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A review by mikayakatnt
Trump: The Art of the Deal by Donald J. Trump, Tony Schwartz
3.0
Putting all political beliefs aside, I see this as quite an interesting read (even if he had a ghostwriter write it). One must take away all contemporary political beliefs and read this book in the original context that it was written: Trump at his height. This was the book that defined Trump as a character and gives insight into his style of thinking.
One must also understand that to make a career out of real estate is a miraculous feat. To make a career out of NEW YORK real estate is an even larger miraculous feat. Even if Trump inherited several millions dollars, he could have easily been the "trust fund kid" that spent it all away. Trump somehow survived in this vicious market and learned how to thrive in it. He made his name into an international, multi-billion dollar brand. That is not something that comes easy.
Trump's way of business is briefly summarized: Trump found ways to reduce all risks for himself while finding ways to have others take on the risk. This happens while Trump gains a chunk of the profits with no personal liability. Extremely clever political, legal, and business maneuvering is what's needed. And that extremely clever maneuvering that Trump describes in this book shows how it's all done. Finding loopholes in legal codes, making friends with the "right" people, and cashing in on other's failures are his chief strategies. Sounds simple? Think again. In New York, everybody is scrambling to find their own ways around while Trump has already found his.
Of course, I found some contents in the book slightly comical, if not foreshadowing. Trump's given rationalization on why he accepted few black residents (leading to a lawsuit against Trump for discrimination), moving in homeless persons into his property as a guise to get residents to move out (which Trump describes in this book as good-natured), and his constant bashing of Ed Koch shows how even his narrative at the time can be greatly twisted. Trump constantly makes himself out as a do-gooder in this book, which begs the question: What could Trump be lying to us or exaggerating in this book? That is a question that scholars will have scrambling around for years to come.
Overall. I cannot say this book was on either extremes of a 1/5 or 5/5. This book was quite an interesting read that I felt at times could have been more honest. I rate this book a 3/5 or a low 4/5 for the insight, lessons, and readability that this book provides.
If you don't agree with my rating, I suggest you to read the book on your own and form your own opinion. Who knows? Perhaps you may end up liking/hating the book much more than you originally thought.
One must also understand that to make a career out of real estate is a miraculous feat. To make a career out of NEW YORK real estate is an even larger miraculous feat. Even if Trump inherited several millions dollars, he could have easily been the "trust fund kid" that spent it all away. Trump somehow survived in this vicious market and learned how to thrive in it. He made his name into an international, multi-billion dollar brand. That is not something that comes easy.
Trump's way of business is briefly summarized: Trump found ways to reduce all risks for himself while finding ways to have others take on the risk. This happens while Trump gains a chunk of the profits with no personal liability. Extremely clever political, legal, and business maneuvering is what's needed. And that extremely clever maneuvering that Trump describes in this book shows how it's all done. Finding loopholes in legal codes, making friends with the "right" people, and cashing in on other's failures are his chief strategies. Sounds simple? Think again. In New York, everybody is scrambling to find their own ways around while Trump has already found his.
Of course, I found some contents in the book slightly comical, if not foreshadowing. Trump's given rationalization on why he accepted few black residents (leading to a lawsuit against Trump for discrimination), moving in homeless persons into his property as a guise to get residents to move out (which Trump describes in this book as good-natured), and his constant bashing of Ed Koch shows how even his narrative at the time can be greatly twisted. Trump constantly makes himself out as a do-gooder in this book, which begs the question: What could Trump be lying to us or exaggerating in this book? That is a question that scholars will have scrambling around for years to come.
Overall. I cannot say this book was on either extremes of a 1/5 or 5/5. This book was quite an interesting read that I felt at times could have been more honest. I rate this book a 3/5 or a low 4/5 for the insight, lessons, and readability that this book provides.
If you don't agree with my rating, I suggest you to read the book on your own and form your own opinion. Who knows? Perhaps you may end up liking/hating the book much more than you originally thought.