Rating: 
Summary: Potent account of how the rich get richer, the poor poorer
Review: Reich weighs in with a funny, insightful, and intimately personal account of his 4 years in Washington from 1993-6. The reader is rewarded with such gems as Reich's attack on "corporate welfare," his analysis of how obsession with balancing the budget is a Republican trap-game to cut social programs for the needy, and his fantasy encounter with Alan Greenspan, the most powerful/influential man in the world, an encounter that culminates in Reich calling him a "robber-baron pimp" for keeping millions jobless and in poverty because of his incessant catering to Wall Street with excessively high interest rates. There's much more here for the reader to enjoy and, yes, be shocked by. With regard to the more alarming material-- the reader quickly finds out that, contrary to the right-wing views of Limbaugh and Gingrich, et al., the problem is not "big gub'mint" (what about all that government pork for rich defense contractors and agribusiness CEOs?). No, the problem is that right-leaning and radical rightwingers have taken over too many positions of influence (see Michael Lind, *Up from Conservatism: Why The Right Is Wrong for America*) and have created a status-quo that serves the top 10% upper crust, abandons the other 90%, and gives us the worst disparity between haves and havenots among all the richest OECD nations (see papers by Timothy Smeeding, et al., with the Luxembourg Income Study, on the Net...). Reading Reich, one gets even more evidence of how virtually all Republicans and most Democrats (i.e., those "New Democrats" with the DLC) are completely under the sway of Big Business, Big Money. The reader who wonders if there is anyone left in our federal governmet who stands for the interests of America's majority would do well to examine the 8-fold "Fairness Agenda" platform of the Progressive Caucus in the House, led by Bernie Sanders (available on the Net) and backed by almost 60 representatives.
Rating: 
Summary: Resurgent Liberalism?
Review: Robert Reich was perhaps the most charismatic Sec. of Labor in US history. He began his career as "bow 5 times a day towards Tokyo" Japanese-ground kisser, churning out several best selling works on economic theory during the 1980s that primarily excoriated American management and glorified Japanese and European economic policies. When Clinton was elected President, Reich joined his administration. Reich attempted to implement his rabidly statist ideas, only to be ignored during the Clinton's abortive health care coup in 1993. After the smoke had settled over the rubble in 1994 Reich and Clinton were confronted by Republican majorities in the Senate and Congress. Reich continued to languish until he quit. Readers unfamiliar with economics (and possessed by class envy) will probably enjoy his attacks on the "rich" and "Wall Street". Readers with an economics background will cringe at Reich's policy recommendations, particularly his insistence that inflation is the sure cure for the ills of the common man (he shares this belief with Republican Jack Kemp). His lack of knowledge of traditional economic theory (the Fed doesn't set long term interest rates, the market does) is demonstrated by fatuous and specious attacks on the Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan. Perhaps the most annoying part of the book is a silly and overly involved discussion of the organized baseball strike. The fact that government employees are paid to waste time assisting negotiations between mega-rich baseball players and owners should prove a revelation for hard working taxpayers. If you really believe Barry Bonds is an average "worker"...As a side note, forget the criticisms of the book levied by investigative reporters and Republicans. Reich's fanciful conversations are far more enlightening than the truth, and certainly less offensive than his economic ignorance.
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Summary: Reich's book shows how little power the federal Cabinet has
Review: Robert Reich's book shows how little power the federal Cabinethas in Washington - unless, of course, the President backs the aCabinet Secretary. One can see why so little gets done by the federal government. Reich was often "out of the loop" - only able to get his memos to Bill Clinton by passing them to his wife Hillary (on plain stationery). And yet this is supposed to be a powerful American official. It really is sad... and shows how hamstrung Americans are by their 18th Century form of government. A very enlightening, if disheartening, read.
Rating:
Summary: Funny. Insightful. A personal history of the mid 90's.
Review: Surprisingly amusing (I found myself reading many passages out loud for my whole family's enjoyment). A great first person view of government at the highest levels... the way history should be written. Reich keeps the perspective of an amused academic outsider as he gets to live through the realities of governing, economic policy formation and the foibles and fumbles of Washington today
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Summary: No one could have been more happily surprised.
Review: Talk about the light at the end of the tunnel. As a non-plitician, but one (Republican)that worked in politics, there is a profound respect for Secretary Reich's ability to honor the tradition of government while challenging government to change. Reading this book just days after a major surgery and a couple of months after leaving a brutle Administration, I was able to recover on both fronts, laughing through each chapter as I reflected on what I knew to be true. Thank you Secretary Reich.
Rating:
Summary: Witty, Engaging, and Informative
Review: This "guidebook" to life in Washington was entertaining, regardless of where Mr. Reich was locked. The amusing anecdotes move the story along, and show the ironic conflicts between policy, politics, and principles. Mr. Reich's self-deprecating humor proves that politics is not all about power; some people actually listen to the little guy and stand for something. No one is safe from the former Labor Secretary's venom, including his dear friend Bill. Mr. Reich places blame where it is due, but in the end, the players may seem a bit too colorful, as if public policy is nothing more than fraternity brothers arguing over how to spend beer money. This one was hard to put down, but sometimes hard to believe.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent insight into the dominate forces in policy.
Review: This book by Reich is an extremely interesting read. It submerges the reader into the forces that formulate labour policy - ie economic policy. Reich while somewhat self indulge in his style in this book (due to his own involvement) provides the reader with a personal view of White House discussions, policy formulation, strikes (baseball), minimum wage rises, unions and their leadership and Reich's relationship with the President and the lack of one from the President. Reich's own paradigm gives the book a warmth and character that you know will result in it almost being out of place on your bookshelf. (this is also due to the paper that fills the book, it is excellent)
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Summary: An interesting book, if he had not made so much of it up.
Review: This book could have been a great insight intothe current administration. UnfortunatelyMr. Reich invented several passages out of thin air. It was recently reported on NPR that several journalists had reviewed the transcripts of press conferences that are quoted in this book. When reviewed they could not locate any of the witty and insightful comments Mr. Reich claims to have made. When asked about these mistakes he claimed that "all truth is subjective" and that these were his memories, not a reporter's accounting. It sounds like the fact that he was a FOB has allowed Bill Clinton's view of honesty to rub off on Mr. Reich.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome Politics Book
Review: This book is the most interesting Politics book you will ever read in your entire life! Reich is smart and witty, why can not he be President?
Rating:
Summary: A Philosopher in a Whorehouse
Review: This facinating book, by a man who really cares, tells it just how it is to try to get meaningful things done in the whorehouse which is Washington, D.C. The book is written in a humorous, self-deprecating style, but at it's heart it is a cry for help. The book is more than easy reading, it is very hard to put down. Anyone who aspires to a politcal position should read this book, and then decide whether he/she will be able to stand the process.It is a primer for those who wish to understand the Washington sceene and how things are done (or not done.) His description of the confirmation process is pure tragi-comedy. Reich is a thinking man's liberal. He went to Washington with the hope that under Clinton some of the things he believed in could be accomplished. In the end he was largely frustrated. He is a man I would like to invite to dinner. I can't say that about many others who have worked in government.
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