(CNN) Hillary Clinton latest memoir, in the eyes of the former secretary of state and those around her, is meant to be a reflection on the 2016 election and serve as an examination of Donald Trump's stunning win.

At times, though, the nearly 500-page book entitled "What Happened" reads like Clinton's burn book of zingers, where page after page oozes with her contempt for Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, fired FBI Director James Comey, Russian President Vladimir Putin and a host of other political figures.

Clinton does take some responsibility for her stunning 2016 loss, admitting that she didn't see the defeat coming, misunderstood the electorate and underestimated Trump from the outset. She also notes how there are times she looks back at the campaign and wishes she reacted more vigorously than she ultimately did, despite her staff and advisers urging restraint.

But the former secretary of state lays plenty of blame at the feet of outside influences, including Comey's persistent investigation into her email practices and the Russia's meddling, to explain the loss.

Russia

James Comey

Of all the 2016 figures in Clinton's book, most of the blame for her loss is heaped on the fired FBI director.

Clinton's most damning accusation against Comey -- whom she labels the "rash FBI director" -- is that she would have won the election before he informed members of Congress that he was reopening the investigation into her emails on October 28.

"If not for those decisions, everything would have been different," she said. "Comey himself later said that he was mildly nauseous at the idea that he influences the outcome of the election. Hearing that made me sick."

Comey turned the entire election "upside down" in late October.

"Now voters were worried my presidency would be dogged by more investigations, maybe even impeachment," she concluded.

Clinton also regrets how she handled Comey's July 5 news conference where the former FBI director said she had been "extremely careless" in handling her email.

That comment, Clinton writes, was "completely unexpected and inappropriate."

"My first instinct was that my campaign should hit back hard and explain to the public that Comey had badly overstepped his bounds -- the same argument Rod Rosenstein would make months after the election. That might have blunted the political damage and made Comey think twice before breaking protocol again a few months later," Clinton writes. "In the end, we decided it would be better to just let it go and try to move on. Looking back, that was a mistake."

Vladimir Putin

For Clinton, there is no one more deserving of American derision than the Russian President, who she charges with undermining her campaign to elect Trump.

Putin, Clinton writes, had a "personal vendetta against me and deep resentment toward the United States," which led him to launch "a massive covert attack against our own democracy, right under our noses."

Clinton says Putin "doesn't respect women and despises anyone who stands up to him, so I'm a double problem."

Clinton writes that Trump was "the perfect Trojan Horse for Putin" and, as she has in the past, writes that Russia's involvement in the 2016 election is more serious than the Watergate scandal.

And all of this continues to consume Clinton, who writes that she thinks about Trump's accusation about not being a puppet "every time" she sees the President on TV.

"No puppet. No puppet. You're the puppet," Trump said during a debate.

"This man is President of the United States," Clinton writes. "And no one is happier than Vladimir Putin."

Julian Assange

Clinton's view of Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks, is that he is a charlatan front for the Russian government.

She calls him "odious" and a "hypocrite" for saying he is a "champion for transparency, but for many years, he's been helpful to Putin, one of the most repressive and least transparent autocrats in the world."

Clinton writes that it was "maddening" that Putin and Assange were working together to undercut her 2016 campaign.

"Of course I had to face not just one America-bashing misogynist but three," she writes. "Of course I'd have to get by Putin and Assange as well."

Friendly fire

JUST WATCHED Biden on why Clinton lost working-class whites Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Biden on why Clinton lost working-class whites 01:31

Joe Biden

Clinton generally heaps praise on Biden, but his comments during a March appearance at the University of Pennsylvania angered her, she writes.

"Joe Biden said the Democratic Party in 2016 'did not talk about what it always stood for -- and that was how to maintain a burgeoning middle class,' " Clinton writes. "I find this fairly remarkable, considering that Joe himself campaigned for me all over the Midwest and talked plenty about the middle class."

Clinton rejects the idea that she didn't speak enough about the economy, but does say in the book that her campaign had struggled staying on message, a knock that she somewhat pins on the media.

Barack Obama

Clinton showers former President Barack Obama with praise throughout the book, but during a lengthy section on Russia, the former secretary of state openly questions what would have happened if Obama had more forcefully called out Russia for their 2016 election meddling.

The comment, which pales in comparison to Clinton's other attacks in the book, is as close as Clinton comes to attacking her former boss.

