Rating: 
Summary: Hmmmmm
Review: Although Reich is a borderline socialist, and his ideas are nothing but liberal babble, it's a well-written and entertaining book to read.
Rating: 
Summary: Not Your Average Memoir
Review: As someone in political science, I found Reich's book an endlessly fascinating read, for several reasons:1) His wit and humor, which he was not afraid to aim at himself. 2) Seeing national policymaking from a Cabinet Secretarial perspective, which we almost never see in books. You literally see how and why the Clinton Administration struggled with its attempts to follow through on some of its significant policy reform promises of 1992. You also see through Reich's eyes the intense competition for just mere access to a President's ear, particularly between White House staffers and Cabinet Secretaries. Finally, he states clearly one main obstacle he and other Cabinet secretaries face in policymaking and implementing: the cross-pressuredness from organized labor and free-trade advocates and how they "keep talking past each other" without seeing the partial truth in each other's positions. 3) How Reich raises some serious macroeconomic policy questions regarding economic globalization, free trade, income equality, job security, and how they possibly relate to each other and to other non-economic issues facing the nation and the world. One criticism I do have with Reich's work is that he perhaps goes overboard in citing over and over again his arguments from "The Work of Nations" and other previous books. Note: Reich also has admitted to exaggerating about experiences with conservatives (i.e. at the National Association of Manufacturers' meeting and before one House committee) where he wasn't as "roasted" by them as he claimed to be in the hardcover version. However, we are reminded that this is a book about his own personal experiences as Secretary of Labor, so naturally we'll be seeing everything through his eyes and his political & ideological points of view. In short, this book works on many levels, especially in the sharper focus and perspective it puts upon the seemingly maddening and confusing dynamics of 1990s politics.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant
Review: I am a student of Robert Reich's at Brandeis Univeristy and have found him to be one of the most honest, kind, and insightful people I've met. Locked in the Cabinet is a well-crafted, honest, and humorous book by a brilliant man. I happen to hold Reich's views, but even students here at Brandeis who completely disagree with him still read his books and take his courses because they respect the intelligence behind his writing and teaching style, the candidness with which he sets his ideas forth, and the respect he shows for those who disagree with his ideas. (He's also very funny, frank, and charming--attributes which come accross in this and all of his works.) Reich talks about the world as it is, and isn't afraid to say how he thinks it should be.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic inside account written for the general reader...
Review: I loved this book...most Cabinet history that I've read describes somewhat the inner workings of that particular administration and the policies associated with it, but Reich takes them and makes them great reading. Honest and straight-forward, Reich describes the government and the early Clinton administration in easy, real-people writing along with much anecdotal humor uncommon in the accounts that I mentioned above. As the previous reviewer mentioned, just reading him describing how slow and sluggish the decision making process is or how hard it is to get close to Clinton to convince him that his (Clinton's) economic policies are misguided is, if not surprising, at least entertaining. One of the few political books I've read that I would describe as hard to put down.
Rating:
Summary: As entertaining as it is insightful.
Review: I was reading this book at the beach when two security officers appeared on the scene and carted off two rather attractive women. They had been sitting less than ten feet in front of me, and apparently had caused a significant disturbance by smoking marijuana. I was so deeply buried in the text, however, that I was completely oblivious until the officers showed up. Needless to say, I found this book to be highly entertaining and engrossing. I started this book hoping to get a better sense of the internal workings of the Clinton administration. On that count it delivered, but the book also provided an insightful look into many of the other element driving Washington - Congress, the media, lobbyists, unions, political consultants, Alan Greenspan, etc. While I don't agree with all of Reich's views, I really appreciated his wonderful sense of humor and his keen insights into both people and policies. Except for the most jaded of conservatives, I think anyone who has even a passing interest in politics would enjoy this book.
