Rating: 
Summary: Insightful.... but wordy
Review: I enjoyed the book, and I'm glad that I took the time to read it. While Mr. Stephanopolous does give us a nice look behind the scenes, he often spends endless pages going into mundane and unimportant details. For instance, when he first meets Dick Morris, he tells us what they had to eat, what they had to drink, every time Morris left to make a phone call, etc. This often makes the book read like a laundry list, devoid of feeling. There are some wonderful insights, however, into things such as Clinton's moods and various levels of anger. Also some nice insider's information on Bill and Hillary's relationship. While Stephanopolus' ego clearly shines through, there is still enough honesty and self-deprecation to make the book enjoyable.
Rating: 
Summary: honest memoir by a flawed character
Review: [I waited to read this until after the Clinton presidency was over. I think it was [bad] for Stephanopoulos to write the book while his old friends and colleagues were still working, and I think it made their job harder. As interested as I was in the author's perspective, it seemed wrong to read the book earlier.] On television and in the documentary film, The War Room, Mr. Stephanopoulos comes across as a little arrogant and more than a little anxious, and that impression is not dispelled in these pages. However, given the opportunity, the author also shows himself to be fairly honest about his own character flaws, owning up to mistaken motives and actions before ("[Little girl], your daddy is a very bad man."), during (advising Clinton not to face the press after Waco), and after ("It could lead to impeachment proceedings.") his years at the White House. We are introduced to the young altar boy who later decides to challenge his community's and his own expectations of becoming a priest, and we follow the young politico as he learns his trade from veterans like James Carville and Dick Gephardt. It seems appropriate that this young Greek (pride in his heritage is strongly felt here) should play counterpoint to Bill Clinton, the classic Aristotelian hero, and while the book is more about George Stephanopoulos than Bill Clinton, the narrative does come to life when the President is on the page. Not surprising, I guess. The author's style also smooths out when he writes about his archenemy, Dick Morris. At other times, the book is interesting but not insightful, and chatty without being either gossipy or overly informative. It was interesting to read about Team Clinton's Supreme Court wooing of Mario Cuomo, and there is generally enough substance to keep an interested reader happy. It's difficult not to enjoy an insider's look at the Clinton presidency, and the author enjoys writing about the man himself, though not usually in the kindest light. There is also enough glitter quality to titillate celebrity fans ... we learn that Rush Limbaugh attended the Carville-Matalin wedding and that Jennifer Grey (at least once) drew George a bath. At the end of the book, the author writes: "(I was) wondering what might have been -- if only this good president had been a better man." After reading this book, I felt the same way about the administrative team under Clinton. By all accounts Clinton relied heavily on others' opinions, and a lot of the advice he was getting, from Stephanopoulos and others, was not very good advice. It makes me wonder how different things might have been -- if Dick Morris had principles, if Monica Lewinsky had morals, if Newt Gingrich had a heart ... if George Stephanopoulos had twenty years' more experience. Given Beltway insiders' proclivity for jumping the fence between politics and journalism, I would not be surprised to see Stephanopoulos working within another administration someday. One hopes that he will internalize the lessons he seems to have learned within these pages. That would make for interesting politics indeed.
Rating: 
Summary: A good book for young people
Review: If you are between 22 to 25 years old, you must read this book. Because you will find the reasons that you want to be in the political system or you do not want to be. He is telling the whole truth he is possible to tell about the system: How to find the possible among the impossibles. It is a good book.
Rating:
Summary: A pretty brave look at a political career
Review: Good for George Stephanoplous! He's a written a political memoir that is short on self congratulating and long on what he could have done better while he served Bill Clinton's White House. Stephanoploushad to step into the glaring limelight as an Aide to Clinton and his shortcomings were always fodder for the press. It's easy to think that this book is written as an apology or a justification but it does not come off sounding like that at all. Stephanoplous was used to running campaigns and working for other politicians but the White House was a different ballgame and he discovered this the hard way. What you'll get in this book is Stephanoplous' beginnings in politics and how a lot of his ideals fell by the wayside as he worked for a very human president. The book is often self depracating but he doesn't ask you to feel sorry for him. Stephanoplous has a snappy writting style that does flow although, there were about 50 pages near the end that dragged some. What you won't get here is complete insight into Clinton. Not that the President is an afterthought here but he's only part of the story. You'll get Stephanoplous' view on him but not a lot of meaty insight into the man or the President...that's not so much a bad thing really though. If you are a fan of Clinton's administration or just of political memoirs, Stephanoplous' book is a good place to start and very entertaining. It's also an informative look at the state of campaigning today.
