On The Shelf

LIVING HISTORY
By Hillary Clinton
She is said to be hoping to follow in his footsteps and make a bid for the American presidency 8212; but she got her manuscript to the publisher8217;s first. Hillary8217;s version is brimming with fairytalish tellings of her romance with Clinton, and emotionless renderings of their post-Monica days. But then, her attempt to disconnect with her charismatic husband is part of a greater plan. If, as per speculation, Hillary is aiming for the White House, she is bound to be keen to establish herself as a policy maker in her own right, and not someone basking in another8217;s presidential aura. So, pick up Hillary8217;s book by all means, but skip the text, a glance at the photographs should be enough.

BILL CLINTON: AN AMERICAN JOURNEY
By Nigel Hamilton
This is one for the serious reader. It is a long and well-researched study of the places and people who shaped Bill Clinton8217;s politics. Inspirations are as varied as Martin Luther King and jazz music. There are pages on his affairs, but the focus is on the evolution of a politician who went on to mix popular culture and a social programme based on intense policy work.