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dadtheroadmasterowner's review
Repetitive , just like Trump, in depth beyond what a regular person wants.
The author is not in , in this case a very readable
The author is not in , in this case a very readable
tildahlia's review
4.0
This is a book that needs to be read with some healthy skepticism, but I don't think Wolff is trying to win the Pulizter for investigative reporting. It doesn't necessarily tell you anything you didn't already know from mainstream reporting, but it does do a marvelous job of expanding on that reporting by providing the context of the White House: the personalities, the dynamics and the motivations of the entirely self-absorbed and self-interested crew of sycophants and hangers-on that surround Trump and, of course, the bizarre nature of Trump himself. The shade in this book is an absolute delight. There are laugh-out-loud moments that come from subtle (and not-so-subtle) digs that Wolff casually drops in that will have you turning the pages into the night. The chapter on Scaramucci is a real highlight.
angelsrgorgeous's review
4.0
It took me a week to get off the fence and read this since the reasons to avoid something so defiantly rushed to print are fairly strong. I expected this be largely authored (in some form) by Steve Bannon, and that its focus on the scummy trash running the country would have an overwhelming sicko redneck "can't stop watching the car crash" National Enquirer expose taste to it.
While it did showcase click-bait level addictive quality, I'm glad I read it.
First, the surprising thing. If you are on the fence about reading this, give it serious consideration if (for nothing else), the unexpected humor of the situation. I was pretty shocked how many times I burst out laughing (often in public) at the overwhelming stupidity strutting around the White House chronicled in this book. After cracking up each time, you inevitably process what this actually means for our country's situation and you are completely horrified. This happened again and again.
Second - I was surprised to hear that Wolff did 200+ interviews of those working in the White House for this book. It sounds like he intended for it to be a record of Trump's first 100 days, but as the momentum hadn't slowed down by that point, he just kept rolling. It also surprised me that I feel Steve Bannon didn't come off very positively in the book - from the reporting I'd seen prior to reading, I expected it to be overly complimentary to Bannon. I feel it was not.
Third - I think some of the most priceless stuff in the book are the details about how Trump *operates. Details about how he won't let ANYONE touch his toothbrush, and how he eats at McDonald's religiously, both due to a decades long fear of being poisoned, are telling. (Side line the obvious rebuff that McDonald's is sloooow poison...but anyway...) The fact that the majority of people in the White House seem concerned that he may not be functionally literate is slightly terrifying - (It seems that unless it's a headline about him, info in print may as well not exist) The way Wolff has detailed his decision making "process" is horrifying (seems unable to hold more than one opinion in his head, so often the person who speaks with him last becomes the decider...?) The details about each White House faction and the infighting is also illuminating.
Many of the details Wolff includes gave me extra motivation to read "The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump" by Brandy X. Lee, MD, in which 27 Psychiatrists and other mental health experts asses Trump's mental fitness to be President. I've had concerns from the beginning, but the details Wolff includes amplified these.
While I qualify as a never-Trumper, I didn't feel I could trust some info Wolff presents as "givens" in the book - the givens often felt like stretched assumptions. He often didn't bother to back up logical leaps with even one quote- simply an unprofessional move, but it wasn't often enough to significantly sour the book for me. Two take-aways here - 1) at times the book reads like a one-sided conversation the author is having with friends who he's overly confident agree with him already. Although I'm one of those agree-ers, these "givens" sometimes seemed trashy and insulting to my intelligence..., 2) the supporting *characters on the White House staff were often portrayed an one-dimensional, and 3) this definitely needed better editing. While it's to be expected with its rush to print, repetitive sections and wording did stand out here and there. These are only minor whines, though.
Overall - this book was worth my time. I recommend it - especially if you haven't been keeping up on other pieces detailing the current leadership situation and histories of those jockeying for the helm.
Further solidified my opposition to our "like, very smart" and "very stable genius" president (little p).
While it did showcase click-bait level addictive quality, I'm glad I read it.
