My American journey
Colin Powell is the embodiment of the American dream. He was born in Harlem to immigrant parents from Jamaica. He knew the rough life of the streets. He overcame a barely average start at school. Then he joined the Army. The rest is history--Vietnam, the Pentagon, Panama, Desert Storm--but a history that until now has been known only on the surface. Here, for the first time, Colin Powell himself tells us how it happened, in a memoir distinguished by a heartfelt love of country and family, warm good humor, and a soldier's directness. MY AMERICAN JOURNEY is the powerful story of a life well lived and well told. It is also a view from the mountaintop of the political landscape of America. At a time when Americans feel disenchanted with their leaders, General Powell's passionate views on family, personal responsibility, and, in his own words, "the greatness of America and the opportunities it offers" inspire hope and present a blueprint for the future. An utterly absorbing account, it is history with a vision. "The stirring, only-in-America story of one determined man's journey from the South Bronx to directing the mightiest of military forces
War Adult
x, 643 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm
9780679432968, 9780679765110, 0679432965, 0679765115
32430862
pt. 1. The early years. Luther and Arie's son
A soldier's life for me
Courting Alma
pt. 2. Soldiering. "It'll take half a million men to succeed"
Coming home
Back to Vietnam
White House fellow
"Go, gunfighter, go!"
The graduate school of war
pt. 3. The Washington years. In the Carter Defense Department
The Reaganites, and a close call
The phone never stops ringing
"Frank, you're gonna ruin my career"
National Security Advisor to the president
pt. 4. The chairmanship. One last command
"Mr. Chairman, we've got a problem"
When you've lost your best enemy
A line in the sand
Every war must end
Change of command
Mustering out
A farewell to arms
Booknotes episode and transcript: Program air date: January 7, 1996