"I do wonder sometimes about what would have happened if President Obama had made a televised address to the nation in the fall of 2016 warning that our democracy was under attack," she writes. "Maybe more Americans would have woken up to the threat in time. We'll never know."

Clinton also subtly knocks Obama for his suggestion that she lay off directly criticizing Sanders, her Democratic primary opponent whom she largely ignored in early 2015.

"My team kept reminding me that we didn't want to alienate Bernie's supporters. President Obama urged me to grit my teeth and lay off Bernie as much as I could," Clinton writes. "I felt like I was in a straightjacket."

Bernie Sanders

Clinton's book is chock full of scorn for Sanders, her 2016 rival and Vermont senator.

Clinton does praise Sanders -- saying he "deserves credit for understanding the political power of big, bold ideas" and for inspiring "millions of American, especially young people." But the kind words are largely overshadowed by her enmity.

She knocks Sanders for his stance on guns.

"Bernie Sanders, who loved to talk about how 'true progressives' never bow to political realities or powerful interests, had long bowed to the political reality of his rural state of Vermont and supported the NRA's key priorities, including voting against the Brady Bill five times in the 1990s," she writes.

And the attacks he leveled against her, saying they lay the groundwork for Trump.

"(Sanders') presence in the race meant that I had less space and credibility to run the kind of feisty progressive campaign that had helped me win Ohio and Pennsylvania in 2008," she writes.

"Because we agreed on so much, Bernie couldn't make an argument against me in this area on policy, so he had to resort to innuendo and impugning my character," she adds.

Jill Stein

Stein "wouldn't be worth mentioning" in other scenarios, Clinton says, but the Green Party candidate who attacked the former secretary of state throughout the campaign contributed to her loss, Clinton writes.

"So in each state, there were more than enough Stein voters to swing the result, just like Ralph Nader did in Florida and New Hampshire in 2000," Clinton writes.

Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Hillary Clinton accepts the Democratic Party's nomination for president at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia on July 28, 2016. The former first lady, U.S. senator and secretary of state was the first woman to lead the presidential ticket of a major political party. Hide Caption 1 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Before marrying Bill Clinton, she was Hillary Rodham. Here she attends Wellesley College in Massachusetts. Her commencement speech at Wellesley's graduation ceremony in 1969 attracted national attention. After graduating, she attended Yale Law School. Hide Caption 2 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Rodham was a lawyer on the House Judiciary Committee, whose work led to impeachment charges against President Richard Nixon in 1974. Hide Caption 3 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight In 1975, Rodham married Bill Clinton, whom she met at Yale Law School. He became the governor of Arkansas in 1978. In 1980, the couple had a daughter, Chelsea. Hide Caption 4 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Arkansas' first lady, now using the name Hillary Rodham Clinton, wears her inaugural ball gown in 1985. Hide Caption 5 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight The Clintons celebrate Bill's inauguration in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1991. He was governor from 1983 to 1992, when he was elected President. Hide Caption 6 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Bill Clinton comforts his wife on the set of "60 Minutes" after a stage light broke loose from the ceiling and knocked her down in January 1992. Hide Caption 7 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight In June 1992, Clinton uses a sewing machine designed to eliminate back and wrist strain. She had just given a speech at a convention of the International Ladies' Garment Workers Union. Hide Caption 8 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight During the 1992 presidential campaign, Clinton jokes with her husband's running mate, Al Gore, and Gore's wife, Tipper, aboard a campaign bus. Hide Caption 9 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Clinton accompanies her husband as he takes the oath of office in January 1993. Hide Caption 10 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight The Clintons share a laugh on Capitol Hill in 1993. Hide Caption 11 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Clinton unveils the renovated Blue Room of the White House in 1995. Hide Caption 12 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Clinton waves to the media in January 1996 as she arrives for an appearance before a grand jury in Washington. The first lady was subpoenaed to testify as a witness in the investigation of the Whitewater land deal in Arkansas. The Clintons' business investment was investigated, but ultimately they were cleared of any wrongdoing. Hide Caption 13 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight The Clintons hug as Bill is sworn in for a second term as President. Hide Caption 14 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight The first lady holds up a Grammy Award, which she won for her audiobook "It Takes a Village" in 1997. Hide Caption 15 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight The Clintons dance on a beach in the U.S. Virgin Islands in January 1998. Later that month, Bill Clinton was accused of having a sexual relationship with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Hide Caption 16 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Clinton looks on as her husband discusses the Monica Lewinsky scandal in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on January 26, 1998. Clinton declared, "I did not have sexual relations with that woman." In August of that year, Clinton testified before a grand jury and admitted to having "inappropriate intimate contact" with Lewinsky, but he said it did not constitute sexual relations because they had not had intercourse. He was impeached in December on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice. Hide Caption 17 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight The first family walks with their dog, Buddy, as they leave the White House for a vacation in August 1998. Hide Caption 18 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight President Clinton makes a statement at the White House in December 1998, thanking members of Congress who voted against his impeachment. The Senate trial ended with an acquittal in February 1999. Hide Caption 19 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Clinton announces in February 2000 that she will seek the U.S. Senate seat in New York. She was elected later that year. Hide Caption 20 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Clinton makes her first appearance on the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee. Hide Caption 21 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Sen. Clinton comforts Maren Sarkarat, a woman who lost her husband in the September 11 terrorist attacks, during a ground-zero memorial in October 2001. Hide Caption 22 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Clinton holds up her book "Living History" before a signing in Auburn Hills, Michigan, in 2003. Hide Caption 23 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Clinton and another presidential hopeful, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, applaud at the start of a Democratic debate in 2007. Hide Caption 24 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Obama and Clinton talk on the plane on their way to a rally in Unity, New Hampshire, in June 2008. She had recently ended her presidential campaign and endorsed Obama. Hide Caption 25 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Obama is flanked by Clinton and Vice President-elect Joe Biden at a news conference in Chicago in December 2008. He had designated Clinton to be his secretary of state. Hide Caption 26 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Clinton, as secretary of state, greets Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin during a meeting just outside Moscow in March 2010. Hide Caption 27 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight The Clintons pose on the day of Chelsea's wedding to Marc Mezvinsky in July 2010. Hide Caption 28 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight In this photo provided by the White House, Obama, Clinton, Biden and other members of the national security team receive an update on the mission against Osama bin Laden in May 2011. Hide Caption 29 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Clinton checks her Blackberry inside a military plane after leaving Malta in October 2011. In 2015, The New York Times reported that Clinton exclusively used a personal email account during her time as secretary of state. The account, fed through its own server, raises security and preservation concerns. Clinton later said she used a private domain out of "convenience," but admits in retrospect "it would have been better" to use multiple emails. Hide Caption 30 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Clinton arrives for a group photo before a forum with the Gulf Cooperation Council in March 2012. The forum was held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Hide Caption 31 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Obama and Clinton bow during the transfer-of-remains ceremony marking the return of four Americans, including U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens, who were killed in Benghazi, Libya, in September 2012. Hide Caption 32 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Clinton ducks after a woman threw a shoe at her while she was delivering remarks at a recycling trade conference in Las Vegas in 2014. Hide Caption 33 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Clinton, now running for President again, performs with Jimmy Fallon during a "Tonight Show" skit in September 2015. Hide Caption 34 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Clinton testifies about the Benghazi attack during a House committee meeting in October 2015. "I would imagine I have thought more about what happened than all of you put together," she said during the 11-hour hearing. "I have lost more sleep than all of you put together. I have been wracking my brain about what more could have been done or should have been done." Months earlier, Clinton had acknowledged a "systemic breakdown" as cited by an Accountability Review Board, and she said that her department was taking additional steps to increase security at U.S. diplomatic facilities. Hide Caption 35 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders shares a lighthearted moment with Clinton during a Democratic presidential debate in October 2015. It came after Sanders gave his take on the Clinton email scandal. "The American people are sick and tired of hearing about the damn emails," Sanders said. "Enough of the emails. Let's talk about the real issues facing the United States of America." Hide Caption 36 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Clinton is reflected in a teleprompter during a campaign rally in Alexandria, Virginia, in October 2015. Hide Caption 37 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Clinton walks on her stage with her family after winning the New York primary in April. Hide Caption 38 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight After Clinton became the Democratic Party's presumptive nominee, this photo was posted to her official Twitter account. "To every little girl who dreams big: Yes, you can be anything you want -- even president," Clinton said. "Tonight is for you." Hide Caption 39 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Obama hugs Clinton after he gave a speech at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. The president said Clinton was ready to be commander in chief. "For four years, I had a front-row seat to her intelligence, her judgment and her discipline," he said, referring to her stint as his secretary of state. Hide Caption 40 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Clinton arrives at a 9/11 commemoration ceremony in New York on September 11. Clinton, who was diagnosed with pneumonia two days before, left early after feeling ill. A video appeared to show her stumble as Secret Service agents helped her into a van. Hide Caption 41 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Clinton addresses a campaign rally in Cleveland on November 6, two days before Election Day. She went on to lose Ohio -- and the election -- to her Republican opponent, Donald Trump. Hide Caption 42 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight After conceding the presidency to Trump in a phone call earlier, Clinton addresses supporters and campaign workers in New York on Wednesday, November 9. Her defeat marked a stunning end to a campaign that appeared poised to make her the first woman elected US president. Hide Caption 43 of 43

