A review by steves_reading
Faith of My Fathers by John McCain, Mark Salter

4.0

This book would be a 3-star read, but having McCain read it added a star to the experience for me. The first part in which he tells the story of his grandfather and his dad during WWII was my favorite part of the book. The second third focuses on McCain's early years and his time at West Point. He was a pretty lousy student, but he came into his own when he had a chance at actual command. The final third of the book covers his time as a POW at the Hanoi Hilton. By the end of the book, the "campaign biography" elements in the book got a bit heavy handed. I was struck throughout by McCain's description of his reaction to adversity; it was always anger and belligerence. It got him through a lot, but it made me think that perhaps this would not be the best temperament for a president. I wonder if his career would have been different had this essential element of his character been different.