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Rating: 
Summary: Biographer parses the "apology" with verve, grace, depth.
Review: Can we ever take foolishness seriously? Yes, when the actor--Bill Clinton, for example--not only has power, but some noble qualities too. Maraniss, author of the acclaimed biography _First in His Class_, knows Clinton well, writes well, and doesn't play "parlor psychoanalysis." With respectful curiosity Marannis discusses Clinton's background, self-presentation (a pattern of evasion and lying) and womanizing. I was fascinated by sidelights on Betsey Wright, Dick Morris, Hillary and less-known informants. If you want to know what Clinton's best biographer thinks of the Lewinsky mess, here it is. Short, well-told, informative, tying many loose ends together (forgive me!) this book is no mere "quickie." Maraniss predicts what happened November 3: "It is one of the many ironies of the Clinton tragedy that he was always his worst enemy while his enemies, by overreacting, were often, unwittingly, his strongest allies."
Rating: 
Summary: OK quickie, but read _First in His Class_
Review: David Maraniss is a real pro and I recommend his books and articles, but I wish he would not have written this little book. It is an interesting idea -- to extrapolate a man's life from a four minute speech -- but I found it to be somewhat self-serving. For example, Mr. Maraniss makes something of a to-do about the fact that the president of the United States would not make time for him. Mr. Maraniss had been critical of Clinton in some ways, and that might have dampened the president's enthusiasm for meeting with him; but Maraniss is only an author. Bill Clinton was president of the United States. One other little example: Mr. Maraniss makes something of a deal out of the fact that Clinton once said to him, "Nice tie," and then later someone else told him (D.M.) that that remark should be interpreted as a "F- you." Hm, a pretty far-out interpretation.
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Rating:
Summary: OK quickie, but read _First in His Class_
Review: David Maraniss is a real pro and I recommend his books and articles, but I wish he would not have written this little book. It is an interesting idea -- to extrapolate a man's life from a four minute speech -- but I found it to be somewhat self-serving. For example, Mr. Maraniss makes something of a to-do about the fact that the president of the United States would not make time for him. Mr. Maraniss had been critical of Clinton in some ways, and that might have dampened the president's enthusiasm for meeting with him; but Maraniss is only an author. Bill Clinton was president of the United States. One other little example: Mr. Maraniss makes something of a deal out of the fact that Clinton once said to him, "Nice tie," and then later someone else told him (D.M.) that that remark should be interpreted as a "F- you." Hm, a pretty far-out interpretation.
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Rating: 
Summary: Clinton Caught
Review: David Maraniss was on Slick's side at one point. Maraniss wrote some not so positive things about Slick, and now Maraniss is the classic example of how the Clintonistas will freeze the media out by ignoring them when they question the almighty Slickster. This book breaks down the infamous speech Slick gave on TV the night he admitted to the improper relationship with Monica - the relationship he had denied having. There are some very good looks back into the life of a criminal that show how that speech was no different from any other time Slick has been less than truthful (he's lied).
Rating:
Summary: Read the full-length biography
Review: For readers with only a passing interesting in Bill Clinton, this is a short, succint book that you can complete in a day. But for readers looking for bigger game, read "First in His Class" by the same author. That book is the best Clinton biography on the market, covering his life from childhood to his 1992 presidential run. This book was published just before Clinton's impeachment by the House. The author gives some new insights, going through the president's August 17 confession line-by-line, and interprets its meaning. You sense Mr. Maraniss's frustration and obvious disappointment with his subject. But at the same time, he maintains a hue of fairness and objectivity that is badly needed when compared to other Clinton books. Mr. Maraniss will help you understand Bill Clinton, but the truth is that no person can fully understand this true "enigma."
Rating: 
Summary: An Unsupported Criticism From President's Enemies
Review: I have listened to this book on the tape. It's a good thing I got my copy at the library, because buying it even for 1 cent would be a waste of money. I have already wasted my time on listening to the author's non-sense about Clinton's biography. David Maraniss, the author and narrator of the book became upset with the President for the unwillingness of the later one to meet with the biography writer. Frankly, after listening to this material I would NOT let this author write my biography either. This book is all NEGATIVE since the first paragraph. It is based on the comments of the Clinton's enemy's and unfairly judges the president based on his personal life and not on what he has done for the country. Don't waste your money on this book. Sorry Dave, but you have to change the style and give people credits. Leading a country is a huge responsibility enough. So what if Clinton had some fun in his personal life. No one is perfect. I still bet he has done for the country more than most other presidents or people, including yourself!
Rating:
Summary: A one-man smear-campaign!
Review: Maraniss did such a good job in his full-scope Clinton biography ("First In His Class") that if you've read it you'd (almost) be able to come up with a summary of your own to explain his 4-minute speech, which is nominally the subject of the Clinton Enigma. There's very little new in this book to be missed if you have not read it. What is new is in the first 13 pages (Chapters 1-4 of the first part of the book), where Maraniss mentions his own experiences with Clinton (or rather: the lack of them) when trying to arrange an interview with him, immediately prior and also after his biography was published. The manners and maneuvers Clinton and his aides applied and Maraniss' reaction provide a valuable supplement to understanding Clinton, but also Maraniss. The weakness of this book for those who have read the biography is also an advantage for those who haven't and if you are not as interested in Clinton to devote yourself to reading 500 pages of the biography you will appreciate its summarized version in the Clinton Enigma.
Rating:
Summary: Gives Powerful Insight into Bill Clinton
Review: Only Clinton's autobiography will do a better job at realistically assessing the behavior of this very unique president. He was such a blend of good and bad.
The author captures this perfectly. Jeffrey McAndrew
author of "Our Brown-Eyed Boy"
Rating:
Summary: Gives Powerful Insight into Bill Clinton
Review: Only Clinton's autobiography will do a better job at realistically assessing the behavior of this very unique president. He was such a blend of good and bad.
The author captures this perfectly. Jeffrey McAndrew
author of "Our Brown-Eyed Boy"
Rating:
Summary: No Mystery about this Enigma
Review: The Clinton Enigma is misnamed. The book is not about an enigma at all - the theory about Clinton is that he's all too predictable. The only real mystery that Maraniss struggles with is why some people so viscerally hate Bill Clinton. This book won't do much to diminish that hatred, but it seems less written out of hate than disappointment and frustration. But Maraniss' frustration seems driven by Clinton's avoidance of him. This may have some metaphorical application for the rest of us, but it's a somewhat misleading motivation to write this mini-biography in the middle of the Monica incident. The book is worthwhile as a brief, speculative psycho-biography of Clinton, but it won't endure. Its more like New Yorker article written in the middle of a story that is very much in play. Less than two years later, the book is well out of date. Still, at 110 pages it's hardly a waste of time to read.
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