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bclark8781's review against another edition
5.0
When you can't look away from a car crash even when you know looking at it is bad for your spirit. Even after having lived through every awful day, it's still so very hard to believe that such a malignant thing could really exist.
amanda_shelflove's review against another edition
dark
informative
medium-paced
4.5
This book was insane. Even if you followed Trump’s presidency at the time, the things he did and said during his term felt like such a fever dream that it’s just as shocking when you hear it again. This book was both a good summary of his four years in office as well as an excellent precursor to someone who perhaps didn’t follow the news at the time. Although, at times it can be hard to follow all the characters (and they are characters) as so many people came and went during his presidency given the high turn over rate in Trump’s White House.
There are almost too many reasons as to why Trump is unfit to be President, it’s overwhelming. From him wanting to “shoot to kill” migrants at the border who were throwing rocks to him thinking insurrectionists chanting “Hang Mike Pence” were “on to something”, the list is endless. It is terrifying that he has the amount of supporters he does. For a country who loves democracy so much, it’s ironic how many people would willingly vote for a person who literally tried to become a dictator.
I really recommend the book to anyone interested in American politics (which every American should be!). Don’t let the length of the book discourage you. It’s a very digestible read. I slowly chipped away at it and it took me a month to read (audio version) and I never lost interest.
nferraro90's review against another edition
5.0
With the midterms around the corner, I figured I’d submit myself to another thorough documenting of the cartoonish 4 years of Trump in office. This book is long, (14 hours to listen to on audio at 2.5-2.7x speed) but damn does it keep you hooked. Even if you’re already well read into politics, this book provides staggering levels of detail on just how insane and unfit trump was to be in office. Where this book differs from the many published on the trump presidency is how it tells the stories of the infighting on his staff, between those who sought to enable him, and those who realized he was a wannabe autocrat hell bent on chaos. There’s something to be said for the checks and balances within our government that this abject madman didn’t completely destroy the country during his time in office (not to say he hasn’t had severe consequences on it). Required reading for anyone who wants to understand just what the country endured from 2016-2020 (and likely beyond)
bk6m's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
sad
tense
slow-paced
3.0
If you have read a lot of Trump Books (I have) this a really good one. The authors are so smart and so well sourced. It gets slow in the middle, but they are trying to tell you everything and they take their time. They go into each and every character. I felt more understanding of each chief of staff.
bookwarm_220's review
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Comprehensively researched and reported story of the four years of the Trump administration. Well-told narrative history.
ausdj2's review against another edition
informative
fast-paced
4.5
A gripping history, only spoiled by very occasionally slipping into emotional opinion. Otherwise, brilliant.
jeremyanderberg's review against another edition
4.0
Rather than the feel of the gossipy, headline-grabbing books of the Trump Era, this 650-page book is thoughtful, measured, and analytical. Reports the facts without grandiose assertions/assumptions. Plus, it has a real thesis behind it rather than jus serving as a tell-all.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.