"What Happened": Our Favorite Parts So Far

The members of Team Normal have been making our way through Hillary Clinton’s new book What Happened since it came out last week, and we’re liking it a lot. Obviously, we wish this book hadn’t been necessary– we’d rather be living in Clinton’s America right now instead of being led by a man who doesn’t know how to spell the word “heal.” Not all of us have finished What Happened yet, and we want to save our in depth analysis for when we’re all done, and of course for our Boozy Book Club discussion (it’s one of our September picks!). In the meantime though, we’ve selected some of the standout moments that we wanted to talk about a little bit.

Emily L.

One of my favorite parts so far is pretty lighthearted, but I laughed out loud when Hillary said that they keep a photo of the giant balloon drop in their home and how Bill especially had fun with the balloons. Thank god for politicians who are self aware and can laugh at themselves.

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A moment that’s pretty infuriating but also moving is when she questioned why she, “a human, needed humanizing at all.” What a daunting task to be authentic, speak with gravitas, but also be strong, knowledgeable, and composed, yet “feminine” all at the same time.

Heidi

When she told Congressman Ryan Zinke “I’m not actually the Antichrist” right to his face at the Inauguration, remembering that he’d said that about her in an interview.

Also, when she talked about not being able to give absolution to women who came up to her and apologized for not voting.

Danelle

I felt like a good part was where she was talking about how she felt she needed to comfort other people who were upset, even though she was the one who needed comforting. That’s like everyone’s mom right there – feeling terrible on the inside but not showing it.

Jamie

I’ve particularly liked her biting comments, such as her dig about unexpectedly being the youngest candidate in the race- as Bernie and Trump are both in their seventies- and when she called out the New York Times and CNN for making a big deal out of something like she and her team stopping at a Chipotle for lunch. What the hell does she have to lose at this point? She might as well let them have it.

I also love, love, love her comments on the difference between sexism and misogyny, and how both came into play during the election. She notes that other people might see it a different way, but I thought it articulated it perfectly.

Bonus: Her anecdote that Ruth Bader Ginsburg does planks two days a week to stay fit. Bow down.

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Katy

Let me preface my PROVOCATIVE HOT TAKE with this: I think Hillary Clinton is an amazing person who would have been one of our best Presidents, and I love a lot of the book, BUT there have been multiple moments in which she reminded me why I supported Bernie in the primaries.

Amy

I was scared to read What Happened, thinking I couldn’t go back to the terrible Fall of 2017, but it’s surprised me. It’s been very cathartic. I kept thinking, “Same, Hillary, same,” especially when she tells us she enjoyed her share of chardonnay to deal with her loss. It’s a nice glimpse into all the different parts of her life, and she pulls no punches when it comes to naming names. I’m looking at you James Comey, and the press who wanted scandal instead of policy.

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Hillary is also doing what many women are afraid to do: tooting her own horn. She has done some amazing shit in her life and been a huge advocate for children. And her accomplishments are a stark reminder that Trump has done nothing good for this world. Not once, not ever.

Also, I like that she takes Bernie to task where he deserves it, and she reminds us that he is not a Democrat.