Citizen: My Life After the White House

4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars | 62 ratings

Price: 19.69

Last update: 12-22-2024


About this item

A powerful, candid, and richly detailed memoir from an American icon, revealing what life looks like after the presidency: triumphs, tribulations, and all.

On January 20, 2001, after nearly thirty years in politics—eight of them as president of the United States—Bill Clinton was suddenly a private citizen. Only fifty-four years old, full of energy and ideas, he wanted to make meaningful use of his skills, his relationships with world leaders, and all he’d learned in a lifetime of politics, but how? Just days after leaving the White House, the call came to aid victims of a devastating earthquake in India, and Clinton hit the ground running. Over the next two decades, he would create an enduring legacy of public service and advocacy work, from Indonesia to Louisiana, Northern Ireland to South Africa, and in the process reimagine philanthropy and redefine the impact a former president could have on the world.

Citizen is Clinton’s front-row, first-person chronicle of his post-presidential years and the most significant events of the twenty-first century, including 9/11 and the runup to the Iraq War, the Haiti earthquake, the Great Recession, the January 6 insurrection, and the enduring culture wars of our times. With clarity and compassion, he also weighs in on the unprecedented challenges brought on by a global pandemic, ongoing income inequality, a steadily warming planet, and authoritarian forces dedicated to weakening democracy. Yet Citizen is more than a political memoir. This book captures Clinton in a rare and unforgettable light: not only as a celebrated former president and a foundation leader, but as a father, grandfather, and husband. He recounts his support for Hillary Clinton during her time as senator, secretary of state, and presidential candidate, and shares the frustration and pain of the 2016 election.

In this landmark publication, the highly anticipated follow-up to the best-selling My Life, Clinton pens an illuminating account of American democracy on a global stage, offering a frank reflection on the past and, with it, a fearless embrace of our future. Citizen is a self-portrait of equal parts eloquence, insight, and candor, a testament to one man’s unwavering commitment to family and nation.


Top reviews from the United States

Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Explainer in chief
Reviewed in the United States on December 4, 2024
After leaving his presidency Bill Clinton could have kicked back and lived a comfortable lifestyle
But instead dedicated his time and energy to travel the world helping much less fortunate people to improve their lives through his Foundation. Very inspiring story.
donna langston
5.0 out of 5 stars a story of his accomplishments since he left the White House
Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2024
I enjoyed the chapters about his work for the Clinton Foundation the most
Ethan
4.0 out of 5 stars Bill Clinton's Candid Reflection on Life, Legacy, and Reinvention After the Presidency
Reviewed in the United States on December 9, 2024
Bill Clinton remains one of the most polarizing figures in modern American politics. While his personal controversies once dominated headlines, they now seem almost tame compared to the scandals of more recent administrations. Regardless of one’s personal opinion of Clinton as a man, his influence on the political landscape is undeniable. Perhaps even more intriguing than his presidency, however, is what he has accomplished in the years since leaving office. In his latest memoir, Citizen, Clinton offers an illuminating glimpse into his post-presidency life, revealing the challenges, triumphs, and lessons learned along the way.

In January 2001, at just 54 years old, Bill Clinton was at a pivotal crossroads. His second term as President of the United States—arguably the zenith of any political career—had concluded, bringing an end to more than three decades in public service. For the first time in decades, Clinton faced a future without the structure and purpose of political office. Having achieved every career milestone he’d set for himself, he was now confronted with an unfamiliar reality: life as a private citizen.

Clinton's initial post-presidency priorities were dictated by necessity. While his administration had brought economic prosperity to the nation, including a rare budget surplus, his personal indiscretions had created significant political and financial turmoil. Years of costly legal battles left his personal finances in disarray. Clinton turned to the lucrative private speaking circuit, using these engagements to pay off debts and secure his financial future. While the speeches solved his immediate financial woes, they did little to fulfill his desire to make a meaningful impact on the world. Fortunately, opportunities to continue his life of service began presenting themselves just weeks after he left office.

