Knopf to Publish New Book by Bill Clinton Called Back to Work
Alfred A. Knopf announced that it has has acquired world rights to a new book by former president Bill Clinton. The book will be called Back to Work and will focus on how the U.S. can dig itself out of its current economic woes and meet the challenges ahead. The book will be published in November.
Sonny Mehta, Knopf's Chairman and Editor in Chief, acquired the rights. The terms of the deal are not being disclosed. Clinton said in a statement,
"I wrote this book because I love my country and I'm concerned about our future. As I often said when I first ran for President in 1992, America at its core is an idea -- the idea that no matter who you are or where you're from, if you work hard and play by the rules, you'll have the freedom and opportunity to pursue your own dreams and leave your kids a country where they can chase theirs."
Knopf released this statement about the book:
In the book, Clinton details how we can get out of the current economic crisis and lay a foundation for long-term prosperity. He offers specific recommendations on how we can put people back to work, increase bank lending and corporate investment, double our exports, restore our manufacturing base, and create new businesses. He supports President Obama's emphasis on green technology, saying that change in the way we produce and consume energy is the strategy most likely to spark a fast growing economy and enhance our national security.
Clinton also says that we need both a strong economy and a smart government working together to restore prosperity and progress. He demonstrates that whenever we've given into the temptation to blame government for our problems, we've lost our commitment to shared prosperity, balanced growth, financial responsibility, and investment in the future. That has led our nation into trouble because there are some things we have to do together. For example, he says, "Our ability to compete in the twenty-first century is dependent on our willingness to invest in infrastructure: we need faster broadband, a state-of-the-art national electrical grid, modernized water and sewer systems, and the best airports, trains, roads, and bridges."
"There is no evidence that we can succeed in the twenty-first century with an antigovernment strategy," writes Clinton, "with a philosophy grounded in 'You're on your own' rather than 'We're all in this together.'" Clinton believes that conflict between government and the private sector has proved to be remarkably good politics, but it has produced bad policies, giving us a weak economy with few jobs, growing income inequality and poverty, and a decline in our competitive position. In the real world, cooperation works much better than conflict, and "we need victories in the real world."
Knopf will publish the book simultaneously in hardcover and as an ebook on November 8, 2011. The book will have a 300,000-copy first printing with a list price $22.95.
Alfred A. Knopf announced that it has has acquired world rights to a new book by former president Bill Clinton. The book will be called Back to Work and will focus on how the U.S. can dig itself out of its current economic woes and meet the challenges ahead. The book will be published in November.
