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cdbaker's review against another edition
4.0
This book was written when Hillary started running for president in 2008. It made me like Hillary more and Bill less.
dougsasser's review against another edition
3.0
Bernstein seems to admire his subject. However he did not earn his reputation by making politicians look good. There are many embarrassing details concerning her upbringing and marriage. He does highlight the positive impact of Methodism on her life. Also he explores her drive, studiousness and focus.
jpartlan's review against another edition
4.0
This book was pretty all inclusive look at Hillary Rodham Clinton's political life. There are some added information about her childhood. But the meat of the book starts with her college years and how she really developed her opinions and needs for change to do better for humanity and other policies near and dear to her. This was a good book describing all she had to deal with with the press and "Clinton haters". It just a lot that one person had to deal with.
sjoslyn's review against another edition
5.0
In general this is a positive take on Madame Secretary - which is fine with me as I admire her very much. It is balanced, though, and well researched. I found it more enjoyable than the books that she has written herself, just because they have that more objective perspective.
jesabesblog's review against another edition
4.0
If this book is one thing, it's comprehensive. Almost 26 hours of audio was a daunting task to get through.
I didn't know much about Hillary Clinton's early life, college years, and religious conviction - what I learned impressed me and made me like her more. I had no idea that before Bill Clinton even met Hillary she was a rising political star who'd been president of Wellesley College and featured in Life magazine.
Being only 8 years old when Bill was elected president, I also knew little about her attempt to create universal healthcare and...wow, was that mismanaged. Bernstein did make the case that her tenure as a Senator showed she had learned a lot about how to (and how not to) get things done during the Clinton presidency and was better for it.
In the end, the picture I got was of a deeply compassionate person who has laudable goals to improve people's lives - and thinks the ends justify the means. Further, she's deeply hurt when her means are questioned. Doesn't everyone know she's just trying to help people? Why are they criticizing how it gets done?
The book ends at her announcement to run for President in 2007, so that campaign and her time as Secretary of State aren't covered - I would love a Bernstein-esque deep dive into Benghazi and other more successful things she did during that time.
I didn't know much about Hillary Clinton's early life, college years, and religious conviction - what I learned impressed me and made me like her more. I had no idea that before Bill Clinton even met Hillary she was a rising political star who'd been president of Wellesley College and featured in Life magazine.
Being only 8 years old when Bill was elected president, I also knew little about her attempt to create universal healthcare and...wow, was that mismanaged. Bernstein did make the case that her tenure as a Senator showed she had learned a lot about how to (and how not to) get things done during the Clinton presidency and was better for it.
In the end, the picture I got was of a deeply compassionate person who has laudable goals to improve people's lives - and thinks the ends justify the means. Further, she's deeply hurt when her means are questioned. Doesn't everyone know she's just trying to help people? Why are they criticizing how it gets done?
The book ends at her announcement to run for President in 2007, so that campaign and her time as Secretary of State aren't covered - I would love a Bernstein-esque deep dive into Benghazi and other more successful things she did during that time.
mishlist's review against another edition
4.0
This was a fascinating read, a well developed and well researched insight into one of America's most infamous? politicians. It drew from both her writing and discussions with friends and colleagues, quotes from political enemies and new reports, resulting in a fairly balanced view of the lady herself, and how others perceived her and her actions: someone who is sensitive to criticism, forthright, stubborn, someone of a strong faith, a devoted mother and above all, loyal to her values and vision, and to those who are loyal to her.
It is a detailed read, and a reminder that history repeats itself - no clearer than in the 2016 U.S presidential elections, where her image as a seasoned politician hurt her, just as her ambitions and image as a 21st century woman affected her husband's campaign for governor in Little Rock, and during his presidency. Her inflexibility in campaigning and strong belief that she would win, stultified her campaign; her desire for protection and privacy was often perceived as her having something to hide - as it did during Whitewater and the Travel Office scandals, so did it occur again this year with her emails.
