Back to Work

Why We Need Smart Government for a Strong Economy

By: Bill Clinton

Narrated by: Bill Clinton

Length: 5 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

President Bill Clinton gives us his views on the challenges facing the United States today and why government matters - presenting his ideas on restoring economic growth, energy, job creation, resolving the mortgage crisis, and financial responsibility, and offering a plan to get us "back in the future business". He explains how we got into an economic crisis, and lays down a plan for long-term prosperity. He also offers specific recommendations on how we can put people back to work, increase bank lending and corporate investment, double our exports, restore our manufacturing base, and create new businesses. He supports President Obama's emphasis on green technology, saying that changing the way we produce and consume energy is the strategy most likely to spark a fast-growing economy while enhancing our national security.

Clinton also stresses that we need a strong private sector and a smart government working together to restore prosperity and progress, demonstrating that whenever we've given in to the temptation to blame government for all of our problems, we've lost our ability to produce sustained economic growth and shared prosperity. He believes our ability to compete in the 21st century is dependent on our willingness to invest in infrastructure: we need faster broadband, a state-of-the-art national electrical grid, modernized water and sewer systems, and the best airports, trains, roads, and bridges.

"There is simply no evidence that we can succeed in the 21st century with an anti-government strategy", writes Clinton, based on "a philosophy grounded in 'you're on your own' rather than 'we're all in this together.'" He believes that conflict between government and the private sector has proved to be good politics but has produced bad policies, giving us a weak economy with not enough jobs, growing income inequality and poverty, and a decline in our competitive position. In the real world, cooperation works much better than conflict, and "Americans need victories in real life."

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2011 Bill Clinton (P)2011 Random House

A refreshing break from Info-Tainment TV

What did you love best about Back to Work?

Left wing, right, or moderate, you should have a listen. An honest, no-axe-to-grind assessment of what's worked for our country and policies that have failed. Clinton quickly cuts through the politics of our time to the core of what's wrong with our economy, and offers painfully obvious remedies.

With politicians and TV news pandering to our baser instincts and emotions, Clinton lays out the facts (for the most part). Most won't give it a listen, because the facts don't comfort the way ideals do...a lesson that, as Clinton points out, is one that is directly and negatively impacting our country's prospects.

A call for reason

What did you love best about Back to Work?

Former President Clinton backs his views with data and reasoning. He calls into question conservative rhetoric that is not consistent with historical data. This book challenged the efficacy of many of my political and economic beliefs. I recommend this book to all critical thinkers, regardless of their political affiliations.

If you could give Back to Work a new subtitle, what would it be?

A call for reason

Any additional comments?

The narration refers to charts that are in the viewable versions of the book. I found it useful to buy an ebook version so that I could review the charts.

Great political story!

Whether you're a Democrat or Republican, hearing the facts that Bill Clinton gives in this book will make you think! Or if you, like I, just miss hearing Bill Clinton speak then this book is for you!

great ideas, almost crowded out by political barbs

Nothin' beats listening to Bill Clinton read his own book. If you want to get to the meat of it, skip the first half, which is just finger wagging. In the second half, he gets rolling on jobs and energy, and the ideas are solid and numerous. If our legislators would listen to this book, and enact one-third of the ideas, we'd be heading in the correct direction.

Well done!

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Mr Clinton has the gift of being able to take a very complex concept and distill it to its basic facts and explain it clearly.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

Since leaving the White House, Mr Clinton has been involved in many projects global in scope which gives him a unique perspective from which he can make many conclusions and suggestions.

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

This book renewed my belief in the US - When we put our heads together work toward a common interest; as Bill Clinton calls it:

Required Reading/Listening

What made the experience of listening to Back to Work the most enjoyable?

In his own voice and words, President Clinton does an excellent job of providing the history and mechanics of our current economic problems and offers some very clear insights into our current political standoff. His tone is conversational and he obviously did some very thorough research. He has no trouble assigning responsibility, whether with the Republicans or Democrats. It is a very thorough, balanced, insightful discussion of our deep, economic mess, and he offers some very practical and clear solutions for getting us back on a healthy economic track.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Back to Work?

The President's candor and humor helped to make a potentially dry subject very informative and interesting. He's as clear about his own missteps as he is about those occurring today.

What about Bill Clinton’s performance did you like?

President Clinton's discussion was like a conversation. He has an excellent grasp of his subject and presents it in a clear, relaxed manner. It never sounds forced or heavily scripted even though he is reading the material.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I found it helpful to listen in smaller segments. There was a tremendous amount of factual information, and I may even listen again and take some notes. This is important information.

Any additional comments?

Whether you're a Republican or Democrat, you will gain valuable information for understanding where we are, how we got here, and how we can get ourselves out of the horrible economic and political hole we're in. I would recommend this to anyone who wants to truly understand how we went from a thriving economy with a surplus and functional Congress to the debt-ridden and confrontational state we're in today. This should be required reading for every voter before the next election.

Well done

Some very compelling ideas are introduced. The information is greatly enhanced by President Clinton's voice and delivery. Some may find some of the ideas partisan, and some definitely are, but there is much to think about.

A sober and insightful economic prescription

Would you listen to Back to Work again? Why?

Let's face it. You probably already know whether or not you'll agree with what President Clinton lays out in this book, so I won't waste any time getting into the politics of the book. I That said, I am a big fan and I didn't agree with absolutely everything here. But the bulk of what is here is interesting, compelling, and well thought out. Certainly, this presents a better roadmap than the one we seem to be using at present.

What does Bill Clinton bring to the story that you wouldn???t experience if you just read the book?

President Clinton is a surprisingly good reader. Not every great author or public speaker can make the jump to narration, but this performance had an almost perfect blend of poised and apparent spontaneity. The subject matter is necessarily a bit dry, but this reading does just about everything you could do to make it easier to stay awake through.

Any additional comments?

All-in-all, a worthwhile listen. Not exactly entertaining, but interesting, hopeful, and even a bit inspiring.

You Think !?!

How do you rate a book explaining that pro wrestling is fake? Are there really people out there who think that the Jews caused 911, or for that matter that Saddam Hussein had anything to do with it?

The story line of this book earnestly explains that a lack of policing was a major cause of the sub-prime bubble and subsequent collapse of world markets up to and including much of the current trouble in Europe. Seriously, are there people who don’t know this? If so let me tell you they were crooks and at least 10% of them knew they were crooks, as did an awful lot of the smart money. For decades every Ph.D. in Physics has known that Black-Scholes is based on a bogus assumption. Do you really think that men like Greenspan or Summers had never overheard such discussions?

Perhaps we don’t know how to talk about this. A failure to police Wall Street would have been referred to as a failure of regulations when I was young. The trouble is that this term has been cleverly co-opted into a euphemism for monopoly protecting legislation.

But the wonkish part of the book is excellent. Literally, a systematic list of the top 50 things government should do, prioritized and color coded. Not exactly bedtime reading, but if you’re into this sort of thing, it’s among the best of the best in this genera.

Also there is a world class centrist intellect on display in this book. If you’re old enough to remember centrist intellectuals, the book may have significant nostalgia value. It prompted my wife to ask rather the constitution prevented him from running again.

Essential Reading before the next election

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I have recommended this book to everyone I know.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Back to Work?

Clinton gives us the facts and history to expain our current situation. His intellectual power shows through. He is a great teacher.

What about Bill Clinton’s performance did you like?

His sincerity and impatial approach lend credibility to his message.

What’s the most interesting tidbit you’ve picked up from this book?

Our currrent porblem started with Reganomics and we can not go back to that failed policy.