I enjoyed this book. Ever page was filled with behind the scene information on the presidents. I also enjoyed learning about the men and women that are responsible for serving and protecting the privacy of our leaders.

I have certainly known of Camp David as a personal retreat of presidents over the decades but I didn't realize the importance it has played on more political levels. Details such as the important meetings held there were fascinating to read about. I found this book to be insightful and well-written. I enjoyed reading it very much and recommend it highly.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for allowing me a review copy for my honest opinion.

I would have enjoyed this portrait of Camp David by one of its former commanding officers much more if it hadn’t been quite so sycophantic. Respect for the President is one thing, fawning admiration quite another and it got on my nerves. However, that quibble apart, the book achieves admirably what it sets out to do – gives an insider’s view of the Presidential retreat and of the Presidents who have stayed there. What seems clear is that it is indeed a valuable retreat for each incumbent, and each President leaves his mark on it. It’s an eminently readable, gossipy (although always reverential) account of life in this iconic residence and a fascinating behind the scenes exploration.

This is a fascinating look into the Presidential retreat from the perspective of the various commanders who were interviewed for the book. I loved reading about the history of Camp David, but hearing the more personable aide of the President was most interesting.

This was a good read. I've always been fascinated by the private lives of presidents and their families. I know the Bush's loved Camp David and I was glad to read about their stays. It seems the Trump administration has been in the news for using it for a diplomatic meeting place. It was fascinating to learn how the property is protected and maintained and how it has been upgraded and changed over the years. It seems authentic and well written by military personnel that have been stationed there over the years. I'd definitely recommend this title to non-fiction readers.

This book offers a rare and private peek inside Camp David, the Presidential Retreat by Michael Giorgione, USN (retired) who served as the commanding officer of Camp David (200 sailors and marines) from June 1999 to August 2001. Sure, we have all read about Camp in the newspapers or heard on the news that the President has gone to Camp David--often to meet with world leaders out of the public eye. This book allows us to go inside the gates--past the checkpoints.. We get to roam the grounds, learn about the history, see how each President has left his mark on this magical place. Thank you, Michael Giorgione. What an excellent read.

Written by Georgione, who was Camp David's CO (and how the Navy runs a mountaintop Presidential retreat is part of the story), this is a behind the scenes view of how the property operates day to day--deicing the pool deck, dealing with Presidential pets, how CO's children meet the school bus, updates to the plumbing (LBJ wanted very high pressure shower heads, and he wanted them NOW), gracious gestures and weather hazards. Giorgione had access to decades of military families who lived at Camp David, and folds their memories into a respectful view of a private world Presidents and their families rely on to relax and preserve their privacy while in the most visible job in the world.

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟

One-Sentence Summary: An insight into what goes on in the exclusive Presidential Retreat

Review: If you have ever been interested to find out what Presidents are really like as people once you take away all the grandstanding and politics then this is the book for you.

At Camp David, Presidents are more relaxed than at the White House and get a chance to show their true personalities. This book is written and researched by a former CO of Camp David who worked there at the time of Clinton and Bush's presidencies but he also includes a lot of stories from the archives/other COs to showcase vignettes from all the Presidents that stayed at Camp David.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this and seeing what some of the most famous people in the world are really like out of the media spotlight.

Interesting book. The author does an excellent job of pulling back the curtain on a little understood place.