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3.25 AVERAGE
3.25 AVERAGE
I bought this book mostly because I figured the more copies sold, the more likely Trump might succumb to an apoplectic fit. I went ahead and read it since I'd spent $20 on it. It was a slog.
First, there really isn't anything in here that you wouldn't already know if you've been paying attention for the past year. The White House infighting, Trump's non-existent attention span, and his many neuroses are covered in detail but there is no great reveal to justify buying the book.
Second, it's clear the book was rushed to print. It isn't written terribly well and the editing leaves a lot to be desired. Wolff's syntax gave me a headache with its labyrinthine sentence structure: I found myself rereading sentences repeatedly that were unnecessarily convoluted and confusing. This more than anything else is why I only gave it two stars.
First, there really isn't anything in here that you wouldn't already know if you've been paying attention for the past year. The White House infighting, Trump's non-existent attention span, and his many neuroses are covered in detail but there is no great reveal to justify buying the book.
Second, it's clear the book was rushed to print. It isn't written terribly well and the editing leaves a lot to be desired. Wolff's syntax gave me a headache with its labyrinthine sentence structure: I found myself rereading sentences repeatedly that were unnecessarily convoluted and confusing. This more than anything else is why I only gave it two stars.
Despite my opinion of our current political administration, I actually can't find myself giving this book 5 stars. It seems like most of the people that like this book do so simply because they believe they are supposed to.
Don't get me wrong, I would be one of the first people to stand in line to support this kind of expose, but it's just not done very well. And I don't believe that a book that has a special purpose (like exposing scandals, galvanizing my hatred for politics, breaking records for sales and political news, and being the hot target of presidential rage for a few days) is protected from criticism. It feels less powerful than it comes off and more of a thin, 'he said/she said' soap opera drama than an actual expose. It does not feel researched, full, or written well. There are grammatical issues abounding on every page. Off to the next book- perhaps Trumpocracy: The Corruption of the American Republic will give me the scholarly analysis that I was looking for.
Don't get me wrong, I would be one of the first people to stand in line to support this kind of expose, but it's just not done very well. And I don't believe that a book that has a special purpose (like exposing scandals, galvanizing my hatred for politics, breaking records for sales and political news, and being the hot target of presidential rage for a few days) is protected from criticism. It feels less powerful than it comes off and more of a thin, 'he said/she said' soap opera drama than an actual expose. It does not feel researched, full, or written well. There are grammatical issues abounding on every page. Off to the next book- perhaps Trumpocracy: The Corruption of the American Republic will give me the scholarly analysis that I was looking for.
Boy howdy, do I have a lot to say about this book.
First of all, it's junk food. You know it's bad for you -- especially if you're a liberal and hate Trump -- but you can't resist it, either, because it confirms exactly what's been swirling in the non-stop depressing media cycles since Trump took office. It's not journalistic, but rather gossipy, based on the mutterings of rumors of speculations. You can almost imagine a quiet smirk on Michael Wolff's face while writing it, secretly pleased by the factions he could be pitting against each other with its publication, only to realize they were already at each other's throats before he turned up.
Honestly, I approached this book as though it were a movie adaptation of a momentous political event that happened decades ago. There are most likely facts in the personal accounts, somewhere deep down in the muck, but it's played up for dramatic effect wherever possible, the details filled in regardless of their veracity. That being said, it's entirely a match for the post-truth era we've all been ushered into. If Trump and his cronies can make shit up on the fly, why not have an account of this disastrous presidency adopt a similar policy? Why not publish a book that doesn't proclaim to have "all the facts," written by someone who doesn't have to hold his head high in the White House press room the day after it's released and face condemnation from his colleagues?
Wolff, to be clear, is no Cronkite or Murrow, though he appears to be the voice of the generation that spawned TMZ and Us Weekly. Nor did his publisher seem to bother with basic editorial duties like spelling, or fact-checking what year John Boehner stepped down as Speaker of the House. But for him to be welcomed to the White House seemingly without any prior vetting (Trump chooses "the best people" to admit into his inner sanctum, does he not?), only serves to confirm the overarching point of the book: that everyone, or nearly everyone, that has sold their soul to this presidency has either done it to gain power or out of fear, in spite of a frankly frightening collective lack of political experience.
I'm wary of how this book portrays Steve Bannon. I have no doubt the bulk of Wolff's 200 interviews came from Bannon, probably explaining why he's essentially the protagonist and much of the narrative is framed around how he is the most cunning, cutthroat person in the room at any given time. But he's portrayed as a charming anti-hero, a Hannibal Lecter of sorts (albeit with a foul mouth), and both major and minor events in the West Wing are filtered through his perspective. Wolff stops short of lavishing praise on him, but said in one interview I listened to that he liked Bannon. I can't help but pity Wolff and be amazed, because a Bannon removed from Trump access is not a sidelined Bannon. He's a schemer, and will not be going away in the coming years, and to pretend otherwise is foolish.
I couldn't give this book any stars only because I neither liked nor disliked it. It was an experience, interesting, horrifying, and overwhelming all at once.
