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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
informative
reflective
fast-paced
Locked in the Cabinet is Robert Reich's journal of his time as Bill Clinton's Secretary of Labor 1993-97. It's an easy read, and covers his successful battle for a minimum wage increase, and his many more defeats to win more education and training for those workers displaced by corporate trade deals and deindustrialization. As with most academic liberals, his heart may be in the right place, but he feels it's government's job to help workers and the poor have a higher standard of living -- not the power.that should come to them in a democratic society.
Of all the books about the executive branch we could have been assigned to read for school, I was assigned to read this memoir that I found both insightful and hilarious. I acknowledge that some people may not agree with his political stance, but I think everyone can appreciate other aspects of his story. While reading this book, I loved Reich's sense of humor, genuine concern for the poor, frankness in calling out what he thought was morally wrong, and effort to balance his commitment to both his job and family.
Maybe the reason Reich was so idealistic as Secretary of Labor was that he was a economics professor and not a career politician. Like George Washington, he went into politics only because he believed he could improve the country, not in a pursuit of power. Not having to constantly worry about how to get reelected, Reich put the essence of his job - improving the lives of the working people - as his first priority.
This book is worth reading.
Maybe the reason Reich was so idealistic as Secretary of Labor was that he was a economics professor and not a career politician. Like George Washington, he went into politics only because he believed he could improve the country, not in a pursuit of power. Not having to constantly worry about how to get reelected, Reich put the essence of his job - improving the lives of the working people - as his first priority.
This book is worth reading.
funny
informative
medium-paced
Robert Reich is funny and honest about the issues he faced in his time as the Secretary of Labor for Clinton. While not perfect, I always appreciate someone working to push democrats further left.
Reich is great, and this book digs into the disaster of Clinton's "welfare reform" through the heart of someone who saw theirs broken by what the administration did despite his protests.
informative
medium-paced
I like R. Reich's Youtube videos and so I decided to read his book about when he was the Labour secretary for Clinton. It was interesting and informative for a political junkie like myself and I would like to read more books from the author. Check it out its a quick read.
funny
reflective
medium-paced
I really wanted to read this book, it sounded interesting and I got half way through and I was sort of sick of hearing this guy talk about everything, he wasn't really complaining but he sort of repeated himself a lot and I really wanted him to get on with it. He was really funny at time though.
Okay, so the only reason I even picked up Locked in the Cabinet was because it was assigned reading for my Political Science class. Normally, I don't review things that I've been assigned to read because being assigned to read something sucks the fun out of actually reading. So, my opinion of the book tends to suffer.
Anyway, besides being assigned to read Locked in the Cabinet, I found it rather enjoyable. I had assumed that it was going to be a dry, boring, political memoir with Reich (who's was the Secretary of Labor during Clinton's first term) detailing all of the processes of which he had to write a bill or something equally as boring. To my surprise, it wasn't. Reich was witty and semi-charming. He made what could've been an extremely boring book entertaining due to his self-deprecating humor.
So, while Locked in the Cabinet isn't something I'm going to re-read and will most likely get rid of it at the end of the semester, it did keep me intrigued enough to finish it. Due to this, I didn't have to bullsh** my paper on it and had some educational opinions on it.
Anyway, besides being assigned to read Locked in the Cabinet, I found it rather enjoyable. I had assumed that it was going to be a dry, boring, political memoir with Reich (who's was the Secretary of Labor during Clinton's first term) detailing all of the processes of which he had to write a bill or something equally as boring. To my surprise, it wasn't. Reich was witty and semi-charming. He made what could've been an extremely boring book entertaining due to his self-deprecating humor.
So, while Locked in the Cabinet isn't something I'm going to re-read and will most likely get rid of it at the end of the semester, it did keep me intrigued enough to finish it. Due to this, I didn't have to bullsh** my paper on it and had some educational opinions on it.
This book was pretty good. Robert Reich was the Secretary of Labor under the first Clinton term. I have to say that before this book, I didn't really have a clear picture of what exactly the Secy of Labor did. It is always interesting to me to read the memoirs of people inside the government; you tend to find out about a lot of things that occurred behind the scenes. This book would be good for any political junkie.