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One Damn Thing After Another: Memoirs of an Attorney General
The former attorney general provides a candid account of his historic tenures serving two vastly different presidents, George H.W. Bush and Donald J. Trump.
William Barr’s first tenure as attorney general under President George H.W. Bush was largely the result of chance, while his second tenure under President Donald Trump a deliberate and difficult choice. In this candid memoir, Barr takes readers behind the scenes during seminal moments of the 1990s, from the LA riots to Pan Am 103 and Iran Contra. Thirty years later, Barr faced an unrelenting barrage of issues, such as Russiagate, the COVID outbreak, civil unrest, the impeachments, and the 2020 election fallout. One Damn Thing After Another is vivid, forthright, and essential not only to understanding the Bush and Trump legacies, but also how both men viewed power and justice at critical junctures of their presidencies.
William Barr’s first tenure as attorney general under President George H.W. Bush was largely the result of chance, while his second tenure under President Donald Trump a deliberate and difficult choice. In this candid memoir, Barr takes readers behind the scenes during seminal moments of the 1990s, from the LA riots to Pan Am 103 and Iran Contra. Thirty years later, Barr faced an unrelenting barrage of issues, such as Russiagate, the COVID outbreak, civil unrest, the impeachments, and the 2020 election fallout. One Damn Thing After Another is vivid, forthright, and essential not only to understanding the Bush and Trump legacies, but also how both men viewed power and justice at critical junctures of their presidencies.
608 pages, Hardcover
First published March 8, 2022
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1123 people want to read
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April 27, 2024
UPDATE: And just when I was starting to think I'd maybe been a little harsh on this guy, he announces today that despite all the negative things he's said about Trump over the past three years (including calling him a "brazen criminal") - this $%@#! comes out today and announces that, yup, he's still going to vote for Trump in November. The former two-time Attorney General, whose job it is to uphold the Constitution, is going to vote for someone that he has repeatedly admitted has no dedication to the rule of law. There. Are. No. Words.
ORIGINAL REVIEW: Okay…so "read parts of" as in "skimmed it over a cup of coffee at Barnes & Noble*," but that was already more than this piece of self-serving dreck deserves. At least Hitler's inner circle had the decency to hide in Argentina or even shoot themselves when they finally realized the jig was up, rather than submit the world to convoluted, fact-free 600-page** attempts to claim that somehow they were the voice of reason in the bunker.
I'm starting to believe that politicians of a certain age really don't understand today's digital world - do they really not know that all their former statements, interviews, press conferences and tweets are STILL OUT THERE, like forever, and so are easily discoverable by anyone with a laptop and an internet connection?
Sadly, the damage done by people like Barr - and Michael Flynn, Tucker Carlson, the My Pillow Guy, Marjorie Greene, ad infinitum - isn't limited just to domestic politics here at home, as damaging as that already is. As Dana Milbank says in his excellent Washington Post book review:
* Sorry, me again. Just wanted to clarify, as this has been called out in a comment chain on someone else's review of this book. I didn't just skim the book. Sure, I did skip the initial "blah-blah-blah" on Barr's childhood and early career to get to his time with Trump - the only part anyone really cares about - and then spent a couple hours reading several full chapters and pieces of others, which I believe was enough to get a taste of where the rest of this was going, (i.e., a self-serving attempt to clear his name after serving two years as Donald Trump's wingman, personal legal advisor, and Enabler-in-Chief.)
** I mean, seriously? What kind of narcissist (or sweat-soaked villian suddenly concerned about his place in history) in ANY field thinks that ANYONE give a 600-page fuck about his or her life story? Talk about "methinking the lady doth protest too much"...
ORIGINAL REVIEW: Okay…so "read parts of" as in "skimmed it over a cup of coffee at Barnes & Noble*," but that was already more than this piece of self-serving dreck deserves. At least Hitler's inner circle had the decency to hide in Argentina or even shoot themselves when they finally realized the jig was up, rather than submit the world to convoluted, fact-free 600-page** attempts to claim that somehow they were the voice of reason in the bunker.
I'm starting to believe that politicians of a certain age really don't understand today's digital world - do they really not know that all their former statements, interviews, press conferences and tweets are STILL OUT THERE, like forever, and so are easily discoverable by anyone with a laptop and an internet connection?
Sadly, the damage done by people like Barr - and Michael Flynn, Tucker Carlson, the My Pillow Guy, Marjorie Greene, ad infinitum - isn't limited just to domestic politics here at home, as damaging as that already is. As Dana Milbank says in his excellent Washington Post book review:
"If you can convince the public that free and fair elections are illegitimate, it's not much of a leap to convince the public that a democratic neighbor…" (i.e., Ukraine) "…is a Nazi regime. Mass deception is the tool of the autocrat. And Bill Barr gave it his blessing."(You can read the whole review here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinio...)
* Sorry, me again. Just wanted to clarify, as this has been called out in a comment chain on someone else's review of this book. I didn't just skim the book. Sure, I did skip the initial "blah-blah-blah" on Barr's childhood and early career to get to his time with Trump - the only part anyone really cares about - and then spent a couple hours reading several full chapters and pieces of others, which I believe was enough to get a taste of where the rest of this was going, (i.e., a self-serving attempt to clear his name after serving two years as Donald Trump's wingman, personal legal advisor, and Enabler-in-Chief.)
** I mean, seriously? What kind of narcissist (or sweat-soaked villian suddenly concerned about his place in history) in ANY field thinks that ANYONE give a 600-page fuck about his or her life story? Talk about "methinking the lady doth protest too much"...
March 14, 2022
Hate is a strong word. So let me be clear when I say: I HATE this man. And I hate his book, too.
Now, if you've ever read my reviews, you'll know that I'm a progressive who reads books by many conservative voices. And I've given very positive reviews to people like George Bush, Chris Christie, John Boehner, James Comey, and Trey Freakin' Gowdy. You better believe that I disagree with their politics, but I am objective enough to judge their literary efforts on their own merit.
But Bill Barr is a truly vile human being. Every word he wrote infuriated me to the very depths of my being. Everything he believes is antithetical to everything I believe. Church and state, Black Lives Matter, whether or not it was a "perfect call." And reading this book truly made me want to punch him. The fact that this poisonous creature was the highest law enforcement officer in the land--TWICE--is deeply disheartening.
None of that is the reason for a virtually unprecedented 1-star review. Politics aside, this is a terrible book. I don't think anyone is going to accuse him of hiring a ghost writer. The book is positively soporific! I mean, you can accuse Donald Trump of many things, but being boring is not one of them. Yet in the hands of Bill Barr, he's a snooze. It all is. At nearly 600 pages, this book is verbose and overlong. The writing is terrible, and it's all boring AF. Finishing it was torturous. Do not give this man your money and do not give him your attention.
Now, if you've ever read my reviews, you'll know that I'm a progressive who reads books by many conservative voices. And I've given very positive reviews to people like George Bush, Chris Christie, John Boehner, James Comey, and Trey Freakin' Gowdy. You better believe that I disagree with their politics, but I am objective enough to judge their literary efforts on their own merit.
But Bill Barr is a truly vile human being. Every word he wrote infuriated me to the very depths of my being. Everything he believes is antithetical to everything I believe. Church and state, Black Lives Matter, whether or not it was a "perfect call." And reading this book truly made me want to punch him. The fact that this poisonous creature was the highest law enforcement officer in the land--TWICE--is deeply disheartening.
None of that is the reason for a virtually unprecedented 1-star review. Politics aside, this is a terrible book. I don't think anyone is going to accuse him of hiring a ghost writer. The book is positively soporific! I mean, you can accuse Donald Trump of many things, but being boring is not one of them. Yet in the hands of Bill Barr, he's a snooze. It all is. At nearly 600 pages, this book is verbose and overlong. The writing is terrible, and it's all boring AF. Finishing it was torturous. Do not give this man your money and do not give him your attention.
March 8, 2022
Bill Barr gets his chance to set the record straight as he sees it, “One Damn Thing After Another”.
My pre-reading expectation was to not like this book and to like Barr even less. After reading the almost 600 pages, my opinion of Barr is changed, to some degree. Altho’ there’s a bunch of CYA explanations with respect to most thorny issues, (Russiagate, Comey, Impeachments, Epstein, Election Fraud…), he does come across as a patriot and one who served for the greater good of our country, not personal gain, which he didn’t need. Barr was happily and comfortably retired with his wife newly recovered from cancer and not happy at all with the tho’t of him re-entering public, political service.
The first third of the book is focused on Barr’s biography, family history, the stuff that prepared him to serve not once, but twice, (Bush & Trump), as Attorney General of the United States. Only one other man has done this and he’s the only one to do so in two different centuries. His additional work history is varied and prepared him well for this demanding position.
