Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Former Secretary of State Clinton tellswell, if not all, at least what she and her book team think we ought to know.If this memoir of diplomatic service lacks the preening self-regard of Henry Kissingers and the technocratic certainty of Dean Achesons, it has all the requisite evenhandedness: Readers have the sense that theres not a sentence in it that hasnt been vetted, measured and adjusted for maximal blandness. The news that has thus far made the rounds has concerned the authors revelation that the Clintons were cash-strapped on leaving the White House, probably since theres not enough hanging rope about Benghazi for anyone to get worked up about. (On that current hot-button topic, the index says, mildly, See Libya.) The requisite encomia are there, of course: Losing these fearless public servants in the line of duty was a crushing blow. So are the crises and Clintons careful qualifying: Her memories of the Benghazi affair, she writes, are a blend of her own experience and information gathered in the course of the investigations that followed, especially the work of the independent review board charged with determining the facts and pulling no punches. When controversy appears, it is similarly cushioned: Tinhorn dictators are valuable allies, and everyone along the way is described with the usual honorifics and flattering descriptions: Benazir [Bhutto] wore ashalwar kameez, the national dress of Pakistan, a long, flowing tunic over loose pants that was both practical and attractive, and she covered her hair with lovely scarves. In short, this is a standard-issue political memoir, with its nods to adorable students, important partners, the rich history and culture of every nation on the planet, and the difficulty of eating and exercising sensibly while logging thousands of hours in flight and in conference rooms.Unsurprising but perfectly competent and seamlessly of a piece with herLiving History (2003). And will Hillary run? The guiding metaphor of the book is the relay race, and theres a sense that if the torch is handed to her, well. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Book list
From Booklist, Copyright © American Library Association. Used with permission.

Hillary Clinton follows the well-trod path of possible presidential candidates: a few years out, write a book. Unlike the authors of a lot of these tomes, Clinton actually has an interesting story to tell, beginning with the loss of the 2008 presidential election and how she was convinced to become part of Barack Obama's team of rivals when she took the job as Secretary of State. Although there are personal moments here the death of her mother, Chelsea's wedding, and the time the president told her she had food stuck in her teeth! this is primarily fodder for policy wonks. Clinton goes into deep detail about her work in Asia, Iraq and Afghanistan, Latin America, and other hot spots around the globe. She details her vision for U.S. foreign policy and the role of diplomacy. Along the way, she introduces readers to a who's who of world leaders and gives insight into the way they think and do business. Written engagingly (and some will say with calculation), the book also offers Clinton the opportunity to get certain issues out of the way (not that her apologies about her Iraq vote and Benghazi will placate her critics). The big question Will she run for president? isn't addressed until the final pages. Spoiler alert: she hasn't decided yet. But it sure feels like she will.--Cooper, Ilene Copyright 2010 Booklist

Library Journal
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Although readers will not find the answer to whether Clinton will run for president in 2016 in this wonkish memoir of her tenure (2009-13) as President Obama's first secretary of state, they will come to appreciate her observation that "in diplomacy there is less room for humor." The levity and homespun stories of family, found in abundance in Clinton's previous memoir Living History, are mostly lacking here. Instead, readers will find a sometimes gripping but at times dry recounting of the many foreign-policy challenges that roiled America in the wake of the George W. Bush administration. Clinton's practice of the art of statecraft is vividly described in chapters about such hot spots as Afghanistan, Pakistan, Russia (the portrayal of neo-Cold War president Vladimir Putin is arguably her best depiction of any international figure), the 2010 Arab Spring uprising, and the attack on the U.S. embassy in Benghazi. Rambling discussions on China, Latin America, and some specific issues such as climate change, energy, and jobs could have been trimmed. VERDICT Overall, Clinton's appraisal will appeal mostly to informed readers of current history and politics who will likely approach it with the same tenacity that Clinton demonstrated as secretary of state. [See Prepub Alert, 1/6/14.] Karl Helicher, Upper Merion Twp. Lib., King of Prussia, PA (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Publishers Weekly
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The once and possibly future Democratic presidential candidate looks back on her adventures as Secretary of State in this diplomatic memoir. Clinton identifies and reflects upon the many choices that defined her tenure as secretary of state, including nuclear negotiations with Iran and North Korea, the killing of Osama bin Laden, the Arab Spring, and the attack on the U.S. compound in Benghazi that killed four Americans. Clinton narrates parts of the audiobook, and, although her voice is agreeable enough, her tone can be confusing. It often feels as if she is smiling or even laughing in her narration-while the text warrants this sometimes, it also feels more disruptive than enjoyable. Chalfant does a solid job of keeping a consistent and engaging tone throughout much of the production, but feels different enough from Clinton that it can feel a bit disjointed for the listener. A Simon & Schuster hardcover. (June) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Library Journal
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Clinton is pretty much all business in this memoir that focuses on her time as secretary of state. There are occasional personal stories scattered throughout, but she merely skims the surface of her life outside of the job, not diving deep enough to give listeners much of a sense as to what makes her tick. Clinton has indeed had plenty of hard choices in her career but appears unflappable even when dealing with the toughest issues, the one notable exception to this being her vote in favor of military action in Iraq. Clinton contributes by reading a few selections, while Kathleen Chalfant narrates the majority of the memoir, skillfully evoking Clinton's confidence and straightforward style. Less politically minded listeners will be left longing for more stories in which Clinton lets down her guard a bit, as when she talks about the media's obsession with her hair (she jokes that her favorite suggested title for the book was "The Scrunchie Chronicles: 112 Countries and It's Still About My Hair"). VERDICT Those with an eye on the 2016 presidential election won't find a firm commitment from Clinton as to whether she plans to run, but the book serves as a good reminder of her past accomplishments. ["Clinton's appraisal will appeal mostly to informed readers of current history and politics who will likely approach it with the same tenacity that Clinton demonstrated as secretary of state," read the review of the S. & S. hc, LJ 8/14.]-Theresa Horn, St. Joseph Cty. P.L., South Bend, IN (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.