Clinton Books

This book is about Presidential speechwriting. It includes all stages of the process as told by the author. It is particularly interesting as a portrait of what it is like to write speeches for a president who is active. The scenes about President Clinton's late edits are especially good. A nice read.

Whether you admired the 42nd President or not, many agree he had fabulous oratorical skills. A person who is partly responsible for that was Michael Waldman, his chief speechwriter and author of POTUS Speaks. Even though he admits having a bias for Clinton, it is clearly non-evident in this book, in comparison to grossly negative statements or outlandish praises about a complex President. If you've ever wanted to know what a Clinton speechfest was really like, this book is for you. It takes you into the last minute motorcade edits and to gaffes by the White House staff (which Clinton masterfully covered up with his brilliant skills). An example is the big NAFTA speech, in which the President doesn't have the correct speech, and instead the "sloppy copy" with edits and cross outs all over the place. And, no one knows the difference.
A must read for anyone interested in the White House.

Michael Waldman is my idea of a great writer of political books. He's a guy who was definitely on the inside, but he doesn't spend the whole book aggrandising himself or justifying everything he did. Waldman does a great job of showing what it was like to work for Clinton the man, Clinton the president, Clinton the political strategist. As opposed to books written by others who worked in the White House during the Clinton years (Stephenopolis, Gergen, Morris), you don't get a sense that Waldman is writing for any other reason than to objectively report what he saw and did while working for the President.

There is nothing shocking or new in this book, really, but it does a great job of showing the dichotomy that existed in the White House during the scandals. Waldman was a policy, not a political, guy. Even in the heart of the scandals - indeed, on the most important days of that whole mess - Waldman recounts how he and other policy guys just worked on policy issues (the budget, fast track, education) as if nothing else was going on. On the day Clinton is impeached, Waldman and the President were working on a speech together. Amazing!

This book is excellent for many reasons. First, it is a great inside look at how speeches and policies were constructed in the Clinton White House. Second, Waldman was there for the entire presidency (except for the very end), so his observations on how the President (and the White House staff) changed over the years are insightful and fascinating. I really enjoyed watching/reading as he and the other young aides went from, well, young aides to senior White House Staffers. Third, this book did more to help me understand Clinton the man than almost any other I read, precisely because it didn't TRY to explain who Clinton the man is. Rather, Waldman just shows us what Clinton did, said, and how he acted during his presidency without trying to over analyze it or draw conclusions. In this way, we get to see Clinton unfiltered.

For political junkies looking for a good book on how policies are formed and shaped in a modern White House, this is a great book. For lovers of Clinton, this is a must-read. For those looking for chest pumping, look elsewhere. Waldman wrote a great book. Well worth a read.

This book gives a fine example of what it's like to work for the most powerful, or one of the most powerful, person[s] in the world. Not unlike the NBC show "The West Wing", the battles over language; the frustration over when things go wrong and the joy at when they go right, this book by Michael Waldman sparkles with wit and humor. It also goes a long way to explaining the tough task of working for a President like Bill Clinton. If you're a "West Wing" fan, as I am, and want to get a clue into working inside the White House, read this book.

It is a refreshing start to a book when the author admits up front that he is and was a strong supporter of President Clinton. Unlike many of the books that have come out regarding Clinton, either positive or negative, they all profess to be unbiased and fair, but usually by about 25 pages in you know the track the author is following. With this book the author admits up front his position so there is never any question as to the slant he was using. You could read the book and know that the positive side of the situation was being documented, not a sly attempt to malign the President.

As you know from reading the book synopsis, the author was the head speechwriter for Clinton and was with him for almost his entire Presidency. Unfortunately for me that fact seemed to mean that he was not really involved in any policy decision (I assumed that fact going into the book), but also that he did not share any gossip or good insight in how many decisions were made. I do not think there was anything detailed in the book that was not already spelled out in other books or in the papers. The laborious speech writing process Clinton used was interesting and the lack of organization of the early administration was expressed well.

Overall I found the book to be just average, nothing really new. I felt that best parts of the book dealt with the start of Monica issue and the impeachment process and how the speechwriting team just kept plugging away. If you are looking for a light book from a Clinton fan then this book will make you happy. I would suggest that the following books are better: Locked in the Cabinet (by Reich), All Too Human (by Stephenopolis) and Shadow (by Woodward). All of them give far more detail and I thought they were actually better written.

This is yet another attempt to water down the real cause of the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The reader will conclude that the agressor was not Serbia and Monteneagro, but....some crazy local politicians who succeded in fomanting the heatred after coming to power. Reader is fooled into beleiving that this heatred had nothing to do with previous history, which is full of bloodshed caused by this monsterous project of Greater Serbia. Personal tragedies of these woman are masterfully twisted into illusion that "we lived like a brothers during Marshall Tito", who by the way was one of the biggest criminals and dictatiors in the recent history. If I wrote this when this communist Tito was alive, I'd be in the gulag before this message treavelled from my computer to amazon's server. Poor book, full of illusions and lies! Stay away.

Swanee Hunt was the US ambassador to Austria for the later stages of the Bosnian war and the immediate aftermath, and one senses that as an outsider - a political appointee in the US diplomatic service - she was trying also to bring other outsider voices into the process. But she keeps herself largely in the background, and the book is a collection of interviews with twenty-six Bosnian women of diverse backgrounds, with the interviews edited and assembled by theme, to give a rounded picture of, say, perceptions of history, actual wartime experience, the chance of reconciliation.

