Former Texas Governor of US diversity, Ann Richards, wisely said, "Bill Clinton is one smart man." His Presidential autobiography clearly reveals that truth. The US had a humble, gentle-speaking statesman at the helm who was beloved nearly throughout the world. "My Life," couldn't do a better job of reminding me of that, especially in contrast to an arrogant and supremacist Bush-led White House that is hated nearly around the world, including in the US where he can't even safely walk a city street that Pres. Clinton used to shake hands while jogging along. As Bob Dylan's oscar-winning song claims: "I used to care, but things have changed." Pres. Clinton credits his family upbringing in Hope, Ark. for his many successes. With detailed and meticulous acumen, he self-analyses numerous political life events and people who worked for and against him from Hope to DC. As the former President of the US carefully critiques his significant achievements in rapidly stopping Milosevic's genocide in Serbia and steadfastly constructing the best US economy ever, Clinton doesn't fail to reveal his senses of failure to mediate an enduring peace in the Middle East and a nationalized healthcare system for all Americans. Most interesting of all is Pres. Clinton's recounting of his administration's intelligence and knowledge of Osama bin Laden's terrorist threat to the US and that they were striving to target bin Laden and his terrorist cells. In Hindsight, Clinton's report of his adminstration's work to prevent attacks on US soil makes Defense Sec. Rice's ignorance even more heinous. Pres. Clinton credits Hillary for being his rock. His adoration of Hillary and Chelsea is ever-present throughout the text. Pres. Clinton takes full responsibility for his tryst with Lewinsky. But like Hillary's account of his impeachment, partisan politics conflated with Christian zealously in the form of Kenneth Starr are what he holds responsible, as do a majority of the American people. Pres. Clinton paints the accurate portrait of the last global leader since the Bush Supreme Court's Presidential selection. Influenced as a teen by JFK to commit his innovative intellect and political ambitions to public service he proved himself through independent and creative hard work. "My Life," is certainly the most detailed and well written account of a Presidential autobiography that I've read. As one critic says, "It's almost voluptuous to read Clinton when he's recounting or analyzing a political race or a legislative battle, whether it's his own or somebody else's.....Passages like these, and there are plenty of them, are enriched by a characteristic mixture of shrewdness, and a nuanced appreciation of context" New Yorker Hendrik Hertzberg 8/2/2004. Perhaps that is the most challenging work Pres. Clinton achieved in his autobiography, contextualizing himself and everyone else in the very moments of being.Read full review
Former President Bill Clinton writes openly, candidly, honestly and with humility. His memoirs are in-depth as he reveals and explains in great depth what he faced and what he tried and did accomplish for his fellow countrymen in America during his two terms as President. What ever our Party affiliation, these memoirs are part of America's history, giving us insight to the complexity of this Office and what these great leaders of America's past endured and how much they and their families sacrificed for their country.
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Bill Clinton is my favourite President starting from my high school days in the early 90’s Australia. Great book & great read + fortune enough to have the book signed by the previous owner who attended the book signing at the Clinton Presidential Library, Little Rock Arkansas in 2004.
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Well worth waiting for, well worth reading every page, this presidential memoir is one of my all time favorites. Bill Clinton has a unique charm that comes through his writing just as it always has through his public presentations. His memoir is particularly great because Clinton is deliberately using a writing style that is accessible to the largest readership imaginable. That is typical of the former president of the US. One of his great achievements was opening up the executive branch of US government, through very effective communication, to we, the people. This memoir continues that legacy.
It’s a great book just like the President was!
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