Bill Clinton: An American Journey

Author - Nigel Hamilton ... [Goo?] [Posters]

This Hardcover Book item from Diane Pub Co was reviewed on 25-Oct-2008.

Search ISBN:0756783577 offer from Abebooks or used books from Alibris. Bill Clinton: An American Journey Reference Book. Classifications : Presidents & Heads of State Leaders & Notable People Biographies & Memoirs Subjects Books Clinton, Bill ( C ) People, A-Z Biographies & Memoirs Subjects Books General Biographies & Memoirs Subjects Bo .

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1) Hardcover Book Bill Clinton: An American Journey by Diane Pub Co. Once upon a time there was a first-rate biographer named Nigel Hamilton. Twenty years ago he wrote the definitive three-volume life of Lord Montgomery of Alamein, one that is still the essential source for understanding the man. Then in 1993 the first book of his projected multi-volume biography of John F. Kennedy, JFK: Reckless Youth, was published, a work that will probably remain the essential source for understanding Kennedy´s pre-political life for decades to come.

At some point after that, though, Hamilton changed. Perhaps it was a consequence of immersing himself in JFK´s salacious life or perhaps it was some sort of traumatic personal experience, but Hamilton´s focus changed. The shift emerged in 2001 with his atrociously-named "Full Monty," a reinterpretation of his earlier subject that focuses on Montgomery´s sexual orientation. Now we have his latest book, the first of a promised two-volume life of Bill Clinton that covers his life up to his election in 1992. Like the Kennedy biography it is an "unofficial" life; unlike the Kennedy biography, though, Hamilton did not have access to any of the papers from the Clinton Library, which obviously limits much of its scope.

Even when this is taken into account, though, Hamilton has written a lousy book. His primary focus is on Clinton´s personal life, which he covers in salacious detail (enough to ensure that his book will occupy a prominent place on the bookshelves of most Clinton-haters) and follows up with superficial psychoanalysis. While I do not doubt the accuracy of his account, the result is Clinton the libido, with little about the political career which is the reason why he warrants our attention to begin with. I grant that Hamilton did not have access to Clinton´s papers, but would it have been so hard to glean something about Clinton´s tenure as governor from newspaper accounts and interviews with other Arkansas politicos? Without it, the reader is left with the impression that Clinton was elected president based on his charm - a facile impression that does a great disservice to anybody seeking a true understanding of the man.¤

2) Hardcover Book Bill Clinton: An American Journey by Diane Pub Co. Bill Clinton is a very debated about politician and Nigel Hamilton takes a great stab at his early life. This book ends in 1992 but does an excellent job talking about his childhood growing up, college years, marriage to Hillary and the turbulent times of governor. It captures the rocky relationship with Carter and the pervasiness of Bill Clinton in his early scandals. It clearly captures the relationship with Hillary and puts out some interesting theories for their marriage and why Bill Clinton feels the need to get involved with other women. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in how Bill Clinton got to the presidency.¤

3) Hardcover Book Bill Clinton: An American Journey by Diane Pub Co. The forces and dynamics of both the Democratic Party, and the national unrest prevalent during the period that Clinton "rose" to shoulder his duties at the White House during his administration, and the manner in which he went about it suggests that it will be years before the clarity of his personal strengths and weaknesses will be understood fully. Complicated by the number of extraordinary events (including his impeachment process, the innovation of the internet, and the flaws of the political process itself, as they were revealed during the election of 2000, make rushes to judgement less accurate than they are entitled to be in American history. In addition, the unique upbringing of Clinton, his background, and the unusual experiences that preceded his Presidency obscure typical thinking about him within the normal boundaries in which other Presidents have been examined. As one of the most visible of persons, with a staff strikingly involved, and yet removed from his Presidency, it will take years to sort out the important dynamics of his terms, and may be seen as the beginning of an era where Americans, themselves, awakened to the strengths and weaknesses of their democracy to play a greater role in its outcome. He will, no doubt, remain an enigma for years to come both because of what he respresents, and because of his forceful personality, not to mention the importance of his wife, the Senator, who was fully vested in his administration, and continues to play a significant role in American politics as well as American government. It´s obvious that Mr. Hamilton´s attempts might be much more important in the future, and through development of his second volume, when and if that becomes available in the distance.¤

4) Hardcover Book Bill Clinton: An American Journey by Diane Pub Co. I tried very hard to like President Clinton´s Memoirs. But instead I found myself frustrated at the way his autobiography blames everyone else for Clinton´s problems except himself. That being said, while his memoirs frustrated me it causes me to read further about Clinton and fill in the many gaps between the truth and what was presented in My Life by Clinton.

