Reviewers Bill Hillary Clinton's 656-Page Book 'Hard Choices' a Dud as Publisher Worries About Tepid Sales

By Leonardo Blair, Senior Reporter Thursday, June 19, 2014

Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton's new book, "Hard Choices," is being roundly ripped by reviewers across America and the book's publisher, Simon and Schuster, which reportedly paid her a whopping $14 million advance, are worried it could be a "bomb."

"'Hard Choices' is a frustrating read. The memoir has the cautious, polished, poll-tested feel of a campaign speech," declared The Economist about the book under the headline, "Hillary Clinton's Bad Book."

On Amazon.com the book has been collectively ranked a mere two out of a possible five stars by 774 and counting customers who had reviewed it as of Thursday evening.

"I normally don't read books from politicians, but I had to grab a copy and see what all the fuss was about. I went into the book with an open mind, and tried really hard to block out what was reported throughout the years. Instead, my openness turned into me questioning everything within it, and looking up facts again on the Internet to compare," wrote Kelley E. Gibbs of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

"After completing the book, I reminded myself why I don't like people in Washington — everything they do is calculated, strategized, and grossly misleading not to mention so far from the truth. I give this book ONE STAR and would advise that if Mrs. Clinton wants to run in 2016, there's a lot of issues that need to be straightened out and corrected, and perhaps start by telling the truth," she added.

Many of the reviewers like verified purchaser Carla Ball from Melbourne, Florida, felt that the overwhelmingly negative reviews of the book were being triggered by right-wing haters of Hillary Clinton.

"Eye opening and intelligent. Just ordered the hard back but enjoyed the kindle version so much that I'll read it again when the hardback comes off of back order. Extremely sad that angry righters make up bogus reviews. Get a job, volunteer for vets, or find a useful purpose in your life besides being a hater, would you?" she wrote in her review of the book.

There was no excuse, however, for what liberal MSNBC Morning Joe panelist Donny Deutsch had to say Monday about the book's roll out, which he called a "disaster."

"Between us, they are nervous at S&S," a source at Simon and Schuster told The Weekly Standard in a report Monday. "Sales were well below expectations and the media was a disaster."

"They sold 60,000 hard covers first week and 24,000 ebooks," said the source. Simon and Schuster was "hoping and praying for 150,000 print first week."

"It's a bomb, but it will be interesting to see how they spin it," said the source.