Barr is adamant in his political views which will not sit well with some readers. He’s a Republican but not opposed to bipartisanship. He is opposed to extremism, left, right or wherever it comes from. Barr is not shy sharing his feelings about those he believes are pushing our country into Marxism and spends a lot of pages providing supporting examples.
As this is classified a memoir, there are no notes; it’s Barr’s memories of events. There is an extremely detailed index that is NOT interactive in the Kindle version but it does have subcategories. The index on Donald Trump is multiple pages and can be enhanced by location, event or date and there are other well detailed entries.
There are 30 pictures included that you might miss in the Kindle edition. You need to flip to the “Photo Section” and click on the blue highlighted words. It takes a few seconds to access but my iPad Pro showed a small 2” x 3” photo, one per screen, some in color, some in sepia and others in black & white. They are a very interesting collection of Barr’s history in political service.
Seven plus months until the midterms are upon us. Life here in the USA is volatile while we watch the horrors being perpetrated by Putin upon the democracy of Ukraine. The stock market is tumbling; gas, oil, food and durable goods are rising too fast for most folks to manage and talk of recession is no longer an occasional whisper.
While this isn’t an hard hitting, investigative volume, Barr’s memoir is a chance for concerned citizens to have a view of what went right and what most definitely did not, prior to our next opportunity to have our voices heard📚
My pre-reading expectation was to not like this book and to like Barr even less. After reading the almost 600 pages, my opinion of Barr is changed, to some degree. Altho’ there’s a bunch of CYA explanations with respect to most thorny issues, (Russiagate, Comey, Impeachments, Epstein, Election Fraud…), he does come across as a patriot and one who served for the greater good of our country, not personal gain, which he didn’t need. Barr was happily and comfortably retired with his wife newly recovered from cancer and not happy at all with the tho’t of him re-entering public, political service.
The first third of the book is focused on Barr’s biography, family history, the stuff that prepared him to serve not once, but twice, (Bush & Trump), as Attorney General of the United States. Only one other man has done this and he’s the only one to do so in two different centuries. His additional work history is varied and prepared him well for this demanding position.
Barr is adamant in his political views which will not sit well with some readers. He’s a Republican but not opposed to bipartisanship. He is opposed to extremism, left, right or wherever it comes from. Barr is not shy sharing his feelings about those he believes are pushing our country into Marxism and spends a lot of pages providing supporting examples.
As this is classified a memoir, there are no notes; it’s Barr’s memories of events. There is an extremely detailed index that is NOT interactive in the Kindle version but it does have subcategories. The index on Donald Trump is multiple pages and can be enhanced by location, event or date and there are other well detailed entries.
There are 30 pictures included that you might miss in the Kindle edition. You need to flip to the “Photo Section” and click on the blue highlighted words. It takes a few seconds to access but my iPad Pro showed a small 2” x 3” photo, one per screen, some in color, some in sepia and others in black & white. They are a very interesting collection of Barr’s history in political service.
Seven plus months until the midterms are upon us. Life here in the USA is volatile while we watch the horrors being perpetrated by Putin upon the democracy of Ukraine. The stock market is tumbling; gas, oil, food and durable goods are rising too fast for most folks to manage and talk of recession is no longer an occasional whisper.
While this isn’t an hard hitting, investigative volume, Barr’s memoir is a chance for concerned citizens to have a view of what went right and what most definitely did not, prior to our next opportunity to have our voices heard📚
June 3, 2024
Despite its length and occasionally monotonous long-windedness, William P. Barr’s memoir “One Damn Thing After Another” was, for the most part, an engaging glimpse into the mind of a modern-day conservative, one that actually possesses a virtue that many of his Republican peers seem to currently lack: integrity.
It must be stated that I vehemently disagree with nearly everything Barr stands for, politically. He states frequently in the book that he supports and agrees with most of Trump’s policies, and he also frequently voices the same talking points that I have heard many Republican pundits espouse, ad nauseam. That said, I can’t always fault him for his logic in his arguments. Unlike some of his Republican peers, he actually has logic.
Barr approaches the issues with a level-headedness and actual thoughtfulness that his job as Attorney General requires.
I may not agree with his particular political stances, but I don’t dislike him for them either.
There used to be a time when Republicans and Democrats could vehemently disagree with one another but still shake hands afterwards and behave civilly. I am of the (perhaps old-school) belief that disagreement does not equal dislike. That belief isn’t very popular nowadays, sadly.
Barr is a remnant of that old-school party politics. At age 39, in 1989, Barr was picked to be Assistant Attorney General by then-president George H.W. Bush, perhaps one of the last old-school “gentleman” politicians. A year later, he became Deputy Attorney General. During his watch in that position, a prison riot at the Federal Correctional Institution in Talladega, Alabama broke out, resulting in prisoners holding nine people hostage. His coordination of the rescue effort—-utilizing the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team (HRT)—-resulted in no loss of life, garnering him high praise among Republicans and Democrats alike.
In 1991, he was chosen by Bush the Elder to be Attorney General. He held the post until 1993. By all accounts, on both sides of the aisle, Barr was well-liked as AG. Even then-Senator Joe Biden was impressed.
In all honesty, a large portion of the middle section of the book droned on endlessly for me, as Barr waxed rather blandly but straightforwardly about his childhood in New York; his life-long devotion to Catholicism; his love of bagpipe music; his early career post-college in the CIA; his part in the Iran-Contra affair; his hard-line approach to crime (he is for harsher laws, more prisons, and pro-death penalty); his work post-AG for the telecom company GTE, which later became Verizon Wireless and where he became a multimillionaire as Verizon’s executive Vice-President; his brief stint at Time Warner.
I confess to zoning out occasionally during his long-winded chapters in which he defended his views on abortion, religious freedom, military spending, and desire to build more prisons; largely because I didn’t agree with his views, but also because he wrote like a lawyer laying out a closing argument.
It wasn’t until the latter part of the book, where Barr writes about his second tenure as Attorney General under President Donald Trump, that the book picked up a little bit more steam.
While I had a hard time with his defense of Trump’s policies, it is clear that Barr did not necessarily like Trump as a person. That dislike gradually grew into stronger castigation during the last year of Trump’s presidency.
Trump’s mishandling of the global Covid-19 pandemic, his narcissistic obsession with campaigning for re-election, his ridiculous and disastrous performance during the presidential debates, his misguided beliefs of a stolen election and voter fraud perpetuated by his idiotic team of lawyers led by Rudy Giuliani, his out-of-control Twitter feed that helped to fuel January 6, and his petty dismissal and horrible treatment of Vice President Mike Pence all led Barr to the conclusion that any potential positive legacy that Trump could have left was ruined by his last few months in office.
Barr resigned as Attorney General on December 14, 2020.
I read this as an Audiobook on CD, read by Mark Deakins.
It must be stated that I vehemently disagree with nearly everything Barr stands for, politically. He states frequently in the book that he supports and agrees with most of Trump’s policies, and he also frequently voices the same talking points that I have heard many Republican pundits espouse, ad nauseam. That said, I can’t always fault him for his logic in his arguments. Unlike some of his Republican peers, he actually has logic.
Barr approaches the issues with a level-headedness and actual thoughtfulness that his job as Attorney General requires.
I may not agree with his particular political stances, but I don’t dislike him for them either.
There used to be a time when Republicans and Democrats could vehemently disagree with one another but still shake hands afterwards and behave civilly. I am of the (perhaps old-school) belief that disagreement does not equal dislike. That belief isn’t very popular nowadays, sadly.
Barr is a remnant of that old-school party politics. At age 39, in 1989, Barr was picked to be Assistant Attorney General by then-president George H.W. Bush, perhaps one of the last old-school “gentleman” politicians. A year later, he became Deputy Attorney General. During his watch in that position, a prison riot at the Federal Correctional Institution in Talladega, Alabama broke out, resulting in prisoners holding nine people hostage. His coordination of the rescue effort—-utilizing the FBI’s Hostage Rescue Team (HRT)—-resulted in no loss of life, garnering him high praise among Republicans and Democrats alike.
In 1991, he was chosen by Bush the Elder to be Attorney General. He held the post until 1993. By all accounts, on both sides of the aisle, Barr was well-liked as AG. Even then-Senator Joe Biden was impressed.
In all honesty, a large portion of the middle section of the book droned on endlessly for me, as Barr waxed rather blandly but straightforwardly about his childhood in New York; his life-long devotion to Catholicism; his love of bagpipe music; his early career post-college in the CIA; his part in the Iran-Contra affair; his hard-line approach to crime (he is for harsher laws, more prisons, and pro-death penalty); his work post-AG for the telecom company GTE, which later became Verizon Wireless and where he became a multimillionaire as Verizon’s executive Vice-President; his brief stint at Time Warner.
