Hard Choices

By: Hillary Rodham Clinton

Narrated by: Kathleen Chalfant, Hillary Rodham Clinton

Hillary Rodham Clinton’s inside look at the choices and challenges she has faced is “a subtle, finely calibrated work…with succinct and often shrewd appraisals of the complex web of political, economic, and historical forces in play around the world” (The New York Times).

In the aftermath of her 2008 presidential run, Hillary Rodham Clinton expected to return to the United States Senate. To her surprise, newly elected President Barack Obama asked her to serve in his administration as Secretary of State. “Hard Choices is a richly detailed and compelling chronicle of Clinton’s role in the foreign initiatives and crises that defined the first term of the Obama administration…it teems with small, entertaining details about her interactions with foreign leaders (Los Angeles Times).

Secretary Clinton and President Obama had to decide how to repair fractured alliances, wind down two wars, and address a global financial crisis. Along the way, they grappled with tough dilemmas, especially the decision to send Americans into harm’s way, from Afghanistan to Libya to the hunt for Osama bin Laden. By the end of her tenure, Secretary Clinton had gained a truly global perspective on the major trends reshaping today’s landscape.

In Hard Choices, “a rich and lively narrative” (Entertainment Weekly), Hillary Clinton offers her views on what it will take for the United States to compete and thrive. This “memoir is serious, sober, and substantive” (The New York Times Book Review).

Critic reviews

A subtle, finely calibrated work….Hard Choices is a statesmanlike document…with succinct and often shrewd appraisals of the complex web of political, economic and historical forces in play around the world, and the difficulties American leaders face in balancing strategic concerns with ‘core values.’ The tone is calm and measured, with occasional humorous asides, like describing an offer by Vladimir V. Putin, the Russian leader, to take Bill Clinton along on a polar-bear tagging expedition. (Michiko Kakutani)

[A] clear and at times riveting account of Hillary Rodham Clinton’s four years as secretary of state….The book bolsters her reputation as a strong “representational” diplomat who carried the flag to 112 countries. But the meaty middle of Hard Choices does something more than chronicle the frequent-flier miles: It provides evidence that Clinton displayed good judgment as secretary of state and understood some important issues earlier than her boss, President Obama…..[O]nce Clinton gets rolling, she does what’s most valuable in this kind of memoir, which is to take readers inside her meetings — sketching portraits of the world leaders with whom she did business…..Perhaps the most revelatory passages in the book involve the secret diplomacy that led to the November 2013 interim nuclear agreement with Iran. (David Ignatius)

Hard Choices is a richly detailed and compelling chronicle of Clinton's role in the foreign initiatives and crises that defined the first term of the Obama administration — the pivot to Asia, the Afghanistan surge of 2009, the ‘reset’ with Russia, the Arab Spring, the ‘wicked problem’ of Syria — told from the point of view of a policy wonk… it's also mercifully free of the bromides that mar most campaign biographies. The book teems with small, entertaining details about her interactions with foreign leaders.

“To its credit, Clinton’s memoir is serious, sober and substantive….No fair-minded reader could finish this book and doubt Clinton’s essential command of the issues, whatever one might think of her solutions for them. She roams widely and delves into war and peace, terrorism and Russia, economic development and women’s rights. She knows the players and the history.” (Peter Baker)

“An amazing story….Above all, what comes through is Clinton's sheer persistence. This is how she does politics, by keeping going and totting up the small victories so that they outweigh the defeats.”

“Enjoy Hard Choices for what it is at its best — a rich and lively narrative of Clinton's foreign policy successes, and failures.”

“Undeniable depth.”

“Blessed with an instant familiarity.”

“Clinton’s voice and world view is authentic…and this is gripping.”

Our Next President

She has what it takes, and this book proves it. Gripping and enjoyable from start to finish. A true story of a dedicated public servant in difficult circumstances that should make any American proud.

A controlled narrative

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I think since Hillary Clinton ( I voted for her in 2008) keeping it open the option to rerun for President in 2016 she cannot be expected to reveal what is she really thinks about personalities and events and countries. The narrative is flat, controlled and lacks any surprises. Perhaps when she is ready to retire from public life she would share with us her candid thoughts of the world as seen by her.

Would you recommend Hard Choices to your friends? Why or why not?

No

What three words best describe Kathleen Chalfant and Hillary Rodham Clinton ’s voice?

Good matching

Could you see Hard Choices being made into a movie or a TV series? Who should the stars be?

No

Any additional comments?

No

Great book, wide ranging

Very enjoyable to book. Covers many important global events yet is still easy to digest.

Behind the headlines

Hillary Rodham Clinton logged thousands of miles and visited over 100 countries during her four years as Secretary of State. In this book she provides both a "big picture" historical review of the concerns, challenges and opportunities of the nations around the world, as well as the intimate aspects of the people charged with leading their countries. Several themes are woven into the narrative: the importance of relationships in diplomacy, the difficult compromises necessary to balance values and strategic interests, the intensity of human need and suffering and our human and national obligation to defend and expand human rights.

provided unexpected insights

Would you listen to Hard Choices again? Why?

none. once was enough. I rarely read the same book twice, except for Geek Love, and some of Herman Hesse books

What other book might you compare Hard Choices to and why?

I've not read anything like it before

Which scene was your favorite?

the Chinese men were quite humorous

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

no