Legendary journalist Bob Woodward, known for his groundbreaking reporting on the Watergate scandal, is back with a bombshell new book that takes readers inside the rooms where critical decisions were made on some of the most pressing issues of our time. “War”, Woodward’s latest exposé, offers an unvarnished look at the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as the tumultuous final days of Donald Trump’s presidency.
Shocking Revelations About Ukraine, Gaza, and Trump
Through meticulous reporting and exclusive access to key players, Woodward uncovers startling new details about the wars that have shaped our world. In “War”, readers will discover:
- The true extent of the CIA and MI6’s knowledge of Putin’s plans to invade Ukraine
- Explosive quotes from world leaders, including Joe Biden calling Putin “the epitome of evil” and slamming Benjamin Netanyahu as a “bad f—ing guy”
- Donald Trump’s previously unknown conversations with Vladimir Putin after leaving office
- The 50% chance Biden believed Putin would resort to nuclear weapons in Ukraine
The Definitive Account from the Ultimate D.C. Insider
With his unparalleled access and meticulous fact-checking, Woodward has earned the trust of countless senior officials who speak to him on deep background, allowing “War” to take readers inside the room like no other book can. As a source told Woodward:
If you talk to Bob on deep background, he won’t break trust with you. So hundreds of senior officials and politicians have the confidence to speak to him.
While some may question whether the confidences shared with Woodward reflect what was truly said in the moment, there is no doubt that “War” offers the definitive insider’s account of these world-shaping conflicts and crises. Even if the quotes are more l’esprit de l’escalier than verbatim, they provide an invaluable window into the thinking of those in power.
A Gripping Read, But Few Genuine Surprises
Though meticulously reported and compellingly written, “War” ultimately reveals little that will come as a true surprise to close followers of global affairs. Much of what Woodward reports – from the intelligence community’s awareness of Putin’s invasion plans to the explosive quotes from world leaders – largely confirms what attentive readers already suspected. As John Simpson, the BBC’s world affairs editor, notes in his review:
I read this book, which like all Woodward’s work is well-written, even a page-turner, without coming across a single thing that was a genuine surprise.
From Fly on the Wall to Unabashed Advocate?
Some critics have also questioned whether Woodward, with his strong anti-Trump views on full display in “War”, can still claim to be the impartial fly on the wall reporter he built his reputation as. While Trump unsurprisingly slammed Woodward as a liar, even generally supportive reviewers like Simpson wonder what this shift means for Woodward’s vaunted insider reporting going forward:
The fly on the Oval Office wall has fluttered down and joined in the argument. Where does Woodward’s long, masterful, often mesmerising series of Washington insider books go after this?
An Essential Read for Understanding Our Turbulent Times
Despite these questions, there is no doubt that “War” is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the forces shaping our world today. From the ongoing devastation in Ukraine to the intractable Israeli-Palestinian conflict to the chaotic transfer of power in Washington, Woodward takes readers to the front lines of the issues that will define the future.
With his unrivaled sourcing, rigorous fact-checking, and gripping prose, Woodward proves yet again why he remains the ultimate chronicler of American power in the modern era. For readers seeking an inside account of how we got to this precarious moment in history, “War” is indispensable.
As world-shaking as the events covered in “War” may be, perhaps the book’s most enduring impact will be in posing the question that Simpson’s review ends with – where does Bob Woodward, and the craft of insider Washington journalism he all but invented, go from here? Only time, and Woodward’s next book, will tell.