An American Journey is a highly readable, truthfull, and ultimately sympathetic look at Clinton´s rise to presidency. The author does not sugarcoat anything and you see the real Bill Clinton: his many strengths and his many weaknesses. I also enjoyed how the author put the situations Clinton was in into the Context of the times and place. I really could not stop reading this book. It is very good and should be read rather than Clinton´s memoirs.¤

5) Hardcover Book Bill Clinton: An American Journey by Diane Pub Co. Once upon a time there was a first-rate biographer named Nigel Hamilton. Twenty years ago he wrote the definitive three-volume life of Lord Montgomery of Alamein, one that is still the essential source for understanding the man. Then in 1993 the first book of his projected multi-volume biography of John F. Kennedy was published, a work that will probably remain the essential source for understanding Kennedy´s pre-political life for decades to come.

At some point after that, though, Hamilton changed. Perhaps it was a consequence of immersing himself in JFK´s salacious life or perhaps it was some sort of traumatic personal experience, but Hamilton´s focus changed. The shift emerged in 2001 with his atrociously-named "Full Monty," a reinterpretation of his earlier subject that focuses on Montgomery´s sexual orientation. Now we have his latest book, the first of a promised two-volume life of Bill Clinton that covers his life up to his election in 1992. Like the Kennedy biography it is an "unofficial" life; unlike the Kennedy biography, though, Hamilton did not have access to any of the papers from the Clinton Library, which obviously limits much of its scope.

Even when this is taken into account, though, Hamilton has written a lousy book. His primary focus is on Clinton´s personal life, which he covers in salacious detail (enough to ensure that his book will occupy a prominent place on the bookshelves of most Clinton-haters) and follows up with superficial psychoanalysis. While I do not doubt the accuracy of his account, the result is Clinton the libido, with little about the political career which is the reason why he warrants our attention to begin with. I grant that Hamilton did not have access to Clinton´s papers, but would it have been so hard to glean something about Clinton´s tenure as governor from newspaper accounts and interviews with other Arkansas politicos? Without it, the reader is left with the impression that Clinton was elected president based on his charm - a facile impression that does a great disservice to anybody seeking a true understanding of the man. No doubt that disservice will be continued once Hamilton´s second volume is published.¤

6) Hardcover Book Bill Clinton: An American Journey by Diane Pub Co. Nigel Hamilton brings all the magisterial authority he brought to his Whitbread-winning biography of Monty, and all the talent for tracking down and verifying hidden, controversial material that he showed in JFK: Reckless Youth, which topped the American bestseller charts for months, in this new biography of Bill Clinton. Born into a ´white trash´ family in backwoods, racially segregated Arkansas, he suffered under an alcoholic, violent stepfather, on one occasion having to fight him physically in order to protect his mother. As a youth he would become inspired by the civil rights movement, particularly Martin Luther King, and as a student became a long-haired hippy musician, involved in radical politics and also discovering free love. Hamilton tells the story of how Clinton´s sexual and political career developed hand in hand. This is a book about sexual politics on many levels, showing how Clinton´s life was formed by changing attitudes. Here is a man who, far from being a sexual predator or exploiter of his position - like JFK - was swept to power because women adored him, whether Democratic party helpers, the women of the American electorate - or indeed Hilary Clinton, whose powerfully manipulative personality is shown to have been vital to his success,. Clinton has been polygamous throughout his adult life, and Hamilton´s fascinating portrait of a marriage examines Hilary´s relationship with his quite astonishing number of girlfriends. The book also covers his time at Oxford as a Rhodes scholar, his political apprenticeship and his rise to power, culminating in his election as President in ´92.¤

Page Updated: Robert N. Goolsby, 22-Nov-2008, 07567835779780756783570, 570-660-770-200-481-641-8

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