The Natural: The Misunderstood Presidency of Bill Clinton - Hardcover

Klein, Joe

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0786243783 ISBN 13: 9780786243785

Publisher: Thorndike Pr, 2002

Synopsis

Astute, even-handed and keenly intelligent, THE NATURAL is the only book to read if you want to understand exactly what happened during Bill Clinton's presidency, and how the decisions made during his tenure affect all of us today. We see how The White House functioned on the inside, how it dealt with the manoeuvres of Congress and the Gingrich revolution, and who held power and made the decisions during the endless crises that beset the administration. Klein's access to the White House over the years as a journalist gave him a prime spot from which to view every crucial event, both political and personal, and in the case of Monica Lewinsky both, and he sets then forth in an insightful, readable and completely engrossing manner. THE NATURAL is stern in its criticism and convincing with its praise, and will cause endless debate. It is a book that anyone interested in contemporary politics, in the functioning of the largest democracy in the world, whose decisions affect us all, should read.

About this title

Review

Primary Colors author Joe Klein offers a nonfictional take on his favorite subject, Bill Clinton, whom he describes as both "the most talented politician of his generation" and "the most compelling." Klein is of two minds when it comes to the man from Hope: he is at once disappointed by Clinton's failure to achieve greatness, but also a defender of what Clinton did do. He can be unremittingly harsh about the 42nd president's personal shortcomings: "Bill Clinton often seemed the apotheosis of his generation's alleged sins: moral relativism, the tendency to pay more attention to marketing than to substance, the solipsistic callowness." Yet he also credits Clinton with running "a serious, substantive presidency" whose chief success was dragging "Washington toward a recognition that a revised form of government activism might be appropriate in the anarchy of an instant economy." Klein is a smart and engrossing writer, and The Natural is an honest liberal's best effort to explain eight controversial years. Readers who supported Clinton will discover new insights into why he didn't accomplish more; those who opposed him will gain a sharper understanding of why he remained so popular with the public. --John Miller

From the Back Cover

“The Natural is an important step forward for Clinton literature...[with] crisp writing and vivid images...[that] helps us to understand the very different time and nation we now inhabit.” – Ted Widmer, The New York Observer

“Klein...is a superb storyteller, a master at setting a scene, capturing the gestures of his characters, and most of all, at describing the twists and turns of the political intrigue that passes for democracy in Washington, D.C....I read – or rather inhaled – [The Natural] in one sitting.” – The San Francisco Chronicle

“... Brilliantly illuminating...There will be numerous books written about Clinton and his presidency, but they will be hard-pressed to capture the public and private Clinton as well as this one.” – Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“[A] thoughtful assessment of the Clinton presidency...a supremely fascinating look....No journalist is better matched to this subject than Klein.” – Kirkus Reviews

“[Klein] offers the real deal....His is a on Diogenesian quest to find out why things happened, not just the scandals but also the policy decisions that shaped both domestic and foreign landscapes. In the process, he manages to rediscover Clinton.” – Booklist

“[A] short, sparkling account of those presidential years....Among journalists, Klein is ideally placed to write this book.” – David Gergen, The Boston Globe

“Klein is a smart and engrossing writer....Readers who supported Clinton will discover new insights into why he didn’t accomplish more; those who opposed him will gain a sharper understanding of why he remained so popular with the public.” – Amazon.com

“Klein is an intelligent and shrewd observer of Clinton’s weaknesses and failures.” – John, J. Miller, The National Review

“[The Natural] is a book with insight, balance and bright writing....a century from now, some serious historian will be glad that Klein wrote this slender book. As raw material for real history, this book will be a mother lode of contemporary observations.” – Harry Levins, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

“Packed with revealing details...[Klein] can summarize a subject in a single well-phrased sentence.” – Bruce Fretts, Entertainment Weekly

“A book about the Clinton presidency that both Bill’s most ardent detractors and most enthusiastic worshipers can enjoy.” – The Times (London)

“A qualified success: It will make you reconsider Clinton’s eight years.” – Business Week

“Mr. Klein serves up a familiar but cogent analysis of what went wrong.” – Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times

Edition details

• Publisher: Thorndike Pr
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0786243783
• ISBN 13: 9780786243785
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 298