Customer Reviews

Between Hope and History

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In former-President Clinton's "Between Hope and History" he discusses topics ranging from crime to globalization to education reform to the pride of being an American and living in the best democratic model of governance in the world. The book is very inspirational. My favorite quote is on page 175; "I believe that America today stands between hope and history---at the edge of a moment when these two powerful forces are as one, when we can embrace the dawn of the new century, drawing strength and guidance from our past, filled with confidence that in this new age of possibility, our best is yet to come."

Clinton will not go down in history as a great politcal writer, but this book is a reasonably good summary of his political philosophy, ideas, and goals. My favorite quote: "Even in a free society, real choices exist only if people have the capacity to take advantage of them." The right-wing Clinton-haters can write all the bad reviews of this book they want, but if they actually read it, they might not find it to be so horrible.

I've read President Clinton's book three times and I've studied it very carefully. It clearly covers his presidency since his inauguration,and also resumes his vision and objectives for the 21st century.

Clinton covers also almost any topics that touched his political career,but there is the lack of one thing: what will be America's role in the 21st century when it comes to space exploration? Anyhow, this books is clear, straight-to-the-point's Clinton's style.

The world's busiest man took enough time out of his schedule to give us this excellent book. It's well worth a read. Imagine if W could write and be President at the same time. Hell, he can't even read speeches prepared by others. Bush's arrival showed us just how great President Clinton was, and is.

this book sums up bill lcintons thought and views on many issues that are important. He has some interesting observations about how we have the power to impove ourselves with our power.

it is written in his smooth style and is an easy read. I don't think he used any speech writers with this book. I really felt his passion of his convictions here. I hope he can keep busy now he is out of office.

he uses some form of the word "is" 104 times in the book, soIguess he now kwos what the word means.

Bill Clinton provides for a very interesting book in "Between Hope and History." His opinions leave room for those of your own. This gives a different perspective of political views. I was very interested and stayed interested throughout the whole thing.

Although the chance of ANYONE purchasing this book now it near zilch, I will offer a comment on Pres. Clinton's essay nonetheless. For some reason, I have the impression that the release of the book for for no more reason than to increase his political presence. The content of the essay seems to stuff that "we want to hear" and a summary of glory points during his first term. I really don't think a book of that quality should have been printed and SOLD. If anything it shouldn've been given out for free. It served as a way for Bill to sell himself again. I guess it worked, but I did not find much of the book worth reading. I am a second year college student in DC, and damn, after going through a third of the book, I was bored and felt like our president just wasted a few hours of my time. If there's anything interesting that you want to know about Bill, don't look for it in this book. It is completely filled with "controlled" content and does nothing to give you a real picture of what's in Bill's head. You might as well read the news, watch the tube, and listen to the horror stories of his extra-marital life. This book isn't worth buying, even it is WAS written by the president. That was my initial reason and now I'm kicking myself for wasting the money. Kind of like how I'm pissed that we have to pay tax on our income and then tax again on anything we buy. If you look at how the text was stretched out, as other readers have mentioned, you will see that this book tries to put form before substance. This book offers anything but truth: you can F E E L it all through the book, the manipulative use of argument. Check out |The Argument Culture| by Deborah Tannen for more this stuff. Seriously, I'd rather read something by MONICA LEWINSKI, at least you'll get some truth there. Or see BULLWORTH.

During his administration of President Bill Clinton, the U.S. enjoyed more peace and economic well being than at any time in its history as unemployment and inflation were at their lowest rates in decades. The book, written with Clinton consultant William E. Nothdurft, is Clinton's second book as he also co-authored the book Putting People First with his running mate Al Gore during his presidential campaign in 1992.

The U.S. was at a pivotal stage during the presidential election of 1996 between incumbent Democrat Bill Clinton and Republican challenger Bob Dole. Clinton had taken office in 1992, inheriting a staggering U.S. economy, a huge national debt, and a country fed up with many of its politicians and demanding change. Third party candidate Ross Perot had received 19% of the vote in 1992, showing how Americans were not satisfied with the two major parties. During Clinton's first term there were successes and failures, but his determination for reform kept his approval ratings high. Through various welfare reforms and economic policies, inflation and the unemployment rate dropped to their lowest numbers in years. Clinton's administration was the first to cut he deficit in all four years since the 1840s, all while strengthening social programs like Medicare, Medicaid, and helping finance higher education for many. He fought hard to finally pass a balanced budget. The Republicans won control of Congress in the mid-term elections and spoiled some of what Clinton wanted to get done, but still much was achieved his first term.
As 1996 arrived Americans were in transition, both at home and abroad. The economy was in transition from the old "trickle down economics" system employed by most Republicans to a more progressive system invoked by Clinton and Democrats that started at the opposite end: helping poor people get off welfare, increasing the minimum wage, and providing tax exemptions for middle class families. Many new jobs were created. Social programs were strengthened, not cut. The Internet had begun to revolutionize the way people interacted and received information.

