Rating: 
Summary: Don't Spend Your Tax Rebate On This!
Review: Wow. What a disappointment this was. I came to it with a glowing review from the Economist, a deep interest in Clinton, and much sympathy with George. I left it extremely bored, very disappointed, none the wiser and sick of the author's ego and narrowness of vision. For a Rhodes Scholar it is a remarkably unintelligent book.My main criticisms are three. First, the book told me nothing about policy-making inside the White House, though Stephanopoulos says many times that his main role apart from fire-fighting was in policy formation. Even from this vantage point it is clear Clinton's presidency will be very memorable for several reasons - the extraordinary economic boom of the last few years, the chaotic and often disastrous foreign policies and the weak attempts to deal with a post Cold War world, the attempts at and failures of welfare reform and health care reform. Stephanopoulos tells us unbelievably little about any of this - about who dreamed up policies, how the legislative process worked, what Clinton's relations with his key officials was like, zilch. This is not going to be a book much-thumbed by Presidential historians, despite George's explicit hope that it will be. We learn a lot about George, but very little about anything else that you couldn't learn from reading the Times. Health care reform gets two pages, and nothing of substance, for example. Second, though he obviously sees himself as an empathetic man with a special hot-line to Clinton Stephanopoulos' powers of description are lamentably weak. You do not get a sense of the characters or motivations of a SINGLE individual in his orbit, including Bill and Hillary. His characters are not two-dimensional but one-dimensional, portrayed without skill or understanding or insight. The are like characters in a kid's sketch book. If you want to learn about what Clinton is really like, read Primary Colours, not this. Since S. was closer to Clinton than almost anyone else for four years this is an utter travesty, and I suspect that since most people buy this book to learn about Clinton they will be very disappointed with this in particular. Finally, the bland writing style of the book (has George heard of the semi-colon? ) illustrates its gravest failing - the sheer shallowness of the analysis. For a journalist and a visiting Professor at Columbia this book is pathetically devoid of any perspective on the Clinton years, or on any particular aspect of them at all. This is just a luke-warm reheated version of George's diary, with all the interesting bits air-brushed out so future employers don't see him as a traitor (do not expect ANY revelations in this book!). To take just one example, most of the book focuses on two things - George's marvellous ability to clean up after the mess others in the White House create, and George's relations with the Press. But nowhere in the book does he step back and look at these in terms of issues interesting in themselves - the relation of press to policy, of the President and the media, fact and fiction in politics, of the difficulties of running an administration, etc etc etc. This are all fascinating topics and one would expect George thought about them daily - or at least the act of writing a book would. But after 450 pages one is left with an utterly empty feeling, and the sad truth the George only ever really thought of George - and that in the end some of the problems of the Clinton presidency might actually have stemmed from this. This is such a bad book. If you must have it, at least wait for the paperback. And it could have been a masterpiece - but instead it is just a rather unimaginative and boring man managing masterfully to make a fascinating story dull.
Rating: 
Summary: Great effort...good result.
Review: Stephanopoulos' book chronicles his time with the Clinton Administration, from being recruited to being shunned. Here is a man who fell victim to the Clinton charm (as did millions of Americans), and then developed a bitter taste in his mouth as Bill, Hil, and all the rest began to systematically exclude and discredit him. Unfortunately, Stephanopoulos does not do a very good job of transitioning from star-struck lackey to jaded ex-politico. Certainly, there must have been a gradual transition from worshipping Clinton to criticizing him, but "All Too Human" handles that abruptly. The fact that I have to dig so deeply to criticize this work demonstrates that it is a very valuable read. Generally honest, certainly an insider, Stephanopoulos truly does provide, as the subtitle claims, "a political education." I recommend this book.
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Summary: George reveals the real world of "White House Glamour"
Review: All Too Human is an excellent example of political education. George manages to reveal the enormous pressure of such a high-profile job, and the "not so pure and pretty" side of politics without defaming or creating a lower image of anyone invloved. There is a remarkable sense of honesty and sincerity in this book--he pours out his true feelings and thoughts during each ancedote that he tells. Through his insecurities and triumphs, the reader is able to gain a truer perspective of the work, sacrifice, and personal restraints that George's specific job and field entail. A great book for one who is interested in the political shenanigans and "networking" in Washington, or for one who is seeking a fair, impartial, true account of the Clintion regime.