First, the surprising thing. If you are on the fence about reading this, give it serious consideration if (for nothing else), the unexpected humor of the situation. I was pretty shocked how many times I burst out laughing (often in public) at the overwhelming stupidity strutting around the White House chronicled in this book. After cracking up each time, you inevitably process what this actually means for our country's situation and you are completely horrified. This happened again and again.
Second - I was surprised to hear that Wolff did 200+ interviews of those working in the White House for this book. It sounds like he intended for it to be a record of Trump's first 100 days, but as the momentum hadn't slowed down by that point, he just kept rolling. It also surprised me that I feel Steve Bannon didn't come off very positively in the book - from the reporting I'd seen prior to reading, I expected it to be overly complimentary to Bannon. I feel it was not.
Third - I think some of the most priceless stuff in the book are the details about how Trump *operates. Details about how he won't let ANYONE touch his toothbrush, and how he eats at McDonald's religiously, both due to a decades long fear of being poisoned, are telling. (Side line the obvious rebuff that McDonald's is sloooow poison...but anyway...) The fact that the majority of people in the White House seem concerned that he may not be functionally literate is slightly terrifying - (It seems that unless it's a headline about him, info in print may as well not exist) The way Wolff has detailed his decision making "process" is horrifying (seems unable to hold more than one opinion in his head, so often the person who speaks with him last becomes the decider...?) The details about each White House faction and the infighting is also illuminating.
Many of the details Wolff includes gave me extra motivation to read "The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump" by Brandy X. Lee, MD, in which 27 Psychiatrists and other mental health experts asses Trump's mental fitness to be President. I've had concerns from the beginning, but the details Wolff includes amplified these.
While I qualify as a never-Trumper, I didn't feel I could trust some info Wolff presents as "givens" in the book - the givens often felt like stretched assumptions. He often didn't bother to back up logical leaps with even one quote- simply an unprofessional move, but it wasn't often enough to significantly sour the book for me. Two take-aways here - 1) at times the book reads like a one-sided conversation the author is having with friends who he's overly confident agree with him already. Although I'm one of those agree-ers, these "givens" sometimes seemed trashy and insulting to my intelligence..., 2) the supporting *characters on the White House staff were often portrayed an one-dimensional, and 3) this definitely needed better editing. While it's to be expected with its rush to print, repetitive sections and wording did stand out here and there. These are only minor whines, though.
Overall - this book was worth my time. I recommend it - especially if you haven't been keeping up on other pieces detailing the current leadership situation and histories of those jockeying for the helm.
Further solidified my opposition to our "like, very smart" and "very stable genius" president (little p).
teokajlibroj's review
5.0
A highly entertaining and fascinating insight into the madness and chaos of the Trump White House. While some of what is reported is gossip, it's certainly credible.
lurker_stalker's review
3.0
No surprises, at least if you've been paying even the slightest amount of attention over the past 18 months or more. The appeal is clearly that "fly on the wall" effect of witnessing all the things I already assumed, except even worse.
Worth the read, even if you skim chunks.
Worth the read, even if you skim chunks.
bernie_e2001's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
2.5
When I read non-fiction, I read it to be informed read reflections on a certain topic. However, when reading this book, I felt like it was written to shock and scandalise rather than inform. Not only did this book feel poorly written and edited, I feel like the people in this book come across as characters and not real people having real effects of the geopolitical landscape. As a result I struggled to take this book seriously, an issue made worse by a cover with an image of Trump with an expression that can only make you laugh, and a blurb that sounds like it came from a gossip column. I have read other books on American politics which are engaging and funny without veering off towards being gossipy. Overall, I didn’t find this book to be informative or engaging, leading to a disappointing read.
wintrovia's review
4.0
I don't like that I liked this book, but it was a compulsive read. It's full of tittle-tattle and gossip that we're hard-wired to seek out. I wouldn't recommend taking every line at face value, as a lot feels like second-hand accounts from deeply untrustworthy people. However, the anecdotes within the book give a general feel for Trump's Whitehouse which is quite shocking.
