Who is Hillary Rodham Clinton? Carl Bernstein’s “A Woman in Charge” challenges this question, delving into the life of one of the most influential and controversial women in America. This profile of the New York senator shines brighter than the purple David Yurman earrings she wears on the cover. Whether it’s Watergate, or Whitewater, Bernstein’s research probes deep. “A Woman in Charge” is an interesting read, regardless of your opinion of the former first lady, political pundit, and potential president.

Bernstein’s biography collects insight, opinions, and thoughts from Clinton’s friends and adversaries. The numerous interviews demonstrate that Bernstein couldn’t have picked a more challenging research topic; everyone has a strong opinion about Hillary. The inclusion of interviews from Bill and Hillary would have made a more compelling biography. However, both declined the opportunity to be involved in Bernstein’s project.

“A Woman in Charge” documents Clinton’s trials and triumphs through her college career, pursuit of health care reform and her often misunderstood relationship with Bill Clinton. Bernstein depicts a symbiotic relationship between the couple; Bill as the dreamer, Hillary as the pragmatist, both with an undeniable passion to make a difference. It seems as if the Clintons are a democratic team with idealistic political goals, both team members willing to sacrifice a monogamous marriage in order to reach them.

Bernstein often addresses Hillary Clinton’s struggle to reconcile her conservative upbringing with her liberal beliefs in a political world where everyone expects her to pick sides. While Bill Clinton has been called a centrist straddling the lines between conservative and liberal, Hillary can’t escape her polarizing reputation as a die-hard democrat. However, Bernstein’s biography reminds us that both of the Clintons paved the way for New Democrats less than two decades ago. “Nobody’s ever stopped to ask me or try to figure out the new sense of politics that Bill and a lot of us are trying to create,” said Hillary in a televised interview. “The labels are irrelevant.”

Though there will be many hurdles for Hillary to overcome before she can claim the Oval Office, there is no denying that her leadership abilities and experience make her a qualified candidate. “A Woman in Charge” chronicles the accomplishments of an intelligent woman, confident in her ability to perform as the next president. However, Bernstein placed little emphasis or effort into covering Hillary’s career as a senator, the most important position of her political career.

Throughout the 2008 elections, Hillary’s biggest obstacle is not that she’s a woman, it’s that she’s difficult to relate with. Her primary democratic opponent, on the other hand, is not. While their stances on the big issues only differ slightly, Barack Obama is described as a charismatic agent for change, while Hillary gets pegged as a power hungry, control-freak. It’s as if America forgets that like many of us, she came from humble, suburban beginnings. However, “A Woman in Charge” effectively illuminates Hillary’s humanity more through pictures than prose. The center of the book contains photographs that speak volumes. Replacing her usual, conservative power suit, we see a young Hillary with long, straight hair smiling next to her Yale sweetheart; a bearded Bill Clinton who looks more like a stereotypical lumberjack than a future president. She appears happy, friendly, and relatable. It’s enough to make one question if Hillary is really the liberal threat that some make her out to be.

One can expect to finish “A Woman in Charge” with a greater understanding of the woman that nobody seems to understand. Bernstein sheds light on Hillary’s formative years spent in a home with an antagonizing father who had nearly impossible expectations for his children. It’s evident that Hillary has been competing for attention, positions and recognition her entire life. She’s strong, and she’s vulnerable. She’s humble, and she’s cocky. She’s stoic, and she’s emotional. She’s human, and like the rest of us, she’s allowed to be a walking contradiction. While some readers may find this book frustratingly inconclusive, I’d hate to think that Bernstein’s ultimate objective was to define a human being. If you’re looking for a book to tell you what to think, this isn’t it. However, if you want a platform upon which you can form an opinion, Bernstein’s “A Woman in Charge” is definitely worth your time.