First of all, it's junk food. You know it's bad for you -- especially if you're a liberal and hate Trump -- but you can't resist it, either, because it confirms exactly what's been swirling in the non-stop depressing media cycles since Trump took office. It's not journalistic, but rather gossipy, based on the mutterings of rumors of speculations. You can almost imagine a quiet smirk on Michael Wolff's face while writing it, secretly pleased by the factions he could be pitting against each other with its publication, only to realize they were already at each other's throats before he turned up.
Honestly, I approached this book as though it were a movie adaptation of a momentous political event that happened decades ago. There are most likely facts in the personal accounts, somewhere deep down in the muck, but it's played up for dramatic effect wherever possible, the details filled in regardless of their veracity. That being said, it's entirely a match for the post-truth era we've all been ushered into. If Trump and his cronies can make shit up on the fly, why not have an account of this disastrous presidency adopt a similar policy? Why not publish a book that doesn't proclaim to have "all the facts," written by someone who doesn't have to hold his head high in the White House press room the day after it's released and face condemnation from his colleagues?
Wolff, to be clear, is no Cronkite or Murrow, though he appears to be the voice of the generation that spawned TMZ and Us Weekly. Nor did his publisher seem to bother with basic editorial duties like spelling, or fact-checking what year John Boehner stepped down as Speaker of the House. But for him to be welcomed to the White House seemingly without any prior vetting (Trump chooses "the best people" to admit into his inner sanctum, does he not?), only serves to confirm the overarching point of the book: that everyone, or nearly everyone, that has sold their soul to this presidency has either done it to gain power or out of fear, in spite of a frankly frightening collective lack of political experience.
I'm wary of how this book portrays Steve Bannon. I have no doubt the bulk of Wolff's 200 interviews came from Bannon, probably explaining why he's essentially the protagonist and much of the narrative is framed around how he is the most cunning, cutthroat person in the room at any given time. But he's portrayed as a charming anti-hero, a Hannibal Lecter of sorts (albeit with a foul mouth), and both major and minor events in the West Wing are filtered through his perspective. Wolff stops short of lavishing praise on him, but said in one interview I listened to that he liked Bannon. I can't help but pity Wolff and be amazed, because a Bannon removed from Trump access is not a sidelined Bannon. He's a schemer, and will not be going away in the coming years, and to pretend otherwise is foolish.
I couldn't give this book any stars only because I neither liked nor disliked it. It was an experience, interesting, horrifying, and overwhelming all at once.
A necessary companion piece to the daily flow of news out of Washington. Think what you will about Michael Wolff, this book nails the overall feelings, attitudes, rivalries, and ambitions of those currently occupying 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. It helps to read it straight through, as there are character development arcs, but it features a handy index, so one is able to immediately look up anyone remotely connected to a given day's news. Totally time capsule worthy...
Anything that upsets Donald Trump is all right by me. This was however a read that at times felt disconnected. You are reading one thing, then someone else gets introduced for no reason. Then the books switches back to another plot line.
There are whole sentences that just make no sense. God damn it I wanted to give this 5 stars but I can’t because it’s occasionally not very well written.
I also found it a little difficult to read, not really knowing the names of these people. Right wing billionaire bigots aren’t really my forte. I genuinely don’t know what most of the references are. The author assumes you just know. This means that you end up reading the book as a none emotional exercise, just to get through it. Considering the scope of the material, that’s a real shame
But oh the passages of Donald Trump speeches. They really are the most bizarre toe curling things I’ve ever had to read. It would be funny if it wasn’t so utterly bleak and disturbing. He’s your old alcoholic uncle that gropes women, thinks he’s an absolute winner. And your parents say, look just smile and let him get on with it.
My favourite bit is the phrase Truculent Trump. I mean, that really sums everything up doesn’t it? It really does.
However, considering how utterly bonkers (and not in a good way) this whole Trump thing is this really was a dull read.
There are whole sentences that just make no sense. God damn it I wanted to give this 5 stars but I can’t because it’s occasionally not very well written.
I also found it a little difficult to read, not really knowing the names of these people. Right wing billionaire bigots aren’t really my forte. I genuinely don’t know what most of the references are. The author assumes you just know. This means that you end up reading the book as a none emotional exercise, just to get through it. Considering the scope of the material, that’s a real shame
But oh the passages of Donald Trump speeches. They really are the most bizarre toe curling things I’ve ever had to read. It would be funny if it wasn’t so utterly bleak and disturbing. He’s your old alcoholic uncle that gropes women, thinks he’s an absolute winner. And your parents say, look just smile and let him get on with it.
My favourite bit is the phrase Truculent Trump. I mean, that really sums everything up doesn’t it? It really does.
However, considering how utterly bonkers (and not in a good way) this whole Trump thing is this really was a dull read.
Interesting to see it all in one place, but...
...there wasn't much new was there? I'm sure Robert Mueller already has all of this. Seriously. Don't you?
This will be much more interesting when we see the post 2018 addendum.
...there wasn't much new was there? I'm sure Robert Mueller already has all of this. Seriously. Don't you?
This will be much more interesting when we see the post 2018 addendum.