Rating: 
Summary: Behind-the-Scenes look into Washington!!!
Review: This honest view of President Clinton and what it truly is like being an advisor to the President. Americans will love it. A quick read.
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Summary: Political moves that can make history are "All Too Human"
Review: You will either hate it or love it. For me, this book is a page-turner. Anyone who wants to know about true politics HAVE to read this book. Deep thoughts by the #1 Advisor in the white house for 4 years. An absolute must for the politician in each and every one of us.
Rating:
Summary: More than just a Clinton "tell-all"...
Review: Pretty good read and coupled with Jeff Birnbaums "Madhouse", gives an excellent insiders view of the early Clinton Whitehouse. This wasn't just a "tell-all" about Monica and other Clinton indiscretions, it told the story of a largly unkown politician thrust onto the World's stage along with his staff. It's interesting to see how they transitioned to the Presidency from the campaign and how the Office essentially wore them out (as it usually does to all newcomers). The one critique I would add (as other reviewers have stated) is that George DEFINATELY has a healthy ego and comes across "whiny" at times. Overall, though, a good book and definately better than other Clinton slams like Woodwards "Shadow".
Rating:
Summary: A True Leader
Review: All Too Human is brilliant. If only George Stephanopoulos could run for this country's highest office, I'd drag citizens to polling places to vote for this man. His book chronicles how the Democrats of today should behave. The truth about the often-hailed Dick Morris is revealed in that Morris worked for both sides and truthfully had no interest in making America better, but making his living by destroying the Democratic Party as we know it. Stephanopoulos explains why Americans received the short end of the stick from Bill Clinton in many areas. I now truly believe that Stephanopoulos saved affirmative action. His insightful views on fellow staffers like George Gergen and Dick Morris, two men who had no business being in a Democrat-controlled White House, are profound reminders to progressives that just because you get your candidate elected, doesn't necessarily mean good things will happen. A life-changing book.
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Summary: George Stephanopoulos, In Love with Himself
Review: The problem with this book is that Stephanopoulos keeps forgetting that most readers aren't interested in George Stephanopoulos and his every thought, memory, and action. A perfect example of his ego unbound occurs when GS attends a meeting in which he argues with Gore over something (I can't even remember what). After he's done with his speech, he sees the half-smiles of other people in the room (who ostensibly support GS's view but are too mealy-mouthed to speak up) and likens it to a standing ovation. Blech. I haven't read many books about contemporary politics, but it seems to me that in this genre, the memoir or autobiography is nearly always disastrous; first-person accounts seem to be self-aggrandizing distortions which are more properly psychological studies of the memoirist rather than critical narratives of American life and institutions. Better to leave it to the independent researchers and biographers, who don't confuse the fame of a political figure with their own. Occasionally, though, GS gives us some gems. The richest one: in their more affectionate moments, Bill speaks to Hillary in baby talk, calling out to her, "Hirrary! Hirrary!" That will make me smile forever.
Rating:
Summary: One of the more interesting "insiders" books
Review: I'm probably biased towards finding any Clinton book more interesting than, say, a Reagan or Bush book, but this one was especially interesting. This book takes the reader from the early days of the Clinton campaign through the first four years of his term, until George quit working at the White House. Throughout the book George discusses the various scandalls, and gives the reader his inside perspective on the good and the bad of the White House. The last chapter was clearly hastily added-on to discuss Lewinsky. George also discusses the... that went on with Dick Morris. It's an interesting book - I learned quite a bit about how the White House works.
Rating:
Summary: Revealing, But Not A Tell-All
Review: I was completely taken with this book in the first few pages. Stephanopoulos's writing style and cadence made this a pleasure to read. Other reviews have said that it was egotistical and that it contained "name-dropping" -- I disagree. It certainly isn't name-dropping when those high-powered people are the other main characters in your day-to-day life. I enjoyed the honest reflection: on the advice he gave, both good and bad; his insecurities; his hi-profile mistakes and saves; his struggle with his conscience and "the greater good." I am certainly no fan of the Clintons or their administration, but I admire Stephanopoulos for writing a book that reveals the constant stress and thought processes of those working so fervently to keep that White House from spinning completely out of control. He did it in a way that was not a sleazy tell-all, but put enough personal insight into it that we got an insider's glimpse on what the heck was going on! I recommend this book to anyone interested in how Washington works, regardless of your political affiliation.
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