I wouldn't say that Wolff is a particularly good writer, but he manages to build up a convincing idea of the chaos and confusion that surrounds Donald Trump. He appears to have got excellent access to key figures within the administration and managed to get them to open up.
I'd recommend this book to anyone that wants to hear gossip about Donald Trump and is intrigued by what happens when one of the most important jobs in the world is given to the worst possible person to do it.
I wouldn't say that Wolff is a particularly good writer, but he manages to build up a convincing idea of the chaos and confusion that surrounds Donald Trump. He appears to have got excellent access to key figures within the administration and managed to get them to open up.
I'd recommend this book to anyone that wants to hear gossip about Donald Trump and is intrigued by what happens when one of the most important jobs in the world is given to the worst possible person to do it.
howtobebooks's review
4.0
You're a moth to a flame reading this rather alarmingly captivating book by journalist Michael Wolff. At times you question which are facts and which are fiction thanks to a bombardment of fake news by the Trump administration. And while Fire and Fury does sound satirical due to the surreal nature of the entire book, much of it can be sadly backed up by what we have seen.
Wolff seeks to fill in the gaps between the various tweets and public appearances made by the U.S. president during the last 13 months, the rash decisions and the thinking behind the bizarre rants. But more than anything, this book seems to explain the Trump brand, and everyone who has become a prime role in marketing it, especially Trump's ex-right hand man Steve Bannon and his family Ivanka and husband Jared Kushner. Their position is explained to be the 'puppet masters', in which unlike any other U.S. government - policies are dictated and "trickled upwards".
In this, Trump is described as 'post-literate', unable to read or concentrate on anything that doesn't interest him, petulant like a child, and disturbingly vacuous. This is less shocking than expected. However, the claims made in the book range from covert connections with the Russians ahead of the elections in great detail, to 'allowing' former head of the FBI, James Comey, to stay in power so that would did not investigate internal affairs - allegedly confirmed by Bannon.
Other less explosive statements include Trump's inner circle reportedly saying how ridiculously stupid he is, which he has recently refuted by saying he is a "stable genius". Overall, an incredibly readable book mostly corroborating what liberals and non-Trump supporters believe.
Wolff seeks to fill in the gaps between the various tweets and public appearances made by the U.S. president during the last 13 months, the rash decisions and the thinking behind the bizarre rants. But more than anything, this book seems to explain the Trump brand, and everyone who has become a prime role in marketing it, especially Trump's ex-right hand man Steve Bannon and his family Ivanka and husband Jared Kushner. Their position is explained to be the 'puppet masters', in which unlike any other U.S. government - policies are dictated and "trickled upwards".
In this, Trump is described as 'post-literate', unable to read or concentrate on anything that doesn't interest him, petulant like a child, and disturbingly vacuous. This is less shocking than expected. However, the claims made in the book range from covert connections with the Russians ahead of the elections in great detail, to 'allowing' former head of the FBI, James Comey, to stay in power so that would did not investigate internal affairs - allegedly confirmed by Bannon.
Other less explosive statements include Trump's inner circle reportedly saying how ridiculously stupid he is, which he has recently refuted by saying he is a "stable genius". Overall, an incredibly readable book mostly corroborating what liberals and non-Trump supporters believe.
blairreads3's review against another edition
4.25
Not sure how close to reality the account it because I don't know much about american politics, but this was entertaining and if even half of it is true (which I think likely) I'm definitely more educated on it now
jerkstore62782's review
3.0
It is very gossipy. Most of the scenes the author describes are obviously conjecture. What I do like the book for is the description of the Trump personality. The diseased brain we have operating in the Whitehouse is hard to describe. It isn't every day we encounter a person with the degree of ugly narcissism exhibited by the president of the United States. Michael Wolf is able to articulate what makes Trump tic really well. So for that at I'd say it is a good read.