Feeling utterly betrayed by their leaders, twenty-six women from all over Bosnia meet with Swanee Hunt, former US Ambassador to Austria and Chair of Women Waging Peace, a global policy initiative. In their own words, they describe the war which ravaged their country and reduced it to rubble. As they make clear from the outset, this war was not a result of age-old ethnic antagonisms in the Balkans, where city after city had been peacefully multi-ethnic and where most families had loyalties to more than one group. It was the direct result, they believe, of the nationalism fomented by unscrupulous politicians, especially Slobodan Milosevic and Radovan Karadzic, as they seized power and wealth in the vacuum which existed following the death of Marshall Tito.

The twenty-six speakers are Serbs, Croats, Muslims, Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, atheists (former Communists), and Jews, all bright, articulate women who are, and have been, working to heal their society. They include engineers, several journalists and physicians, a teacher, a member of the Bosnian Parliament, a professor at the School of Economics, a landscape architect, a member of the seven-member shared Presidency, a farm wife, a flower shop owner, a teenage student, and an art gallery owner, and they represent all areas of Bosnia, from Srebrenica to Mostar, Tuzla, and Sarajevo.

With one voice, they blame their politicians for the atrocities of the war, pointing out that their leaders' manipulation of the international press and their sectarian chauvinism led to ethnic fundamentalism in a country which had previously been multicultural. The imposition of traditional roles on women led to their enforced withdrawal from decision-making, and they universally agree that that they might have been able to influence the direction of the country toward more cultural understanding and better communication if they had been allowed to continue their previous political, professional, and social roles.

The stories here are lively, personal, often incredibly sad, and absolutely unforgettable. Beautiful color portraits of the women, along with brief biographies, make each woman a "living" voice, and the reader is struck by how much these women typify women around the world. Most remarkably the women, despite the losses of parents, husbands, sons, and friends, all continue rebuilding their country, ignoring ethnic labels as they work to get housing for all refugees, find medical supplies and equipment, establish a women's collective, work with rape victims, plan conferences to bring together women from all over the country, make radio broadcasts, organize news agencies, write books, promote international awareness of the atrocities in Bosnia (especially in Srebrenica), care for the elderly, become ambassadors, and run schools.

Hunt's book and the words of these remarkable women are a major achievement in the understanding of this terrible war, a war far different from what most of us have been led to believe. Fourteen magnificent photographs, in addition to the women's portraits, will wring the heart--an unrecognizable national library, a snow-covered Sarajevo soccer field which is now a cemetery, and a decimated dormitory in the Olympic village. Yet amidst the carnage are smiling women who are changing the face of Bosnia. As Kada tells Hunt, "Thank you for telling my story. What's written down will last." n Mary Whipple

I found this book to be unbelievably moving, especially the pictures of the women, which helped me realize that these women are just like you and me, and that this could happen to any one of us. I can not imagine the strength required and exhibited by each of these women, and thank Ms. Hunt for sharing their stories. Every woman in America should read this book!

This is an exquisitely executed book about the struggles of women in Bosnia to survive the ravages of a war fuelled by political expedience and glamorized as an ethnic struggle. Swanee Hunt's own tone of moral outrage never eclipses the voices of the women she has interviewed. She writes of them with love, and also finds much love in them, a love only more startling for having survived such intense hatred. This book is a great, great achievement, both for its singular mix of empathy and for its clarity. As Primo Levi and Viktor Frankl found meaning in the Holocaust without diminishing its horror, so Hunt finds a language of strength and power in these compromised lives. This is a book about the very best and very worst of humanity.

Honestly, I don't have much to add to what all the other reviewers are saying...this is a great little book (just a smudge over 200 pages) that is full of tidbits of advice, some that are very forward thinking, since the original book was published in 1960. My only minor complaint is that some of the advice does feel a bit "fluffy", without much meat behind it to really feel like something I can implement in my own life. Nonetheless, this easy reading book does remind us all of how to enjoy life and to strive to reach our full potential.

I enjoyed the book very much. I am quite an Eleanor Roosevelt admirer and found much of what was in the book to be ageless in its presentation. It is a book I intend to give to my granddaughter.

My mother told me she had the opportunity to go listen to Eleanor Roosevelt give a talk at her college during the 1930's. She said Mrs. Roosevelt was a powerful and inspriational speaker, while at the same time seem like a next door neighbor.

After reading this book, I have to agree with my mother (don't tell her that!). This book is filled lots of very practical and useful ideas for everyday living. I would recommend this book for high school reading and then have them re-read it about tens after graduation.

This is a excellent book for any graduate, no matter what stage of life.
Eleanor Roosevelt offers advice on how to be the best person one can be.
Even at middle age I found this book to be very inspirational at this stage of my life. Live life to the fullest.

This is a little-known but delightful gem of a book. The inimitable Eleanor Roosevelt was a prolific author, but this effort is among her very best. Forged by adversity throughout her life, Eleanor was born into a privileged, wealthy family. Her father, Elliot, was Theodore Roosevelt's brother.

