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Product Description
From Amazon
Loved and reviled, respected and resented, Bill Clinton is one of the more polarizing and complex politicians of our age. As the 42nd President, he presided over a period of dizzying economic growth and technological progress, and achieved such foreign policy successes as the ratification of NAFTA, helping to bring several former Eastern Bloc nations into NATO, and assisting China's entrance into the World Trade Organization. His time in office was also marked by a string of scandals, most notably the Monica Lewinsky debacle and the subsequent impeachment trial, which largely overshadowed his triumphs.
Just 53 years old when he left office, Clinton continues to keep a high profile, having formed the William J. Clinton Presidential Foundation to focus on the battle against HIV/AIDS around the world; racial, ethnic, and religious reconciliation; economic empowerment of poor people; nd leadership development and citizen service. His memoir, My Life, due out on June 30, 2004, is an opportunity for Clinton to reveal his political philosophy and perspective on past events as well as a chance to influence his own place in history. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
From Publishers Weekly
Condensing a 900-page text into a six-and-a-half–hour audiobook is no small challenge, but this production proves that it can be done—and done well. Inevitably, people will wonder what has been left out. The answer: anecdotes from Clinton's childhood; blow-by-blow accounts of his gubernatorial and presidential races; a plethora of details regarding his smaller accomplishments as president; and some blistering indictments of Kenneth Starr and other conservatives. What's left is a moving but all-too-brief portrait of Clinton's troubled childhood and an in-depth look at the battles he fought before and after being elected. It should come as no surprise to anyone who has heard Clinton speak that the former president narrates his autobiography with aplomb. His voice rings with mirth when he relates an amusing anecdote and expresses sadness when he describes how his abusive, alcoholic father faced death with more courage than he did life. Clinton covers the expected topics—Whitewater (a "bogus scandal"); his "immoral and foolish" dalliance with Monica Lewinsky; his attempts to balance the budget and bring peace to the Middle East—but the most illuminating details are the small ones (such as when he recalls, with a smile in his voice, impulsively buying a house and telling Hillary: "Remember that little house you liked so much? I bought it. You have to marry me now, because I can't live there alone"). Although not all of the transitions between topics are seamless and listeners may wish John McElroy, who created this abridgment, had included more details from Clinton's younger years, Clinton's legendary charisma shines through in his reading, making this audiobook a rare treat. B&w photos on packaging.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.
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Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 stars
A feast for lovers of minutua,
By Jaye Joyce (Brick, NJ United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: My Life (Hardcover)
Long reads are great -- IF the subject matter can keep you riveted. This one is just not a great read. I found my mind wandering most of the time and finally decided I was never going to get through it. Better off going to the library, pick up a copy, sit down for about 30 minutes to go to the "juicy" pages to quench your curiosity, then put it back on the shelf for someone else, and donate the $20 to your favorite charity. My guess is most people who buy this book will never finish reading it. Just my opinion.
1.0 out of 5 stars
self-indulgent, petulant tripe,
By Brian G. (Wilmington, DE United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: My Life (Hardcover)
Clinton's magnum opus is a grant testament to a life spent in the pursuit of power. It lacks even the barest hint of self-evaluation or honest soul-searching. Clinton accepts responsibility for nothing. Every mistake he has ever made- political, personal, sexual- he blames on some other person, entity or phenomenon. His continued attacks on Ken Starr and his whining about his failure to secure peace in the Middle East (a failure brought on as a direct result are pathetic. Readers who are hoping for an genuine look into this man's inner state are bound to be disappointed- either he wrote most of this fluff for filler or his life really is as shallow as some of his critics allege.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Smart and giving, too.,
By joe maziek (Perth Amboy, NJ) - See all my reviews
This review is from: My Life (Hardcover)
A real page turner. My wife and I both found his stories wonderfully revealing and truly touching, as if we watched a Oprah-Bill mini-series (Roots: The Man from Hope). His vast intellect and global view are amazing -- and to think I considered applying for a Rhodes scholarship -- I couldn't have competed with guys like him, so I guess I'm glad I didn't waste my time writing those difficult essays that applications to really good colleges seem to always ask for.My only complaint, actually it's my wife's complaint, and a relatively minor one at that, is that the book is kind of heavy, and it added to our struggle, toting it plus the cooler, the chairs, the umbrella, and the 3 different SPF levels of suntan lotion, along with the aloe vera and both our cell phones to our favorite beach spot. My wife complains because I've got my laptop under an arm, and 'My Life' kind of started an argument which sort of left a stain on otherwise what was a beautiful week at the beach. Looking back a week now since I read 'My Life', my most memorable passage is that President Clinton slept on the couch during that tense period with Mrs. Clinton. It was thoughtful and giving for the president to not have asked one of the regular occupants of the Lincoln Bedroom to find another place to go.
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