I confess to zoning out occasionally during his long-winded chapters in which he defended his views on abortion, religious freedom, military spending, and desire to build more prisons; largely because I didn’t agree with his views, but also because he wrote like a lawyer laying out a closing argument.
It wasn’t until the latter part of the book, where Barr writes about his second tenure as Attorney General under President Donald Trump, that the book picked up a little bit more steam.
While I had a hard time with his defense of Trump’s policies, it is clear that Barr did not necessarily like Trump as a person. That dislike gradually grew into stronger castigation during the last year of Trump’s presidency.
Trump’s mishandling of the global Covid-19 pandemic, his narcissistic obsession with campaigning for re-election, his ridiculous and disastrous performance during the presidential debates, his misguided beliefs of a stolen election and voter fraud perpetuated by his idiotic team of lawyers led by Rudy Giuliani, his out-of-control Twitter feed that helped to fuel January 6, and his petty dismissal and horrible treatment of Vice President Mike Pence all led Barr to the conclusion that any potential positive legacy that Trump could have left was ruined by his last few months in office.
Barr resigned as Attorney General on December 14, 2020.
I read this as an Audiobook on CD, read by Mark Deakins.
February 8, 2023
Continuing to prep for November 2024, I wanted to explore more people who surrounded themselves with key players in the Trump Administration, offering their own views about the man and how effective it could be to put him back in the West Wing. William Barr, Trump’s final Attorney General, proved to be a man with a great deal of experience, but who I always saw as being somewhat sycophantic for reasons I could not understand. Yet, Barr had a vision and did not always fall into line when asked (or told) to do something. Therefore, I wanted to get his perspectives. Barr, who held the AG position under the first Bush president, offers a great deal of insight into government, legal matters, and the politics that Washington churns up in anyone within a stone’s throw of the White House. A great book that did open my eyes up to a great deal.
William Barr spent his early years in New York, with parents who were strong academics and sought to ensure their children strove for success. Barr was a strong-willed child and focused, going so far as to want to work for the CIA from a young age. This baffled many, but the single-track mind he had helped him succeed throughout school and into his university years. Barr made a name for himself with his peer group, but some of his academic pathways were not what his mother might have liked. While CIA work was still his passion—with a desire to work at the China Desk—he needed a fallback option, which led to his taking up legal studies in the evenings. His law degree would prove invaluable in the years to come and helped hone his skills for the numerous hurdles he would have to overcome.
While Barr may not have found a path to the CIA, his connection to its director, George Bush, in the 1970s, helped pave a pathway to success within the Attorney General’s Office. Barr found a niche and worked for the Office of Legal Counsel, advising the president on matters that could effect the law and America as a whole. Barr recounts how he was able to make a great deal of headway there, advising both the Reagan and Bush Administrations on matters of great importance. This also allowed him to rise within the ranks and become a Deputy Attorney General under Bush. He was a sought-after voice during some of the legal conundrums that took place in those years, challenging International Law and how the US Constitution fit into it. When an opening for Attorney General occurred, Bush chose Barr to take the role, s post that would last for the final year of the Administration. Barr handled some tricky issues, none more-so that a massive prison hostage situation Alabama, while keeping his cool and preventing the president from being drawn into the fray. A close confidante of President Bush, Barr remained with him through to the electoral loss in 1992, before both had to explore new opportunities for themselves.
Barr addresses his post-AG years as a way to expand his knowledge base. While he had three children and a wife whom he loved a great deal, Barr wanted a challenge and found work as General Counsel for a telecommunications firm that was trying to open things up in America, as the Bell conglomerate was being dismantled. He honed his skills and found himself arguing cases all over, even in Europe, as his name became more international and his reputation of a strong legal mind grew. He did not, however, want a judgeship, feeling that it might shackle him to something and keep him from being able to evolve exponentially.
Barr makes it clear that he was not cheering for Trump in 2016, having chosen to back Jeb Bush in the primaries. While this was the case, Barr admits that when it came down to it, he chose Trump when the GOP crowned him, refusing to consider Clinton at any time. Barr explores in depth his concerns about the Obama Administration and how Trump sought to reinvigorate the country with hope and possibility, even if things got far-fetched at times. Barr, sitting in private practice at this time, saw possibilities and could fathom America’s wanting Trump to turn the tides on the Obama degradation that had taken place. It is this launching point that makes the foray into Trump’s Administration all the more understandable.
Barr tackles his hesitant agreement to serve as Attorney General under President Trump in a key chapter. Exploring the contrast from his original nomination in 1991 with this effort, Barr expressed how Herculean things were with trying to get Senate approval for his confirmation. He also expressed how divisive the country had become and how Trump’s governing style might not be the most inviting or encompassing, but it has its own flair. With Democrats and Republicans staking out their own perspectives, Barr was nominated and ready to take Justice into his own hands, with a slew of issues on his plate, including the Mueller Investigation into collusion from the 2016 election.
The latter portion of the book delves deeply and thoroughly into Barr’s time as Attorney General. While it was only two years, the amount of information relayed is astounding and provides a great deal upon which the reader can feast. Barr touches on a few files that fell into his lap when he took over as Attorney General and offers his through and filterless perspectives on them. His discussion of the Mueller Investigation—as far as he can comments on it—proves interesting, including how he approached the report and the discussions with Robert Mueller III about it. The first Trump Impeachment arguments were also of great interest, as Barr posits some of his legal perspectives, which do not entirely read as sycophantic deference to POTUS. Death penalty use is another topic of great interest, in which Barr lays out not only his own views, but how the constitution and precedent support its use in certain circumstances.
For readers who enjoy seeing behind the curtain, Barer offers some detailed analysis on legal situations that involved the United States, Away from the bluster that was Trump. His detailed description of events; context for the importance in the political, legal, and historical sphere; and analysis all provide the reader with something educational and thoroughly intriguing. This ‘teachable moment’ helps put everything in into context and leaves the reader feeling as though they are involved in better understanding what’s taking place and how they, too, could see things through a lens of the US legal system. Barr pulls no punches about her views and is able to offer strongly worded sentiments, at times thorough a conservative lens, but his ideas seem grounded and not simply flights of fancy. While I may not agree with all of them, I can see his perspective and respect the views that he can substantiate.
Barr handles the 2020 presidential election and its fallout brilliantly, offering his analysis from a legal standpoint and not one as a Trump supporter. Barr repeatedly tried to explain that the Department of Justice is a non-partisan entity in place to ensure laws are upheld and followed, not the hammer of POTUS or the GOP to scrub out those views of state legislatures or politicians who did not fall into line. The election fallout proved to be Barr’s last straw and he gracefully explained how he got his exit before the wheels fell off the Trump-mobile once and for all. It was handled very smoothly and with aplomb, but I am sure Barr had some thoughts that he chose not tp put top paper about the mess that was unfolding before him. He highlights those who planted into the rhetoric and praised the people who, like him, could stand above the fray and watch, like a bad car wreck, how one man tried to pull America into the miasma, proving that there would need to be a saviour to return the country to its greatness that he had sullied so completely.
Books of this nature offer more than simply a place for the author to espouse their views and vilification of the other side. William Barr does present some strongly partisan sentiments, but he is able to support his claims and does not appear blindly sycophantic to either president under which he served. Barr offers a wonderful detail analysis of events, both political and legal, and offers some views with a basis in law and constitutionality that the reader ought to take into account. There will be issues for some and strongly worded sentiments by others, but Barr does not rest on his laurels at any time. He provides readers with sentiments that are more fact than gut feeling and for that he mist be commended. Do not think that I blindly accept all his views, but I can respect them, as I would an academic who supports their views with substantiation. The book is well paced and offers a linear and usually chronological view of events throughout Barr’s professional career. It can get deeper or more opaque at times, but that is Barr pulling on some legal and philosophical perspectives to support his claims. still,the attentive reader and one who enjoys this type of banter will find something in here they can feast up throughout the tome’s journey. I respect the analysis and it has given me a better view of how things were done from the Attorney General’s perspective, as well as some of the glaring choices that Trump chose not to make, even when counselled to do so. William Barr has earned respect for all he explored, though I won’t fall upon my own sword and say that he has won me over entirely. Still, refreshing as we enter new battlegrounds and have some things ton consider when the rhetoric begins sooner than later.