My favorite chapter is "The Right to Be an Individual." Mrs. Roosevelt stresses that individuality is something to be prized, yet people want to remain safe, surrounded by a group. She stresses we should strive against this and always be true to ourselves. This is a simple, yet eloquent philosophy. The entire book is full of wit, wisdom and some profound bits of advice. I am a better person for having read this book and I think everyone can take something meaningful from its pages.

This book is packed with a lot of great articles by some heavy hitters in the Christian counseling community. It was a required book for my master's program but is one of my favorites.

It is an excellent resource. It uses language that lay persons can understand and yet offers excellent info. Money well spent. L Wilson

Competent Christian Couseling is an excellent resource book for biblical counselors of all types, be it: pastors, lay counselors, clinical, or private sector counselors. However, the book reads more like a compilation of articles and insights that a person can find in Psychology Today, or other counseling magazines. Although it is put together nicely, and it can be very useful in practical application, I feel it does not reach the potential that it can reach.

Students will find this work helpful in their pursuit of a counseling major, although, they may not refer to it much once they are in their own practice.

Overall, the work is good and worth the money and study, but it was not what I had expected.

I got defocused with all the statistics and accrediting details. Of course this probably should be wholly contributed to the instructor's purpose for this assigned reading. However, there were parts of this book that were quite informative and spiritually stimulating.

Part of a required reading for a course I am taking on Christian Counseling. It can be heavy reading, but that is required to gain a better knowledge of the course.

I was actually disapointed in this book. Given the authors background I was hoping for a book that went into some detail into his methods, beliefs and techniques of crisis negotiation. What I got was a very light but enjoyable read that covered his career in the FBI (including his battles with the beaucracy which I felt did not add to the story) and four incidents of crisis negotiating, which had some good basic tips. Waco got a mention - but only to say he will leave it to the next book - rather frustrating.

My recommendation is, if you want a book on techniques, buy one of the others on the market (for example Van Zandt's fellow ex-agent Fred Lanceley's "On Scene Guide for Crisis Negotiators", or even Frank Bolz 'Hostage Cop"), but if you want a good read and an interesting story then this would be a good book to get.

I recommend this book to any one who enjoys a true-to-life FBI drama.
Each chapter told a different edge-of-your seat story about this author's fascinating life as a negotiator/profiler for the FBI.
Exceptional book and a great read!

I really enjoyed this book and it had many interesting thoughts and details for someone looking to get into the FBI, like myself. However, I felt it layed a little too heavily on his family issues and Christian background. Not that I'm opposed to either, but I had assumed, by the synopsis of the book that the author would go into more detail about high profile cases he had worked on but did the exact opposite. He talked about cases that were probably least known to anyone reading the book. Still, it was a good read but don't pick it up if you expect to read about cases like the Oklahoma City bombing or the Unabomber.

I enjoyed this book. I have great respect for the author's insight and experiences. His views into hostage psychology were enlightening for me and should be an eye opener for those interested in hostage negotiations. I found this book to be a very fast read and very interesting and while I found parts to be somewhat glib, it is recommended for those interested in the workings of the FBI and those with an interest in what the FBI does and the human feelings experienced in the performance of their difficult duties as FBI Agents.

"Facing Down Evil" is a legitimate, keenly observed look at the FBI and Hostage Negotiations by one of it's key players. Van Zandt brings a unique perspective of the Bureau to the page. He is real in his emotion and attitude and doesn't play the glory card so many others do in their memoirs. You actually feel as if you walk a mile in his shoes and it is a tough, yet gratifying path. Van Zandt succesfully intertwines stories of his personal life with his carreer and in doing so draws his audience in and keeps them wanting more untill the last page is turned.

This is an excellent read. While the book is filled with facts and figures, Mr. Graham does a good job keeping the book moving along.

Astonishing facts from a group that monitors media. THE THEFT OF A UNITED STATES PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION. (Facts, Numbers & Details)

READ THIS BOOK!!! If it's the Only Book You Read this Year!!! The Truth about Media is Shocking!

COULD BE CALLED, "MEDIA-GATE."

If you ever get the feeling that the media is slanting the political playing field, this book is for you. The author calmly lays out the bias of the national media, statement by statement. Very good read...but be prepared to get angry.

Highly recommended and thorough job by Mr. Graham and company. The facts and examples are numerous and thoroughly persuasive, though I was already one of the converted upon reading this book. It is quite readable and the arguments are well-strung together, making for an easy read. I suspect that one looking on this page already has a strong opinion of Clinton and/or the media in this country, so there isn't really a need to try to argue one side or the other. Just note how CBS gave the biggest audience to Bill & Hillary after the '92 Superbowl to respond to the Gennifer Flowers controversy that threatened to sink him. We now know it was an orchestrated event by friends of Bill to rescue him. Can you imagine if Steve Kroft had followed-up Clinton's "I acknowledge I have caused pain" comment with, "so, it's all out of your system? If we elect you President American can count on a focused, determined leader whose illicit daliances are behind him?" I'd pay a MILLION DOLLARS to see Clinton's reaction to THAT question! Notice Clinton never even apologized, just "acknowledged" that he caused "pain." Don't people who cause pain apologize? Not if you're Bill, and not if you're the media powers that propped him up for 8 long, terribly painful years.

