Duty: Memoirs Of A Secretary At War

"When this book was first published, a cacophonous kerfuffle erupted over its criticism of President Obama. Lines were pulled out to suggest that Robert M. Gates — the only defense secretary ever asked to stay on by the next president — had turned on the boss. But at its core, Duty is so much more than just a report card on the current administration. It’s a heartfelt — and sometimes heartbreaking — account of a challenging time in American history. Gates does indulge in a bit of score-settling — Vice President Biden probably won’t be buying extra copies of Duty to use as stocking stuffers this Christmas. Yet what shines forth is Gates’ fundamental decency, his respect for military bigwigs as well as common soldiers, and his love for his country."