Rating: 
Summary: Myopic and trivial - George can do better, I think
Review: I like George and my mother stood in line to get me a signed copy of this book, so of course I wanted to like it. But I expect something more than two inches deep from this Rhodes scholar with a master's degree in theology. On the Hill, where George cut his political teeth, and at the White House, he was legendary for his intellect; cronie Paul Begala told James Carville he was "the smartest guy on the Hill." Really? Then what to make of this chirpy, pedestrian tract? Did the publisher make him "dumb it down" to market it to the masses? Or does George fear being perceived as a mere thinker as opposed to a hip mover and shaker who gets things done? Or was he hard up for cash to pay off Superlawyer Stan Brand? Probable answer: yes, yes, and yes. Also, like many in the Washington game, he seems to regard politics as a non-stop sporting event, which is understandable. It actually has much in common with, say, dogfighting. However, a good book reflects on larger issues and offers insights not commonly found amidst the day to day grind of bickering and backstabbing. I would have preferred that George taken some time to "digest" his considerable experience and given us a more thoughtful, introspective, and philosophically-oriented tome that addresses his thoughts on campaign politics, legistlation, the press and its role in contemporary politics, and, yes, religion in politics. This would not be just another professorial rant, but a unique perspective of a person with a unique background. Oh, come on, George, I know you can do it. Think long-term, not short-term
Rating:
Summary: Not a character study on Clinton
Review: There are several reasons to like this book. First of all yes you do get a first hand, although I am sure very watered down look at the Clinton years. At first I thought the title referred to Clinton being too Human. However, as you read on you find that title really refers to the author (whether or not this is intentional I have no idea) and how his position fueled him to become an ego maniac. For example, George talks about dating Jennifer Grey the actress at one point. He never refers to her as "Jennifer" or as "his girlfriend." but only by her full name, obviously he was in like with an A-Movie Star of his youth, not the girl herself. This is an excellent read as you follow one's mans obsession with ego mania.
Rating:
Summary: Moving account
Review: Providing riveting commentary on behind the scenes of the 1992 Clinton presidential campaign and early white house years, George Stephanopolous saw it all during his tenure as Clinton's aide, the good, the bad and the outright surreal. This is not to say that it is an anti-Clinton polemic by any means. Indeed Stephanopolous still likes his former boss as a person, and one gets the feeling he was genuinely shocked and hurt by the allegations and revelations that later developed about a certain intern. Were he not so passionate about the ideals he believed in, even as characters such as Dick Morris siphoned away the populist spin, he would have not cared as much as he did when he did. If the early Clinton White House can be faulted for being left of center by some people, the intentions by early Clinton staffers were genuinely motivated out of concern for the less fortunate and maligned. Their Ivy league idealism gave younger gen-xers such as myself hope that we would be better represented by this administration. Whatever Clinton's real intentions, Stephanopolus wanted to celebrate diversity and progressive ideals through the public policy process. While this idealism would theoretically seem ingrating, the author weaves his tale in such a way to draw sympathy from the reader. Stephenopolus is not a faceless bureaucrat, but somebody with real feelings and dreams. Aside from the heavy politics, there are lighter moments woven into the book as well such as the revelation that Vice President Gore's sense of humor hilariously contrasted with his staid public image. Even administration devotees like myself were laughing along at the punch lines. Less funny however is the stress encountered by the author. Despite his stellar academic and political career, he never seemed to know how to effectively manage stress until it was too late. Of course by then, he desperately needed to preserve his health and thus resigned. I am concerned how a Columbia graduate could have remained oblivious to his own well-being until it affected his dream job and even his personal relationships with his girlfriend. Neverless, this is a book that will leave all readers--irespective of political affiliation-impressed.