Media Bias & the theft of the '92 election is the supposed topic of this book, which interested me enormously. Unfortunately, the book only works if you're so anti-Clinton that you blindly agree with the biased view of the authors. The so-called "facts" and "figures" are indeed numerous, and meant to beat you into bleary-eyed submission. I don't doubt there's a great book to be written on media bias & politics, and I thought that's what I was buying here. But it's just standard Clinton-bashing, with selective research and shoddy leaden prose as well. I'd love to see a companion volume by the same crew on the 2000 election, and compare their reporting. But if you just want to rant & rave like an uneducated toddler, this will probably make a tasty pacifier. Otherwise, I'd say save your money.

Having attended an institution which was itself originally founded as a woman's college, I was moved to pick up this book.

I was curious how the experiences of myself and contemporaries in Texas had contrasted with the New York Senator and her own classmates. They had, of course, attended college in an era of Vietnam, the rising women's movement and waning in loco parentis policies at colleges.

Initially instituted (ironically by progressives) to 'protect' young people from the outside world and keep us instead focused on our college studies, in loco parentis policies came under criticism from these students for not acknowledging that college students were adults. Administrators did not necessarily have to like the decision, but they had to let students make it.

Such perspective was reflected in Hillary's infamous student speech (pp. 45-47) challenging then Massachusetts Senator Edward Brooke's defense of status quo policies which the students felt WERE the problem with their world.

The book is divided up into topical chapters, but the format reads like a personal conversation between friends over a cup of coffee at the neighborhood cafe. Miriam Horn followed up what happened to the women after their college graduation. Practicing it in their different lives differently, 80 percent of this class describe themselves as feminists (p xxi).

Kris Olson Rogers, another alumna, also entered government service--ultimately getting appointed U.S. Attorney for Oregon by newly elected President Bill Clinton. Never doubt the importance of keeping in touch with your college friends!

This writing is so compelling that I read through the entire book in one sitting! Technically about the class of 1969 at Wellesley, this book ultimately covered many areas and ideas relevant to my generation of women across the country today.

Another strength of the book is that it reminds readers that women's education and public sector participation remains an essentially hot button issue. Women now receive college degrees in America without protest, but other types of our public sector participation now stir the discomfort once generated by higher education.

The book would (of course) be important for people involved with Wellesley in any way. It is also essential reading for anybody who attended a woman's college or is just interested in women, education and history in general.

You know, what I really liked about this book was that it portrayed the real life paths of real women. Women like you and me. Women who had to make choices. And who sometimes had choices made for them.

I happen to like biographies and so I've read a lot about a lot of famous people; but what makes this book so fascinating is that the girls we meet in it are just regular people -- no manifest destiny, no ends justifying the means. Just real people advancing uncertainly in a time of chaos and prosperity.

Sure, the author doesn't examine in detail the life of every Wellesley grad - that would defeat the purpose. But she took a few very real lives (Hillary's not being among them) and she followed those people through war and peace, protest and conformity, personal triumphs and personal f--k-ups. And I thought to myself "these women were so generous to allow the world to peer into their private and public past". I feel very indebted to them ... although it still doesn't help me guage where I'll be when I'm 40.....

Having been a 20 year old working at the College last in 1968 just before jumping into the Army and incoherent world events in Vietnam, this book reminds me of a great time in my own lifetime, and surely of many others. The 60's was present and now in the 90's upon reflection, am very glad I was a teenager/young person THEN, NOT now. This book is great, thankfully, the times were too.

Inspired to buy the book after reading the US News and World Report mini-bios of the class of '69, I should have left it at that. A more in-depth examination revealed women who are tedious anachronisms, agonizing over their choices with all the self-indulgence and navel-gazing that we have come to expect from front-end baby boomers. Many of us went to fine Ivy League schools and came to realize that "the best and the brightest" mantras of these institutions were a bit of a fib. Not these Wellesley girls. They bought it and apparently travel through life jam-packed with an unusual sense of entitlement and a curious feeling of intellectural superiority. What else could we expect from such "gifted" women. Is there anyone in the Class of '69 who navigated through their world humbly, maturely and peacefully? Ironically, most of them came across as spoiled, shallow and dim-witted.

As one of the beneficiaries of the paths set by the 1969 Wellesley grads, I found the book fascinating. That class provided many role models for me when I was at Wellesley and led me to pursue an MBA and a business career. However, I thought the author was selective in the graduates portrayed in depth. There are several members of the class who have achieved a balance in their lives, combining interesting careers with families. Although Lonny Higgins achieved this, she did so in a very unorthodox manner. There are graduates who achieved this with traditional jobs. The other issue not mentioned is that of women who would like to stay home with their children, but do not have that choice, either for financial reasons or their husband's unwillingess to take full financial responsibility. I also think too much time was spent on the two women who discovered they were gay. More pages were devoted to Nancy Wanderer than the other women.

All four books are hardcover and smith bound, measuring 8" x10". The set is a background commentary for the New Testament and includes many, many color pictures, maps, and charts (on every page there is something). Further the set is littered with interesting sidebars which are set as text boxes in the margins or as boxes set within the text. The set is written from an evangelical perspective.

Overall the set appears to be well done. Each Gospel or epistle covered has an introductory historical survey of the culture that the Gospel or epistle was written in as well as the specifics of the local customs or issues that are addressed within the Gospel or epistle.

