Rating: 
Summary: Painful Lessons In Unexpected Places
Review: In 'All Too Human,' George Stephanopoulos tells his story of his experience with Bill and Hillary Clinton from the campaign through the first four years Bill Clinton was in office.I was impressed with Stephanopoulos' honesty and balance in telling this story. Some of what George witnessed firsthand and the merurial manner in which he was treated by the Clintons could have been written with justifiable anger and sensationalism. Yet, from my perspective, George took the high road. He doesn't blame anyone for the painful lessons which he learned by being knocked around over five years. Stephanopolous clearly entered the Clinton campaign as an idealistic young man who truly wanted to participate in the betterment of our country; in the improvement of our world. I think Bill Clinton also believed in this ideal; in fact he still belives in it. It is indeed a noble cause to embark upon. Considering the fact that George was just slightly over 30 years old when he was thrust into the public eye following a victorious campaign, his sense of mission and its purity were probably one of his greatest obstacles. No one wants to have their hopes dashed -- in some cases his were trampled on.George probably was stretched and forced to grow more in the five years he was working with the Clintons than he might ever have to again in his life. Stephanopolous has titled his work very accurately -- 'All Too Human.' -- Despite idealism and an invincible sense of 'can do' and a feeling of being a part of one of the most important endeavors anyone could ever associate themselves with, George learned that idealism when interwoven with human nature is most often bound for heartbreak. The Clintons' changeable and unpredictable treatment of George -- particularly by Hilary -- is frightening. It would drive anyone to the borders of paranoia -- of the non-psychiatric kind type -- and would esily bring a person to the very margins of fear and the expectation of doom. Both Clintons use people as disposable commodities (a repeated theme throughout their political lives.) No one has this right to 'play on other people's insecurities, self worth and vulnerabilities.' Yet, the Clintons seem to believe you just buy more George's the way you might buy toilet paper. To his credit, George doesn't do them in with what might be considered justified fury.as represented in his narrative. Instead, he simply tells the story of his time in the White House and lets the reader form their own opinions.He is a gentleman who was used and abused by each Clinton. They certainly don't look pretty. Yet, it's quite apparent that George doesn't regret his time with the Clinton's or chafe about his hard won growth and the road that led him to a stronger hold on the imperfections of humanity. He faults himself where was at fault. He wouldn't trade in the experience despite its failure to live up to his dreams. People often stay in abusive relationships far too long. George had enough reserve strength to leave before he was damaged beyond repair. This isn't just George's story, it's a thorough journalistic effort reflecting the political world and the failings of human beings with that world. I'm glad George survived and addressed his problems. I'm glad he had the courage to leave. I do not doubt that he was loyal to, Bill and Hilay, perhaps absurdly so.. His sun rose and set around the Clinton's for five years, George's life was clearly changed by the experinces he had -- hopefully bringing him out the other side to a seemingly healthier place.. The maxim "what doesn't kill us makes us stronger' certainly applies to George Stephanopoulos. Frigtening, Fascinating, Complex and indeed, 'All Too Human.' We probably can't espect much better! Likely one of the best political writings on the Clinton administrstion to date. Thanks George! You are indeed a good human being!
Rating: 
Summary: The Tale of Two Books
Review: It's hard to argue that George Stephanopolous is an extremely intelligent, well-spoken idealist, but he makes the mistake of attempting to write two books in one with "All Too Human." He's a cheerleader throughout most of the book, but it's as if he was compelled to be critical sporadically to sell more books. The book doesn't flow. His portrayal of the political machinations in America today are fascinating, and disturbing.
Rating:
Summary: An attention-getting, class act of political courage
Review: In a year painfully short of acts of political courage, George Stephanopoulos has provided one. Those reading this book for an "insider's" view of the Clinton White House will find one, but hopefully they will stay for a fascinating journey of self-discovery and growth. It is a rare thing when a public figure is this open, this honest, and this willing to share the hopes, pains, and dilemmas of being a public figure. The book caught, and held my attention. It will do the same for other readers no matter what viewpoints they bring to it. In a parallel that I'm sure was intended by the author, his title "All Too Human" applies to each of the individuals that share this story -- and of the electorate they hope to serve. It raises interesting questions for every voter. What do we expect, and what are we willing to accept from our politicians? How do our expectations mold the political process? Mr. Stephanopolous' book is the type of primary source material that historians in the future will salivate over. It's balanced, readable, and interesting. Let's hope this is not the last we will hear from him as an author.
Rating: 
Summary: Surprisingly well written book.
