Riveting book that will polarize readers

You forget you're reading about a presidential candidate. This book reads like an engrossing biography of a business mogul in the vein of Rockefeller or Jobs. Men who embodied the American archetype of the maverick entrepreneur. Complicated men with difficult personalities and big ambitions.

But the comparison ends there.

A group of Washington Post reporters assembled this book in record time. And unlike another reviewer, I marveled at how seamlessly the pieces fit together--except where the chronology backtracks to follow some new thread of inquiry.

This book is going to polarize readers. If you like Trump, you will find the candidate's family history, business deals and branding savvy informative. But you'll flinch at the way the authors' choose to tell the stories of Trump's life, which are on the whole unflattering.

Still, those readers opposed to candidate Trump might be surprised (or not) that these reporters from a decidedly liberal-leaning newspaper have reined in their narrative. Unlike what is turning out to be the usual run of anti-Trump and anti-Hillary Clinton books, this biography doesn't call out what the authors' perceive as Trump's character flaws in ALL CAPS and exclamation points.

The reporters haven woven an absorbing biography. The preface places Trump in the months leading up to his candidacy. Chapter one offers standard biography fare, with backstories on the grandparents and parents.

Father Fred Trump's real estate dealings and allegations of racist rental policies are teased out. There are stories of Trump as a pranksterish youth and as a young man of means desperate to throw off his father's business and set off on his own terms. Trump comes off as a supremely confident and monomaniacal figure obsessed with deal making (big surprise there), real estate and himself. The Marla Maples affair gets ink. We get some insight into the real estate projects in New York, Atlantic City, Panama, Scotland, etc.

Other topics: Miss Universe pageant, the reality TV show, television cameo roles, bankruptcies, net worth, history with the Clintons, flip-flopping party affiliation, appeal to the masses, evolving political platform, the Trump brand, the 2016 Republican primaries and Republican National Convention.

The book touches on the major plot points in Trump's life and uses them to build a picture of Trump as a man, businessman--and potential candidate. Along the way, the authors try to answer why Trump the presidential candidate is so alluring to certain voters and equally horrifying to others.

42 people found this helpful

All You've Seen, Read, Heard--In One Place

If you like Trump, skip this book as it's a biography where his past is thoroughly delved into, complete with a story of how he, as a child, went into a neighbor's backyard only to be found throwing rocks at her toddler (Trump says he was just a "rambunctious" kid). It goes through later years at boarding school where he seemed to find his way but, when bested in scores, blasts his friend for cheating (sound familiar?).
It's an exasperating look at the many, many, MANY questionable and flat-out duplicitous dealings in business, with women, etc. I say exasperating because, no matter what, the public doesn't seem to care, seems to applaud his... "audacity."
If you've followed Trump in the past, you won't find much new here, but it is most certainly thorough and well-researched. Undoubtedly, it will be called Trump-Bashing, and may even spark a law suit by the man, as he's done with so many other stories in the past, but I don't see how that'll stick. Trump and his words on record are used as a source, and the man positively gloats about his dealings.
I wish Marc Fisher had narrated it as he does an admirable job with the foreword and epilogue. As it is, Campbell Scott, as he is apt to, turns in a rather unenthusiastic performance (I know! I know! Nonfiction is hard to narrate). He does, however, manage Trump's words/quotes well, choosing not to turn the man into a caricature. Most appreciated!
Truly an extraordinary look at an extraordinary man who knows how to, "give the people what they want." And it's frightening what they want.
Kinda makes me wanna go take a shower right now...

64 people found this helpful

Trump Truth

Do I have to be careful about what I say? Can I be sued for writing a book review? These thoughts occur to me as I prepare to summarise this book.

Well, firstly, it’s an interesting listen. Donald Trump has definitely had an interesting life. If you’ve been reading the news for the last year then I think you will already have an idea of the character of this man, and my impression is that the Donald Trump of this book is very consistent with the persona portrayed in the media.

