The Natural

Joe Klein, best-selling author ofPrimary Colorsand one of our most brilliant political analysts, now tackles the subject he knows best: Bill Clinton. Astute, even-handed, and keenly intelligent,The Naturalis theonlybook to read if you want to understand exactly what happenedto the military, to the economy, to the American people, to the countryduring Bill Clinton's presidency, and how the decisions made during his tenure affect all of us today. Much has been written about Clinton, butThe Naturalis the first work to cut through the gossip, scandals, media hype, and emotional turbulence that Clinton always engendered, to step back and rationally analyze the eight years of his tenure, a period during which America rose to unprecedented levels of prosperity. Joe Klein puts that record into perspective, showing us what worked and what didn't, exactly what was accomplished and why, and who was responsible for the successes and the failures. We see how the Clinton White House functioned on the inside, how it dealt with the maneuvers of Congress and the Gingrich revolution, and who held power and made the decisions during the endless crises that beset the administration. Klein's access to the White House over the years as a journalist gave him a prime spot from which to view every crucial eventboth political and personaland he sets them forth in an insightful, readable, and completely engrossing manner. The Naturalis stern in its criticism and convincing with its praise. It will cause endless debate amongst friends and foes of the Clinton administration. It is a book that anyone interested in contemporary politics, in American history, or in the functioning of our democracy, should read. From the Hardcover edition.

JOE KLEIN is a political columnist for <i>Time</i>, formerly a staff writer for <i>The New Yorker</i>, and the author of the novels <i>Primary Colors</i> and <i>The Running Mate</i>, as well as of two nonfiction books – <i>Woody Guthrie: A Life</i> and <i>Payback: Five Marines After Vietnam</i>.