First in His Class: A Biography of Bill Clinton

If you are a Clinton fan or simply one who enjoys politics, this book is definitely for you. First In His Class explores Bill Clinton's entire life, from his high school days, through his journeys to Georgetown, Oxford and Yale, and then on to his political career. It gives in depth detail about his work on various campaigns and his lifestyle, and tracks his voyage right up to his announcement that he would run for President of the United States. You will learn a lot from the charm and political ability of this great president.

This book is the absolute gold standard for political biographies. Maraniss has no axe to grind-he's just a terrific researcher, writer, and analyst. Read this book before you even think about reading any other book about Clinton.

"First in His Class" is the best in a huge pile of books on the forty-second president of the United States. I appreciated Maraniss's ability to keep himself politically neutral throughout the book and he did an excellent job in recreating President Clinton's life through interviews with his wide networks of family, friends, and enemies. Of course, after reading Maraniss's book the reader has to confront the question: Who is Bill Clinton? And, to put it frankly, is he a good man or a bad man? The conclusion I reached is that while Clinton is not a great man in a personal (Lincoln, King) or historical (Napoleon, Lenin) sense, he is far from a figure who should be maligned. In fact, even in the height of the Lewinsky scandal, he remains a man worthy of admiration. Bill Clinton was determined even as a young man to take residence in the Oval office and he accomplished that against often impossible odds. Putting aside his incredible ambition for the moment, he is a person with a quiet and undeniable honor as well. His strong feelings concerning civil rights and Vietnam in the 1960s can not be explained by political shrewdness but only through deep moral concern. In conclusion, Maraniss' book is a must-read for the political junkie. Your opinion of the president will be more comprehensive even if it is not much-changed.

I purchased First in His Class over a year ago, but having read six other "Clinton" books I needed a break. And then the Lewinsky story broke. David Maraniss does a superb job here. He doesn't dwell or sensationalize. What he does is give the reader uncluttered, readable, reliable biography. And then the whole Clinton thing, the "why's" and "how comes" becomes "perfectly clear." It's a fascinating life and a fascinating book. And it proves that quality biography does not have to be 800 pages long.

The intoxicating power of politics gives meaning to a young man's world. The book presents an interesting insight into Clinton's thirst for political and personal acceptance