Just days after leaving office, an earthquake devastated India, and Bill Clinton immediately sprang into action. Recognizing his unique position—armed with a vast Rolodex of influential contacts and a deep understanding of organizational and policy execution—Clinton saw an opportunity to channel his energy into philanthropy. This moment marked a turning point as he shifted his focus to charitable endeavors that leveraged his skills and connections for the greater good. Over the next two decades, Clinton built an enduring legacy of advocacy and service, redefining his role as a public figure and expanding his impact far beyond the political sphere.

While Citizen chronicles a man grappling with life after the sudden end of a career he dedicated decades to building, it transcends the standard political memoir. Bill Clinton writes with surprising candor about his post-presidency life, offering insights into his partnership with his equally influential wife and her historic presidential campaign, reflections on the enduring conflict between Israel and Palestine, and a direct acknowledgment of the conspiracies and controversies that have trailed him throughout his public life.

Clinton is acutely aware of the shifting political landscape, noting how citizens' priorities and societal norms have evolved since his time in office. Now, with the Clinton Foundation’s daily operations primarily managed by his daughter, Chelsea, Clinton seems poised for yet another chapter. He envisions spending his remaining years focused on family, particularly his grandchildren, indulging his love of reading, and savoring the legacy of his service. With this memoir, Clinton projects a man at peace with his place in history and hopeful for what lies ahead.
Javalyn
5.0 out of 5 stars "Every life is a story that...deserves to be seen and heard…This book is my story."
Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2024
“Every life is a story that, regardless of time and circumstance, deserves to be seen and heard…This book is the story of my twenty-three-plus years since leaving the White House, told largely through the stories of other people who changed my life as I tried to help change theirs, of those who supported me, including those I loved and lost, and of the mistakes I made along the way…I have been able to have a life full of new experiences and new ways to help and empower people as a private citizen while finding real joy in our small but growing family…But I still think and dream about how people can live better lives together, and still want to help them do it. I can't sit still and can't go back. So, as many people do every day, I aim to get caught trying. It's the real American way.”

“What follows is my take on what's happened to the United States since I became a private citizen again, especially since 2008. As you read it, ask yourself how this or that move affected people in their daily lives.”

“My life after the White House…is filled with deep gratitude to the family, friends, foundation and personal staff, and partners who've made it possible to do things that save and improve lives, give children better futures, and try to keep bringing people together in the face of raging divisive populism. Since that's the way I keep score, I'm happy. I still believe that despite our struggles with identity issues, most people are basically good, that we should live and work with hope, that the end of life is a homegoing, and that in the meantime, we should relish every chance to get caught trying. The song that matters most is the one you sing to yourself.”

Curl up with a mug of your favorite CHAI (Clinton Health Access Initiative) tea latte and a copy of Bill Clinton’s Citizen and prepare to “start your day thinking there can always be better tomorrows than yesterdays.”
Brent M. Jones
5.0 out of 5 stars The Focus of Bill Clinton's Post White House Life is Amazing
Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2024
"On January 21, 2001, after twenty-five years in politics and elected office, eight as president, I was a private citizen again," was an opening remark. What follows is a fantastic focus on helping people in trouble. It is too bad that those accomplishments will be viewed through lifelong assumptions about Clinton's view with a partisan lens. Much was accomplished working with George W. Bush and George H.W. Bush, clearly showing how influential good leaders can be even when they don't have to be.
The accomplishments seemed neverending, but it would be hard to complain about too much good work. Some will, I expect.
Jake
1.0 out of 5 stars Self Promotional
Reviewed in the United States on November 26, 2024
I enjoyed his book “My Life” and his co-written novels. But this pulp was just too much. I met and shook hands with Clinton once and voted for him. This book was constant name dropping and self importance.
bozjovi
4.0 out of 5 stars Very Interesting read!
Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2024
I've seen Bill Clinton do a few interviews prior to the release of this book and it sounded interesting. I did the audio version as I felt it may be a slow-moving read, and it was. I'm not for writing huge reviews and this book warrants it so I will say it was definitely an interesting, informative read about a man who acknowledges mistakes and does a lot of positive things with his life after the presidency.
Matt
1.0 out of 5 stars Not a good book
Reviewed in the United States on December 1, 2024
Just a money grab. Extremely boring!

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