Poll

Folks, please vote for the book or selection that you feel you or the group would be most interested in. Your votes help the group and the moderators select books that will appeal to the most readers.

All of the above books were selected in an open selection process for nominations. If a book that you feel would be an excellent choice is missing from the above list; by all means send me a PM and let me know. And we will add it to the poll.

Some great choices in our poll. It will be a different discussion because most of us lived through this administration. Please vote and participate!

Yes, for sure and he is still such a viable and engaging politician even today with his foundation and his efforts all over the world and recently in Haiti.

If My Life - Bill Clinton wins then we will have to discuss Bryan how long you think that book might take; however, I fully understand why that might be the popular choice being by Clinton himself.

I also thought that the Michael Takiff one looked interesting too.

But so many great choices; this was hard to decide. I am not sure that the Hilary Clinton one would be a great choice in discussing Bill Clinton but I added it anyways. Although I do admire HRC and how she has handled different aspects of her life; and I think she is doing an excellent job as Secretary of State.

by Bill Clinton

by Michael Takiff

by Hillary Rodham Clinton

Such hard choices! This will be interesting for me, as I was pretty young during the Clinton administration (grade school-junior high). I had the opportunity to hear him speak when I was in the fourth grade (this was by far a very huge event for me), and because of that, I suppose, I had a really idealized image of him growing up.

I really hope I can join when the time comes. I find that the History Book Club always has some really wonderful reads, and I wish I had more time to partake in the great discussions.

Mindy thanks for your kind words. We do our best.

This will be the first read of the series where the group has selected a living former president so this should be exciting.

I know that Bryan will be glad if you can join in on his discussion and I think you would enjoy it too.

Thank you so much for commenting.

Some great choices here and I know I will be happy with whatever the group decides. I voted but am still thinking about my choice - it was tough to decide. Looking forward to it, whatever it will be.

Thanks, Mindy for the nice post. What is nice about the threads is that you can read at your own pace. If you get behind, no worries. You post when you can, what you can. Lol, we don't expect grand dissertations on a post, either, so don't feel pressured.

I vote for "Because He Could" by Dick Morris.

Dick wrote: "I vote for "Because He Could" by Dick Morris."

Dick, make sure you cast your vote by clicking on the appropriate book above. That is how the poll calculates. Every vote counts. :-) and don't forget the book cover and author links. Thanks!

by Dick Morris

There has been discussion of this poll both here and on the "Polls Open" thread. I'm including a link to that thread here to help people flip between the two:

http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/3...

Thanks Elizabeth for your post. Folks, just as an FYI: the autobiography is 1008 pages.

Bentley wrote: "Thanks Elizabeth for your post. Folks, just as an FYI: the autobiography is 1008 pages."

And the hardcover only has 961 pages.

My hardcover does not; maybe you have a reprint.

Product Details
Hardcover: 1008 pages
Publisher: Knopf; 1st Edition edition (June 22, 2004)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9780375414572
ISBN-13: 978-0375414572

Here is the picture of the very large book:



But what are 40 pages or so when you up around a thousand. I think the autobiography is a great way to really get to know Clinton. But I hope the folks who did choose this book realize the commitment that a book this length takes. It is a great book and very intimate; but be sure you are committed before voting for this book because it is a long journey. I will be on the journey with you and Bryan whatever the book choice is and the choice is ultimately yours.

I'm a little confused. I put both of our ISBNs in the Library of Congress catalog and got the same amount of pages:
957 p.
Knopf,2004
ISBN: 0375414576

Check your numbered pages and see if you get 957. I added other material pages to get over 957.

Weird, also goodreads shows the paperback as being 1056 not even 1008 which is even more and certainly long enough. I think it depends upon the edition; mine was a first edition hardcover. I think they made the print smaller to cut down on the number of pages.

Here are some of the glowing reviews:

"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.... And he can write.” --Larry McMurtry, The New York Times Book Review

“My Life is, without question, the best written U.S. presidential tome of all time.” --Douglas Brinkley, Financial Times

“A hell of a good story.” --Frank McCourt, Entertainment Weekly

“It’s an almost voluptuous pleasure to read Clinton when he’s recounting and analyzing a political race or a legislative battle, whether it’s one of his own or somebody else’s.” —The New Yorker

“Consistently fascinating.” --The Seattle Times

“Clinton talks with disarming frankness [and] writes with grace and fluidity. . . . He is also a born storyteller.” --The New Republic

“Might just be the perfect representation of the man himself.” --The Plain Dealer

“Clinton has many tales to tell, particularly a rich, sometimes moving account of his years before the public life, fit for future analytical historians and biographers. . . . The personal and the political are intertwined. . . . Clinton’s story very much reflects the man we know.” --The Nation

“He manages to create the distinct impression that he is sitting in the living room talking to the reader. . . . Anyone who is geninely interested in American politics will find his insights and anecdotes fascinating. . . . The book helps to elucidate the question of ‘how he did it.’ ” --Deseret Morning News

“It’s a saga worthy of Cecil B. DeMille, a rags-to-riches tale full of the stuff of human frailty, with a cast of hundreds, complete with low-life villians and high-minded heroes and, as such stories require, an upbeat ending. . . . The 1990s come to life once again as a time of uncommon tumult and riveting personalities. . . . The personalities on parade are as vivid as the events.” --Newark Star-Ledger

“ Tremendously interesting and entertaining. . . . Clinton’s is a truly American story to which the average person can relate. . . . Future politicians will find it a must-read, and average Americans will identify with the highs and lows we all experience as we make our way through life.” --Chattanooga Times Free Press

“Takes readers through a strong account of the achievements and failures of his administrattion. . . . No other presidential memoir is likely to be so lively. . . . Bill Clinton is hard to dismiss, and so is an account of his extraordinary life.” -- The Tennessean

“A reading of MyLife is a necessity for lovers of good autobiograpy. It reads like a down-home history of a life and, thus, anchors Clinton as a superb storyteller. . . . Candid. . . . Honest. . . . Stimulating.” --Huntsville Times

By the way, there were others that felt it was disjointed and rushed.

Must be a lot of editions, as mine is Vintage Books paperback and 969 pages which includes the afterward. One thing is clear, this man has a lot to say!

For sure, he always has liked to talk.

Folks, Clinton's memoir won and I hope that the 18 folks at the very least who voted for this long book will help Bryan Craig out and join him for this discussion. It is because of all of your votes that this selection has been chosen. So please sign up by saying yes to the event notification that has been sent out. I know he could use your participation to make this book discussion successful. This is an onerous moderation task and I applaud him for taking this on. I think it will be an interesting book because Clinton is such a complex but at the same time talented man and politician.