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

Classic Clinton

Would you consider the audio edition of Back to Work to be better than the print version?

Bill is such a great conversationalist. It's great to hear him in person doing what he does best, explaining complicated issues with plain talk

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

His ideas for resolving the foreclosure crisis are worth consideration in Congress.

Have you listened to any of Bill Clinton’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes. I was very impressed with how current this book is. It's absolutely up to date.

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

His reference to the idea of appreciation refinancing of mortgages without reducing moral hazard seems to be a winner for banks and homeowners while helping increase purchasing power to help the economy.

Any additional comments?

If you are depressed about the current state of the economy and the future of the country,this book will give you hope. If you don't believe government can be effective you'll reconsider when you hear his thoughts and ideas. If you're tired of ill informed and simple minded politicians who write books full of ideology with few facts this book is for you.

Good but it is full of Bill'isms

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

This was a book that should help the 2012 Obama campaign. I was hoping for more. Not bad just didn't need a lecture of why the current Pres is not at fault.

Fixing the American economy the RIGHT way

In the current political atmosphere, it seems that no one really has a grip on how the economy works or how to really go about fixing the issues that the middle class is having. There is a need for job creation, retention, and expanding employment opportunities for every day Americans, not just those who went to college. The reason most people don't have the ability to come up with a decent plan is because they are unwilling to go past partisan lines, but Bill does just that. He admits to the faults of the Democratic Party while lying down not just a foundation or outlines, but sometimes a step by step process of how things could be fixed and what we should be expecting from our government. It's a great book read by the man himself, and although at times the numbers and information can grow dull, I can't imagine that anyone who even so much as read the title would not be prepared for some portions that may not be entertaining as much as they are informative. Overall, the book does a great job of staying relevant throughout time since these issues goes unattended and for the most part is easy enough to follow along with. Highly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about government and the economy, and/or enjoys listening to one of the most brilliant presidents we ever had.

Good Book / Very Liberal

Would you consider the audio edition of Back to Work to be better than the print version?

Yes

What did you like best about this story?

Nice retort to a lot of the conservative attacks on some of the challenges in job creation and economy recovery.

Which scene was your favorite?

Not one part favored more than others.

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

A liberals review on the challenges in the economy

Any additional comments?

It was a good book, and Clinton is very well spoken, but not very ballanced. It was nice to hear the Liberal answers to some republican attackes, but it really felt like this was just a tool to be used as preperation for the democratic drive to retain the Whitehouse, and what they can of the House & Senate.

Study Economics!

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

I yearn to hear viable proposals to move forward. Does anyone think there is only one path? Bill Clinton proposes a plan, presents the supporting logic and the expected results - just like the heart friendly diet we should all follow. So what I want to hear!

Some Good Ideas Hidden In There

Unfortunately, the first part of this book is burdened with self-promotion and catelogs of Mr. President's accomplishments while in office. This was overdone and not presented with a balance of what worked and what fell short. I found myself saying, "Enough already; get to the point!". I voted for him twice. I was generally okay with his performance of his official duties. But some mistakes were made: most notably the repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act which contributed to our current meltdown.

The second half of the book is a rapid-fire list of over 40 proposals for Congress to increase employment. Many of these are excellent ideas. The bad news is that Congress will do nothing due to more ideology than patriotism (don't get me started on that bunch of #*$&%'s). But being an ex-president, Bill can make any proposal he wants without actually getting his hands dirty with all the negotiating and warfare required to pass legislation.

It made me pine for the good old days when there was real drama in politics.

Great Content, Great Narration

I'm further to the right than Clinton, but that doesn't change the fact he made an articulate case for his positions, was respectful of other positions, and seemed to act out of a sincere desire to move the country forward.

A wonderful listen.

No, It's Not Recycled Ideas

There is something refreshing about views from one who has held a position of extreme power and no longer has to tow the party line. Past presidents (regardless of which side of the aisle you sit) have always had more reflective, insightful things to say after they've exited from their political career and Bill Clinton is no exception. If one can park his or her political leanings, there is good critical thinking and analysis in Mr. Clinton's book. And his ideas for how we can regain some of our economic footing is neither liberal or conservative, just good sense. But alas, many will reject these well-crafted and detailed strategies before even reading or listening to this book.

I think one of the major successes of Mr. Clinton's book is his answer to why we need government and what its role should be. He accomplishes this in a manner not based on ideology as most would assume, but rather practicality; what are the opportunities, our strengths, our weaknesses, our threats - a very business-like approach. With the current debate about this very issue, Mr. Clinton's book is an excellent read for some answers on this issue alone. Being neither Democrat nor Republican, I found his thoughts and examples regarding this issue to be the most compelling of any current political and business leader of our time.

Pros
-excellent information with thorough historical background to enable understanding of how we got to where we are right now
-ideas and strategies are well defined (this isn't surface skimming political jargon you hear so much of today) and could easily be implemented, if our representatives had the will to do anything other than finger pointing and fist waving
-this is not a repackaging of Democratic or Republican ideology nor is it filled with bashing of such, it's largely economically based with plenty of examples of successes and failures that we can learn from
-it's definitely some of the best of Bill Clinton, and regardless of your opinion of him, you will quickly realize why he is the brilliant thinker he is and deserves to be regarded as such
-answers the question of why we need government and what its role should be
There is a lot more I liked about this book (I even listened to it twice), but these are the major highlights for me.

Cons
-a bit dry, you don't get a lot of that same enthusiasm you associate with Bill Clinton the politician but then again, this is a comprehensive strategy for putting our country back to work and back into a position of economic strength and not a political rah-rah speech
-Mr. Clinton toots his own horn a little too much. I think the book would have been much stronger without so much grandstanding. To be fair, there are several (just a few though) where Mr. Clinton gets as close as one can to admitting misstep without actually saying so (IMHO failure is not the big horrible thing our society thinks it is, much can be learned from failure and we shouldn't view it as some sort of weakness).

Overall, an excellent book and gave me a great deal more insight into the problems we are grappling with and how we might solve them. I have much hope for our nation and our people, I just wish I had that same level of hope for our Congress.

Best Political Book Of The Year!

Would you consider the audio edition of Back to Work to be better than the print version?

Absolutely, having Bill Clinton read the book himself really will let the reader hear the 'feeling' behind his words. Clinton will capture and enthrall you with his brilliant ideas.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

Hearing ideas about policies that could really make this nation great again.

Have you listened to any of Bill Clinton’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Yes I have and loved them as well. The topic of this book though is just so relevant for the time.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

From start to finish this book will compell you to want to make these policies a reality.

Any additional comments?

This book is nothing less than brilliant. The only thing I would say is it may leave you a bit dishearten that we don't have him working in the current administration. It really expresses the precipice we are at and why we can't afford to make any more mistakes for our future.

Thorough, engaging, and well thought out

What did you love best about Back to Work?

The depth and breadth of the narrative, and the careful thinking that went into it, are noteworthy. The narration was superb.

What about Bill Clinton’s performance did you like?

The clarity of the exposition, the emphasis where appropriate, and most especially the fact that the author was the narrator. Of course, President Clinton brings a lot of credibility to the discussion.

Any additional comments?

This is the best treatment of the current situation and the path forward that I've heard, of the 6 or so that I've heard from Audible.