With a long-held interest in American politics dating back to watching the Nixon resignation on television, Build Back Better was a most anticipated study. Kelly Hyman is an attorney, television commentator, legal analyst and Democratic strategist. Subtitled, ‘the first one hundred days of the Biden administration and beyond’, her book contrasts various policy issues and the President’s implementation thereof. Given the deep bipartisan divide in the United States, many will react to the content from their preconceived perspective. Hyman acknowledges her personal circumstances and attempts to provide a balanced interpretation from an everyday American mindset. A most readable account, with generally reasoned and balanced assessment of the policy machinations. An engaging and informative book with a four-star rating. With thanks to Amplify Publishing and the author for a copy for review purposes.

Kelly Hyman Build Back Better. The First 100 Days of the Biden Administration, and Beyond, Amplify Publishing, 2021

Thank you NetGalley for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review.

As I finished reading Build Back Better, Brian Williams began The 11th Hour on MNSBC, with his familiar phrase enumerating the day of the current Presidency. Tonight, it was ‘Day 147 of the Biden Administration’. That Kelly Hyman has written in detail about only the first 100 days, and that the story continues, is not a defect. This is particularly so when her approach is that of a thoughtful observer and sometime advocate, rather than a writer who is ticking off the good and bad points of the administration, arriving at a number, and leaving the scene for someone else to analyse. Not that this work dwells on analysis. As is appropriate, Hyman provides a useful dialogue reflecting some of her thoughts and evaluation, some of the responses to President Biden and Vice President Harris initiatives, and at times, her hopes for the future.

Hyman provides a clear record of what has happened, including detail on the Executive Orders signed by President Biden, where policies have been introduced or changed between this administration and the last, and reflection on some of the proposed policies being devised and debated in Congress and between the Democratic and Republican Parties.

I admit that I had some misgivings about this author. Kelly Hyman appears on Fox and Friends, Newsmax, OAN and local Sinclair outlets at times and would accept invitations to speak on other right wing news outlets. At the same time, she is an acknowledged Democrat, has donated her time to working for the Party, and is a Democratic strategist, ‘a voice for the hope and values of the new administration’. She believes that conservative media consumers deserve to hear more than one opinion – and offers it. Indeed, she says, ‘This book is an open letter to my viewers on conservative media. Independents and Democrats are welcome as well’. I am glad that I decided to join her audience too.

Build Back Better provides a clear, authoritative account of the start of Joe Biden’s Presidency. It is a useful read for those interested in American politics in general, and for those who wish to follow this Presidency in particular. I found Kelly Hyman’s book a sound accompaniment to watching MSNBC political news, American political historian, Heather Cox Richardson’s column and podcasts, and local (Australian) news sources.

this was a great summary of the first 100 days of the Biden Presidency. It was well written and it felt like the author knew what they were talking about.