life with the children, or her history as a mother (which would have interested me), she falls back on analyzing the behavior of the twins as seen through news reports of their wild adolescent and college behavior. I was not a huge fan of overprivileged sorority girls when I was in college, but it still seemed like a cheap shot to me. Who cares if the Bush twins are wild? And isn't this book about their mom, anyway?

Overall, the writing isn't that good, the research isn't that thorough (sorry, Ann, but it isn't), and it was dated before it hit the shelves. It was published during Bush's reelection year - 2004 - and therefore doesn't have much to say about the rise of legions of anti-Bush critics, or his administration's thumpin' in 2006. Laura Bush fascinates me, which is why I picked up the book in the first place. And my biggest question about her coming in was: is she the same woman now that she was in 2000? Obviously, the book can't begin to answer that question. But if you're interested in the woman in the shadows, it's a good starting point. It sort of reminds me of the "biography" section of my elementary school library where young girls could check out books about Martha Washington or Jane Addams. The books would invariably contain anecdotes about these women saving the bread from burning when there was no more flour, or having the good sense to take fabric from their petticoats to bind an injury. This book is kind of the same thing; lots of anecdotes about model womanhood and wifehood. Yawn.

[Lindi · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Perfect Wife was fascinating, but ultimately insubstantial. It would have benefitted from a longer lens; for example had Ann Gerhart waited until the second term. Of course who could have foreseen that he would have a second term? But, would that have mattered? Publishing the book after he was out of office in order to have a more complete picture -- complete with interviews specific to the project?

In the end, I've come away from The Perfect Wife and American Wife, by Curtis Sittenfield, with more empathy for Laura Bush than I had during her husband's presidency. I did not watch the coverage of September 11th, so her leadership role there came as a surprise to me and I completely agreed with her message to parents. (I listened as a friend related telling her small child that no, she would not turn off the news: "Mommy really needs to see this important program," and cringed.) It really does seem to me that Mrs. Bush tried to follow her own path, but that in a few moments, specifically education reform, she missed a turn. I still wonder what she regrets.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm completely fascinated by this book and this woman. After reading American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld, which is based on Laura Bush's life, I wanted to find out as much as I could about the real person. I didn't know anything about her before American Wife and after reading, I was intrigued to know that she is/was liberal, smart, articulate, funny, and most importantly, a democrat.

This book, a biography of Laura Bush written by a Texas journalist assigned to her from the Bush governship to the presidency, helps uncover her and figure out who she is and why she would a) marry George Bush and b) not doing anything to stop him from starting two wars and completely embarrassing the US on the world stage.

Like I say, it's fascinating, although a little embarrassing to carry around in Portland.

[Lynette · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book, which I did immediately following American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld. I wanted to make a comparison of the two and find out what was real and what merely fiction or conjecture in the Sittenfeld title. Reading the truth in no way diminished the novel, and the biography covered quite a bit more and gives one a clearer picture of who our former first lady really is, leaving still lots of mystery about this very modest and private person. I was most impressed with her depth of love for literature and regret that Laura was not allowed to further the cause of reading more than she did, due to politics when she tried to host the national poetry festival. Reading about the twins was interesting and suggests Laura's only fault, as far as the public can discern -- that of over-indulging her daughters. This was a very interesting and enlightening read.

[Marcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to read this one because Curtis Sittenfeld used it extensively for her research in American Wife. This was not an authorized biography. The portrayal of the daughters in this book is very unflattering, as is the parenting, otherwise there isn't much new here.
I guess the thing I keep coming back to is that Laura Bush was so passionate about literacy and education, it really matters to her and she defines herself as a reader, yet the silence and deferment to her husband when she could have been a real national voice on the issue is too bad.
I still like her, I think she is a complex person and that she has remained private. She made her choice in life and she has honored it. I can't wait to read her autobiography.

[Catyche · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had decided to read this biography as a prelude to Curtis Sittenfeld's novel "American Wife" which fictionalizes Laura Bush's life. Gerhart's book really tries to delve into the life of a woman who purposely keeps herself at a distance from any scrutiny. Informative and interesting, it attempts to give insight into the psyche and actions of the first lady to one of the most controversial presidents ever to lead the U.S. I especially loved the parts detailing her life as a reader-I never thought I'd have anything in common with Laura Bush. Her reading tastes really endeared me to her and Mrs. Bush unwittingly provided me with a few great recommendations for reading material.

[Kricket · Rating 3 out of 5]

i was inspired to read this by curtis sittenfeld's book "american wife."
it was okay. i don't envy ann gerhart the task of writing a book about a woman who was then married to the president of the united states, who was very modest and valued her privacy. the result is, there just isn't a whole lot to sink your teeth into. laura bush is a wonderful woman who has done many great things. and probably reading this has made me more generous in my thoughts of her husband. (i will say no more.)

anyways, i skimmed a lot of this. my favorite chapter is the one that describes how bratty and obnoxious the bush twins were after their father became president. now there's some juice!

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

After reading " American Wife", I had to read this book of Laura Bush. I was never a George Bush fan but after watching "W" and reading about Laura Bush, I feel a little differently about him. As a president, terrible- but as a husband and father, not bad.
He is lucky to have such a devoted wife and she is lucky to have a husband who accept her for who she is.

[Athena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Found it to be pretty close to Sittenfield's fictional version, American Wife, minus some of the melodrama. It shed insight on Laura's political roots and moral beliefs that is not so evident in the public eye. The novel left me with a more positive perspective of Laura Bush, as a mother, humanitarian, politician, intelect, and wife.

[Margo Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

Can I mark it as "read" if I got bored and stopped reading? Probably not... but I don't want it on my "currently reading" list anymore. It's not a bad book... it's a BIOGRAPHY. And, I haven't been a fan of those since... well... EVER!

I gave it a try out of curiousity, but this book bored me silly.

[Jess · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting subject material, but I can't help think this book would have been much much better had Ann Gerhart sat on the material and waited a little longer. It feels a bit repetitive and unorganized. The book grazes on the topic of what the First Lady's role in American life/history has been--and the book is begging for a deeper exploration of this topic.

[sendann · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is not 1 star for the work of the author, which is excellent. It's 1 star for Laura Bush. I was sympathetic, but when pushed to remember what Shrub was like, and how much he set us back and hurt people, my sympathy is gone. I am not supportive of Laura Bush, as much a helmet headed republican wife as anyone.

[Judith Kerr · Rating 2 out of 5]

Glad I finished this book to contrast Laura Bush`s own book. The author was assigned to cover Laura`s time in the White House by the Washington Post. Her many nasty and acerbic comments were unfair, but typical of media coverage of any Republican. The exploits of the daughters are undoubtably true, but unnecessary to her project.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was really interested in learning more about Laura Bush. I felt like I did get to know her better, and like her even more, although the author seemed to repeat herself too often. I'm a fan of West Texas women...and Laura Bush is very easy to admire. I'd recommend the book.

[Tracy Miller · Rating 2 out of 5]

After reading Curtis Sittenfeld's book "The American Wife" I got curious about Laura Bush.

UPDATE: I really don't think I learned much, other than Laura Bush is really hard to get to know. And that her children aren't well-mannered. And the book is dated - I wonder what she would change now?

[Erica · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars. After reading American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld I decided to pick up the book that inspired American Wife. It was a very interesting portrait of the real Laura Bush. I felt that Curtis Sittenfeld's Alice was a stronger woman than Gerhart portrays in The Perfect Wife.

[Marcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did read the first half of the book. I enjoyed reading about Laura's youth, college years, short career as a librarian, whirlwind courtship with George, their wedding, and the beginning of George's political career.