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At its core, My Life is a charming and intriguing if flawed book by an equally intriguing and flawed man who had his worst failures and humiliations made public. Ultimately, the man who left office in the shadow of scandal offers an honest and open account of his life, allowing readers to witness his struggle to 'drain the most out of every moment' while maintaining the character with which he was raised. It is a remarkably intimate, persuasive look at the boy he was, the President he became, and man he is today. --Daphne Durham

Along the way, she offers many apologies, though perhaps not the kind some would expect. She does not shy away from her 'vast right-wing conspiracy' comment, for instance, though she does wish that she had expressed herself differently. Regarding the Monica Lewinsky scandal, she maintains that her husband initially lied to her, as he did the rest of the country, and did not come clean until two days prior to his grand jury testimony. Calling his betrayal 'the most devastating, shocking and hurtful experience of my life,' she explains what the aftermath was like personally and why she has elected to stand by her man. In all, Living History is an informative book that goes a long way toward humanizing one of the most recognizable, and controversial, women of our age. Shawn Carkonen

This is certainly not the first anti-Clinton book, but it is different in that Patterson does not seem to have a political ax to grind. In fact, at times, he appears apologetic about having to write about his ex-commander in chief. Yet, in the end, this retired soldier felt his last act of service should be to share his experience with his country. --Shawn Carkonen

Evans-Pritchard's exposé of Arkansas's favorite son is indeed scathing: he documents the then-governor's drug use and consort with prostitutes (primarily in the company of ne'er-do-well brother Roger); innumerable lies to friends, staff members, and the people who empowered him; numerous infidelities; blackmail--the list goes on and on. Evans-Pritchard claims that, because he is not an American citizen, he is not 'beholden to any political or financial interest in the United States,' and he does not 'hang on lips of official sources,' nor does he 'fear the loss of access in Washington, or the blackball of [his] profession'; in other words, he ain't afraid to call 'em like he sees 'em. And although many of his seemingly wild claims and accusations are substantiated by thorough notes and appendixes following the text (including copies of original FBI documents), you're never quite convinced of the author's theories. Whether or not you come to believe, as Evans-Pritchard does, that 'Arkansas was a mini-Colombia within the United States, infested by narco-corruption'; that--because of William Jefferson Clinton--'you can sniff the pungent odors of decay in the American body politic'; that the president's 'actions and character ... have engendered the most deadly terrorist movement in the industrialized world,' you will most certainly be entertained and enlightened by the dirt this British muckraker has uncovered. You may not be an F.O.B., but after reading this book, you may not mind so much.

A speechwriter for Ronald Reagan who chronicled her own White House experiences in the book What I Saw at the Revolution, Noonan exercises plenty of creative license in these pages, mostly effectively by inventing dialogue, events, and inner thoughts that serve to illustrate Mrs. Clinton's motives and character as Noonan sees them. And the author notes, as have others, that Mrs. Clinton's Senate race is likely just a first step on the road to the White House: 'So New York is the battle that may decide the war. This Senate bid has huge implications, not only for New York State but for the nation,' she writes. In all, a persuasive case elegantly presented. --Linda Killian

There are some interesting new tidbits scattered throughout the book, like the fact that after law school Hillary Rodham tried to become a Marine Corps officer but was turned down; or that she told her high school paper her ambition after high school was 'to marry a senator and settle down in Georgetown.' Olson, attempting to dissect the mystery of the Clinton partnership, writes, 'Most self-respecting women would have left' after Clinton's repeated infidelities. 'Hillary chose to stay. She behaves as both a desperate lover, and like a frantic campaign manager protecting a flawed candidate.... Hillary, it seems, long ago accepted Bill Clinton as someone who could advance her goals, as a necessary complement to her intellectual cold-blooded pursuit of power.' As the Clinton presidency draws to a close, that pursuit has taken her beyond the White House toward a bid for her own U.S. Senate seat. Olson predicts the Senate won't be enough, just the next step toward becoming the first woman president: 'Hillary Clinton seeks nothing less than an office that will give her a platform from which to exercise real power and real world leadership.' While Olson admits that 'Bill Clinton has always excited the greatest passion not among his supporters, but among his detractors,' the same could certainly be said of his wife--whose supporters will probably consider Hell to Pay a rehash of a too-familiar story, but whose detractors will no doubt savor every page. --Linda Killian

The accompanying text by Hillary Rodham Clinton is written with a pleasing mixture of fine detail--'Mrs. Barak and I did not stay awake as late as our husbands did'--and general sociopolitical commentary such as 'The unified stance solidified that weekend was yet another reminder of the importance of NATO's alliance.' Food is an important part of this book, and many sample menus have been included in full. The last chapter is filled with delightful recipes from the White House chefs, and includes such treats as new potatoes with lobster and bacon, hot pumpkin soup, and mocha cake. Whether you're a history buff, a die-hard Democrat, or just a fan of vivid coffee-table books, An Invitation to the White House is the next best thing to an actual visit. --Jill Lightner