The commentary then proceeds to address the historical-culture issues that each verse has as a backdrop. For example in the third volume the introduction to the Epistle to the Romans contains,

"Understanding Paul's own situation as he writes Romans helps us appreciate the purpose and theme of the letter. In 15:14-22, he looks at a period of ministry just concluded. "From Jerusalem all the way around Illyricum," Paul tells us, "I have fully proclaimed the gospel of Christ" (15:19). This verse indicates that Paul's ministry has reached a significant geographical turning point. As Luke tells us in Acts, Paul first preached Christ in Damascus (and perhaps Arabia) after his conversion (Acts 9:19-22; cf. Gal. 1:17). Only after three years did he go to Jerusalem to preach, and then only briefly (Gal. 1:18; cf. Acts 9:28-29). Why, then, mention Jerusalem as the starting point for his ministry? For two reasons. First, the city represents the center of Judaism, and Paul is concerned to show how the gospel spread from the Jews to the Gentiles. Second, the city stands at one geographic extremity in his missionary travels. At the other extremity is Illyricum, the Roman province occupying what is today Albania and parts of Yugoslavia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. Only here does Paul refer to missionary work in this province, although such a ministry can be fit easily into the movements of Paul on his third missionary journey (see comments on Rom. 15:19). An "arc" drawn from Jerusalem to Illyricum, therefore, passes over, or nearby, the important churches that Paul has planted in south Galatia (Pisidian Antioch, Lystra, Iconium, Derbe), Asia (Ephesus), Macedonia (Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea), and Achaia (Corinth).
But what does Paul mean when he claims that he has "fully proclaimed" the gospel in these areas? The Greek has simply the equivalent of our verb "fulfill" (peplerokenai). To "fulfill" the gospel, therefore, probably means to preach it sufficiently such that viable churches are established. These churches can then carry on the task of evangelism in their own territories while Paul moves on to plant new churches in virgin gospel territory (cf. 15:20-21).
In pursuit of this calling, Paul is moving on to Spain (15:24). On the way, he hopes to stop off at Rome, evidently to enlist the Roman Christians' support for his new gospel outreach (see comments on 15:24). but before he can begin his trip to the western Mediterranean, he must first return to Jerusalem (15:25). Throughout the third missionary journey, Paul has collected money from the Gentile churches he planted to bring back to the impoverished Jerusalem believers. Now he is ready to embark on this trip, and he earnestly asks the Roman Christians to pray for it (15:30-33). The collection represents for Paul a key step in what he hopes will be the reconciliation of the Jewish and Gentile Christians in the early church" (Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary, vol. 3, pp. 3-5).

An example of the commentary itself from 2 Cor. 11:14:

"Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light (11:14). In some Jewish traditions, Satan transformed himself into an angel of light and deceived Eve a second time:

'Then Satan was angry and transformed himself into the brightness of angels and went away to the Tigris River to Eve and found her weeping. And the devil himself, as if to grieve with her began to weep and said to her, "Step out of the river and cry no more...come out to the water and I will lead you to the place where your food has been prepared."'"

Largely this set appears to be written as a tool for working pastors. It's tone is conversational and does not appeal to excessive use of jargon. It provides all kinds of references and antidotal information which would be useful for sermon illustrations and story-telling. In addition, contemporary source material is referenced as well as recommended reading should a topic peak the readers interest to the point where they wish to more fully explore it. While Zondervan's Backgrounds Commentary is not a scholarly reference, it is obviously aimed at the pastor or church leader who wants to go beyond the basics of a working knowledge of the Bible, yet who also wants a reference that doesn't take a week of reading to get at the stuff that they will eventually wind up presenting in a sermon or Bible study.

A caveat I do have offhand is that the footnotes appear as endnotes at the end of each Gospel or epistle. Stylistically I can understand why this was done as footnotes would break up the overall flow of the work presented; however for footnote geeks this does involve the "Sears Roebuck" method of getting at them.

This is one of the most helpful resources to me when preparing Bible studies and messages. Each N.T. book is written by a reputable, evangelical scholar who has expertise in that particular book. For each N.T. book, there is a very helpful capsule in the beginning that tells you the important facts of each book (author, date, occasion, and key themes). Next, there is a helpful brief commentary for the whole book. There are excellent, color in-text maps as you read the commentary. Furthermore, there are great feature articles that give you insights into some of the pertinent beliefs, gods/goddesses/ key terms that are featured in the N.T. book. There is also a capsule on "reflections" that help the reader ponder and meditate on key themes and concepts. Finally, there is a wonderful annotated bibliography at the end of each book for further, suggested reading.

I am a seminary trained teacher who regularly prepares and teaches presentations and Bible lessons. This is one of the most helpful resources in my library which gives me a comprehensive analysis at a N.T. book at a glance. I read through this backgrounds commentary first and then read through various scholarly commentaries on the particular N.T. book.

I give it my highest recommendation and believe that it will be an excellent resource for laypersons, seminary students, pastors, professors, and Sunday School teachers. It may be pricey but well worth the cost. I hope you'll be as blessed as I am by this outstanding resource.

