My Life
by Bill Clinton
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Book Reviews of My Life
Book Review: Remember: Nobody Died When Clinton Lied
Summary: 5 Stars
I just bought the book on my lunch hour, and have been thumbing it. Some people complain about the length of this book, but U.S. Grant, Harry Truman, and Richard Nixon wrote longer autobiographies; theirs ran to over 1000 pages and two volumes.Clinton haters may make a big deal of the fact that Clinton told a jury his affair with Lewinsky started in '96 (after her internship) but in the book (page 773, you can find it by looking for 'Lewinsky' in the index) he says "In late 1995, ... I'd had an inappropriate encounter with Monica Lewinsky and would do so again ..." Big deal, big liar Bill Clinton. If you're looking for confessions, check out page 153, where he admits to breaking and entering and larceny (in a kitchen in Oxford University.) But the point remains: Clinton's crimes were small potatoes, and nobody died when Clinton lied. Compare that with Bush's lies which have killed 837 American soldiers (and counting) and wounded thousands of others.
The book is written mostly chronologically, with flash-forwards and flashbacks to connect continuing themes. It makes for a slightly confusing tale (and perhaps reflects hurried writing at the end), but it's hard to see how else the book could have been structured. My advice is to use the index heavily and view the book as three tales interwoven:
The first tale is the personal autobiography, in which he recites personal accomplishments and acknowledges the many folks that helped him on his way, starting with the single mom and grand parents who raised him. Clinton spreads his praise warmly and generously, but this part of the book isn't particularly interesting to me, though there are some surprises; look up Bush, H.W., B.C's meeting and Chelsea's encounters; Clinton has alot of warm praise for Bush 41.
The second tale is the policy document. The best way to follow a policy issue is look it up in the (excellent) index and read all the referenced sections. For example, look up 'Contract with America' and read Clinton's approach to it. Look up 'Northern Ireland' and read the debate about whether and when to allow Gerry Adams a visa. You'll find a very concise capsule of the positions pro and con for a visa. If that's a representative instance of how good the policy document is, then it's very good indeed.
The third tale is the political tale. Again, the index your friend. Look up all the familiar names: Gennifer Flowers, Paula Jones (I saw little new info about them). The biggest part of this tale is about Ken Starr and the impeachment. I haven't looked at this part yet, so I can't comment on the substance. I have mixed feelings about the topic as a whole. In one sense, I'd like to leave it in the past. I feel the impeachment was harmful to our nation in numerous ways, and I'm glad it's over. However, in a larger sense, the impeachment was just an instance of the politics of personal destruction, and the politics of personal destruction are alive and thriving in America today, and both parties are getting more and more skillful at using selective truths to deceive the public. If Clinton's book stimulates a debate on deceit and destruction in American politics, then that would be a very good outcome.
In summary: use the index; it's your friend. What I've seen of the book is very interesting, and I'm looking forward to reading more.
Book Review: At least it is a more intelligent read than the average G.W. Bush bio
Summary: 2 Stars
I confess I used to love this man. Instead of being a self righteous moronic imbecile like our current tyrant Bill was at least fun. The guy played the sax, and he wasn't ashamed to admit he loved sex. After all if you were the president you would get freaky with your interns too. And despite all the moral morons who think that Bush is righteous at least Clinton didn't have a gay prostitute lover named Jeff Gannon.
The question is this. How is Clinton better? During the aftermath of the Persian gulf war a million innocent Iraqi civilians perished due to our sanctions on food and medicine. Not to mention the constant bombing of civilian infrastructure.
Next there was the Bosnian-Serb conflict. Here on the home-front everything appeared nice and peachy on the surface. Very little is remembered of the innocent children that were cooked, baked, sizzled, and fried by the Clinton regime in WACO. ( Get the documentary Waco : Rules of Engagement) The proof of their murder is overwhelming. Next their is the Oklahoma City Bombing. On the surface it once again appeared to be another lone nut responsible. In reality the entire operation as well as the blatant cover-up after was the work of the high up members of our so called govt. ( Get the excellent film by Alex Jones called 9-11 The Road to Tyranny. I am not easily convinced of anything, but that film blew my mind. Notably the live news coverage at the federal building where they had bomb squads on the scene removing the other devices. Not too mention the eye witnesses that all claimed to hear at least two explosions.) And what do you know all the records of the Waco massacre were being held at the building and were destroyed. Guaranteeing that nobody could ever be held responsible. With Bush all freedom loving people know of the patriot act, and despise it. However during the Clinton administration these same domestic spying measures were being pushed through our govt. Supposedly to protect us from terror like Oklahoma City.
