Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsI really enjoyed this book!
Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2017
I'm usually not a big fan of non-fiction books, but I thoroughly enjoyed this one! The author has a very personable way of writing that made me feel like I was having a nice, informal dinner with him and his wife. I also appreciated the fact that this wasn't a tell-all type of book that tried to show the reader the ugly side of the occupants of the White House. Instead, it struck me as being extremely truthful and down to earth. It was written with great warmth and respect. As a result Mr. West has shown the first ladies and their families as human beings, and made them very accessible to those of us who will never find ourselves serving in any comparable position. I'm old enough to remember the Eisenhower presidency, and to have lived through the Cuban missile crisis and Kennedy assassination. As a native Texas I remember very well Lyndon Johnson's presidency and his big personality, as well as Lady Bird's highly-successful beautification efforts. But these weren't the only reasons the book made me quite nostalgic. We now live in an age where everyone seems determined to undermine each other and treat opponents as sub-human. It was good to remember the times when opponents could duke it out during the day but then go out for dinner or drinks, or have a meal at each other's homes while the kids played together. I wish Mr. West was still alive so I could hope he would see this review and know that his stories have touched my heart.
