This is a RUSH transcript from "The O'Reilly Factor," October 12, 2010. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.

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BILL O'REILLY, HOST: In the "Personal Story" segment tonight: The former secretary of state, Condoleezza Rice, has a new book out called "Extraordinary, Ordinary People: A Memoir of Family," which chronicles her personal story, culminating in her becoming one of the most powerful women in the world as secretary of state. Dr. Rice joins us now.

Before we get to your book, Madam Secretary, is the world a more dangerous place two years after you left office?

CONDOLEEZZA RICE, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: The world was most dangerous in 2001, when we didn't have a net to deal with terrorism. I think in that sense we made it a safer place from the time that we were in office. But Iran is closer to a nuclear weapon. That's more dangerous. North Korea seems somewhat unstable with nuclear capability. That makes the world more dangerous. But, in fact, you're always dealing with circumstances that are very difficult for a United States that has to lead.

O'REILLY: It doesn't seem like we can get through to the Iranians. If we take military action, I think that would ignite World War III.

RICE: I don't think anybody wants to take military action. But you know, Bill, what happened in the streets of Tehran in June of 2009 gives us an opening, because this is actually a very weak regime in many ways. And very tough sanctions on a weak economy and a regime that is now at each other's throats, it would be awfully good to see.

O'REILLY: Kind of a race against time though, right?

RICE: It's a race against time, no doubt. But it's better to take that race, I think, at this point in time. I don't think anybody really wants to contemplate military action, though the American president should never take that off the table.

O'REILLY: Well, you know, I think there's got to be a blockade to be considered. But anyway, Afghanistan could go either way.

RICE: Afghanistan could go either way. It was always going to be hard. Fifth poorest country in the world…

O'REILLY: When you left office, I don't think you could -- you could predict how bad it's gotten.

RICE: No, I think that in large part relates to what happened in Pakistan, the deals that were made with the terrorists in the northwest frontier. But I have a lot of confidence in David Petraeus. I have a lot of confidence that if we...

O'REILLY: How about Hillary Clinton?

RICE: Hillary Clinton is someone I've known for a long, long time. She's a patriot. I think she's doing a lot of the right things.

O'REILLY: Is she doing what you did? Are you different in your styles?

RICE: Well, of course, we're different in styles. We are different people.

O'REILLY: Can you quantify that?

RICE: I don't watch every day, surprisingly, Bill. But obviously, we come from different backgrounds. I come from a background as a specialist in international politics.

O'REILLY: But she's tough though.

RICE: She's very tough.

O'REILLY: She's no dove. She's tougher than Obama.

RICE: And she's got the right instincts, I think about...

O'REILLY: So you're pleased with that.

RICE: I think she's doing a fine job. I really do.

O'REILLY: I don't know whether you heard Senator Tom Coburn say she's holding up a billion dollars to Haiti, and that's a mess.

RICE: I wouldn't even presume to comment about something that I don't know the insides of. It's always difficult between the Congress and the State Department when one is talking about money.

O'REILLY: OK. All right. Let's get to the book now, "Extraordinary, Ordinary People." What struck me, and I haven't finished it, is the intensity of your upbringing in Alabama in the civil rights days when you had two parents in the home, OK? Your father was a preacher, right?

RICE: Presbyterian minister and high school guidance counselor at the same time.

O'REILLY: Right. And they were tough parents on you. You were an only child.

RICE: I wasn't -- they weren't Stepford parents. I was a really happy child.

O'REILLY: But they -- but they held you to a high standard.

RICE: They did indeed.

O'REILLY: So that's tough. I mean, you know, when you're in a family and you have to perform as a child, you had to perform.

RICE: But I didn't feel that way about it. I felt that they were giving me every possible opportunity, and I was taking advantage of some and not of others.

O'REILLY: But they -- you correct me if I'm wrong. They structured your day so that you had to study, you had to do the piano, you had -- or what was it, the instrument?

RICE: Piano.