Over the past three years of books reviews I have read over 15 books on the Clinton Administration. Every book has taken the administration apart for one reason or another that was until now. Hyland unbiased and straightforward look is refreshing and pleasant for a change.

Hyland has a unique ability to make the politics of Washington interesting so that more than the usual political junkies will read the book. The book outlines what Bill Clinton did or didn't do in the first four years, his revamping of policies and the alterations of the second term.

Over the course of the 200 plus page book, the reader is treated to a look into Bill Clinton's handling and mishandling of every foreign situation. The author shows that over the first four years mistake after mistake lead Bill Clinton to make hard decisions.

What surprised me most about this book was the way the author remained neutral throughout the whole book and laid out, with great detail, how difficult it is to make foreign policy. While I may not agree with the author on several points, he does present a clear and convincing argument that should make for interesting reading.

Am I the only one who noticed that this book have excatly the same cover (and the subject) as the book "They're playing our song" by Max Wilk? Both books are excellent and give insight in early 20.century pop music,share basically same anecdotes and are based on life & works of music masters who shaped Broadway.

What I really wanted I never got from this book. While a nice, survey of the events of the cold war, never once, does the author attempt to explain the root of the conflict in the arena of ideas. Never does he try to go beyond political dogma. After reading an excellent biography of Eisenhower, which did much more justice to the small part of the cold war involved ...I found this work lacking. It is also particularly myopic in that the author never revised the work in view of the collaspe of soviet union as a whole.

If you've never read a book about Richard Rodgers, this one may interest you -- otherwise, stay away. The trouble is that almost everything here is quoted from previous books, with the exception of some pretty basic discussions of Rodgers as a composer. There is practically no insight into Rodgers the man, and only a little into Rodgers the artist. You would do far better reading Rodgers autobiography MUSICAL STAGES (which is relied upon far too heavily in this book), or Hugh Fordin's Hammerstein bio GETTING TO KNOW HIM. All in all, this book is not awful -- just awfully dull.