Kudos, Mr. Barr, for a great look into the law and all its complexities, especially with a blowhard trying to make your job harder.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
William Barr spent his early years in New York, with parents who were strong academics and sought to ensure their children strove for success. Barr was a strong-willed child and focused, going so far as to want to work for the CIA from a young age. This baffled many, but the single-track mind he had helped him succeed throughout school and into his university years. Barr made a name for himself with his peer group, but some of his academic pathways were not what his mother might have liked. While CIA work was still his passion—with a desire to work at the China Desk—he needed a fallback option, which led to his taking up legal studies in the evenings. His law degree would prove invaluable in the years to come and helped hone his skills for the numerous hurdles he would have to overcome.
While Barr may not have found a path to the CIA, his connection to its director, George Bush, in the 1970s, helped pave a pathway to success within the Attorney General’s Office. Barr found a niche and worked for the Office of Legal Counsel, advising the president on matters that could effect the law and America as a whole. Barr recounts how he was able to make a great deal of headway there, advising both the Reagan and Bush Administrations on matters of great importance. This also allowed him to rise within the ranks and become a Deputy Attorney General under Bush. He was a sought-after voice during some of the legal conundrums that took place in those years, challenging International Law and how the US Constitution fit into it. When an opening for Attorney General occurred, Bush chose Barr to take the role, s post that would last for the final year of the Administration. Barr handled some tricky issues, none more-so that a massive prison hostage situation Alabama, while keeping his cool and preventing the president from being drawn into the fray. A close confidante of President Bush, Barr remained with him through to the electoral loss in 1992, before both had to explore new opportunities for themselves.
Barr addresses his post-AG years as a way to expand his knowledge base. While he had three children and a wife whom he loved a great deal, Barr wanted a challenge and found work as General Counsel for a telecommunications firm that was trying to open things up in America, as the Bell conglomerate was being dismantled. He honed his skills and found himself arguing cases all over, even in Europe, as his name became more international and his reputation of a strong legal mind grew. He did not, however, want a judgeship, feeling that it might shackle him to something and keep him from being able to evolve exponentially.
Barr makes it clear that he was not cheering for Trump in 2016, having chosen to back Jeb Bush in the primaries. While this was the case, Barr admits that when it came down to it, he chose Trump when the GOP crowned him, refusing to consider Clinton at any time. Barr explores in depth his concerns about the Obama Administration and how Trump sought to reinvigorate the country with hope and possibility, even if things got far-fetched at times. Barr, sitting in private practice at this time, saw possibilities and could fathom America’s wanting Trump to turn the tides on the Obama degradation that had taken place. It is this launching point that makes the foray into Trump’s Administration all the more understandable.
Barr tackles his hesitant agreement to serve as Attorney General under President Trump in a key chapter. Exploring the contrast from his original nomination in 1991 with this effort, Barr expressed how Herculean things were with trying to get Senate approval for his confirmation. He also expressed how divisive the country had become and how Trump’s governing style might not be the most inviting or encompassing, but it has its own flair. With Democrats and Republicans staking out their own perspectives, Barr was nominated and ready to take Justice into his own hands, with a slew of issues on his plate, including the Mueller Investigation into collusion from the 2016 election.
The latter portion of the book delves deeply and thoroughly into Barr’s time as Attorney General. While it was only two years, the amount of information relayed is astounding and provides a great deal upon which the reader can feast. Barr touches on a few files that fell into his lap when he took over as Attorney General and offers his through and filterless perspectives on them. His discussion of the Mueller Investigation—as far as he can comments on it—proves interesting, including how he approached the report and the discussions with Robert Mueller III about it. The first Trump Impeachment arguments were also of great interest, as Barr posits some of his legal perspectives, which do not entirely read as sycophantic deference to POTUS. Death penalty use is another topic of great interest, in which Barr lays out not only his own views, but how the constitution and precedent support its use in certain circumstances.
For readers who enjoy seeing behind the curtain, Barer offers some detailed analysis on legal situations that involved the United States, Away from the bluster that was Trump. His detailed description of events; context for the importance in the political, legal, and historical sphere; and analysis all provide the reader with something educational and thoroughly intriguing. This ‘teachable moment’ helps put everything in into context and leaves the reader feeling as though they are involved in better understanding what’s taking place and how they, too, could see things through a lens of the US legal system. Barr pulls no punches about her views and is able to offer strongly worded sentiments, at times thorough a conservative lens, but his ideas seem grounded and not simply flights of fancy. While I may not agree with all of them, I can see his perspective and respect the views that he can substantiate.
Barr handles the 2020 presidential election and its fallout brilliantly, offering his analysis from a legal standpoint and not one as a Trump supporter. Barr repeatedly tried to explain that the Department of Justice is a non-partisan entity in place to ensure laws are upheld and followed, not the hammer of POTUS or the GOP to scrub out those views of state legislatures or politicians who did not fall into line. The election fallout proved to be Barr’s last straw and he gracefully explained how he got his exit before the wheels fell off the Trump-mobile once and for all. It was handled very smoothly and with aplomb, but I am sure Barr had some thoughts that he chose not tp put top paper about the mess that was unfolding before him. He highlights those who planted into the rhetoric and praised the people who, like him, could stand above the fray and watch, like a bad car wreck, how one man tried to pull America into the miasma, proving that there would need to be a saviour to return the country to its greatness that he had sullied so completely.
Books of this nature offer more than simply a place for the author to espouse their views and vilification of the other side. William Barr does present some strongly partisan sentiments, but he is able to support his claims and does not appear blindly sycophantic to either president under which he served. Barr offers a wonderful detail analysis of events, both political and legal, and offers some views with a basis in law and constitutionality that the reader ought to take into account. There will be issues for some and strongly worded sentiments by others, but Barr does not rest on his laurels at any time. He provides readers with sentiments that are more fact than gut feeling and for that he mist be commended. Do not think that I blindly accept all his views, but I can respect them, as I would an academic who supports their views with substantiation. The book is well paced and offers a linear and usually chronological view of events throughout Barr’s professional career. It can get deeper or more opaque at times, but that is Barr pulling on some legal and philosophical perspectives to support his claims. still,the attentive reader and one who enjoys this type of banter will find something in here they can feast up throughout the tome’s journey. I respect the analysis and it has given me a better view of how things were done from the Attorney General’s perspective, as well as some of the glaring choices that Trump chose not to make, even when counselled to do so. William Barr has earned respect for all he explored, though I won’t fall upon my own sword and say that he has won me over entirely. Still, refreshing as we enter new battlegrounds and have some things ton consider when the rhetoric begins sooner than later.
Kudos, Mr. Barr, for a great look into the law and all its complexities, especially with a blowhard trying to make your job harder.
Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/
March 16, 2022
A must read for all forward-looking Americans
This book was all I had hoped for and more. Bill Barr is an accomplished writer and thinker and I thank him for putting forward a record of this time in our country’s culture and history
This book was all I had hoped for and more. Bill Barr is an accomplished writer and thinker and I thank him for putting forward a record of this time in our country’s culture and history
March 28, 2022
One Damn Thing After Another
William P. Barr
Read this DAMN book!
The author gives an “inside” no punches pulled narrative of the last several years of our political dysfunction.
The best thing about the book, in my humble opinion, is this: If you are unwaveringly left, it will piss you off. If you are unwaveringly right, it will piss you off.
If you can keep your mind open, you will learn a great deal.
William P. Barr
Read this DAMN book!
The author gives an “inside” no punches pulled narrative of the last several years of our political dysfunction.
The best thing about the book, in my humble opinion, is this: If you are unwaveringly left, it will piss you off. If you are unwaveringly right, it will piss you off.
If you can keep your mind open, you will learn a great deal.
May 25, 2025
I read this book when it was first published. I did not like it, but I erased my original review because it was too harsh and personal against Mr. Barr. I wanted to be fairer.
I do not like Barr. Not because he favors one party rule. But because he is one of those immodest Christians who are always making life in America more difficult for others
You see, the immodest ones think that they have a unique relationship with God. They think that he has revealed the secrets of the universe to them alone. They think that their unique relationship authorizes them to impose rules on the rest of us.
I am the other kind. I think that the gospels seem to say that no one knows with certainty what the rules are. Thus, we are required to be modest in interpreting the universe. (Actually, I am terrible at being a modest Christian. I am very proud of my self-declared shrewd intellect. Ugh. But forget about me. I am not important.) That means that humility is the default required of us all.
Barr’s argument for one party rule is the antithesis of humility. He thinks his party has all the answers. But I am pretty sure that they do not.
I do not like Barr. Not because he favors one party rule. But because he is one of those immodest Christians who are always making life in America more difficult for others
You see, the immodest ones think that they have a unique relationship with God. They think that he has revealed the secrets of the universe to them alone. They think that their unique relationship authorizes them to impose rules on the rest of us.
