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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
If you've been paying attention at all, nothing shocking in here about the Trump administration. If you haven't been paying attention, this would be incredibly shocking! An interesting perspective on the current state of the US federal executive branch, at a really critical time. This was a bit rushed out (typos and grammar-os).. But a quick read.
Well-written and balanced by a government servant with noble intentions. Tries a bit too hard to be funny at times but does a decent job rationalizing the failure of that administration to better stand up to a wannabe autocrat. Should be required reading for anyone who voted for Trump in 2020 or would consider it in the future, as it explains why so many are repulsed by the man himself, policies (or lack thereof) not withstanding.
A true warning we should all take heed of.
I applaud anonymous for many reasons:
#1- (and the most important) this book was not a novel packed full of president bashing. I hate reading political books where there is an obvious bias expressed through emotionally charged narratives and accusations. Anonymous, instead, simply laid out what they saw and heard. The patterns they witnessed about Trump and left it to the audience to figure out what it means. They kept their opinions to themselves for the most part. The ending of the book is where you find their opinion- one that I completely agree. They also address both Republican and Democrat and gave advice to each- something I greatly appreciated.
#2- They addressed at the beginning where the proceeds would go- unlike Bolton who is currently working on a massive monetary gain for his book, Anonymous strictly stated all monetary gains from the book were to be donated to multiple non-partisan organizations including the White House Corespondents Association. Once I knew they weren't going to take the money (or so they claim) I was more willing to buy their book. Bolton's book, though? I'll gladly walk on by it in the book store.
#3- They give a compelling reiteration of all the things that happened in the white house, that we heard about in the news. I have been watching the news closely and the comparison between the two are identical... So why read the book? They are able to portray for you the emotional aspect of Trump's reactions to the events occurring at that time. They also describe how Trump makes his decisions and his preferences in how he takes in information. Why is this important, you may ask? It might not be important for you, but to me, psychology is an interest and the psyche of Trump is incredibly unsettling. Making decisions on a whim and without listening to your advisors is not a good way to run a country....
#4- Anonymous starts off the book explaining why they have not come forward with their identity, of which I agree with the decision. Trump would love nothing more to know the identity of the author so he can shred them personally; attacking and discrediting the person. By staying anonymous, Trump has no defense other than to explain himself or retort what Anonymous as said. This is where Trump is weakest- the truth. We should be debating the actions and sayings of the president and comparing it to what we already know- does it make sense? Is there enough evidence to back up what is being said? If we knew the identity, we would all likely still be debating about the person instead of the narrative. Just look at what happened at the public impeachment hearings and how Lt. Col. Vindman was treated, and Yovanovitch.
It would behoove everyone-- Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Libertarians, the undecided-- to read this book before the next election. It is always best to know all that you can about a candidate you are thinking to vote for or against, than to go in it blindly. I only wish there were books like this on every candidate. One that the candidate does not write themselves, but an onlooker who sees everything they do. What we see on television (or phone) is always an act put on by the entertainer. However, an anonymous person writing a book about you in the background is not.
I applaud anonymous for many reasons:
#1- (and the most important) this book was not a novel packed full of president bashing. I hate reading political books where there is an obvious bias expressed through emotionally charged narratives and accusations. Anonymous, instead, simply laid out what they saw and heard. The patterns they witnessed about Trump and left it to the audience to figure out what it means. They kept their opinions to themselves for the most part. The ending of the book is where you find their opinion- one that I completely agree. They also address both Republican and Democrat and gave advice to each- something I greatly appreciated.
#2- They addressed at the beginning where the proceeds would go- unlike Bolton who is currently working on a massive monetary gain for his book, Anonymous strictly stated all monetary gains from the book were to be donated to multiple non-partisan organizations including the White House Corespondents Association. Once I knew they weren't going to take the money (or so they claim) I was more willing to buy their book. Bolton's book, though? I'll gladly walk on by it in the book store.
#3- They give a compelling reiteration of all the things that happened in the white house, that we heard about in the news. I have been watching the news closely and the comparison between the two are identical... So why read the book? They are able to portray for you the emotional aspect of Trump's reactions to the events occurring at that time. They also describe how Trump makes his decisions and his preferences in how he takes in information. Why is this important, you may ask? It might not be important for you, but to me, psychology is an interest and the psyche of Trump is incredibly unsettling. Making decisions on a whim and without listening to your advisors is not a good way to run a country....
#4- Anonymous starts off the book explaining why they have not come forward with their identity, of which I agree with the decision. Trump would love nothing more to know the identity of the author so he can shred them personally; attacking and discrediting the person. By staying anonymous, Trump has no defense other than to explain himself or retort what Anonymous as said. This is where Trump is weakest- the truth. We should be debating the actions and sayings of the president and comparing it to what we already know- does it make sense? Is there enough evidence to back up what is being said? If we knew the identity, we would all likely still be debating about the person instead of the narrative. Just look at what happened at the public impeachment hearings and how Lt. Col. Vindman was treated, and Yovanovitch.
