My Life, Volume I

By: Bill Clinton

Narrated by: Michael Beck

Length: 24 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

President Bill Clinton’s My Life is the strikingly candid portrait of a global leader who decided early in life to devote his intellectual and political gifts, and his extraordinary capacity for hard work, to serving the public. It shows us the progress of a remarkable American, who, through his own enormous energies and efforts, made the unlikely journey from Hope, Arkansas, to the White House - a journey fueled by an impassioned interest in the political process which manifested itself at every stage of his life: in college, working as an intern for Senator William Fulbright; at Oxford, becoming part of the Vietnam War protest movement; at Yale Law School, campaigning on the grassroots level for Democratic candidates; back in Arkansas, running for Congress, attorney general, and governor.

We see his career shaped by his resolute determination to improve the life of his fellow citizens, an unfaltering commitment to civil rights, and an exceptional understanding of the practicalities of political life.

We come to understand the emotional pressures of his youth - born after his father’s death; caught in the dysfunctional relationship between his feisty, nurturing mother and his abusive stepfather, whom he never ceased to love and whose name he took; drawn to the brilliant, compelling Hillary Rodham, whom he was determined to marry; passionately devoted, from her infancy, to their daughter, Chelsea, and to the entire experience of fatherhood; slowly and painfully beginning to comprehend how his early denial of pain led him at times into damaging patterns of behavior.

President Clinton’s book is also the fullest, most concretely detailed, most nuanced account of a presidency ever written - encompassing not only the high points and crises but the way the presidency actually works: the day-to-day bombardment of problems, personalities, conflicts, setbacks, achievements.

It is a testament to the positive impact on America and on the world of his work and his ideals.

It is the gripping account of a president under concerted and unrelenting assault orchestrated by his enemies on the Far Right, and how he survived and prevailed. It is a treasury of moments caught alive, among them:

• The 10-year-old boy watching the national political conventions on his family’s new (and first) television set.
• The young candidate looking for votes in the Arkansas hills and the local seer who tells him, “Anybody who would campaign at a beer joint in Joiner at midnight on Saturday night deserves to carry one box...You’ll win here. But it’ll be the only damn place you win in this county.” (He was right on both counts.)
• The roller-coaster ride of the 1992 campaign.
• The extraordinarily frank exchanges with Newt Gingrich and Bob Dole.
• The delicate manipulation needed to convince Rabin and Arafat to shake hands for the camera while keeping Arafat from kissing Rabin.
• The cost, both public and private, of the scandal that threatened the presidency.

Here is the life of a great national and international figure, revealed with all his talents and contradictions, told openly, directly, in his own completely recognizable voice. A unique book by a unique American.

This is the first volume in the two-volume unabridged edition of My Life. Listen to My Life, Volume II (Unabridged).

©2004 Bill Clinton (P)2004 Books on Tape

Critic reviews

• Audie Award Finalist, Non-Fiction (unabridged), 2005

"My Life is, by a generous measure, the richest American presidential autobiography, no other book tells us as vividly or fully what it is like to be president of the United States for eight years." (The New York Times Book Review)

Pretty Good

It was fascinating to get a better look at Bill Clinton the man. It was great to learn more about politics and policy. But even Bill Clinton couldn't make the dryest politics interesting to someone like me who has always found government studies and history boring. I'm trying, and this was a step in the right direction, but I did find myself drifting off to other places during parts of this very long book, and not missing at all what I had missed. Still this was a worthy listen and I don't regret having some new insight under my belt. And it turns out I like him a great deal more than I thought I did.

My Life

This is a candid view of Bill Clinton's life; not only personal, but an honest account of his time in office. This makes our political system look like a 3 ring circus that the parties (Republican) turn our government into.
It is also great that he is reading it.....it is after all his story. I loved it!!!!

Yes, it's long... and I enjoyed every bit of it

The book is long and I see some reviews complain about that. I found every bit of it interesting and I feel I have a much greater understanding of how American politics work, and I like the vision Clinton had for the US and its role in the world. I liked that he tried to provide a unified view of his life and how it all comes together, including his interesting childhood. I can't help believing he is quite sincere and liking him.

The bits about international relations where particularly interesting to me. Clinton can provide unique insight into how that works, and talks at length about the Israel-Palestine conflict in a way that makes it much more concrete, including how leaders' personalities influence the process.

One criticism I had is that I think he minced words too much about his sex scandals. It would be important to hear the true story of all that, but especially on the first ones back in Arkansas, he doesn't give details and only talks about "not having had a perfect life". I don't say that out of curiosity for salacious details, but because this is so central in how people think about Bill Clinton and how it would provide a better window into his personality and life.

The narrator's performance is great, places emphasis on the right places and made me enjoy the Southern American accent quite a bit.

Long-winded

I'm two-thirds of the way through volume 1, and I'm thinking that the abridged version might have been more appropriate for the casual reader. Clinton's every word may be of interest to budding politicians and historians, but I'm tiring of the minutiae of how many votes he lost in a rural Arkansas county when he raised the fees for car tags and then how many he won back during his third gubernatorial campaign. With seemingly zero attempt at brevity, Clinton seems to be cataloging every event of his life and only occasionally provides some reflection on the events. Nevertheless, it is a fascinating autobiography of a charismatic leader.

Kathleen, you are talking about the abridged

Just a correction. It is the abridged (4 hour) version that is read by Bill Clinton in person. This one (complete 2-volume set) is done by a narrator.

Too Long

I may think he was a good President but Clinton can simply go on too long sometimes. I was reminded on his convention speech where the crowd rose up because he went on too long.

Worth the effort

This is a long book. It's split up into two volumes, after all. As the title suggests, it's about Bill Clinton's life, all of it. You need to know that going in.

Assuming you can accept that, I heartily recommend this production. There is so much insight into politics that you are bound to learn something new. The story takes a long time to build, but it would be diminished if it was streamlined. When then end of the book arrives, it is difficult not to be affected by it all.

Also, Michael Beck does a wonderful job narrating in a voice so near Clinton's, you'll forget that it's not him.

A Facinating Read

The depth of self disclosure of his early years alone makes this a volume well worth reading. Clinton stirs strong feelings, positive, negative, and sometimes both among the same person. This volume will help the reader understand his perspective.

My Life

If you have ever wondered what it's like to be President of the United States--read this book. Although it takes a long time to wade through it, it's worth the trip. Narrator made me forget I wasn't listening to the Author.

Great Autobio

Great insite into a life that has been so scrutenized