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All Too Human Abridged

All Too Human Abridged

List Price: $17.98
Your Price: $17.98
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Yikes. I actually read this book.
Review: It was OK, not spectacular. He does not, as the book jacket claims, write with the "natural ease of a born storyteller and the sensive eye for detail of a novelist". Several abrupt subject changes, for example, left me playing catch-up with his thoughts. And his development of the "All Too Human" theme of ego vs. service was not very satisfying. I found his (repeated, ad nauseum) acknowledgement of wanting to be part of the powerful inner circles and on the cover of _Time_ annoying, more distracting than illuminating.

It is, however, a good read for remembering what happened during Clinton's first term, and getting a clear first-hand account of the chaos. Not much new information, however. This administration's struggles and successes have been so extensively covered, there probably wasn't much George could add beyond the personal lens. The Dick Morris stuff is funny and vivid -- by far the best part of the book. Unfortunately, 1996 (2nd campaign, welfare reform, Morris self-destruction, Stephanopoulos' leaving the administration, lots of other stuff) takes up just 18 pages. It was far too rushed at the end--I felt like I got much detail at the beginning, but only a vauge sketch of events post-December '95

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Judas He is Not
Review: Jaded by the 10-second sound bite spin surrounding its release, I picked up the book with a defensive posture. Suprisingly, its content is well written, honest, freightening and, to his credit, self-depricating. Although a bit power hungry, Stephanopolous has learned some painful (albeit profitable) lessons. Well done.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: So much wasted Potential
Review: I would hope that readers will look at this from all _three_ sides of this issue! On the right there are those who stand by George's story simply for the love of any thing that substantiates their hatred for President Clinton, be it valid or pathological. They are willing to convieniently forget George's ideaology and use selective passages to serve their purpose of defaming the President. On the left, there are those who blindly attack George as being a "traitor" without even reading a word of what he wrote. They simply side blindly with President Clinton on every single issue regardless of the issue. This is likely based on the illusion that if they stand behind him, Clinton will actually come through on his promises to them.

The third is one that is a politically heterogeneous issue. It is an issue of loyalty and political integrity. Speaking as a Democrat, I have to offer praise to the Nixon aides (Chuck Colson, G. Gordon Liddy, etc.) that fell during Watergate. While many of them knew what was going on, they stood beside and fell with their President for many reasons. The President and his advisors are a team. They are close confidants. They iron out strategies together and make mistakes together. They are loyal to each other -- period. The loyalty starts on the campaign trail and it continues in the White House. Many Nixon aides felt that disclosing information woula have been political treason. Regardless of poltical affiliation or ideaology, one has to respect that. It seems that George Stephanopolous has the led the charge of disloyalty that will damage the stability of the Democratic Party. From "The War Room" to White House, he was a loyal Clinton foot soldier who was rewarded for his work and his loyalty.

So what would make George turn. While in his book, it is stated that if it were not for him, ". . it's possible that Bill Clinton might never have been elected in 1992," it was in fact James Carville that deserves most of the credit for Clinton's election. George was given the position of Press Secretary. This was an obvious high-profile position. In my opinion, hiring someone who was barely old enough to run for Congress to a position in the White House was a big mistake. Sure enough, as Clinton entered office there were many public-relations disasters that were obviously a result of George Stephanopolous and his immaturity. Do we read about this? No. Do we read about George Stephanopolous bring actresses and other dates to the White House? No. Despite these errors, Clinton still allowed him to serve as a well-paid advisor. Clinton still maintained _his_ loyalty.

George's timing and manner have not been calculated well in any means other than personal financial gain. Writing a Bill Clinton expose' in 1999 groups him in a collective that includes Monica Lewinsky, Linda Tripp, and Joe Klein. Is George concerned for his own legacy and his integrity? Stephanopolus's integrity is further marred in his writing. I find it interesting how a man who himself is decades away from his "reflective, twiglight" years who in some paragraphs, shamelessly attempts to pontificate as is he were a MacNamara or a Kissinger while in others, proves to be more tawdry, less coherent, and far less articulate than Ms. Lewinsky.

The most interesting unseen element is the intellectual plagiarism committed by Stephanopolous. While reading George's book, I noticed the sections on the intimacy of Bill and Hillary sounded awfully familiar. It really hit me when I looked at the cover again. If you read Chapters 11-14 of Edward Klein's 1996 book "_All Too Human: The Story of Jack and Jackie Kennedy_," You will see what influenced George's writing and some "suspicious details."

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: St. George plays devil's advocate
Review: George was a willing cog in the machine that helped elect this deeply troubled man who currently runs our country. After reading this mediocre 'tell all' I felt both pity for the President and for the author. Both of these men were given enormous gifts to work with and have squandered them. They are both adept at lying, covering up, betrayl, self grandizing etc. And then in the great American tradition, capitalizing on all of the fore-mentioned. Perhaps, after all the dust has settled and all the opportunistic books have been devoured some true insight will come of all this. Thanks St. George.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Terrible...
Review: This book is a waste of time. I can't understand why people are interested in reading about the president saying s--- when he heard the OJ verdict or other such meaningless garbage. Who Cares? I care more about the effect of U.S. policies. Did Reagon and Bush lie about Iran Contra? Didn't those lies have more impact on people's lives than the lies about Clinton's affair? I don't get it. Georgey, get a backbone and stop your whining...it is not at all becoming.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: One person's side of the story
Review: A better title for George Stephanopoulos' memoir "All Too Human" would have been "All Too Immature."

Passages in the book paint a self-portrait of an intelligent, but immature and starry-eyed young man who was in over his head.

Maybe it was just that starry-eyed quality that won him the high post he occupied in the Clinton White House. But he reveals his lack of qualification for that high White House position IN HIS OWN WORDS, describing himself as an emotional wreck his last year there. Little did we all realize that he was borderline emotionally -- if not mentally -- ill.

If Stephanopoulos had waited some decent period of time to write his memoirs -- say, five years -- historians would have been as well served. But clearly he wouldn't have garnered the big bucks he did by telling it now while the President is still in office

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: This book is great...
Review: Stephanopoulos has written the best insider memoir I have ever read. If you ever wondered what it would feel like to be a top aide to the President, this is your book. It's fair too. George clearly feels betrayed by Clinton but he makes clear why he was attracted to him in the first place. This book will get a Pulitzer Prize. I think. It's amazing. I read it in a day. Couldn't put it down.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: good fast read with a unique perspective of modern politics
Review: I honestly think people need to look before they leap....people who will not read this book because of zippergate overload will really miss a candid look at the Clinton White House. This book is topical because of the recent historic impeachment of the president but it really goes much further than that. I think it should be a mandatory read for anyone who likes to profess an opinion about politics. George tells of idealism lost and a cynical awareness for a replacement.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: British readers are refreshed by the honesty and condour
Review: Living in London and surrounded by the villainous stench of British government, it is so refreshing to see the openness of the US system - warts and all. People may criticise Stephanopoulos for being a turn-coat but as a citizen you have to appreciate that in the US, government institutions and government figures have no choice but to be open. Ultimately, the people decide. And, in a democracy, isn't that how things should be? British democracy exists in name alone. We should be - and I am, at least - jealous.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Poor, pathetic George.
Review: George gets a rash when over stressed, has to take anti depressants and see a therapist. I wouldn't want this guy managing a ToysR Us store. These lame kiss and tell books tell us very little we don't know already, I don't hear how well the country is doing or any number of good or brave decisions made. George thought he would write a book about the REAL Clintons. I guess he just wallowed in his own self righteous navel gazing.


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