The Secretary

A Journey with Hillary Clinton from Beirut to the Heart of American Power

By: Kim Ghattas

Narrated by: Kate Reading

In November 2008, Hillary Clinton agreed to work for her former rival. As President Barack Obama's secretary of state, she set out to repair America's image around the world - and her own. For the following four years, BBC foreign correspondent Kim Ghattas had unparalleled access to Clinton and her entourage, and she weaves a fast-paced, gripping account of life on the road with Clinton in The Secretary.

With the perspective of one who is both an insider and an outsider, Ghattas draws on extensive interviews with Clinton, administration officials, and players in Washington as well as overseas, to paint an intimate and candid portrait of one of the most powerful global politicians. Filled with fresh insights, The Secretary provides a captivating analysis of Clinton's brand of diplomacy and the Obama administration's efforts to redefine American power in the twenty-first century.

Populated with a cast of real-life characters, The Secretary tells the story of Clinton's transformation from popular but polarizing politician to America's envoy to the world in compelling detail and with all the tension of high stakes diplomacy. From her evolving relationship with President Obama to the drama of WikiLeaks and the turmoil of the Arab Spring, we see Clinton cheerfully boarding her plane at three in the morning after no sleep, reading the riot act to the Chinese, and going through her diplomatic checklist before signing on to war in Libya-all the while trying to restore American leadership in a rapidly changing world.

Viewed through Ghattas's vantage point as a half-Dutch, half-Lebanese citizen who grew up in the crossfire of the Lebanese civil war, The Secretary is also the author's own journey as she seeks to answer the questions that haunted her childhood. How powerful is America really? And, if it is in decline, who or what will replace it and what will it mean for America and the world?

©2013 Kim Ghattas (P)2013 Tantor

Was Looking for Something Different

I truly wanted to like this book. Kate Reading did a great job performing the text but the text itself was fairly poor. I felt that this book focused more on Ghattas than about Clinton.I was looking for something more about Clinton's focus on policy and her relationship(s) within the State Department, the White House and across the world. Instead, I felt that the book was more about Ghettas and her experiences and Clinton was more of a backdrop and convenient cover to promote herself by using her close proximity to Clinton as a BBC Reporter. Towards the end of the audiobook, I was really looking for it to end.

If Ghattas focused more on the actual foreign policy and on Clinton herself then I would have enjoyed this audiobook much more.

Unbiased narrative

Equally liked the narrators reading and content.
The content was truly fascinating.
Highly recommend to modern history buffs interested in international relations

Enlightening and Powerful

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

This is such an important book, as it skillfully interweaves the author's autobiographical account of middle east events, a detailed history of the region and its players, as well as educating us about the complex interconnections between middle eastern countries and their relationships with the U.S. Gives us a true appreciation of Hillary Clinton, her superior job as Secretary of State, and her importance in world history.

What was the most compelling aspect of this narrative?

After hearing the "bonus" interview of the author at the end of the narration, realized how similar the narrator's voice was to the author's. Enjoyed this added dimension to the narration. Also liked the change in character and voices throughout the book.

Which character – as performed by Kate Reading – was your favorite?

The author herself, as well as Hillary's voice (which was sometimes humorous!).

Informative & enlightening book

If you are looking for a scholarly biography of Hillary Clinton this in not the book. This is a story of a BBC foreign correspondent who was attached to the State Department (U.S.). She has an office in the press section at the Harry Truman building in Washington and flies every where with Clinton on the Secretary's plane. Kim Ghattas was born in Lebanon (half Lebanese/Dutch) during the civil war and the occupation by Syria. She grew up wondering why the U.S. didn't help them. Kim provides a thoughtful commentary of the varied trips, with insight brought from her own life while growing up in Lebanon during the civil war. I found it interesting to have behind the scene look at what the travelling group of reporters face during trips such as, unexpected changes in itinerary, running out of food, no place to sleep, sudden changes in weather etc. It is also interesting that Clinton and her staff faced many of the same problems. It was apparent that Ghattas admired Clinton but that did not stop her from covering mistakes made by Clinton. Ghattas makes it clear from the beginning with an interview with Clinton what the goal of her term as Secretary of State was. To rebuild American relationships with all countries and improve the image of America. She set off on trips to visit heads of states but unlike other Secretaries she went out to meet the people of the country and held town hall meeting with students, and women. She answered all questions and "listened" to what the had to say. I really liked her response to complaints by the Pakistan student who complained America was controlling them by giving them money. She told him they did not have to take the money. That set them back a bit and they had no response to that. In the book she faced many challenges such as China, Israel/Palestine and Netanyahu; sinking of South Korean naval corvette Cheonan by North Korea, Wiki-leaks (that causes enormous work by Clinton and her staff detailed in the book) Arab Spring (Tunis, Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Bahrain, and Syria), Japanese Fukushima reactor melt down. In her interviews with Clinton Ghattas said Clinton was implementing "Smart diplomacy" and this had not been tried before. The book shows the dedication and hard work of the thousands of people in our diplomatic corp around the world. It also demonstrated from an inside view how hard the staff around Clinton work so she could have all the latest information and taking care of every minute of every day of her work life. The key item in the book is that the view point is from an outsider looking in at America, she provides comments and insight into the feelings and view points of the people Clinton visited that an American would not have. Makes it interesting indeed. The test of all her work with China came to ahead with the blind lawyer seeking asylum in the U.S. Clinton handled it quietly and expertly so relationship with China was not effected and human rights applied. Kate Reading did a good job narrating the book Regardless of your personal or political opinion of Hillary Clinton, the Obama administration or America's current military involvement this book is worth reading on several levels. .

Too Long and Too detailed

Would you try another book from Kim Ghattas and/or Kate Reading?

Not in the near future

What did you like best about this story?

The insights into starting out in such a demanding position.

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

Did not like the drone of the narrator. Liked some of the intimate details about being in Hillaryland.

Do you think The Secretary needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No