[The author writes] about her upbringing in suburban, middle-class America in the 1950s and her transformation from Goldwater Girl to student activist to controversial First Lady. [This book] is her revealing memoir of life through the White House years. It is also her chronicle of living history with Bill Clinton. -Dust jacket.

I am glad I got to know Hilary Clinton better. She is an intelligent woman who was able to accomplish so much. The book covered her husband's public infidelity and their marriage's recovery. I now understand her relationship to the state of NY. I think that she is content no matter where she finds herself. ( )

Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama both show much to admire in their biographies. They arrived at a similar world view by very different roads. While Obama seems to travel alone on his journey of discovery, it takes a village to raise Clinton's political awareness. Both bios leave some mystery: Obama's early wanderings seem at odds with his driven nature, while Clinton can be at once judgmental and discreet. Campaign debate in 2008 focused on whether she elaborated or improved upon one brief account here, but many of Clinton's anecdotes seem to leave part of the story untold. The many shout-outs to supporters suggest that we won't hear Clinton unplugged before her last hurrah, and that campaign could be a long time to come.

While this book is not the best written autobiography, it does emphasize Clinton's values and gives a clear perspective on her life, some of the mistakes she and her husband made but also the immense pressure they have been under. There were moments where I thought that she protested too much, but her discussion of life in politics and how to reconcile this with family life appear authentic. ( )

Well, the abriged version (still 5 hours of audio) is done.
It was not a bad book, but it didn't interest or touch me nearly as the book by Michelle Obama did.
I can't help comparing the two, 'reading' them one after the other. This book was more politics, meetings, strategy, than the memoirs of a mother, a wife.
This life in public feels much further away from my life than Becoming, although they describe the same things: being a first lady, raising a child in the White House, being married to a president, living in the public eye.
Interesting times were Hillary's years in the White House, but the description of these times felt like as told from a distance, without really tangible passion, awe and a touch of humility.

I own a copy of the Dutch edition of this book, but I found the audiobook version of is, so I've switched to that one. Like Michelle Obama read her own book, Hillary Clinton also reads this one.

Seems like I'm into reading from/about former first ladies at the moment :-) ( )