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2.71 AVERAGE
2.71 AVERAGE
I wanted to read this to get the insider perspective. I didn't want to buy it, because it seemed wrong to me that he didn't testify. So I had to wait for a library copy of the ebook and didn't have much time. What a slog of a read this is - I ended up skimming because my loan was expiring. I learned that the current administration is as petty and chaotic from the inside as it appears to be from the outside. I also learned that John Bolton only seems to respect those who agree with him and, even though he didn't hesitate to accuse others (notably Mattis and Mnuchin) of CYA behaviors, it seemed that the entire book was just such an exercise. My kindle version of the book didn't even have a table of contents, and I couldn't find any acknowledgements. Given the laborious writing, I was left wondering if he even rejected editorial assistance, which would have benefitted the book. It had the feel of a self-published vanity project. I still think it is important for the documentation it provides of Trump's decisions and behaviors in foreign relations, but you need to know that is more a diary than a memoir.
This was boring. I cannot stress this enough. I know it rode some hype for its juicy gossip, but those parts are few and far between. This is basically an overly detailed diary of every conversation JB has had since 2016. I had to flip through several chapters. I thought the inner workings of the White House would be interesting, but this was way too dry.
The best part is that JB is convinced he wasn’t chosen for Secretary of State only because DT didn’t like his big, bushy mustache. That’s right. It’s fascinating because we all know there’s a chance it could be true, and even if it’s not, a grown adult wrote in his official memoir that he believes this. Wild.
What a time to be alive.
The best part is that JB is convinced he wasn’t chosen for Secretary of State only because DT didn’t like his big, bushy mustache. That’s right. It’s fascinating because we all know there’s a chance it could be true, and even if it’s not, a grown adult wrote in his official memoir that he believes this. Wild.
What a time to be alive.
Very heavy in political speak but very interesting to get a perspective on the former president’s ability to deal with foreign policy.
A fantastically thorough recollection of John Bolton’s stint as National Security Adviser to President Trump. Unflinching in its criticism mainly of Trump but also of Jared Kushner, Steve Mnuchin, Jim Mattis, Mike Pompeo, Rex Tillerson, Nikki Haley, Rudy Giuliani, and Jeff Sessions. SPOILER: Bolton seems to think of himself as the most savvy and intelligent operator among a sea of folks out for themselves. Unfortunately all the other dolts listed above thought the same things too. Trump, unsurprisingly, comes off worst off all. A short attention span, a conflation of the personal with the good of the country, and an obsession with vanity (specifically with how his decisions would be portrayed in the media & received by foreign leaders). A damning book with no heroes, especially not the author, whose postscript about the impeachment is self-serving horse shit.
It’s actually frightening to dwell on the fact that the author of this book has been in high positions of power and influence in several government administrations. You have someone who seems to be borderline (or fully) exhibiting pathological tendencies influencing policy decisions of utmost importance. The fact that Trump was the voice of slightly-better reason regarding their disastrous Iran policy is all you need to know about the depths of this author’s unfitness for post. Most of the book boils down to mere bloviating and Monday-morning quarterbacking, shining the turd of his legacy while largely blaming others for his perceived policy wins and losses. The absurdity and mental gymnastics he displays in laying out his side of non-participation in the House trial is simply ludicrous. At the end of the day he simply seems to regret that he served under an obstinate ‘boss’ who wouldn’t listen to his ill-formed advice.
What I love about this book is that Bolton doesn’t seem to realize how bad he makes himself look, so caught up in his own self righteousness. Both him, Trump, and American politics in general, come off looking extremely ignorant & childish.
I was really intriegued to hear what Bolton had do say about his time in the White House, but then I realized I hate pretty much everything Bolton stands for, so why would I want to hear any more of what he had to say?
Bolton successfully proves that the saying “An enemy of my enemy is my friend” is incorrect. It read like a haughty burn book where I was shocked (and a little disappointed) that he never called General Mattis fugly.
To be clear. Bolton did not resign because he didn’t agree with Donald Trump; he resigned because he didn’t get what he wanted.
I got this book free from the library and it still wasn’t worth the price I paid to read it.