It is a striking exploration of who she is as a person, her influences (I didn't know she was a Young Republican for example!) and her confidants, and of course, her marriage to Bill. Bernstein seems very much to dispute what many believe to be only a political alliance - rather he portrays the two as having very much, a genuine relationship, built on love of family, shared values and experiences. He also explores the role reversal the two experience, their 'fortunes on a seesaw', whether that be during her quest for health care reform vs his attempt to balance the budget and control spending, or as the Monica Lewinsky affair came to light and her ability to craft her own political identity on the 1998 campaign trail.
Finally, it is an account of changing values: twenty years ago, lying was viewed as as damaging to the Office as an inappropriate affair; Republicans and Democrats alike engaging in extramarital relations and the breaking scandals was viewed as a low moment in American politics; non-transparent financial dealings were scrutinized in hearings for hours. And yet today, we have a president elect who defies the kind of disgust that has for some, defined Bill Clinton's presidency. Hillary Clinton is portrayed as a sharp political mind, divorced in a way from the people she has sought to win - but also as someone with good intentions, if not poor execution, someone with bad judgement, but a desire always to be viewed as a champion for the people.
It is a detailed read, and a reminder that history repeats itself - no clearer than in the 2016 U.S presidential elections, where her image as a seasoned politician hurt her, just as her ambitions and image as a 21st century woman affected her husband's campaign for governor in Little Rock, and during his presidency. Her inflexibility in campaigning and strong belief that she would win, stultified her campaign; her desire for protection and privacy was often perceived as her having something to hide - as it did during Whitewater and the Travel Office scandals, so did it occur again this year with her emails.
It is a striking exploration of who she is as a person, her influences (I didn't know she was a Young Republican for example!) and her confidants, and of course, her marriage to Bill. Bernstein seems very much to dispute what many believe to be only a political alliance - rather he portrays the two as having very much, a genuine relationship, built on love of family, shared values and experiences. He also explores the role reversal the two experience, their 'fortunes on a seesaw', whether that be during her quest for health care reform vs his attempt to balance the budget and control spending, or as the Monica Lewinsky affair came to light and her ability to craft her own political identity on the 1998 campaign trail.
Finally, it is an account of changing values: twenty years ago, lying was viewed as as damaging to the Office as an inappropriate affair; Republicans and Democrats alike engaging in extramarital relations and the breaking scandals was viewed as a low moment in American politics; non-transparent financial dealings were scrutinized in hearings for hours. And yet today, we have a president elect who defies the kind of disgust that has for some, defined Bill Clinton's presidency. Hillary Clinton is portrayed as a sharp political mind, divorced in a way from the people she has sought to win - but also as someone with good intentions, if not poor execution, someone with bad judgement, but a desire always to be viewed as a champion for the people.
melarie's review
3.0
That was a really tough slog. I wanted to read an in-depth and balanced biography of Hilary Clinton, and I feel that Bernstein fulfilled that. Was it I enthralling? No. Do I like her? Also probably no. But do I feel I know enough about her to make a judgement on the American election this year? 100% yes. It was worth the read.
juliakm's review
4.0
A disturbing portrait of Hillary. I wanted to scream "Don't do it" during the chapter when she was trying to decide whether to marry Bill. I enjoyed the first half of the book. Once Bill and Hillary got out of Arkansas though, the book starting feeling more like a history lesson. That being said, the section on Hillary and Vince Foster was illuminating.
buma2's review
4.0
Really inspiring...makes you wanna aim higher and higher ...sky is the limit to what you can do...
rebjam's review
3.0
Meticulously researched and presented but somewhat dry. I had more information to make my decision this year. I didnt like all that she's done, her choices, etc but she is accomplished, she was more involved in Bill Clinton's policy initiates and successes (and failures) than any other first lady except maybe Woodrow Wilson's 2nd wife. She has withstood much and is still standing..