Thought the Cold War was finally over, the world was now becoming globalized -- with the U.S. leading the way -- as countries constantly interacted with one another and borders were opened like never before. Clinton's "global village" also meant protecting people from tyranny, and the U.S. military was engaged in Serbia and Bosnia, as well as Iraq and Somalia, though never becoming involved in a traditional war. Terrorism was a reality Americans were forced to come to grips with as Muslim radicals bombed the World Trade Center's lower floor in 1993, the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City was bombed by a domestic terrorist in April 1995 killing168 and shaking the psyche of the nation, and a bomb went off in July 1996 at the Olympic Village in Atlanta, Georgia during the Olympics killing one and injuring many. Fighting crime was an issue and many were torn on gun control laws such as the Brady Bill. There was a move to get people involved in their communities and a move to solve social problems such as unplanned pregnancies and drug use. American culture was in transition as well as television programs and movies pushed the limits of what was allowed and political correctness became more of an issue than ever before.

The election of 1996 was a decision by Americans to keep up Clinton's trends of economic responsibility, strengthening social programs, and his vision of a "global village" in the world or to go back to the way things were the twelve years before he assumed office. Between Hope and History describes the accomplishments of Clinton's nearly four years in the White House and cites his values and beliefs about governing and leading America for another four years. President Clinton's vision for America has three primary components. Not surprisingly, these three components also are the titles of the book's three chapters: Opportunity, Responsibility, and Community. "It was clear to me that if my vision of 21st Century America was to become reality, we had to break out of yesterday's thinking and embark on a new and bold course for the future, with a strategy rooted in three fundamental American values: ensuring that all citizens have the opportunity to make the most of their lives; expecting every citizen to shoulder the responsibility to seize that opportunity; and working together as a community to live up to all we can be as a nation" (7-8).

As a campaign document in an election year, Between Hope and History sweeps Bill Clinton from Hope, Arkansas, into the ranks of the Democrat Party's greatest leaders during the 20th Century. In the book Clinton compares himself to both President Theodore Roosevelt and President Woodrow Wilson in their need to lead the nation through a time of change in domestic matters and in foreign policy. He uses some of this book to take to task some of those who have disagreed with his policies. The book portrays Clinton as a compassionate centrist and succeeds in its intention to show the President's purposes as a moderate Democrat, blurring the line between him and the liberal wing of his party. It mixes anecdotes about Clinton's life with boasts about his accomplishments and takes shots at the Grand Ole Party throughout.

The book does not offer much as a literary piece, nor does it intend to. It is a work that was created from many of the president's speeches, and basically outlines the Democratic platform for 1996. It does offer a look inside Clinton and shows what motivates his thinking regarding policy, as well as providing a glimpse into his childhood on up through his political career. For someone studying about the Clinton administration, this book is a good starting point. For someone that opposed Clinton's policies, this book will be filled with things that make them want to cringe. Clinton sees evil Republicanism as a cyclical phenomenon as he compares the 1980s Republican-led "decade of neglect" to the period of G.O.P. prominence in the 1920s that led up to the Great Depression. Perhaps some of his claims are farfetched, perhaps they are not, but I am sure some reading this might think the book's acknowledgments should list Oliver Stone as an historical adviser. Clinton calls for responsibility for all Americans, yet, as the world would see in his next term, he was not responsible for himself and he crippled his chance to push his vision for America.

Between Hope and History offers Bill Clinton's vision of America, as is required of all candidates during an election year. The president can be questioned about a number of his assertions by the other side; however, he clearly articulates his agenda in a style that reminds you of some of his best speeches. Clinton's plans for deficit reduction, an improved economy, environmental protection, expanded educational and training opportunities, and peace and security are worthy of bipartisan support. However, presidents are judged on their achievements far more than on their plans and visions.

heh

Has anyone counted the number of words in this book? The margins look to be about 1.5" wide, and the line spacing is at least 1 1/2. It reminds me of being in college, and writing a paper, and having to stretch about 500 words of b.s. into a reasonable length. Inevitably, however, that trick doesn't work, and it hasn't worked here. This ridiculous piece of work earns a failing grade. (P.S. A better title would have been "Betweeen a Rock and a Hard Place: Beating America's Constitution in the 21st Century")