Apathetic women

Days after Trump's inauguration, hundreds of thousands of women and men marched in cities across the country during what came to be known as the Women's March. Clinton did not attend, writing that she decided to decline invitations because "it was important for new voices to take the state, especially on that day."

And while Clinton writes that the protests helped her overcome the shock of Trump becoming president -- "If the inauguration on Friday was the worst of times, Saturday turned out to be the best of times" -- she does admit the day was "bittersweet."

"I couldn't help but ask where those feelings of solidarity, outrage and passion had been during the election," Clinton writes.

Clinton adds that at least two dozen women -- mostly those in their 20s -- have approached her since the election to apologize for not voting. Clinton says she has responded with "forced smiles and tight nods" and retells a story of a mother forcing her daughter to apologize to Clinton for not voting.

"I wanted to stare right in her eyes and say, 'You didn't vote? How could you not vote? You abdicated your responsibility as a citizen at the worst possible time! And now you want me to make you feel better,' " Clinton writes. "Of course, I didn't say any of that."

"These people were looking for absolution that I just couldn't give. We all have to live with the consequences of our decisions," she writes.

Liberal activists

Clinton was pestered throughout the campaign by Black Lives Matter protesters, who questioned her commitment to their cause and decisions the Clinton administration made during the 1990s.

One of the most vocal challenges from Black Lives Matters came during an event Clinton hosted in New Hampshire, where protesters tried to get into the event to disrupt it but settled on meeting with Clinton afterward.

Clinton writes that while she "understood the frustration of the Black Lives Matter activists" and "respected their conviction," she worried that activists were "more interested in disruption and confrontation than in working together to change policies that perpetuate systemic racism."

Republicans

JUST WATCHED Clinton examines election loss in new book Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Clinton examines election loss in new book 01:35

Mitch McConnell

Clinton charges the Senate majority leader with "actively playing defense for Trump and the Russians."

"We know now that even after he was fully briefed by the CIA, McConnell rejected the intelligence and warned the Obama administration that if it made any attempt to inform the public, he would attack it for playing politics," Clinton writes. "I can't think of a more shameful example of a national leader so blatantly putting partisanship over national security."

She adds: "McConnell knew better, but he did it anyway."

Jason Chaffetz

Chaffetz, a former congressman from Utah, was a thorn in Clinton's side throughout the election, promising to continue investigating Clinton despite the fact the FBI had closed their inquiry.

Clinton recalls meeting Chaffetz at the inauguration, expect writes that she thought she was meeting Reince Priebus, Trump's chief of staff.

"Later I realized it hadn't been Priebus at all. It was Jason Chaffetz, the then-Utah congressman and wannabe Javert who made endless political hay out of my emails and the 2012 tragedy in Benghazi, Libya," Clinton writes, a reference to the antagonist in Victor Hugo's 1862 novel Les Miserables who becomes obsessed with pursuing Jean Valjean, the book's protagonist.

After the encounter, Chaffetz posted a photo of his handshake with Clinton, but added this dig: "The investigation continues."

"What a class act," Clinton recalls. "I came this close to tweeting back, 'To be honest, thought you were Reince.' "

Ryan Zinke

Clinton recalls how she met then-Rep. Ryan Zinke, future Trump administration interior secretary, during the traditional lunch following inauguration.

Zinke, Clinton recalls, brought his wife over to say "hello."

"This was somewhat surprising, considering that in 2014 he called me the 'Antichrist,' " Clinton writes, adding that when she met him she confronted by saying, 'You know, congressman, I'm not actually the Antichrist.' "

"He was taken aback and mumbled something about not having meant it," Clinton writes. "One thing I have learned over the years is how easy it is for some people to say horrible things about me when I'm not around but how hard it is for them to look me in the eye and say it to my face."