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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
No matter your politics, the scope of this book is amazing -- every corner of the globe, politics, environment, human rights. This was an interesting perspective on DC & the Whitehouse as well as geopolitics and international statescraft. This is an interesting read (and, no surprise, the final conclusion is -- "I don't know yet, I'll save that hard choice for the future"..) There were a few minor repetitive sections in the book, but overall, really good.
Hard to imagine anyone in Orange Shitler's administration having the ability to write such a book, or the capacity to act like this kind of diplomat. I listened to the audio book, and wish HRC had read more than just the beginning and end for the recording.
Hillary Clinton’s memoir offers a compelling, behind-the-scenes look at her four years as Secretary of State, painting a vivid portrait of what it means to make decisions that impact not only a nation, but the entire world.
Clinton doesn't just list her accomplishments, she walks us through the tough calls, the late-night meetings, and the emotional weight of leadership.
When contemplating whether she should take the job as secretary of state she said
"When your president asks you to serve, you should say yes." and for me that perfectly captured her sense of duty and willingness to put the greater good above personal ambition, especially after such a bruising primary battle with Barack Obama.
I loved the phrase she used to describe the transformation of their working relationship from fierce competitors to trusted collaborators
"Team of rivals to unrivalled team." That line alone captures so much of what this book is about: service, and unity in the face of challenge.
This memoir offers a rare and insightful view into U.S. foreign policy and the woman who helped shape it.
Clinton doesn't just list her accomplishments, she walks us through the tough calls, the late-night meetings, and the emotional weight of leadership.
When contemplating whether she should take the job as secretary of state she said
"When your president asks you to serve, you should say yes." and for me that perfectly captured her sense of duty and willingness to put the greater good above personal ambition, especially after such a bruising primary battle with Barack Obama.
I loved the phrase she used to describe the transformation of their working relationship from fierce competitors to trusted collaborators
"Team of rivals to unrivalled team." That line alone captures so much of what this book is about: service, and unity in the face of challenge.
This memoir offers a rare and insightful view into U.S. foreign policy and the woman who helped shape it.
Firstly I'd like to say the book didn't disappoint, my expectations before starting to read it were fairly low and the book easily surpassed them.
Regarding the style of the book I found it very acceptable, although it does indulge too much in certain words and phrases (as other goodreads users have already pointed oit) the overall impression that I got is that it was a well edited nice and tidy book.
Regarding the content of the book I have to say I was surprisingly thrilled, I had never had much interest in the intricacies of US foreign policy and diplomacy but the book certainly managed to draw my attention to that area. One big caveat that I would say the book has is that it is too black and white, while most real world situations tend to be more grey. Of course owing to the fact Ms. Clinton might run for president soon this should have probably been expected, but certainly it would have been a tad more interesting had it been done in another manner.
In conclusion, I found the book to be fairly enjoyable, perhaps good for a late summer beach read.
Regarding the style of the book I found it very acceptable, although it does indulge too much in certain words and phrases (as other goodreads users have already pointed oit) the overall impression that I got is that it was a well edited nice and tidy book.
Regarding the content of the book I have to say I was surprisingly thrilled, I had never had much interest in the intricacies of US foreign policy and diplomacy but the book certainly managed to draw my attention to that area. One big caveat that I would say the book has is that it is too black and white, while most real world situations tend to be more grey. Of course owing to the fact Ms. Clinton might run for president soon this should have probably been expected, but certainly it would have been a tad more interesting had it been done in another manner.
In conclusion, I found the book to be fairly enjoyable, perhaps good for a late summer beach read.
This book is, as a friend of mine put it, a humble brag. But I did enjoy reading all the political issues that took place around the world at a time when i was a protected, self centred teen who wasn’t tuned in to current affairs.
Hillary sums up her time as Secretary of State and her race in the 2008 presidential election , with all of the drama and behind the scenes of the major diplomatic and international events from 2009-2013.
adventurous
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
DNF. Just felt like propaganda. I like Hillary Clinton, but this was not really informative about how good a president she would me. Or even what kind of person she is. It's more a dull and self-aggrandizing fluff piece.
DNF, I just can't get through non-fiction this long.
Loved what I did read, and I found it really interesting, but I can't keep renewing this book from the library.
Loved what I did read, and I found it really interesting, but I can't keep renewing this book from the library.
It was hard to decide how many stars to give this book. I love Hillary Clinton but this book often read to transparently like a campaign kickoff - most obviously when she pulled all her punches about Israel and her dealings with Netanyahu (?). As I said, I am torn on the rating because other places I found the book fascinating. Because Hillary didn't bring peace to the Middle East (who could) or make freinds with the Russians (who'd want to), there is an impression that Hillary focused on little things that really will take a long time to percolate up in importance. The book put a lot of that to rest (although the emphasis she put on the whole Burma thing and Aung Su Ki (?) kind of baffled me. This woman is a courageous freedom fighter but I don't see how Burma is key to the Asia Pivot that she wrote about with such authority.
All in all the impression is this: she did what all of Obama's cabinet had to do: clean up the messes that Bush made and left. She did that well, and in the process raised our standing with our allies. This impression that we are weaker in the world because of Obama and Hillary is as flawed as everything else that Republicans put out. We ARE less influential than we once were (while still having the strongest military by a power of 10), but this is because of 30 years of republican policies and republican obstruction. They set out to weaken the federal govt in order to get their way domestically, but it all goes together. The world sees us as a dysfunctional democracy and Hillary Clinton could only do so much to change that in 4 years.
All in all the impression is this: she did what all of Obama's cabinet had to do: clean up the messes that Bush made and left. She did that well, and in the process raised our standing with our allies. This impression that we are weaker in the world because of Obama and Hillary is as flawed as everything else that Republicans put out. We ARE less influential than we once were (while still having the strongest military by a power of 10), but this is because of 30 years of republican policies and republican obstruction. They set out to weaken the federal govt in order to get their way domestically, but it all goes together. The world sees us as a dysfunctional democracy and Hillary Clinton could only do so much to change that in 4 years.