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sfletcher26's review against another edition
4.0
I've been reading Bob Woodward books for about 10 years now. As the pre eminent chronicler of the American Presidency, and not being American, he has become my go to writer in my attempt to understand who each incumbent is, or at least wants to appear to be. His books are always interesting and alway make me think differently about the subject. In many ways this book is no different.
For the whole of the Trump Presidency I have had a picture of all the major players (including the Trumps, Kushner, Barr, Graham, Mattis and Bolton) and none if them have been particularly flattering. Each and every one of them have struck me as self-serving, hypocritical, egotists who have no compassion or sense of personal or corporate honour. This is a view fed by the media's view and my own personal prejudices and whilst its not completely inaccurate, Woodward shows that its not completely accurate either. Indeed Graham in particular, a man for whom I have nothing but scorn, seems marginally less contemptible in reality. Like Woodward though I will never be convinced that Trump is anything other than the wrong man in the job, out of his depth lashing out at anyone and everyone in his attempt to keep his head above water.
Not Woodward's best but still a book that's worth reading.
For the whole of the Trump Presidency I have had a picture of all the major players (including the Trumps, Kushner, Barr, Graham, Mattis and Bolton) and none if them have been particularly flattering. Each and every one of them have struck me as self-serving, hypocritical, egotists who have no compassion or sense of personal or corporate honour. This is a view fed by the media's view and my own personal prejudices and whilst its not completely inaccurate, Woodward shows that its not completely accurate either. Indeed Graham in particular, a man for whom I have nothing but scorn, seems marginally less contemptible in reality. Like Woodward though I will never be convinced that Trump is anything other than the wrong man in the job, out of his depth lashing out at anyone and everyone in his attempt to keep his head above water.
Not Woodward's best but still a book that's worth reading.
juliana_aldous's review against another edition
5.0
There is a bit more open editorializing in this book compared to other Woodward books, and I'm okay with that. At this point, and with so many inside books about US Presidents, he deserves to have a bit of say, especially at this time and with such a dangerous man in our highest office.
He sums up the book with this, "When his performance as president is taken in its entirety, I can only reach one conclusion: Trump is the wrong man for the job." We should listen to him. The 391 pages that precede that sentence are Woodward's case.
He sums up the book with this, "When his performance as president is taken in its entirety, I can only reach one conclusion: Trump is the wrong man for the job." We should listen to him. The 391 pages that precede that sentence are Woodward's case.
carriehaley89's review against another edition
4.0
This isn’t necessarily a genre I will frequent often, but this book was interesting and well written. I felt like it was a fair interpretation of the interviews between Woodward and former President Trump.
kdimercurio's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 for me - it was worth reading to get an inside perspective on so many of the shenans that happened in the last 4 years, especially from the folks around trump. But maybe wait a couple of years til this is all (hopefully) more in the rearview...
felit's review against another edition
5.0
This is the very few characters that the only thing I feel on is absurdity. I enjoy the book though, giving us the insider view of an unprecedented presidency.
nachtfalke's review against another edition
5.0
I'm experiencing Trump fatigue, to be honest. - That said, the information contained in the book needs an EVEN bigger audience. A few hundred years from now, this and Woodward's earlier sister book are what people are going to look at when they investigate the "Trump Era".
charityjohnson's review against another edition
3.0
Series of interviews. Sigh. I can't say much more.
froggy2022's review against another edition
3.0
5 for the subject matter and the revelations.
3 for execution and writing.
3 for execution and writing.
modernstoic's review against another edition
5.0
This is the second Bob Woodward book that I've read.
The first was Obama's War.
Trump is a fascinating character and does very confusing things. The books gives more insight into Trump, but raises even more questions.
The first was Obama's War.
Trump is a fascinating character and does very confusing things. The books gives more insight into Trump, but raises even more questions.
sbenzell's review against another edition
3.0
Better than the last in the series.
Interesting parts toward the end about Kushners bottleneck role in the WH. Would response have been better over the summer if Kushner hadn’t been transitioning to campaign mode?
Trump is portrayed as never planning more than a few days into the future, and as having no ability to empathize with anyone outside of his base. He has filtered those who loathe him from the team and is now surrounded almost completely by yes men (Graham and Gaucci excepted).
The last sentence made me lol
Interesting parts toward the end about Kushners bottleneck role in the WH. Would response have been better over the summer if Kushner hadn’t been transitioning to campaign mode?
Trump is portrayed as never planning more than a few days into the future, and as having no ability to empathize with anyone outside of his base. He has filtered those who loathe him from the team and is now surrounded almost completely by yes men (Graham and Gaucci excepted).
The last sentence made me lol