At first when I opened this set to determine how I might benefit from this commentary, I was disappointed, but not because of the content, but because of what I was looking for. I was looking for indepth information on a passage, but that is not the real value of this book. This book gives historical and cultural background information on specific passages of Scripture, and helps to explain often-misunderstood verses and passages of Scripture. The purpose of this commentary (or at least the value I glean from it) is not scholarly lexical study, or explanations of theologies in the New Testament, but instead the significance of the cultural settings often ignored by us who live 2000 years after the writing of Scripture and in vastly different cultural contexts.

A great example of the use of this commentary is John 7:37-44. The commentary explains why it was significant that Jesus used the phrase "streams of living water." In doing so, it explains the 7th day of the "great day of the Feast" (Feast of Tabernacles) was the pinnacle of the celebration and that each day of the Feast had the priest pouring water over the altar that symbolized the coming of the Holy Spirit. This is often lost in most commentaries, and the authors of this set spend a great deal of time focusing on the aspects of the Bible that are so often glossed over because the historical significance of the events are lost on us, who have not lived in Scriptural times and settings.

The authors show no sign (to me) of theological bias toward any tradition besides emphasizing conservative, contemporary, scholarly study of the Bible.

This set is beautifully bound, with heavy covers and reminds me of a college textbook, rather than a commentary. The books open without having to crack the spine, and the pages are very heavy glossy stock. Throughout the book are color photos and illustrations of biblical artifacts, archaeological finds, and maps/charts depicting items spoken about in Scripture.

Overall, this is a superb set for background information. This is not the best choice as a first commentary set, since it specializes in backgrounds of the text, and not strictly on exegesis. However, this set acts as a superb specialty set to help students of the Bible understand many of the tougher illustrations the biblical authors used in conveying the Truth about Jesus Christ.

The title "Illustrated" compel me to expect a commentary that be tastily read through cover-to-cover. However, I found its photos are not as bright as Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary. Holding the name "Commentary", I feel like reading an extensive study bible when there is no bible text; this commentary explains selected word or phrase of almost every verse in the New Testament. And honestly, as it claims to enlighten "Bible Background", I regard NT Wright's The Challenge of Jesus gives much better cultural-historical illumination to the Gospel.

This commentary also need more proof-read, for example, when I tried to find what the bible says in 2 Chron 1:34 as Vol. 1 page 9 cited, I found 1 Chron 1:34 fit better to the passage. Its maps also do a little help. I often met with them a few pages after the text or sometimes even couldn't locate some places stated in the text.

The Note provides more information. But I feel it useless because I was too lazy to go back and forth to find out what the indication number stands for. It's supposed to be placed right bellow the text as footnote instead of as end-of-chapter note.

Yes, considering this non-technical commentary neither as expository nor critical, it gives enjoyable and insightful comments that also lavishly illustrated with full-color photos of archeological findings (not with art-works as in CEV Learning Bible). But, if you consider yourself as informed layperson, you need to wait for the next edition.

While William Barclay's set on the NT is my favorite and should be on the bookshelf of every serious student of the NT, Zondervan's Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary is probably the most friendly for the newcomer or teenage Bible student. Unlike Barclay's set, this has glossy paper and excellent illustrations, maps, and insets. These come closest to resembling college textbooks in their format and appearance. They are likely to appeal to high school and college age kids, and old guys like me who like to sit on the sofa and read a Bible commentary that just looks good and is interesting. Again, Zondervan has produced a product with mass appeal.

This is the best book I've read on Spiritual Warfare so far! Scholarly, yet written in an understandable and readable fashion. Arnold shows keen awareness on what's been happening in contemporary spiritual warfare teachings.

The 3 questions he answers are, 1. What is Spiritual Warfare? 2. Can a Christian be Demon-Possesed? 3. Are We Called to Engage Territorial Spirits?

The issues he deals with are many. In this book, he manages to be very gentle and loving to both sides of the issue (charismatics and non/anti-charismatics ought to read this book because both can learn from what he has to say) and for that matter, very balanced.

If you're concerned about so called "territorial spirits" Arnold deals with it in a balanced fashion in question 3. If you're concerned about demons and their role in spiritual warfare and whether they can affect or inhabit a Christian, Arnold will provide biblical answers in question 2. And if you just want to know what in the world is spiritual warfare, and how ithe world, flesh and the devil relate to one another and the Christian, then read his answer to the first question.

Overall an excellent book that will bring much balance to the contemporary world of Spiritual warfare - drawing biblical insights from both the more classical and traditional mode of spiritual warfare teachings, as well as the more contemporary/chrismatic ideas on spiritual warfare. Since as Arnold says that, "Spiritual warfare is an integral part of the entire Christian experience", let us therefore seek to have a biblical and balanced view of Spiritual Wwarfare by reading this book! :) God bless!

Clinton Arnold is, quite possibly, *the* expert on Pauline theology regarding the "principalities and powers." Additionally he has written studies on Ephesians and Colossians on the subject pointing toward an interpretation that accords reality to demonic entities and away from the "demythogizing" tact taken by Walter Wink and others. Additionally, Arnold is familiar (perhaps too familiar) with the leading lights of "deliverance ministry." The questions he deals with are indeed "crucial." And I find his answers both convincing and exegetically sound.

He criticizes the lack of biblical basis for SLSW and censures it's excesses. Likewise he deplores the tendency to concentrate on "the Devil" to the exclusion of "the flesh" and "the world" and the obsession with many in the movement with Satanic Ritual Abuse (SRA) and an secret, underground satanic network. The problem is that he keeps his criticisms general and the fact is that many of the movement's pioneers like Charles Kraft fell hook, link and sinker for the SRA craze and still maintain it exists. He deals with disgraced Mike Warnke, but doesn't mention other flim flam men like Bob Larson.

