Rating: 
Summary: IT'S LIKE LIVING WITH CLINTON INSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE
Review: From reading this book, we learn the details and nuances of working in the White House with the president. Clinton appears to be a superb leader, capable of standing by his staff, encouraging them, and sometimes even defending them. Clinton's portrayal would not be complete without information about his terrible flaws. You might not like Stephanopolous for his sincerity in explaining his enormous ambition, agressive personality, or political views, but then again, he too is all too human. Great book.
Rating: 
Summary: I thought the book was interesting.
Review: I read this book because I was impressed by the author's personna of integrity. As a person totally uninterested in politics the book was beguiling enough to almost compel me to start voting. Although, as I would hope hope every voter knows those we are voting for are only human. I thought the book was about humanity and the impossible scrutiny that our leaders our subjected to. Personally, I believe that in order to be in politics personal integrity must be sacrificed thus the sins that come to light could possibly be much less serious than those that never do. All told though I (a non-political person) did enjoy reading this book. It is probably the first and last book I will ever read concerning politics, only because I don't in general like politics.
Rating: 
Summary: Detailed account of the Clinton Administration
Review: As Thomas Szasz so elegantly put it, "A kook is a kook is kook, no matter how much you want to say he is sick in the head." Well, now. The Clinton Administration has been through highs and lows, but also some minor dips and bumps (none of them speed bumps). Black helicopters? Vince Foster murdered? Come on. There is none of that right wing whacko stuff here. On the other hand, I was expecting to learn more about latex allergies, but Stephanopoulos avoids this point completely. Is President Clinton allergic to latex or is he not? This is an important matter, because it means that his dentist must use nonlatex gloves. And you just don't have the same dexterity with nonlatex gloves. That said, there is nothing in here about George himself that you can label with one of those funny names from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders that shrinks like to throw around so it seems like they are actually figuring something out. Please, put your Prozac down and read this book. It isn't Dave Barry, but you'll have a barrel of laughs over what Socks did to the carpet in the Oval Office.
Rating:
Summary: Great read!
Review: Not since T.H. Huxley pulverized Robert Owen in the great gorilla hippocampus debate of the 1800s has such a work meant so much to so few. Mr. Stephanopoulos does a good job describing his term in the Clinton administration, but I think he could have left out the parts about his severe opium addiction. Quite frankly, it is amazing that someone so young, so energetic, and uninteresting could accomplish what he did: but did it he did. Still, one leaves with the impression that Stephanopoulos does not fully grasp the mind-body problem so eloquently described by Thomas Nagel in "The View From Nowhere". Mr. Stephanopoulos's suggestion that the keylink in the mind-body debate is 50 milligrams of diphenhydramine p.r.n. sneezing makes an end run around the real problem of consciousness. And this is too important of an issue to skirt, since some of us are conscious. Perhaps he would have been better off if he stuck more to his meetings with important foreign dignitaries instead of his endless descriptions of his miniature golf games. I mean, what does a putter have to do with consciousness? I don't know and Mr. Stephanopoulos, though articulate, fails to cover this issue in any detail.
Rating:
Summary: Somewhat informative but relatively dull reading.
Review: George S. wrote a long book in which he said very little. One good thing: I do have the feeling that these people care about something more than their own aggrandizement.
Rating:
Summary: An honest book from a former spin-meister
Review: I was pleasantly surprised to see how forthcoming Stephanopoulos was with his assessments of both White House policy and his own shortcomings. For years we have heard him tirelessly defend his boss, no matter what the circumstances were. Now we hear about his doubts, his qualms, his insecurities about an administration he helped shape.I also believe the book has added credibility because this clearly was not a man with an "ax to grind". There are many instances in which praises the strengths of the President. Nevertheless, he also points out the lapses in judgment and policy shifts that were commonplace in Clinton's first term. To gain perspective on the current White House by a man who was so integral to its successes and failures is a real treat. Anyone who has even the slightest interest in politics should make this a must-read.
Rating:
Summary: Honest,insightful,interesting insider's view of Presidency
Review: I really enjoyed this book! It was written with a great deal of candor about the Clinton administration from Stephanopoulos' perspective as a White House strategist without being overly critical or self-grandizing. It is written in an easy-to-read narrative style that will keep the interest of die-hard political readers and novices alike. In addition to hearing an "insider's opinion" it was fascinating to read about the actual decision-making processes and political manuevering that goes on in our government. I appreciated that this book was void of more details about the Lewinsky scandal although Stephanopoulos did include his honest perspective on this in his introduction and conclusion. Anyone interested in understanding the government, the presidency, politics in the US or the Clintons will enjoy this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Idealism and Its Masques
Review: What is new in this book? Stephanopoulos gives just another confirmation that idealism is, perhaps, nothing more than a mask. A mask of careerism, in this case? First, the choice of the title is revealing. The author does not even bother to come up with one on his own. The title is borrowed from the first really philosophical book that Nietzsche, an arch anti-moralist and anti-idealist, produced c. 1879. Second, Stephanopoulos shows himself and much of the Clinton retinue to be cunning Machiavellian players. The entire political setup works against even mild idealism. The media, the parties, the public opinion: all these require spinning, half-truths, and back-stabbing on the part of successful politicians. Personal ambition above all--idealism is merely a masque. We did not need Stephan. to tell us all that, for it has been known at least since Thucydides. But he confirmed for the uninitiated that smooth-talking idealistic politicians are also subject to doubt, depression, stupidity, and occasional lack of self-control--and that above all they still want power. And for their own gain they will turn on their former benifectors and bosses, albeit only as much as "good taste," as difined by the public opinion, will permit. The author made a career cutting down those who were after Bill Clinton; now he is making money by cutting down Clinton but with sufficient restraint not to turn off most of his readers.
Rating: 
Summary: Quite redundantly boring and self-serving.
Review: Save-time-job-hunting George should have named his book: "All too Greedy: A Study in Political Backstabbing".
Rating:
Summary: Insightful.
Review: A great book. Even if you don't like Mr. Clinton, this book does portray the president as someone who deeply cares about the issues he fights for. The book is extremely partisan, but other than that, it's a very good read. If you like politics, it's a must read.
|
