Understanding Bill Clinton's "My Life"

By Michele Blandino

I'll admit it: I was curious. All the hype surrounding the release of Bill Clinton's autobiography My Life a few months ago finally got to me and I went out and bought a copy.

And, the fact that I head to read it with a flashlight while hiding under the covers so that my dyed-in-the-wool Republican husband wouldn't catch me - well, not really, but close - didn't deter me from getting though all 900-plus pages. Fortunately, the book's relatively short chapters - usually 20 pages or less - made it an easy book to read in increments.

The Quick & Dirty

As in most autobiographies, Clinton takes us on a chronological journey through his life. While much of what we read within the book has already been well-documented - from spending his early years without a father to his being named a Rhodes Scholar - hearing the stories from his point-of-view made it seem as though we were hearing them for the very first time. And, even this cynic found herself at times feeling somewhat sympathetic.

Unfortunately, despite the book's epic length, Clinton gets so bogged down in the minutia that he fails to give his readers and true insight into what makes him tick. Rather than focusing on a few significant events of his life which may have shaped who he is today, Clinton chooses to spare no details in recounting even the most insignificant events of his early years. In many ways, it's as though his publisher told him the book had to be of a certain length in order to be published (kind of like those term papers we had to write in high school).

Similarly, while the details of the events leading up to his much discussed affair with Monica Lewinsky are covered in excruciating detail, he doesn't seem to give the same treatment to events which may have influenced some of his most important policy decisions. Instead, he opts to deluge the reader with a barrage of names, events and other facts that provide little substance to the story he is trying to tell.

Should You Read It?

Your enjoyment of this book will largely depend on how much of a fan - or critic - of Bill Clinton you happen to be. Those who disagree with his politics will likely be turned off by this book. It is, at times, seemingly pompous to the point of being defiant.

His supporters, on the other hand, will devour every word.

As for me, I finished the book wishing I had opted instead for the audio version. It would have taken me 6 hours to get through the saga rather than the six weeks it took me to read it.