Rating: 
Summary: Good reporting but it's not a history book.
Review: "Shadow" is Bob Woodward's latest book on the American presidency from Nixon to Clinton. I approached the book hoping to gain a better understanding of how Watergate had changed the political culture of Washington, the function of the presidency and the role of the press in American society. Woodward's writing style is very meticulous. His training as a reporter flows through every page of the book. The detail of information in this book is facinating. Woodward's focus is on reporting the details behind various scandals from the Ford and Carter years up until Clinton. Woodward offers alot of background on the now defunct Independent Council Law and the circumstances that prompted it after Watergate. He also provides insight into the streingths and weaknesses of the law and how each IC interpreted and approached his duties. The weakness of the book is in it's interpretation of the events. Woodward offers some insights into the reason behind the various scandals but they are somewhat shallow. Woodward's solution to presidential scandal is to simply be "forthcoming with the facts." This seems somewhat naive. Not to say that politicians should not be honest and truthful, but are presidents supposed to be upfront about every misstep of their administrations given that the media and politcal adversaries are ready to pounce on the slightest sign of weakness? Woodward is quick to show how Clinton could have avoided his troubles at any number of junctures. The book spends little time discussing how honesty and openness can occur given the nature of the Washington press culture or the culture of skepticism in general. Woodward interestingly enough has virtually no criticism of the press. Because of its weakness in offering solutions, you come away feeling like you just read a supermarket tabloid cover to cover. The details are interesting but they are not really put together in a meaningful way. Overall the book is well written and a good read. Just don't expect too much from it and you'll be quite pleased.
Rating: 
Summary: Not vintage Woodward
Review: As a loyal Bob Woodward fan of long standing,I regret having to pan his latest effor "Shadow". Just as the author whetted ones appetite in learning new and fascinating facets of Ford,Carter,Bush and Reagan..poof! the chapter was finished,and fully one half of the book was a re-hash of every newspaper article,tv talk show and endless repetitions of what we already knew,saw and heard.Maybe it's time to seek out Bernstein to hop aboard.Isikoff is still the champ in this genre.
Rating: 
Summary: Why Believe Anonymous Sources At All Or Writers?
Review: Fiction is easy read and anonymous sources are hard to confirm, so why would anyone read a book with less journalistic standards of a cheap tabloid? I read it, I question it and I cannot respect someone who went on TV and claimed Clinton's innocences only later to write a book about Clinton's cover up! If he had such information at that time he should have reported it, if he didn't and now does why print it? The hypocrisy of this former Naval Intelligence Officer turned journalist has no bounds. Neither does this book, therefore place it where it belongs, next to the scandal sheets or under them which ever, it does not matter, it lacks the very integrity it calls for by others. Save your money wait for the movie which will be more inaccurate, you can bet on it.
Rating:
Summary: HERE WE GO AGAIN . . .
Review: Woodward is a good writer and he tells the truth, but when you have heard it all before, it's not interesting. Really, for those of us who followed the Lewinsky/Clinton fiasco, there is nothing new in this book. Woodward's treatment of the other presidents here is more interesting.
Rating: 
Summary: An Embarrassing American Tragedy
Review: Disregarding the first four presidents' scandals' if what Mr. Woodward records of our present president is even half true, then the American people have made the absolute worst voting mistake in modern American history. Even Warren G. Harding had enough respect for the presidency to conduct his lewd escapades at a local Washington hotel rather than soiling the executive office with them. What strikes me as so central to this is Mr. Woodwards revelation that the Clinton's have this eternal victimization syndrome in which they misbehave and then are insulted when people take them to task on it. The passage that remarked on Clinton's sadness in learning that Chelsea had read the Starr report is troubling because he didn't seem to think about that while he was committing his adultrous acts: Mrs. Clinton remarking on how she wasn't threatened by Monica because it was only about sex and not about partnership. Where on earth did these two people develope their ideas about what marriage and committment are. Mr. Woodward recounts often about staffers and advisers giving sympathy to the president as if people were picking on him. Never mind that he was guilty of everthing that people were saying. As usual Mr. Woodward's inability to site sources is irritating. Now after over twenty years we do not know who Deep Throat was or is. If this person is dead I can't for the life of me understand why his or her identity continues to remain a mystery. Not knowing where and from whom Mr. Woodward gathered his intelligence on the Clinton's detracts from his credibility in my eyes. I do however aggree with his assessment that Watergate has changed the presidency forever. My parents were utterly stunned and horrified when the full account of Mr. Nixon's wrongdoings came to light. Growing up with Ozzie and Harriet, the Cold War, and the myth of American purity did not prepare them for the realities of the real American presidency. We now take it for granted that all presidents have the potential to break laws and most of all to lie to the American people. Some would consider this cynical but I call it being realistic. I suppose that it should not surprise me considering that the greatest breaker of Constitutional laws and surely the biggest liar to ever have occupied the presidential office is now treated with reverent sainthood by most Americans. I speak of Abraham Lincoln who did things that even Nixon would shy away from. I would like to see Mr. Woodward compare the post Watergate presidencies with some of the pre Watergate presidencies and then we may be able to put the subject truly in perspective.
Rating:
Summary: One more time
Review: it amazes me how my review, which was negative AND which was posted one week NEVER made it online. I wonder why that is? Could it be because I panned the book? Nah!
Rating:
Summary: Give me a break . . . is this fact or fiction here?
Review: If you like fiction, then this is the book for you!!! Here is the litmus test you can use when deciding whether or not to plunk down the $$$ for the book . . . Did you enjoy and believe Oliver Stone's movie "JFK?" If the answer is yes, then you will love this book. If the answer is no, then save your money for subscription to a more believable document known as the "National Enquirer." "Shadow" is nothing more than another excuse for Woodward to remind the world that he broke Watergate and that he should continue to be paid for providing such a service to the American people.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting behind the scenes book.
Review: I received Woodward's new book for Father's Day, along with THE TRIUMPH AND THE GLORY, and greatly enjoyed both of them. Bob Woodward's revelations in this book, as well as in previous works of his, must be taken with some skepticism, however, his rendering of conversations has been questioned many times. Still, his books are always thought-provoking and timely. THE TRIUMPH AND THE GLORY was terrific . . . well, I'd better go to that page for my review of that one.
Rating:
Summary: Perhaps a bit too much on Clinton
Review: The latest book by Bob Woodward is a fascinating read. My only complaint is that Woodward spends less than half the book on the first four presidents and the remaining chapters on Bill Clinton alone. I found the chapters on Ford, Carter, Reagan, and Bush to be of great interest and discussion. However the chapters on Clinton were simply hard to read. Outside of what we have all heard on TV and from various Woodward interviews, this information is not new. I still must recommend the text simply for the first half.
Rating:
Summary: A good read and believable. There are no saints.
Review: Woodward is one of a very few true journalists left who research and double check. He writes well too. Of all the Presidents, I felt Bush got away with most stuff, and Clinton had been hounded beyond reason. Carter really tried as did Ford, and Reagan proved he was pretty crafty.
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