The sad truth of the matter is that all the republicrats are corporate fascist. Do you actually think that Clinton opposes GW Bush? He has supported Bush during the vast majority of Bush's crimes. Where was Clinton before the Iraq war? He was saying that Saddam was dangerous and needed to be dealt with. And after the tsunami we had George H. W. Bush and Clinton on camera unable to keep their hands off of each other.
The president is virtually powerless. Foreign Policy is made by the Council On Foreign Relations, and the Trilateral Commission. The office of the president is nothing more than a PR job for our corrupt Oligarchy. So please wake up and forget about these stupid political parties that are obviously not looking out for any of us. Amazon has a lot of great books that will give you a more accurate picture of our political reality. Try these fine books instead. The New Pearl Harbor by David Ray Griffin, 9-11 Synthetic Terror by Webster Griffin Tarpley, and Tarpley's masterpiece George Bush: The Unauthorized Biography. It is time to stop believing the propaganda. Every European country has had either a prime time special on 9-11 truth, or a national best selling book. Why do you want to continue to be backwards when the rest of civilization is learning what these books tell you?
Book Review: Put On Your Rose-Colored glasses if you want to read My Life
Summary: 1 Stars
(...) I have read "My Life" with an open mind. Unfortunately, the only conclusion I can still come to is he knows how to spin a story to his advantage. The book is long and boring. Not much more in the book than exerpts from his long-winded speeches on television and other media promoting this waste of paper and trees. This guy still does not get it. He lied to the American people many, many times. He lied to the Grand Jury, He lied to the prosceutors, He lied to his family and friends, and He lied to himself, while all the time, swearing, under God, He was telling the truth. This shallow human being has no Christian values or beliefs he would die for, except, maybe his picture on the cover of GQ. This man is still in denial and a morally corrupted midget. He wants his book to change what America thinks of him for history and prosperity, much like even our old friend O. J. Simpson does. They both beat the judicial system because of power, fame and money, whereas many others went to jail. The Obstruction of Justice charge that was leveled at this lame-duck President, because of his admitted perjury, he somehow managed to step around. The thing about the book that really makes the hair on the back of my neck stand-on-end is his silly-ass grin as he sits there and lies to us all again. Smoke and mirrors folks, just smoke and mirrors. My ire comes from the American public that condones his dribble and prattle, lies, and accepts his moral values. He was the President, held to a higher standard than the rest of us. He was someone we had to believe in, to set examples for our children. The White House is not hallow ground but it is sacred to many Americans for which it stands, integrity for those who live in it. President Reagan respected it so much he always wore a suitcoat in the Oval Office. Slick Willy ran up and down the halls in the dark of night with his "Johnson" hanging out of his pants chasing young interns. It is this same person conning us all again with a tale that puts him into a better light. When he wrote where he beat the impeachment process and considers it a victoy for him, and thinks of it as a badge of honor, I wanted to scream to the heavens, "Wake up you damn immoral idiot, you were guilty." He should be made to wear a large A on his clothing like Hester in the Scarlet Letter. His would stand for AUDACITY, which he is full of now as when he wasted eight years of the Presidency. And always remember, this President had three chances, I repeat, three chances to take out Osama bin Laden and took no option at all. Leaders lead, they don't sit in front of a mirror and rehearse speeches to make them sound truthful and sincere. People like Bill Clinton just don't get it because thier friends and associates are all "Yes" people. The book is awful, with sloppy writing. I doubt very much if this man knows the difference betweeen a metaphor and a simile. He certainly has no idea what a run-on sentence is as is obvious each and every page. He was a terrible President and if possible, even a worse writer. "My Life," should be retitled "My Garbage Can" for that is what the book is, PURE GARBAGE. Save your money (...). When is this country ever going to learn, a snake is always a snake, and a leopard never changes its spots. (...)Book Review: Interesting Reading
Summary: 4 Stars
I read and was thrilled by Bill Clinton's autobiography. I learnt a lot about the USA political system as well as that hard work and dedication can capapult anyone to great heights, as it did to Bill Clinton. The American democracy is also a good example for most people and countries in the world that are struggling to set up their own democracies suited to their peculiar situations.
As an African, it is largely Bill Clinton's foreign policy that was of major interest. I have given some of the highlights of his foreign policy that I found interesting. Clinton deployed US troops several times during his presidency. In 1993, U.S. troops were deployed and fought in Mogadishu, Somalia where they were attempting to capture local warlord Mohamed Farrah Aidid. The Clinton administration withdrew the troops after suffering 19 deaths and 73 wounded at the hands of Somalia militiaman. In 1994, Clinton sent U.S. troops into Haiti to restore Jean-Bertrand Aristide as president, ending a period of intense violence. The elected Aristide, had been ousted in a coup just seven months into his term in 1991.