I am the other kind. I think that the gospels seem to say that no one knows with certainty what the rules are. Thus, we are required to be modest in interpreting the universe. (Actually, I am terrible at being a modest Christian. I am very proud of my self-declared shrewd intellect. Ugh. But forget about me. I am not important.) That means that humility is the default required of us all.
Barr’s argument for one party rule is the antithesis of humility. He thinks his party has all the answers. But I am pretty sure that they do not.
March 17, 2022
Clearly Barr is a man of principles
I really enjoyed this memoir. My only quibble is that it could have had better editing. Barr is not only an intelligent and accomplished lawyer, he shows himself to have a wide range of interests including bagpiping. This is also the most effective defense of conservatism out there. Even though there was no upside to becoming Attorney General again, as he knew he would face relentless partisan attacks and a hostile press, not to mention Trump's histrionics, he did it because he cares about our country and undoubtedly he accomplished alot during his short tenure. He's the one who has demonstrated principled leadership and I hope he stays in politics.
I really enjoyed this memoir. My only quibble is that it could have had better editing. Barr is not only an intelligent and accomplished lawyer, he shows himself to have a wide range of interests including bagpiping. This is also the most effective defense of conservatism out there. Even though there was no upside to becoming Attorney General again, as he knew he would face relentless partisan attacks and a hostile press, not to mention Trump's histrionics, he did it because he cares about our country and undoubtedly he accomplished alot during his short tenure. He's the one who has demonstrated principled leadership and I hope he stays in politics.
April 3, 2022
This book is like a giant filibuster used to justify some awful decisions. The mental gymnastics used by Barr to defend some awful decisions is pretty funny. His self aware wolf moments around monopolies are laughable too as he gets so close to understanding the issues around anti competitive big tech companies and then shits the bed when applying it to other industries.
His cherrypicked stats on crimes are useless and are used only to justify what he thinks is correct. The ahistorical takes and geopolitical ideas in the book follow the manifest destiny nonsense and overall you can skip this book unless you truly want to grind your brain into the ground.
His cherrypicked stats on crimes are useless and are used only to justify what he thinks is correct. The ahistorical takes and geopolitical ideas in the book follow the manifest destiny nonsense and overall you can skip this book unless you truly want to grind your brain into the ground.
March 29, 2022
Nearly Flawless
This book is extremely well organized and written. Mr. Barr has an obvious flair for storytelling and tells stories that are alternatively entertaining, suspenseful and inspiring. That he happens to honestly chronicle one of the most unusual times in American history almost incidental. He beautifully invites the reader into a world of intelligence, commitment, discipline and integrity. A world that often feels like it has ceased to exist. I truly believe that this will be an important historical document, not only for its frank discussion of the Trump presidency but also for its descriptions of the legal implications of some of the most important issues of the last forty years. Mr. Barr articulates the reasoning behind his conservative views with such clarity that, agree with him or not, the reader has to respect his conclusions. Mr. Barr is an extraordinarily thoughtful man to whom we owe a debt of gratitude. This book is one of the best of any genre I have ever read. The one star reviews are the petty machinations of rank partisans who are not interested in anything that doesn’t promote their mindless orthodoxies. Ignore them, they are not worthy of passing judgement on such an accomplished man or the extraordinary book he has written.
This book is extremely well organized and written. Mr. Barr has an obvious flair for storytelling and tells stories that are alternatively entertaining, suspenseful and inspiring. That he happens to honestly chronicle one of the most unusual times in American history almost incidental. He beautifully invites the reader into a world of intelligence, commitment, discipline and integrity. A world that often feels like it has ceased to exist. I truly believe that this will be an important historical document, not only for its frank discussion of the Trump presidency but also for its descriptions of the legal implications of some of the most important issues of the last forty years. Mr. Barr articulates the reasoning behind his conservative views with such clarity that, agree with him or not, the reader has to respect his conclusions. Mr. Barr is an extraordinarily thoughtful man to whom we owe a debt of gratitude. This book is one of the best of any genre I have ever read. The one star reviews are the petty machinations of rank partisans who are not interested in anything that doesn’t promote their mindless orthodoxies. Ignore them, they are not worthy of passing judgement on such an accomplished man or the extraordinary book he has written.
August 16, 2022
I’d challenge anyone to argue effectively against Barr’s advocacy of his legal positions.
His rationale is always tempered, measured, festooned with facts, and scholarly.
Barr is no fan of Trump. He gives the former president high marks in some areas and failing grades in others.
His criticisms of Trump’s personality and how that failed him in 2020 is largely undeniable.
There are notable absences: no talk of hunters laptop, except to deride the Intel experts who opined it was Russian disinformation and no talk of Jan 6th except to state his revulsion at the riot.
Those issues needed to be sidestepped bc of knowledge that’s still classified, but why no discussion of immigration and the Wall?
A striking absence.
The reason I did not give the book 5 stars is I felt Barr to often slid into discussions of crime and Big tech. While his analysis was generally strong, I’d rather have had more of his life growing up in New York than a policy paper on issues I’m already well versed in.
Ironically, Barr’s memoir is the strongest evidence that Trump was not guilty of some insurrectionary act around his election contrivances. Barr makes it 100% clear that Trump believed he won, couldn’t conceive of being any kind of loser, and this surrounded himself only with folks who would agree with him.
So Trump’s state of mind was clear. He won and was trying to preserve the Union. You can’t foment insurrection legally if you believe you’re the rightful president.
Finally, Barr enters my personal HOF: guys and gals I’d love to sit down a chew the fat over issues big and small.
Though in Barr’s case I guess we’d have some single malted scotch beverage.
Well, okay, at least the conversation would still be great.
His rationale is always tempered, measured, festooned with facts, and scholarly.
Barr is no fan of Trump. He gives the former president high marks in some areas and failing grades in others.
His criticisms of Trump’s personality and how that failed him in 2020 is largely undeniable.
There are notable absences: no talk of hunters laptop, except to deride the Intel experts who opined it was Russian disinformation and no talk of Jan 6th except to state his revulsion at the riot.
Those issues needed to be sidestepped bc of knowledge that’s still classified, but why no discussion of immigration and the Wall?
A striking absence.
The reason I did not give the book 5 stars is I felt Barr to often slid into discussions of crime and Big tech. While his analysis was generally strong, I’d rather have had more of his life growing up in New York than a policy paper on issues I’m already well versed in.
Ironically, Barr’s memoir is the strongest evidence that Trump was not guilty of some insurrectionary act around his election contrivances. Barr makes it 100% clear that Trump believed he won, couldn’t conceive of being any kind of loser, and this surrounded himself only with folks who would agree with him.
So Trump’s state of mind was clear. He won and was trying to preserve the Union. You can’t foment insurrection legally if you believe you’re the rightful president.
Finally, Barr enters my personal HOF: guys and gals I’d love to sit down a chew the fat over issues big and small.
Though in Barr’s case I guess we’d have some single malted scotch beverage.
Well, okay, at least the conversation would still be great.
April 17, 2022
This is an interesting memoir from Trump's second AG. Barr is a first rate lawyer and this book has two parts. First, it is a good chronicle of his career in the law and in politics. But second, it is a very good reflection on working with Donald Trump.
Unfortunately, I suspect that two groups who would most benefit from reading it will not. The first are the Never-Trumpers who believe that anyone who was associated with the former president is suspect. The second are those in the Trump camp that assume that anyone who questioned actions by Trump are somehow disloyal to conservative principles.
Barr uses the chapters to explore a range of public policy issues from Net Neutrality (he thinks, as I do that it is wrong), to the First Amendment (where he gave a crackerjack speech on the two parts of the religious parts in that Amendment), to thoughts about the death penalty (I ultimately disagree with his conclusions here), to a host of other issues that a skilled AG is forced to deal with.
I would be surprised if anyone who reads this will agree with all of his assertions but I would be surprised if anyone who does read it would not come away with respect for Barr as a thoughtful player in the public realm and a clear understanding of the reasoning he used in advancing public policies (both in the GHWB and the Trump eras) and as an attorney in private practice.
Unfortunately, I suspect that two groups who would most benefit from reading it will not. The first are the Never-Trumpers who believe that anyone who was associated with the former president is suspect. The second are those in the Trump camp that assume that anyone who questioned actions by Trump are somehow disloyal to conservative principles.
Barr uses the chapters to explore a range of public policy issues from Net Neutrality (he thinks, as I do that it is wrong), to the First Amendment (where he gave a crackerjack speech on the two parts of the religious parts in that Amendment), to thoughts about the death penalty (I ultimately disagree with his conclusions here), to a host of other issues that a skilled AG is forced to deal with.
