Hillary Clinton autobiography/ Clinton life reflections/ Hillary Clinton new book/ Newslooks/ NEW YORK/ Morning Edition/ J. Mansour/ In her latest memoir, Something Lost, Something Gained, Hillary Clinton reflects on life’s victories and challenges, inspired by Joni Mitchell’s song “Both Sides Now.” The memoir offers personal insights into her career, marriage, and the current political landscape, touching on her hopes for a female U.S. president. Despite missing the chance to update her book after Kamala Harris became the Democratic nominee, Clinton remains optimistic.
Hillary Clinton’s Life Reflections Quick Looks:
- Clinton’s new memoir is inspired by Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now.”
- The book addresses Clinton’s personal experiences, from her marriage to her public life.
- She expresses optimism about Kamala Harris’s presidential bid and a woman becoming president.
- Reflects on her previous presidential loss and ongoing concerns about Donald Trump.
- Shares stories from her time in politics, global activism, and new passions like Broadway producing.
Hillary Clinton Reflects on Life’s Wins and Losses in New Memoir
Deep Look:
In her newly released memoir, Something Lost, Something Gained, Hillary Clinton takes readers through an intimate journey of her life’s achievements, disappointments, and ongoing efforts, drawing inspiration from one of her favorite songs, “Both Sides Now” by Joni Mitchell. At 76, Clinton reflects on the many roles she has played—first lady, senator, secretary of state, and presidential nominee—and offers insights into her personal life and the evolving political landscape.
The memoir, which was sent to print before Vice President Kamala Harris became the Democratic presidential nominee, includes a line expressing Clinton’s hope to one day witness the election of a female president. Although it was too late to update the book’s print version, Clinton’s optimism shines through in an added epilogue for the audiobook, where she expresses confidence in Harris’s candidacy and recent debate performance. Clinton remains hopeful: “I think I’m going to be around to see the first woman president!” she said.
This isn’t Clinton’s first memoir, having published Living History in 2003 and What Happened? in 2017, which detailed the pain of her 2016 presidential loss to Donald Trump. However, this latest book is a more personal reflection. She describes it as a chance to catch up with her over a dinner conversation, moving fluidly between the macro, such as imagining a Trump re-election, and the micro, like her life as a grandmother and competing in The New York Times’ Spelling Bee with her husband, Bill.
Clinton shares candid stories from her public life, including a chapter about an intense, spy-thriller-worthy operation to evacuate threatened women from Afghanistan when the Taliban regained control in 2021. She also reflects on her friendships with other first ladies, even defending Melania Trump from criticism surrounding her attire at Rosalynn Carter’s memorial. “She came. That’s what mattered,” Clinton wrote.
While Clinton’s animosity toward Donald Trump remains clear, her feelings about the 2016 election are equally prominent. In one passage, she recounts meeting a former FBI official who apologized for how the agency handled her email investigation in the lead-up to the election. Unable to speak at first, Clinton finally told him: “I would have been a great president,” before walking away.
Speaking with the Associated Press ahead of her book’s release, Clinton touched on several key themes from her memoir. One recurring topic is the “glass ceiling” for women in politics. In her 2008 concession speech, Clinton famously spoke of making “18 million cracks” in the glass ceiling. Harris, on the other hand, has not emphasized gender as much during her campaign. Clinton attributes this to the evolving political landscape, noting that when she ran, it was novel for a woman to be a major-party nominee. Now, she says, “We have a much better opportunity for women candidates, starting with Kamala, to be viewed in a way that just takes for granted the fact that yes, guess what? She’s a woman.”
Clinton’s thoughts on being “right” also surface in her book. She notes that supporters often approach her, saying, “You warned us,” to which she responds in her mind, “Yes, I did.” However, Clinton emphasizes that she takes no satisfaction in being correct about Trump’s dangers. Even when Trump was convicted of felony charges, she felt no joy, only a “jolt of disbelief” and “a pang of vindication,” alongside some tears. When asked what she fears she may be right about in the future, Clinton expressed concern that people still may not take Trump seriously enough.
The memoir also reveals new passions Clinton has pursued, from teaching at Columbia University to producing Broadway shows. Clinton was involved in producing Suffs, a musical about the early 20th-century women’s suffrage movement. The show won a Tony Award, and Clinton describes the experience as one of the greatest of her life. While she doesn’t know if she will continue producing, it’s a field that has brought her immense joy.
In the more personal sections of the book, Clinton reflects on her marriage to Bill Clinton and life as a grandmother. She dedicates the book to her grandchildren, calling grandparenthood the “one experience of life that is not overrated.” When discussing her marriage, she refers to past challenges but emphasizes the enduring friendship and love she and Bill share. “It’s no secret that Bill and I had dark days in our marriage,” she writes. “But the past softens with time, and what’s left is the truth: I’m married to my best friend.”
On the subject of her famous walks in the woods near her home in Chappaqua, New York, Clinton explains that they are indeed scheduled into her tightly managed day. While Bill prefers a slower pace and conversations with passersby, Clinton likes to walk fast and clear her head. She compares the practice to “forest bathing,” a Japanese concept of connecting with nature. For those overwhelmed by the political climate, she recommends putting down the phone and taking a walk outside.
With Something Lost, Something Gained, Hillary Clinton continues to share her unique perspective on the world, balancing reflections on past hardships with optimism for the future, all while taking on new endeavors with her trademark tenacity.