Clinton also committed troops twice in the former Yugoslavia to stop ethnic violence, most notably in Kosovo. In addition, Clinton launched military strikes on Iraq several times to punish violations of United Nations sanctions and other perceived misdeeds. In 1994, Clinton negotiated and signed the Nuclear Accords with North Korea. The main concern was that North Korea was developing nuclear weapons technology under the guise of a nuclear power for civilian use. In exchange for assistance with energy needs, North Korea agreed to abandon all ambitions for acquiring nuclear weapons. However, North Korea appear to have violated both the Nuclear Accords and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. North Korea announced publicly in 2005 that they possessed nuclear weapons.
In 1998, Clinton signalled the danger of rogue nations providing weapons of mass destruction to terrorist organizations. Clinton specifically pointed to Saddam Hussein, President of Iraq. During his tenure, Al Qaeda began to emerge as a major terrorist threat. In 1993, Al Qaeda bombed the World Trade centre. In 1998, the group bombed the American embassies in Tanzania and Kenya. In retaliation, Clinton ordered cruise missile strikes on terrorist camps in Kandahar, Afghanistan and a suspected chemical weapons facility in Khartoum, Sudan, that was believed to be tied to Bin Laden. At the end of his term, in late 2000, the terrorists bombed the USS COLE. In his book, Clinton said he regarded Al-Qaeda as the foremost threat to national security.
However, some of the US troop deployments clearly violated international law. These included attacks in Somalia, Bosnia, Sudan, and Afghanistan.
Clinton failed to intervene militarily to end the Rwanda genocide in 1994. Clinton identified this as his major foreign policy failure. Along with the United Nations, the Clinton administration initially did not publicly acknowledge that genocide was occurring. This delayed the mandatory response to the crisis and nearly one million people died.
The book is interesting reading and is highly recommended.
Book Review: Love him or hate him....You just can't ignore him
Summary: 4 Stars
As a fan of anything political or historical, I had to be one of the first people to get my hands on this important work. I have always been amazed at Clinton's staggering intellect and his seemingly never-ending desire to accumulate knowledge. With those two traits, any book from such a author would have to be an interesting read. This one just happened to be the story of one of the most fascinating characters in recent memory, President Bill Clinton.
Advertised as "strikingly candid," we must remember we are only given the truth as Clinton sees it. He speaks at times with the tricky, legal language that attempts to shape the truth into the most favorable version for him. It is like he never stops debating anything bad that was ever said about him.
With all his success and smarts comes with it that dark side that will forever tarnish his legacy. The same lack of personal responsibility that caused him trouble also prevents him from seeing the scandal from both sides (he likes to focus on his role at victim more than his role as culprit). He does one of those classic "I accept full responsibility for my actions" admissions and then begins to distance himself from any guilt and points a steadily focused cannon directly at Ken Starr and to that mysterious group of radical right folks who seem to want to harm him.
But wait, I am guilty of the same fault as most people; I am defining Clinton by the Lewinsky scandal. The majority of the book is actually not about her or any other women with whom he "did not have sexual relations." He tells his life story by focusing on the totality of it. After all, this book is not titled "Wednesdays with Monica."
He talks about his childhood and discusses the adults of his youth who would forever build in him the images of men and women. He plays auto-psychiatrist and suggests much of his personal faults grow out of his formative years and his lack of positive role models and stability (I think he is on to something).
When discussing his political career, he covers it all, from his roots in Arkansas to his last days in the White House. Many people will skip over these sections, preferring the interesting tales of his youth and his thoughts on the Lewinsky scandal. There is some important stuff in the middle that should not be missed. He is very careful discussing the issues related to Osama Bin Laden. He answers the claims by many (See Woodward's Bush at War) that Al-Qaeda was able to flourish under his watch.
The way I chose to read the book was not as a fan or as a detractor, but rather as an observer. I wanted to hear how Clinton explained things. I wasn't ready to embrace his characterizations of his legacy or disagree with every point he made. I felt it was more important to accept the book for what it is: one man's opinion of himself.
Even though I realize only a fool would think he it totally forthright in this book, I feel like I have a much better understanding of Bill Clinton, and this new knowledge makes me somewhat sad. I have a firm grip on how great a man he is, but I also see the even greater man he could have been.