The destruction of Hillary Clinton

Millions of people (more than 65 million) were disappointed by Hillary Clinton's loss in the 2016 election. But for a certain subset of Hillary supporters, the result was particularly gut-wrenching. Women of Hillary's age understood viscerally how difficult and uncharted the societal journey had been for women growing up in the 1950s and '60s, and their support for Hillary had been combined with admiration for one of their own who withstood the blows and kept fighting. Bordo, herself in that subset of Hillary's contemporaries, focuses not just on Clinton's accomplishments but also on how difficult it was for her to move forward at all as animosity and backlash intensified, with Hillary becoming the symbol of all the changes that, in the minds of her opponents, had upended society. Writing personally and precisely, Bordo describes the frustrations she and others felt when younger women dismissed Clinton as establishment without knowing her history. Other key aspects of the campaign are addressed with equal insight: Bernie Sanders and his followers undermining Clinton; pundits raging against her shrill voice ; conspiracists turning pneumonia into Parkinson's; and FBI Director Comey dealing Hillary a decisive blow late in the campaign. Hillary haters, who are legion, will find little to agree with here, but this perceptive, thoroughly readable book will strike a chord with her supporters and prove enlightening to many others hoping to make sense of a contentious election.--Cooper, Ilene Copyright 2010 Booklist