I would be surprised if anyone who reads this will agree with all of his assertions but I would be surprised if anyone who does read it would not come away with respect for Barr as a thoughtful player in the public realm and a clear understanding of the reasoning he used in advancing public policies (both in the GHWB and the Trump eras) and as an attorney in private practice.
March 11, 2022
He believed that Christianity should still be able to be taught to ALL children in school, and be indoctrinated by that one religion, as it had been at one time. He went back to the 1830's to make his point, and up through the 60's. I guess he forgot through most of those years, mostly White males were the ones who were favored to be educated. His ideology on Christianity in public schools was disgusting, as we are a diverse nation, with many religions, and churches and home life are where education for religious beliefs should be taught.
He spent a lot of time on The Obama years. Bashing him for the economy, Iran, and a whole host of other grievances he had against him, including him sending his girls to a top Christian Private school, while he was President, as if his children didn't attend the same kind of school. A lot of his complaints about Obama, were false, but since it was his Opinion, it just didn't matter.
On the audio section about protests and mayhem, there was literally over an hour dedicated this this section, but when it came to actually talking about January 6th, 2021, there was maybe 5 minutes dedicated to this topic. And, of course, he didn't feel like Trump had encited the crowd to break into the capitol.
BLM and the protest. He contradicts himself in this, if you can listen to the whole thing, by reading it, or listening to it. He says the BLM protesters are the ones who started the riots and destruction of property, but if you push through, he states that it was proven that most of those were started by outside agitators, that were white men.
Guns and the black community. Barr is super pro police, and it came as no shock that Barr spewed the same rhetoric that black on black crime was the downfall of the black community, and worse than blacks being killed by police. Barr believes in over policing, and giving the police a break when they make "mistakes" in killing someone. He essential proved the need for more training by police, which is what BLM protests were about. But, Barr is blind to see he made that argument for them. He also failed to acknowledge, that being a police person is a choice, and being born black or brown isn't. Some how, in his thinking, he has failed to realize, that with better education opportunities, and the pipeline to prison from schools, along with the over policing the black and brown neighborhoods, could all be fixed, but he chooses to blame the oppressed, for being oppressed.
He blamed the Corporate Elites for bowing to the progressive left, for not wanting to be seen as racist, sexist, transphobic, and nationalist. As if this is a bad thing.
I could write so much more about this book, but if you made it this far into my review, I thank you. The big take away from this book, is Progressive left is evil, Christian Republicans angels. Imagine having an Attorney General who doesn't believe in equality for ALL. That is what we had. Barr shouldn't have returned to service, as he could have gone down in history as a decent AG, but now, with his complete support of Trump, even though he knows he's not fit for office, he will never have that title. If you learned a lot from this book, about the Trump years, you weren't paying attention.
Don't waste your money, or a credit getting this book. You will walk away disappointed. The only saving grace was the narrator. Bless him for taking this on.
He spent a lot of time on The Obama years. Bashing him for the economy, Iran, and a whole host of other grievances he had against him, including him sending his girls to a top Christian Private school, while he was President, as if his children didn't attend the same kind of school. A lot of his complaints about Obama, were false, but since it was his Opinion, it just didn't matter.
On the audio section about protests and mayhem, there was literally over an hour dedicated this this section, but when it came to actually talking about January 6th, 2021, there was maybe 5 minutes dedicated to this topic. And, of course, he didn't feel like Trump had encited the crowd to break into the capitol.
BLM and the protest. He contradicts himself in this, if you can listen to the whole thing, by reading it, or listening to it. He says the BLM protesters are the ones who started the riots and destruction of property, but if you push through, he states that it was proven that most of those were started by outside agitators, that were white men.
Guns and the black community. Barr is super pro police, and it came as no shock that Barr spewed the same rhetoric that black on black crime was the downfall of the black community, and worse than blacks being killed by police. Barr believes in over policing, and giving the police a break when they make "mistakes" in killing someone. He essential proved the need for more training by police, which is what BLM protests were about. But, Barr is blind to see he made that argument for them. He also failed to acknowledge, that being a police person is a choice, and being born black or brown isn't. Some how, in his thinking, he has failed to realize, that with better education opportunities, and the pipeline to prison from schools, along with the over policing the black and brown neighborhoods, could all be fixed, but he chooses to blame the oppressed, for being oppressed.
He blamed the Corporate Elites for bowing to the progressive left, for not wanting to be seen as racist, sexist, transphobic, and nationalist. As if this is a bad thing.
I could write so much more about this book, but if you made it this far into my review, I thank you. The big take away from this book, is Progressive left is evil, Christian Republicans angels. Imagine having an Attorney General who doesn't believe in equality for ALL. That is what we had. Barr shouldn't have returned to service, as he could have gone down in history as a decent AG, but now, with his complete support of Trump, even though he knows he's not fit for office, he will never have that title. If you learned a lot from this book, about the Trump years, you weren't paying attention.
Don't waste your money, or a credit getting this book. You will walk away disappointed. The only saving grace was the narrator. Bless him for taking this on.
March 12, 2022
They.first part of the book was great! But in rest of
The book it turns into a blame everything on Liberals. He proved. to me that he is an Ultra right winRepublican piece of shit and also a racist. In my opinion his point ov view belonged in the 1958s!
The book it turns into a blame everything on Liberals. He proved. to me that he is an Ultra right winRepublican piece of shit and also a racist. In my opinion his point ov view belonged in the 1958s!
April 3, 2022
Boy! I'm not sure after reading this who has a more bloviated idea of his worth, this A.G. or the last president he served under. I guess I shouldn't be surprised that Barr feels he always had the right way to handle situations whether as A.G. or as a Catholic or as a Republican.
I did not care for his constant bashing of anything by Democrats, especially Obama and Biden. He seems to think they were evil personified.
His Catholic faith allows for death penalty - even though Pope Francis has spoken against it. My Catholic faith agrees with the pope.
I'm glad I read it, but, wow! I do believe that he did what he thought best for our country and I did get a clearer view of #45's anger and pettiness.
I did not care for his constant bashing of anything by Democrats, especially Obama and Biden. He seems to think they were evil personified.
His Catholic faith allows for death penalty - even though Pope Francis has spoken against it. My Catholic faith agrees with the pope.
I'm glad I read it, but, wow! I do believe that he did what he thought best for our country and I did get a clearer view of #45's anger and pettiness.
March 18, 2022
A Patriot
Bill Barr is “old school”. A man of principal not afraid to do the right thing. He is to be commended for putting the good of the country ahead of his personal gain or comfort.
Bill Barr is “old school”. A man of principal not afraid to do the right thing. He is to be commended for putting the good of the country ahead of his personal gain or comfort.
May 2, 2022
An extraordinary and admirable legal career. I didn’t know much about Barr’s first term as Attorney General, but I found his lifelong conservatism and service fascinating. The first half of the book summarizes this period in his life, while the second half recounts the main topics Barr addressed while Attorney General for President Trump. Most striking to me was Barr’s legal, moral, and religious defense of capital punishment, and his plaintive call for robust religious liberty (including freedom from secular indoctrination in public schools). After reading this memoir, I have an even greater appreciation for Barr’s integrity, including his handling of the Russiagate scandal and the 2020 Election.
March 23, 2022
It seems like Chaos
Mr Barr showed us an inside view of the tumultuous years of the Trump administration. As a Republican that did not vote for Trump, I find myself agreeing with much of Mr Barr’s compilation of accomplishments and failures of the Trump administration and agree with his conclusion that a better would would have resulted if “Trump had not beaten Trump,” especially in light of the years since the beginning of the new administration. Worth the read, very good.
Mr Barr showed us an inside view of the tumultuous years of the Trump administration. As a Republican that did not vote for Trump, I find myself agreeing with much of Mr Barr’s compilation of accomplishments and failures of the Trump administration and agree with his conclusion that a better would would have resulted if “Trump had not beaten Trump,” especially in light of the years since the beginning of the new administration. Worth the read, very good.
April 18, 2022
Boring..I understand that this is a memoir, But, I would have like more about his career..
April 14, 2022
We live in a time of unprecedented access to copious amounts of information yet with so many competing narratives on what is true that after a while it can all get a bit foggy. This is especially so in political matters. And during the last four years of the Trump administration, things got really foggy. (Perhaps I should use the word "steamy" instead of foggy from all of the heated, contentious sparring between the political Left and the political Right). Bill Barr's perspective and account of his time in the Trump administration brought clarity and light to a lot of things for me.