On the issue of "generational curses" he punts. On the one hand, stating that their is "no direct biblical support" for their existence and robbing them of "3rd and 4th generation" text which is their main proof-text, while on the other, holding out the possibility (a very slight one at that) that there may be "indirect biblical support."

[The "indirect support" is practically non-existent. One of the demoniacs, jesus excorcises is mentioned to be demonized "from childhood." From this Arnold, reasons that the boy couldn't have been responsible, hence it might have been something a relative did. That putting it mildly, is stretching things. Secondly, "from childhood" is not the same as "from birth" or "from infancy." The other instance are the Kings of Judah "committing the sins of their fathers" as possibly lending support. This fails to account for righteous kings like Hezekiah and Josiah being the sons of wicked kings--still less does it explain who Manasseh the most wicked king of all would have the longest reign.]

The fact is that "generational curses" at least as understood by the "power evangelism/spiritual warfare" types is utterly new. Nothing in the Bible. Nothing in the Early Church even remotely hints at anything like it. The problem was when some missionaries like Charle Kraft and Ed Murphy went over to africa and found the belief in generational curses as well as malevolent entities generally. Kraft & Co. rather uncritically took this belief and mixed it with all sorts of western psychobabble.

Add to that the unfortunate tendency of Wagner and others to interrogate entities and think they can put any credence in what they say. The history of "deliverance" is full of demons claiming to be the spirits of the dead. That is no reason to believe them! My guess is that entities know that they won't be believed if they claim to be spirits of the dead so they claim to be "familial spirits"

The devasting consequences of this teaching is such that you have people running around worrying over what their grandparent or great grandparent might have done. Every illness, every setback is the product of demonic attack. (In many ways this is the flip side of the "name it and claim it" teaching. If the Lord don't buy you that Mercedes-Benz, then it must be satan mucking up the business)

With all this going around, Arnold only gives it one paragraph. He's too honest to say there direct biblical support but too embarassed to say that it's a crock. (After all "virtually all" practitioners in deliverance ministry "assert the reality of familial spirits.")

While recovering the NT teaching on evil spirits and the need for deliverance, the Spiritual Warfare movement has a lot of kooky ideas and what's need is for someone like Arnold to grasp the nettle firmly and start namimg names!

Clinton Arnold has captured the essence of the issues surrounding spiritual warfare. He iw well versed in the issues relating to the topic and is well able to balance the variety of thoughts. He is taking an assertive yet measured approach to spiritual warfare and this book serves as a good primer on the topic.

Dr. Arnold has developed an amazing written work on three important aspects of Spiritual Warfare. He addresses the issues of defining spiritual warfare, can a Christian be demon-possessed, and should we engage in warfare with territorial spirits. In this book, Dr. Arnold doesn't just explain his own personal opinion. He develops the theology behind the practices of others, provides Scripture references, and then concludes with what his study suggests is the truth regarding this issue.

Dr. Arnold gives good presentation for the view points that are not in harmony with his own personal convictions and he presents the material so that the reader can independantly develop their own interpretation. I appreciate his exhaustive study on these issues and this book explained so many things regarding spiritual warfare.

The information Arnold presents should be explained to and understood by every believer. Understanding the material presented does not require a background in SW but will require that the reader have a hunger to learn about these issues. That said, this book would be great reading for experienced Christians as well as new Christians.

Clinton E. Arnold with his extensive knowledge of early Christianity and expert in biblical study of spiritual warfare has written the most biblical and soundest theology about this topic. He answers the 3 questions: What ist spiritual warfare, Can a Christian be demon-possessed, Are we called to engage territorial spirits. He also reflects on Peter Wagner book "Confronting the Powers". Excellent to read also for laypeople.

Every former president develops a nostalgia for the
good old days in the White House. The end of the
second term brings such a definitive landing
that readjusting to ordinary life becomes a trauma of sorts.

The book begins by posing the question as to why President Clinton
could not have sought a third term. The answer to this
question is unknowable. President Clinton is presented as the
proverbial risk taker who thrives on grappling with "chance".

The author describes the various speaking engagements of
President Clinton throughout Europe. His efforts to eradicate
AIDS in Africa are seen as a critical point in the
post-White House years. Parts of the book provide an
important glimpse into President Clinton's personal life.
For instance, he likes expensive mechanical watches and dresses
well.

A White House portrait of President Clinton was drawn by
Simmie Knox- a noted African American painter. A portion of
the book deals with President Clinton's 2004 surgery.
Overall, the book is a fair testament to President Clinton's
post White House years

She's one of the best biographers that we have. That's all that this biographer has to know.

She's one of the best biographers that we have. That's all this biographer has to know.

If you were a Bill Clinton fan, you'll find this book to be overly critical and full of too much innuendo. If you are a Republican, you will be dissatisfied with this book as being too Democratically oriented. If you are a Democrat who cannot forgive Bill Clinton for getting involved with Ms. Lewinski, this book will be right up your alley.

