Known and Unknown cover art

Known and Unknown

A Memoir

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Known and Unknown

By: Donald Rumsfeld
Narrated by: Donald Rumsfeld
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About this listen

A powerful memoir from the late former U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld

With the same directness that defined his career in public service, Rumsfeld's memoir is filled with previously undisclosed details and insights about the Bush administration, 9/11, and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. It also features Rumsfeld's unique and often surprising observations on eight decades of history.

Rumsfeld addresses the challenges and controversies of his illustrious career, from the unseating of the entrenched House Republican leader in 1965, to helping the Ford administration steer the country away from Watergate and Vietnam, to the war in Iraq, to confronting abuse at Abu Ghraib. Along the way, he offers his plainspoken, first-hand views and often humorous and surprising anecdotes about some of the world's best-known figures, ranging from Elvis Presley to George W. Bush.

Both a fascinating narrative and an unprecedented glimpse into history,Known and Unknown captures the legacy of one of the most influential men in public service.
Entertainment & Celebrities Politicians Politics & Activism Politics & Government United States World Middle East Celebrity Iran Military American Foreign Policy War Memoir Witty Vietnam War Russia Career Soviet Union Imperial Japan Africa

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Critic reviews

"It is a terrific book...Let me tell you something, it is absolutely fascinating. He's very blunt in talking about people and issues and so forth, you'll really enjoy it, in my humble opinion."—Mark Levin, author of Unfreedom of the Press and American Marxism

"I would heartily recommend it. I don't think anybody could go buy a book written by anybody who has been more intimately involved, closer to power, for as many years, has been through as much, has known all of the power players as you have. It is amazing."—Rush Limbaugh, late host of The Rush Limbaugh Show

"Readers might be appreciative to find themselves in possession of a serious memoir, more in keeping with the older Washington tradition of Dean Acheson or Henry Kissinger. As might the historians."—Kimberly Strassel, colummnist at Wall Street Journal

"The battle is joined. After a long silence, Donald Rumsfeld opened both barrels Tuesday, releasing his memoir, Known and Unknown . Early leaks of the book's defiant take on his life, times, and conduct of the Iraq War drew howls from some of the targets of his score-settling...But Rumsfeld battles on, taking his unapologetic account to the public."—John Barry, journalist at Newsweek and The Daily Beast

"The book places the reader in Rumsfeld's chair and is a serious stab at telling the history of a consequential period in America through the eyes of one of its most consequential players. It will be an important addition to the history of our time."—Peter Baker, chief White House correspondent at New York Times

"[Rumsfeld] describes the highs and lows of a long and dramatic career and discloses some behind the scenes details that may shock you."—Sean Hannity, host at Fox News

"Known and Unknown is a meaty, well-written book that will be a primary source for historians...this power memoir deserves to be read with the care that went into writing it."—Christopher Buckley, author of Make Russia Great Again and Thank You For Smoking

"'Dismissive' is a word often used to describe Rumsfeld, but 'dismissive' perfectly describes his critics, who are unwilling or unable to re-examine their own assumptions in the light of new or overlooked information and fresh perspective provided by Rumsfeld, in his exceedingly well-documented work. With its hundreds of annotations and supplementary documents, Known and Unknown is a significant contribution to the historical record. It is, as Rumsfeld once noted about similar memoirs, 'only from one perspective,' but it's a unique and valuable perspective, a serious work that deserves consideration by any serious student of recent history."—Jamie McIntyre, former CNN Pentagon correspondent
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