I found Mr. Barr's memoir to be elucidating, educational, equitable, and insightful. As for Barr himself, I think he is a wise and mature man. He has the hide of an alligator, the mind of an expert lawyer, and the heart of a patriot. He is someone I highly admire and respect. (I heard someone remark that he is the adult in the room, in whatever room he finds himself in. That's the impression I got while reading this). Barr is one of those people who tells it straight and sticks to the facts. Accordingly, this upsets a lot of people and this book will ruffle many feathers. No doubt many Trump sycophants will take issue with Barr as will the radical Progressives (There is both praise and criticism of Trump throughout the book, which will raise the ire of both groups). Even so, Barr has important things to say about what went on during the election cycles and outcomes of 2016 and 2020, as well as the important issues facing our nation today. I hope people will have an ear to hear. And if not hear, at least a willingness to consider what he shares in this book. I did. And I think I'm better informed because of it.
A few quotes regarding Trump and Biden -
Barr's retelling of the conversation he had with President Trump regarding the death of Eric Gardner by New York police officer Daniel Pantaleo -
"If all you knew about Donald Trump was the caricature of him in the news media, you might assume he would automatically decide with the police and callously disregard the possibility of excessive force. That wasn't his reaction. 'Really?' he said, showing genuine surprise, almost shock, when I told him we weren't going to charge the police officer. 'I saw the tape several times on TV,' he said, shaking his head and looking perplexed. 'It looked pretty bad to me.'
"I started to explain my decision when the President cut me off. 'I grew up in Queens. I know some cops can be bullies. You're from New York - you know. Were those cops looking for a fight with this guy just for selling cigarettes? Were they picking on him?'
"This was the first time I saw in Trump a trait I would see many times in the months to come. He hated the idea of a bully pushing people around. That may seem odd to people who think of Trump as a bully. Some of the media and other elites who take that view don't appreciate the fact that they themselves are bullies. They've been lording it over working-class Americans for years. What such people don't understand about Trump, though, is that he got the most satisfaction when he felt he was using his power to rectify an injustice on behalf of an underdog. He felt many of his supporters were underdogs - 'forgotten' Americans - and he was standing up for them." (pgs 466-477)
"I regretted having to spar with Meadows. Mark truly had the hardest job in the administration and he worked hard to serve the President, while at the same time laboring mightily to cure or head off the President's frequent bad ideas or his impulsive mistakes. There were occasions when Mark took the heat for helping me and Pat Cipollone protect the Department of Justice. Before the election, Mark's job was like a high-wire act; after Trump's defeat, he was like a lion tamer without a whip and a chair." (Pgs 549-550)
"I am afraid that with a wavering, intermittently alert Joe Biden in the Oval Office Vladimir Putin will pursue Russian strategic goals more assertively and feel little need to find agreed-upon frameworks with the United States. Given Biden's manifest weakness, Putin is likely to feel he's better off making no concessions at all..." (Pg 413)
I found Mr. Barr's memoir to be elucidating, educational, equitable, and insightful. As for Barr himself, I think he is a wise and mature man. He has the hide of an alligator, the mind of an expert lawyer, and the heart of a patriot. He is someone I highly admire and respect. (I heard someone remark that he is the adult in the room, in whatever room he finds himself in. That's the impression I got while reading this). Barr is one of those people who tells it straight and sticks to the facts. Accordingly, this upsets a lot of people and this book will ruffle many feathers. No doubt many Trump sycophants will take issue with Barr as will the radical Progressives (There is both praise and criticism of Trump throughout the book, which will raise the ire of both groups). Even so, Barr has important things to say about what went on during the election cycles and outcomes of 2016 and 2020, as well as the important issues facing our nation today. I hope people will have an ear to hear. And if not hear, at least a willingness to consider what he shares in this book. I did. And I think I'm better informed because of it.
A few quotes regarding Trump and Biden -
Barr's retelling of the conversation he had with President Trump regarding the death of Eric Gardner by New York police officer Daniel Pantaleo -
"If all you knew about Donald Trump was the caricature of him in the news media, you might assume he would automatically decide with the police and callously disregard the possibility of excessive force. That wasn't his reaction. 'Really?' he said, showing genuine surprise, almost shock, when I told him we weren't going to charge the police officer. 'I saw the tape several times on TV,' he said, shaking his head and looking perplexed. 'It looked pretty bad to me.'
"I started to explain my decision when the President cut me off. 'I grew up in Queens. I know some cops can be bullies. You're from New York - you know. Were those cops looking for a fight with this guy just for selling cigarettes? Were they picking on him?'
"This was the first time I saw in Trump a trait I would see many times in the months to come. He hated the idea of a bully pushing people around. That may seem odd to people who think of Trump as a bully. Some of the media and other elites who take that view don't appreciate the fact that they themselves are bullies. They've been lording it over working-class Americans for years. What such people don't understand about Trump, though, is that he got the most satisfaction when he felt he was using his power to rectify an injustice on behalf of an underdog. He felt many of his supporters were underdogs - 'forgotten' Americans - and he was standing up for them." (pgs 466-477)
"I regretted having to spar with Meadows. Mark truly had the hardest job in the administration and he worked hard to serve the President, while at the same time laboring mightily to cure or head off the President's frequent bad ideas or his impulsive mistakes. There were occasions when Mark took the heat for helping me and Pat Cipollone protect the Department of Justice. Before the election, Mark's job was like a high-wire act; after Trump's defeat, he was like a lion tamer without a whip and a chair." (Pgs 549-550)
"I am afraid that with a wavering, intermittently alert Joe Biden in the Oval Office Vladimir Putin will pursue Russian strategic goals more assertively and feel little need to find agreed-upon frameworks with the United States. Given Biden's manifest weakness, Putin is likely to feel he's better off making no concessions at all..." (Pg 413)
April 15, 2022
Barr has written an excellent memoir. He lightly touches on his family background and personal history, then gets into the meat and potatoes of the biggest issues of his first time as US Attorney General. His story is well written and told with a true sense of humility.
A third of the book is devoted to his second stint as AG. Explaining the many legal issues surrounding Trump's Presidency. Barr is very fair in giving President Trump credit for his good policies and the wisdom he had in some situations. Barr also is direct in pointing out where Trump's personality failed him.
No one comes out of this book looking worse that James Comey. Much of what Barr has written with regards for Comey's blatant disregard for procedure does not vary from what we learned in John Ligato's "The Comey Gang." It's too bad no mainstream media will pick up on this, instead treating Comey's strange management decisions as standard operating procedures.
The other person who Barr writes is a real problem is Mayor Gulianni. The entire Mueller Team also gets taken to the woodshed. As described, they could not be less professional, honest, or fair. Yet, they still all got jobs on TV. How do you destroy your organization's credibility? Hire a member of the Mueller or Comey team.
On the flip side, there's one person for whom I now have tremendous respect, based on Barr's history of events: Rod Rosenstein. When lawyers stay tight lipped and don't leak, it can be difficult to figure out exactly what's going on behind closed doors. Based on Barr's telling, Rosenstein was a true professional pushed into impossibly difficult circumstances and yet still did the right thing while keeping his mouth shut, as he was supposed to.
Barr includes in this memoir 4 or 5 long essays on current legal issues facing the country. These are excellent. They should be published as stand-alones in a magazine so that they get greater attention. His take on the religion of crazy secularism in public schools is spot on. We can't turn Freedom of Religion into a wall behind which educators take it upon themselves to teach children lessons at odds with all major religions and everything good about Western Civilization. He also writes about big tech, Guantanamo, and election security.
I absolutely disagree with Barr's boundless praise for the FBI and the Justice Department. Let's face it. Both organizations have more than their fair share of terrible people. Some terrible people join both organizations so that they may press their personal policy preferences while remaining untouchable. People in the FBI spy and lie. We know that. People in the Justice Department launch lawsuits they KNOW they will never win, just to punish people they disagree with. Barr appears blind to these ugly truths.
Good narrator.
A third of the book is devoted to his second stint as AG. Explaining the many legal issues surrounding Trump's Presidency. Barr is very fair in giving President Trump credit for his good policies and the wisdom he had in some situations. Barr also is direct in pointing out where Trump's personality failed him.
No one comes out of this book looking worse that James Comey. Much of what Barr has written with regards for Comey's blatant disregard for procedure does not vary from what we learned in John Ligato's "The Comey Gang." It's too bad no mainstream media will pick up on this, instead treating Comey's strange management decisions as standard operating procedures.
The other person who Barr writes is a real problem is Mayor Gulianni. The entire Mueller Team also gets taken to the woodshed. As described, they could not be less professional, honest, or fair. Yet, they still all got jobs on TV. How do you destroy your organization's credibility? Hire a member of the Mueller or Comey team.
