Hard Choices by Hillary Rodham ClintonMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
First, let me say that prior to reading this book I was not a Hillary Clinton fan. I supported Obama in the 2008 election. And I was concerned that this book was just a brochure for her next run for president. Fortunately, I was wrong. This book is full of stories of her time as Secretary of State and the people she met. I was fascinated and intrigued as I read it. She tells stories of both failures of diplomacy and successes. She provides insight into many of the key players on the international scene and some historical context to current events.
If you are interested in international politics, you should read this book with an open mind. While you may not agree with Clinton's conclusions, you will have a better understanding of who Hillary Clinton is and the challenges the United States faces on the world stage. And, yes, if she obtains the Democratic nomination, I will probably support her. My only wish is that she would have remained as Secretary of State another four years instead of choosing to run for President. She could have accomplished so much more.
I also have walked away with the belief that people who run for President should have spent time as Secretary of State. Presidents have less influence on the internal affairs of the country than they do on the international scene. Congress has greater control and influence on the American society than any one President. Congress makes the laws and determines the direction of the country. Decisions made in Congress are with us for generations. Presidents can twist arms, but in the end, their influence is short-lived. Presidents can do more on the world stage than they can at home. Unfortunately, most candidates for President have very little experience on the international stage and waste much of their time in office learning how the world works. If Presidents spent time as secretary of state before running for President, they would have a greater opportunity to influence world events.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in international politics or in understanding what makes Hillary Rodham Clinton tick. I also would recommend that you listen to the audio version of the book. While Clinton read the opening and closing chapters of the book, she did not read the whole book. Kathleen Chalfant did an excellent job of reading most of the book. Though, I would have preferred to have Hillary's voice all the way through.
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