My Life

Bill Clinton's reading of MY LIFE is the perfect way to experience the former president's voluminous memoir. In six-and-a-half hours of audio, Clinton takes listeners through a litany of his political and personal life. If you're not a historian who is interested in the minute detail that the full text offers, this excellent abridgment has few gaps. While occasionally short entries must suffice for far more complicated and long-lasting events, the author's voice--both literal and narrative--is clear and fluid. Always a compelling, articulate speaker, Clinton is in his element. The stream of events, dates, and details seems a bit relentless at points, but the account of the early years with his family has more reflective elements. His concluding chapters, too, give listeners an overview that reveals his frustration with the distractions of partisan politics and personal issues throughout the central work of his presidency. R.F.W. 2005 Spoken Word Grammy Winner, 2005 Audie Award Finalist (c) AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine

July 5, 2004
Condensing a 900-page text into a six-and-a-half–hour audiobook is no small challenge, but this production proves that it can be done—and done well. Inevitably, people will wonder what has been left out. The answer: anecdotes from Clinton's childhood; blow-by-blow accounts of his gubernatorial and presidential races; a plethora of details regarding his smaller accomplishments as president; and some blistering indictments of Kenneth Starr and other conservatives. What's left is a moving but all-too-brief portrait of Clinton's troubled childhood and an in-depth look at the battles he fought before and after being elected. It should come as no surprise to anyone who has heard Clinton speak that the former president narrates his autobiography with aplomb. His voice rings with mirth when he relates an amusing anecdote and expresses sadness when he describes how his abusive, alcoholic father faced death with more courage than he did life. Clinton covers the expected topics—Whitewater (a "bogus scandal"); his "immoral and foolish" dalliance with Monica Lewinsky; his attempts to balance the budget and bring peace to the Middle East—but the most illuminating details are the small ones (such as when he recalls, with a smile in his voice, impulsively buying a house and telling Hillary: "Remember that little house you liked so much? I bought it. You have to marry me now, because I can't live there alone"). Although not all of the transitions between topics are seamless and listeners may wish John McElroy, who created this abridgment, had included more details from Clinton's younger years, Clinton's legendary charisma shines through in his reading, making this audiobook a rare treat. B&w photos on packaging. Simultaneous release with the Knopf hardcover.

Starred review from December 1, 2004
For the millions of baby boomers who have shared most of Clinton's history, this book will be a reminder of the many events we have experienced in the last half-century. The former President details events of his early life, his years at Georgetown University, and his experiences at Oxford. Throughout, he offers candid portraits of his life and shares fond memories of family and friends. He also reveals some of the darker moments: from his secret life as the child of an abusive stepfather to the ongoing attacks of the anti-Clinton faction that led to the Starr investigation. Clinton narrates in his usual manner, as if he has just dropped in for a chat or is reminiscing with friends. He has never been the object of ambivalence, and here he is finally getting to tell his side of the story. A trip through interesting times, My Life is highly recommended for all libraries.-Theresa Connors, Arkansas Tech Univ., Russellville

Copyright 2004 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.