I’m going to grossly oversimplify things by splitting what I learned about Trump into ‘good’ and ‘bad’ attributes:

Good:
• He’s fearless
• He’s happy to join in with any sort of media/publicity exercise with minimal preparation – happy to just be himself and rely on his spontaneous charisma. He isn’t a fake.
• He has the ability to inspire people
• He was good at sport

Bad:
• His primary motivation appears to be self-aggrandisement and self-enrichment. I don’t think he’s really interested in the greater good.
• In his many business dealings it has all been about winning. Lots of people have been victims of collateral damage in the course of these dealings, and I don’t think that would have troubled Trump’s conscience. The goal of victory or profit is sufficient justification for any harm that might have come to anyone in the course of doing business. There are simply winners and losers.
• His evaluation of women appears to be based on physical attractiveness alone
• There are some suggestions in the book that he has been involved in racist activities
• He promotes gambling (by owning casinos) and the objectification of women (by owning beauty pageants)

Overall impression:
He might make a good general, because he seems to inspire people and he’s ruthless in pursuit of his goals (he didn’t go to Vietnam, but that’s another story). He’d make a terrible president. He has already established a reputation for racism, sexism and for confrontational positions towards Mexicans and Muslims. He doesn’t appear to have the diplomacy and sensitivity required of this role, and his motivation for seeking office is questionable.

The book is a valuable listen because it gives you the opportunity to evaluate whether all the negative press about Trump is justified – and as a bonus it is an interesting listen.

43 people found this helpful

A very impressive summary of Trump

whether you like or hate him and excellent look at the ego that is Trump

8 people found this helpful

A must-read,

Trump Revealed is must reading during this horrendous cycle! Much of Trump's financial, business and legal hassles are examined in. a seemingly straightforward manner. Some of the info has already appeared elsewhere, but a great deal was a real eye-opener to me (and I'm a native Manhattanite).

12 people found this helpful

Rise and Fall of the American Reich

Anyone who thinks Trump is just a blue collar American boy needs to read/listen to this book. He is a truly frightening man who panders to the middle class fears. Whatever he says, even if it is false, he refuses to recant but just says it over and over again until he believes it's true and convinces others, by the mere repetition on national news, that it is true.

America is truly facing a real test as to our values, our ethics and what made this nation great in the first place. We need to all educate ourselves as to who we would elect to lead us. In this day and age and with the information provided to us we will not have, even the historically questioned flimsy excuse of the German people after World War II, to say that we didn't know.

9 people found this helpful

A swagtastic voyage

If you could sum up Trump Revealed in three words, what would they be?

Compelling, insightful, terrifying.

Who was your favorite character and why?

I'm a fan of Anthony Jezelnik

Which scene was your favorite?

This one is hard, but the Wrestle-mania parts are good.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

YES!

Any additional comments?

Well written. Well researched. Well preformed. Well organized. The book makes you hate Trump as much as you feel him and his personal story and view. Well done. Nice Job.

9 people found this helpful

Well Done!!!

This book is a well organized, we'll researched, and the best written piece if you are interested in the facts about Trump. Well done!

8 people found this helpful

Un put downable!!!

I loved hearing about Trump's background. The painstaking details were fascinating!
it's a must have!

5 people found this helpful

A must listen BEFORE November 2016

What a cool experience!! Before stumbling across this audiobook, as a writer, I had nothing positive to pen about Donald Trump, Jr. I admit, I was lazy, watching things play out on TV. They all seemed nutz to me, but from what I saw, I too concluded that he was one nasty racist guy, and half of his supporters were scum bags.

But wait a minute, who was I to render serious comments without personally vetting the candidates?

This is book is Trump explained. A truly MUST READ prior to voting. The word 'complex' cannot come close to explaining the ebullient Donald Trump, his life, his women, his money or lack of money, and, . . . most importantly, his mind. Watching the news channels mindlessly with so many non-intentional and perhaps even deliberately crafted red herrings, one is far from understanding the intricateness of this opulent, for lack of a better word, individual.

After two listens to this wonderful book, I can say I feel that I finally have a modicum of understanding of his thoughts and actions. I must say how very cool to watch as he/it literally evolves/unfolds in real-time on television and YouTube.

Highly recommend!!!!!

6 people found this helpful