Everyone who saw me carrying this book was puzzled by the title, which means to suggest that Bill Clinton is not very welcome with many Americans but is loved abroad. But I'm not sure that's accurate. I daresay that if he could run for president again his standing in the polls would be much higher than that of President Bush or the apparent nominees from the major parties. That title gives you a tip-off that Ms. Felsenthal has an agenda . . . which is to remind everyone that the Democrats didn't do very well after Bill Clinton fell from grace.

Although Ms. Felsenthal interviews a lot of people who were once close to Bill Clinton, she never identifies which ones are now major Obama supporters . . . which undoubtedly colored their views. I believe that's poor research that harms the value of what she wrote. In particular, I was struck by how many of the most negative comments came from prominent Obama supporters. Since the interviews took place during the campaigning, could it be that some responses had a political motive behind them? I don't know, but I'm skeptical.

She also seems to be quick to take credit away from the leadership roles that Bill Clinton has played. She is much more impressed by Ira Magaziner's hard work on helping reduce AIDS in Africa than in Bill Clinton's ferocious fund raising for the same cause. The truth is that both are needed, and the two men have worked as a team for a long time. One doesn't take away from the other.

From that, you get a sense that Ms. Felsenthal has an extremely high opinion of what an ex-president should be able to accomplish: Raise tens of billions annually, solve the world's most difficult problems single-handed in a few years, and never be seen in public with anyone who ever indulges in improper behavior. Well, that would be nice. I suspect that the George W. Bush period of being an ex-president will yield a more reasonable set of expectations. In that context, Bill Clinton's first years out of office will have to be re-examined.

I did like the photographs.

Let me start by asking what you have thought about the various Hillary biographies that have come out? If you like Carl Bernstein's book or even found it too critical, you will view this book as an attack piece. If you have liked the books by Dick Morris, Bay Buchanan, and other critics, you will find this book not critical enough. However, this book is not anything like the disdainful books on Clinton by R. Emmett Tyrell, Jr. I believe that if you liked the book "Her Way" by Gerth and Van Natta and the way it reported her life with a balance of praise and criticism, I think you will find this book enjoyable and informative.

Carol Felsenthal simply reports what Bill Clinton has done from his last days in office through supporting the Hillary campaign for President to February 2008. The story begins with the chaotic last days of leaving the White House, how much Bill did not want to leave, and just touches on the corrupt pardons. However, the author says that the stories of the Clinton team trashing the White House and removing the "Ws" from the computer keyboards is mere myth. There is no question that if Bill could have run for a third term he would have. What is scarey is that if he had, he would have had a good shot of winning it.

The book deals with Clinton's restlessness. Felsenthal is unstinting in her praise of Clinton's charisma, his rock star like reputation on the world stage, and the good works he has done in helping raise funds for Africa and many other initiatives including his own Clinton Global Initiative. However, Felsenthal is also clear about Clinton's self-serving aspects to so many (if not all) of his good works. She exposes his lust for money and his grubbing approach to thousands even while he has tens of millions. The Clinton hunger for honors such as a Nobel prize is also highlighted. Since Carter and Gore both have one, Clinton's need to be so honored has become almost an obsession.

I enjoyed most her reporting of the people he hangs out with and who it is that provides him with private jets, his huge income, and what their lives are like. Clinton likes to hang out with movers and shakers and is closest to billionaires who have an appetite for luxury and a strong desire for lots of women. When talking about Clinton's attitude towards female companions other than Hillary, the author doesn't name names, but makes a few suggestions about some women he has been seen with. Of course, this aspect of his character means nothing to his supporters and his detractors have so many more specific reasons to dislike him.

We also get to see behind the scenes in what team Clinton did to derail the TV movie, "The Path to 9/11" and how obsessed the Clintonistas are in creating a positive reputation for Bill by highlighting his efforts against Terror, which shouting down all criticisms. Of course, there is the whole question of what it was Sandy Berger took from the archives and destroyed. Some say there are copies, but do the copies have the hand written notes and margin comments? I wish we could find out.

The information about his support of Hillary and her campaign is quite timely even though it appears right now as if the nomination will go to Obama. But you can never count the Clintons out. There is also a chapter on the implications of having a former President as "First Gent" and all he would likely be involved in despite laws and regulations barring him from many things he would certainly love to pursue. We also get to follow him making tens of millions as a hugely paid speaker and even see him do some pro bono work, but for the causes of people who have already paid millions to his Library and/or are big Hillary supporters. The whole Clinton Library thing is raised in this book and there are many odd aspects to this particular institution, but no hard scandal is identified. Still, you should read about it and think about what it says about Bill and Hillary.

And, of course, there is the whole effort to escape the Monica thing and the impeachment. So many of Clinton's supporters still feel that if not for Monica Gore would have won, 9/11 would not have happened, and we wouldn't be in Iraq. What an odd view of reality. You can't say if someone hadn't committed a foul at some point in the game that the game would have gone the other way. Everything else would have changed. Bush and Gore might not have even been the nominees. And does Al Qaeda really care who is in the White House? But this is what they say in the moments of recrimination and anguish.

I think you should read the book and learn about Bill because he isn't going away and neither is Hillary. They are going to push themselves into our lives for decades to come. It pays to know what they are really up to because the Public Relations work will never expose the reality behind the image they are trying to sell you. This book is a balanced look at the reality.

Reviewed by Craig Matteson, Ann Arbor, MI