It would behoove everyone-- Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Libertarians, the undecided-- to read this book before the next election. It is always best to know all that you can about a candidate you are thinking to vote for or against, than to go in it blindly. I only wish there were books like this on every candidate. One that the candidate does not write themselves, but an onlooker who sees everything they do. What we see on television (or phone) is always an act put on by the entertainer. However, an anonymous person writing a book about you in the background is not.
The writer turned out to be more of an apologist for Trump than I expected. I think most of that is political ideology, which I can handle. Also, they play themselves off as an anonymous resistance inside the White House, but clearly that isn't working. They even admit the numerous times they have badly misjudged. This book itself seems like miscalculation in hindsight, as it did not garner nearly the reaction they were hoping for. That is partially what makes them sticking to their political ideology even more disappointing. Everything he or she is trying isn't working, and ultimately just amounts to more enablement of Trump and the evil actions of the Republican party as a whole.
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
This book should be required reading for everyone voting this year, especially Republicans.
What I am impressed by is that almost everything in it is something we all have seen or heard for ourselves. What the author does is put it in perspective as to how it is affecting us, the nation and the world. It is frightening!
However, the author, also, gives us the tools for correcting what is happening, if we have the courage to use them.
What I am impressed by is that almost everything in it is something we all have seen or heard for ourselves. What the author does is put it in perspective as to how it is affecting us, the nation and the world. It is frightening!
However, the author, also, gives us the tools for correcting what is happening, if we have the courage to use them.
Read this book before November. Then give it to someone else. Go!
I hadn't planned to read this. Since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, though, I've had trouble concentrating on anything that isn't news-related. Lo and behold, I was able to finish this.
I've decided to take the book at face value. That is: an earnest warning from someone high up (or previously high-up) in the Trump administration. I do think this is a choice, and some of the interest in the book comes from trying to pick apart the identity and possible motives of the author.
After 3+ years of Trump, the insider account from the White House isn't exactly a revelation. Some of the nightmare anecdotes about Trump were new to me or particularly horrifying, but in most cases the author's anonymity prevents anything new from coming out. The book also seems quickly written. It's fine stylistically, but clunky. There are typos. It could have been shorter.
The author's structural choices sometimes made me chuckle. For instance, there's a whole chapter framed around comparing Trump to Cicero's criteria for a good statesman. Now, I suppose one does need to choose some criteria for good leadership, but do you really need Cicero to discern Trump's failings?
The book is a follow-up to the authors' headline-making NY Times op-ed from a few years ago. My main take-away from this book (which I don't recall from the book's media coverage when it came out) is the author's disavowal of the original op-ed's thesis. In the op-ed, Anonymous sought to reassure the American public that there were "adults in the room" to curtail Trumps worst instincts. In their book, Anonymous admits they were dead wrong: the adults couldn't stop Trump, and they mostly aren't in the room anymore anyway.
I'm not exactly sure I'd recommend this. It certainly shouldn't be 240 pages. It may have some value as a conservative's argument against Trump - a book for someone who largely likes Trump's policies, but is scandalized by his presentation.
I've decided to take the book at face value. That is: an earnest warning from someone high up (or previously high-up) in the Trump administration. I do think this is a choice, and some of the interest in the book comes from trying to pick apart the identity and possible motives of the author.
After 3+ years of Trump, the insider account from the White House isn't exactly a revelation. Some of the nightmare anecdotes about Trump were new to me or particularly horrifying, but in most cases the author's anonymity prevents anything new from coming out. The book also seems quickly written. It's fine stylistically, but clunky. There are typos. It could have been shorter.
The author's structural choices sometimes made me chuckle. For instance, there's a whole chapter framed around comparing Trump to Cicero's criteria for a good statesman. Now, I suppose one does need to choose some criteria for good leadership, but do you really need Cicero to discern Trump's failings?
The book is a follow-up to the authors' headline-making NY Times op-ed from a few years ago. My main take-away from this book (which I don't recall from the book's media coverage when it came out) is the author's disavowal of the original op-ed's thesis. In the op-ed, Anonymous sought to reassure the American public that there were "adults in the room" to curtail Trumps worst instincts. In their book, Anonymous admits they were dead wrong: the adults couldn't stop Trump, and they mostly aren't in the room anymore anyway.
I'm not exactly sure I'd recommend this. It certainly shouldn't be 240 pages. It may have some value as a conservative's argument against Trump - a book for someone who largely likes Trump's policies, but is scandalized by his presentation.
Quite simply, the author and those still
In the White House who think they are part of the Steady State are way past the point where should have acted to remove the president from office. They are not upholding the Constitution. They have a duty to protect the country from the president’s insanity. If the author wants my sympathy or support he or she is not getting it. Glad I read a library copy and didn’t but it!
In the White House who think they are part of the Steady State are way past the point where should have acted to remove the president from office. They are not upholding the Constitution. They have a duty to protect the country from the president’s insanity. If the author wants my sympathy or support he or she is not getting it. Glad I read a library copy and didn’t but it!