Review: By the time I came to the end of the book, I was sorry to see it end. I was particularly interested in the relationships the author chooses to describe in the book those he chooses to leave to the imagination. One which is fairly clearly developed is his friendship with Washington Post writer Ann Devroy. Each seems to have gotten very tangible benefit from this friendship, the journalist getting a cooperative news source, the young White House staffer getting helpful advice and insights about dealing with the Washington press corps. Another relationship which made the book more enjoyable for me but which is tantalizingly sketchy is the author's friendship with another White House staffer, Wendy Smith. Look for her in a couple of the photos he has chosen and his references to her as "statuesque" and "my best friend at the time...."
Rating:
Summary: Love him while you're reading it, hate him for writing it.
Review: Quite simply a fascinating read. From page one you are engrossed in both the gossipy details and the human frailty. But unfortunately it is a guilty pleasure. Because while you come to respect Stephanopoulos for his candor, his intelligence, his fine writing, and his attempts to keep his moral compass, you can't quite bring yourself to forgive him for kissing and telling. You desperately want to absolve him. You feel it is only fair since you are enjoying his tattling so much. But in the end, you can't get past it. It casts a dark cloud over a delicious read.
Rating:
Summary: Thank God I Don't Work in This Part of Government!
Review: As someone who also works for an exciting area within in the federal government, I bought this book because I wanted to read about one person's account of his experiences. I sympathize with George S. since I can understand his reasons for wanting to ride the coattails of a president. My colleagues and I chose to do more substantial work within the USG, and I for one am glad for my choices. I was more interested in his personal evaluations and reevaluations of himself than his descriptions of the president and the other players. Many times during the course of a week or a day, one is confronted with one's mettle. It is not easy to listen or ignore one's inner voice on rights and wrongs. George S. depicts an enthralling yet personally harrowing lifestyle. Hopefully, he's grown into a more humble human.
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Summary: POLITICAL STALLS STOP PROGRESS.
Review: ALL TOO HUMAN shows the interwoven circles that politicians go through to try to get a point across, build support for their cause, get a bill passed, and work around rather than with each other. The discussions of some of Mr. Clinton's aides apparently disliking and mistrusting each other, and how the health care issue was handled are two examples. I am amazed that good processes used in business to make and explain decisions, develop a consensus and move forward seem foreign to politics. Perhaps this book raises the need for formal education for politicians to learn how to work together as a team, to understand the importance of measurement and developing measures to help determine what needs to be done and what is working, to share information to identify today's best practices for making progress in whatever is most important on the agenda, to think about what tomorrow's better practices will be, or even the ideal best practice, and to begin to act and implement activities to approach the ideal way to get things done. (To read more about this innovative process for much faster progress and multiplied benefits, read THE 2,000 PERCENT SOLUTION by Donald Mitchell, Carol Coles and Robert Metz). Even with good intentions, politics seem to place "stalls" in front of progress. ALL TOO HUMAN forces us to face this problem, and perhaps to begin to address it.
Rating:
Summary: A very intersting book...
Review: This was an intruging look at the Whitehouse and the workings of the Clinton administration. Provides an interesting prospective regarding the internal power struggles of the administration and background on the decisions that were made. Overall, a very good book.
Rating:
Summary: A comfortable, conversational look at White House life.
Review: I usually do not care for books about politics or politicians, but this one was an exception. I found the behind-the-scenes details to be fascinating and the easy-to-read, conversational style kept the book from getting bogged down in political jargon and detail. I felt as though I were walking along with George as he worked on Clinton's campaign and as he went to work each day in the White House. He did an excellent job of keeping the events in the White House in perspective. Admissions of his own failures and weaknesses kept the book from becoming a "tell-all" story about the Clintons. I also thought it was a decent protrayal of the growth, maturation and self-realization of a young man under extremely unusual career and personal circumstances. The book centers on George's experiences while working for Clinton and is definitely more about George than it is about Bill. "All Too Human" is a good read no matter what your opinion of Bill Clinton may be.
Rating: 
Summary: George saw what he wanted to see
Review: George Stephanpoulos's story of his years with Bill Clinton shows what happens when a politically ambitious idealist meets an unscrupulous and corrupt old pol. George saw what he wanted to see in Bill, somebody who truly cared about people -- he thought. All the signs were there that Bill was a man out for himself alone, but by the time George glimpsed the truth he was too dazzled by being close to power and glory and addicted to having his own supply of both to quit the game and denounce the players. Bill USED clever George to win the highest office in the land and then gave him no more consideration than you'd give a loyal dog -- in fact, my feeling from the events described in the book is George got less. In "All Too Human," George appears to have started the long process of evaluating his relationship with Bill, but my guess is that he will never understand the responsibility he shares with other Clinton friends and associates, many who knew the truth and chose to ignore it, for putting this deeply flawed fellow in the White House.
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