Rating:
Summary: The Washington DC political process revealed
Review: In 1992 Robert B. Reich joined his friend Governor Bill Clinton's Presidential election campaign. Dr. Reich intended to explore a new territory -- a nation where Government subsidized the training of young and displaced workers for modern *better* jobs. Upon President Clinton's election Dr. Reich was appointed Secretary of Labor, a Cabinet post that Dr. Reich held until after President Clinton's successful re-election. "Locked In The Cabinet" chronicles Dr. Reich's workers' advocacy. Dr. Reich was an able Labor Secretary with tangible accomplishments (e.g., a minimum wage increase and enactment of the Family and Medical Leave Act). He supported NAFTA while *strongly* advocating Federal subsidies to train new and displaced United States' workers -- ***better jobs for all Americans***. "Locked ..." chronicles idealism, hard work, personal sacrifice, salesmanship, compromise and frustration. Dr. Reich brought his workers' agenda to Washington at a time when the poor and middle class had lost employment and real income for two decades. During his four years as Labor Secretary, Dr. Reich increasingly saw his workers' agenda tabled as other, more powerful constituencies (e.g., Wall Street and the military) got priority. Dr. Reich did not achieve his workers' agenda -- his agenda remains tabled today. Dr. Reich is an *extremely* intelligent man and an able author. "Locked ..." is his story told with a sharp and depreciating wit. Dr. Reich's strong wit occasionally obscures his message: Continuity of Government is each Administration's goal and everybody must support the Administration, yet politics hinders 'team play' by dissecting, analyzing and criticizing *every utterance*. One day you are 'locked in'. If something happens the next day you are 'locked out'. I believe that after his resignation Dr. Reich wrote "Locked In The Cabinet" to place his experiences in perspective. I highly recommend this serious book both for its wit and also for its important message.
Rating:
Summary: An interesting behind-the-scenes tour
Review: It was interesting to have Robert Reich lead a tour-view behind the scenes of the first four years of the Clinton administration. He confirmed much of what many suspected: the administration was disorganized, Clinton was undisciplined, the people he brought to help him run the government meant well but were not as effective as they ought to have been. Mr. Reich's frustration with the administration of which he was a very visible part shows through. He was starkly realistic and frank. When he criticized the President (whom he called simply "B" throughout most of the book) or Hillary Clinton, he wrote as disappointed friend not a destructive enemy. But when he criticized those whom he did not like, such as political guru Dick Morris, Mr. Reich did not hold back. He was unapologetically blunt. Much of the real Bob Reich comes through in his book: a very nice guy who loves his family, extremely intelligent, fair-minded with a realistic grasp of what has been consistently wrong with the American economy. He became Clinton's Secretary of Labor hoping to correct the course of the flow of capital which allowed the very rich to increase their millions and billions, while the poor and middle class continued to struggle merely to stay afloat. He was not entirely successful in his efforts, though he did achieve an increase in the minimum wage and enactment of the Family and Medical Leave Act. He was also an advocate of the enactment of NAFTA over the strong objections of labor unions and which he may ultimately regret. Though he writes of his political and economic views with sober dedication, he does not take himself seriously. He constantly pokes fun at himself because of his four-foot ten-inch size. Those humorous jibes were not overdone and added an occasional light touch which makes Mr. Reich's book a worthy addition to a library of political memoirs.
-o0o-
Rating:
Summary: Witty and easy-to-read
Review: It would seem that the memoirs of an economics professor turned Labor Secretary would be most appropriate as material to induce sleep. On the contrary, Reich's effort elicits enjoyment and the uncontrollable urge to continuing reading past one's bedtime. His ideas are very intriguing, and his account of his time in the Labor Department is always incisive and witty. You feel his triumphs and defeats with him, and feel that he, unlike many politicians, understands that it's all just a game for them, but that life is all too real and all too difficult for millions of Americans. Read this book, and think about his ideas. Just maybe they'll change the world.
Rating:
Summary: The Politics of Mud Wrestling
Review: Reich is absolutely brilliant and this book presents a good dollop of his wisdom. Few people in politics are driven by ideals anymore, which makes Reich's laser focus on improving economic inequity all the more laudable. And doomed.
In fact, this book explains a whole lot about how & why Clinton's first term of office became such a disappointment. "B" (as Reich, a longtime FoB, calls him) was elected with a mandate, he was young and energetic, he was idealistic and he was determined to improve the social disasters left by 12 years of voodoo economics. But he was also a classic Washington Outsider who did not have the requisite skills of playing Congress like a fiddle as FDR, JFK & LBJ had with their progressive terms. Consequently Clinton's agenda became a losing political football even under a majority Democratic Congress. When Congress passed back into Republican hands in 1994 (in large part due to Clinton's own fumbling) his effectiveness was cut off at the knees by Newt Gingrich and his Contract with America. From then on, B was in full-time CYA mode, relying on Dick Morris's polling of voters to decide all policy issues. The result -- and ultimately the indignity of the impeachment attempt -- are all too familiar and preordained. Alas Bill, we hardly knew thee...
Reich's book is fascinating, thought provoking, brutally frank and often hilariously funny. The man is a gem -- too bad politics isn't a respectable business anymore. Or was it ever?
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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