On the flip side, there's one person for whom I now have tremendous respect, based on Barr's history of events: Rod Rosenstein. When lawyers stay tight lipped and don't leak, it can be difficult to figure out exactly what's going on behind closed doors. Based on Barr's telling, Rosenstein was a true professional pushed into impossibly difficult circumstances and yet still did the right thing while keeping his mouth shut, as he was supposed to.
Barr includes in this memoir 4 or 5 long essays on current legal issues facing the country. These are excellent. They should be published as stand-alones in a magazine so that they get greater attention. His take on the religion of crazy secularism in public schools is spot on. We can't turn Freedom of Religion into a wall behind which educators take it upon themselves to teach children lessons at odds with all major religions and everything good about Western Civilization. He also writes about big tech, Guantanamo, and election security.
I absolutely disagree with Barr's boundless praise for the FBI and the Justice Department. Let's face it. Both organizations have more than their fair share of terrible people. Some terrible people join both organizations so that they may press their personal policy preferences while remaining untouchable. People in the FBI spy and lie. We know that. People in the Justice Department launch lawsuits they KNOW they will never win, just to punish people they disagree with. Barr appears blind to these ugly truths.
Good narrator.
April 9, 2022
This was a fantastic read. Bill Barr masterfully accounted for the challenges and successes of working as Attorney General under a Trump White House. It is thorough and honest without devolving into pettiness. I would like to thank Mr. Barr for writing this book, and sharing his account. Our country is better off for it. Mr. Barr you described Mike Pence correctly as a patriot. The same holds true for you. Thank you for your service to our country. This proud American wishes you and your family all the best.
September 13, 2022
I read a lot of books to try to figure out Trump. This was a really, really good one. It was well-written by an intelligent, logical person. I completely disagree with him on a few things (the value of religion and the greatness of America), but I agree with him on plenty of other things, and more importantly, I trust him. This book is a revealing look inside Trump's presidency and I believe the author was very honest about all the good and the bad.
February 28, 2022
Not a surprise but hardly an honest account of his career, especially the disastrous tRump years.
March 13, 2023
Being fairly he United States Attorney General would be a stressful job, and Barr actively brings readers into the stress that ensued throughout his career. A worthwhile book for those wanting to better understand the constant stress and pressure in D.C.
April 19, 2022
There is something here for everyone to not like. He spends so much time talking out of both side of his mouth it is hard to take it seriously.
Barr tries to describe himself above it all and find ways to justify his selling out the people to serve for the pleasure of Donald Trump. While critical of Trump at every step he then claims that he is smart in private and a fool in public. He wants you to believe that he was independent but then describes daily phone calls and meetings with Trump where he appears to be take his marching orders while trying to convince us that he did all he could to hold the president in line.
Of course he also says that the press is at fault as if the relationship with the press was only a problem because how they acted and wants you to believe that they misunderstood Trump.
He makes it clear that he told the president that he lost the election and that he feels that Trump beat Trump because he had no self control. While pointing out things like tax cuts he fails to address the historic deficits they created. He ignores anything that might reflect badly on himself as if he was continually about all the foolishness going on in the White House.
I found it interesting that he was willing to admit that the majority of drugs coming into the country are coming in my boat.
This is just another elitist looking to justify his service to the same one that threw him away time and again.
Start with the last chapter and then you will have a framework on which to build the story poorly told.
Barr tries to describe himself above it all and find ways to justify his selling out the people to serve for the pleasure of Donald Trump. While critical of Trump at every step he then claims that he is smart in private and a fool in public. He wants you to believe that he was independent but then describes daily phone calls and meetings with Trump where he appears to be take his marching orders while trying to convince us that he did all he could to hold the president in line.
Of course he also says that the press is at fault as if the relationship with the press was only a problem because how they acted and wants you to believe that they misunderstood Trump.
He makes it clear that he told the president that he lost the election and that he feels that Trump beat Trump because he had no self control. While pointing out things like tax cuts he fails to address the historic deficits they created. He ignores anything that might reflect badly on himself as if he was continually about all the foolishness going on in the White House.
I found it interesting that he was willing to admit that the majority of drugs coming into the country are coming in my boat.
This is just another elitist looking to justify his service to the same one that threw him away time and again.
Start with the last chapter and then you will have a framework on which to build the story poorly told.
June 25, 2022
I didn’t expect to like this book as much as I did nor find the job as Attorney General as fascinating and thankless as it seems but it was a captivating presentation! As the title states, it’s a never ending job and responsibility to uphold the Constitution of the United States and be that lawyer and leader to carry out the law of the land. Mr. Barr truly is and was an amazing person of experience, candor and conviction that surpassed my knowledge of the duties of his office and the methodical employment of methods to reach the end results. I thoroughly enjoyed the layers of history presented and their effects on our society and democracy today.
May 21, 2022
So I feel as I'm not using much for writing reviews, that I need to actually put a review with this. Looks like this are always hard to rate and review. Especially if you are very politically minded. However I think it is important to remember with every book they're telling you the facts as they see them and know them. And we need to go into these books with open minds. And not just judge these people based on their political parties and political affiliations. They were many things I liked about this book. There are many things he did that I disagreed with. But overall it was a good book.
July 13, 2022
Woah, I see why so many people don't like this book. First off, it is long at 608 pages. It is not just Barr's "memoirs" of his latest stint as Attorney General under President Trump, or even just under Trump and George GW Bush, but an autobiography of his entire life. If you are just interested in hearing about current events from the past few years, skip the first half of the book.
Throughout the book Barr paints himself as a conservative's conservative. He very much champions throughout this book conversative ideas like free markets and judicial and governmental constraint. But it's also disappointing to see how much he distains the left and very much agrees with the current far right culture war talking points ("one damn thing after another" refers to all the attempts by Democrats to cast the Trump administration in a bad light.) He claims, the very bias and unfair "mainstream media" only serves as an extension of the Democratic party. I was shocked at how homophobic his rhetoric was concerning LGBTQ issues. And he buys into the idea hook, line, and sinker, that the left is trying to indoctrinate our children with Marxist ideologies by pushing Critical Race Theory in schools.
Still, it was a fascinating look behind the scenes of how decisions are made in the White House and the events of the last five or so years- from the Mueller Investigation (spoiler- he was not a big fan), to the race demonstrations and riots, to the US response to COVID. There was even a little guilty pleasure on my part at the unfettered descriptions of President Trump's temper. Barr details how his relationship with Trump started out very friendly and cordial and then soured when Barr didn't always go along with what Trump wanted. One case in particular that upset POTUS was when Barr refused to speed up an investigation that would have hurt Democrats, which Barr said could not reasonably be completed before the 2020 elections. Ultimately Barr ends with resignation from the office of Attorney General in Dec 2020 and then his dismay that the President could believe all the false allegations of voter fraud during the 2020 election and his outrage at the events of Jan 6.
The takeaway? In light of the Barr's recent Jan 6 hearings there is no way that Barr would want to be helping the Democrats. His cooperation with the hearings stems not from a partisan bent to help the left (remember Barr hates the left) but from his disgust that Trump would endanger our Democratic Republic- and the future of the Republican party- by refusing the admit that he lost the election.
Throughout the book Barr paints himself as a conservative's conservative. He very much champions throughout this book conversative ideas like free markets and judicial and governmental constraint. But it's also disappointing to see how much he distains the left and very much agrees with the current far right culture war talking points ("one damn thing after another" refers to all the attempts by Democrats to cast the Trump administration in a bad light.) He claims, the very bias and unfair "mainstream media" only serves as an extension of the Democratic party. I was shocked at how homophobic his rhetoric was concerning LGBTQ issues. And he buys into the idea hook, line, and sinker, that the left is trying to indoctrinate our children with Marxist ideologies by pushing Critical Race Theory in schools.
Still, it was a fascinating look behind the scenes of how decisions are made in the White House and the events of the last five or so years- from the Mueller Investigation (spoiler- he was not a big fan), to the race demonstrations and riots, to the US response to COVID. There was even a little guilty pleasure on my part at the unfettered descriptions of President Trump's temper. Barr details how his relationship with Trump started out very friendly and cordial and then soured when Barr didn't always go along with what Trump wanted. One case in particular that upset POTUS was when Barr refused to speed up an investigation that would have hurt Democrats, which Barr said could not reasonably be completed before the 2020 elections. Ultimately Barr ends with resignation from the office of Attorney General in Dec 2020 and then his dismay that the President could believe all the false allegations of voter fraud during the 2020 election and his outrage at the events of Jan 6.
The takeaway? In light of the Barr's recent Jan 6 hearings there is no way that Barr would want to be helping the Democrats. His cooperation with the hearings stems not from a partisan bent to help the left (remember Barr hates the left) but from his disgust that Trump would endanger our Democratic Republic- and the future of the Republican party- by refusing the admit that he lost the election.
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