Rating:
Summary: Political insider's fix on the Clinton presidency
Review: Staphanopoulos takes the reader on an entertaining and insightful voyage into the rise to power of Clinton. The behind-the-scenes reports on the elusive spin, the endless efforts to control or avoid damage or controversy are rich in detail and truly captivate what it must be like to be in the White House. Stephanopoulos uses a personal brush to paint the canvass that became his life during this period, offering a critical perspective on many of the individuals and their behaviour, egos and all. It was refreshing to read the author's criticisms of his own actions and thought-process, specifically the evolution of his feelings for the Clintons and the others who ran the White House during his tenure. While politics is a virtuous filed, there are many trappings and Stephanopoulos judiciously portrays the dangers of losing sight of one's goals and values. The objective is not to answer for Clinton or to judge his behaviour, but rather to recount a highly personalized story of his priorities as they evolved with what must have been a challenging and rewarding job, frought with frustration and self-doubt. In this regard, the author succeeds hands down.
Rating:
Summary: A real page-turner that ultimately fails as more than drama
Review: Picking up "All Too Human" I had only a vague knowledge of just who "this Stephanopoulos guy" was. As both a Canadian and a high school student, when George Stephanopoulos was ascending to the White House I was in grade school and could barely discern between Democrats and Republicans, let alone Stephanopolous and Dick Morris. This book has not helped me with that distinction. I've spent my share of time in front of CNN which has lead me to have a passing familiarity with the chief figures of the Clinton Presidency. I'm grateful for the time I spent in front of CNN because reading "All Too Human" hasn't proven even mildely didactic; it does little to teach the reader about policy and the actual decisions that were being made. It does even less to provide the reader with actual insight into the legislative happenings of the White House. However, that is not the place of this book. The book aims to be a fast-paced Soap-Opera of American politics. As interesting in its discriptions of political battles as in its discriptions of intra-office politics and character fights. It is the human-focused, eminently readable, and down-right enjoyable facets of this book that make it a facinating, but ultimately forgettable, read. Reading a book, especially a political one, usually leaves me with pages of notes. This book left me with two individual insights from his reading. One is the question "to what extent are government initiatives overturned by subsequent presidencies?" In other words, will all of Clinton's (and to some extent, Stephanopoulos's) wins in the areas of education and welfare reform amount to naught under the influence of Bush policy or will they have more lasting effects? My other insight was the extent of Stephanopoulos's left-wing nature. It's often said that Clinton moved the Democrats to the right. Stephanopoulos provided a good foil against that ...
Rating:
Summary: INTERESTING....NOT OVERWHELMING
Review: I am relatively new to the world of polical insider books, but there is enough bite and intrigue in this work from George Stephanopoulos to make it a worthwhile read. First the positives: There is an insider's perspective to the workings of the Clinton administration that I have never seen. It was facinating for me to read about the clashes of ideology, as well as personalities that must be a part of any polical organization. Also I feel that the writing style was good. It reads very easily, and with the pace of a fictional novel. Poor George is alway caught up in one scandal or crisis or another. Which leads me to the negatives. This book really is about George Stephanopolous. Every event in this book feels like a crisis to him and it's no wonder that he suffered from depression. His self-centered manner is a bit frustrating at times. I wanted to scream at him "Life will go on with or without you George!" Finally the biggest disappointment was the lack of depth of the descriptions of the principals around him. Aside from the very entertaining depiction of the enigmatic Rasputin-like influence of Dick Morris, and possibly the troubled one of Hillary Clinton, the others are surprisingly flat. Clinton, Gore and the others don't really show much of their color here. Maybe this type of account isn't supposed to color outside influences this way, but in any case it was a dissappointment to me. Having said this, it is still worth a look just for the sheer curiousity of the inner workings of the Oval Office.
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