TrumpNation: The Art of Being The Donald

Published in 2005 and re-published in 2015 with an updated introduction. The author is a journalist and spent years following Donald Trump and his exploits and captures the essence of the poster boy for the American Dream in this work. So what is it about Trump that people tend to gravitate toward him? By watching videos, reading one of his books and especially this book, I finally got it. There is only one Donald Trump, he's a one man show and no one could surpass his ability for self promotion. He has been the same for decades with his arsenal of lies, cajoling or manipulation, the ultimate self-made super rich real estate tycoon. But is he super-rich? Depends on who is viewing it. He is if he says he is and it just might not be if the truth were told via the tax returns. Unless they pry them out of his cold dead hands they won't come to light. I found it fascinating that the author was sued regarding the release of his book, and Trump Lost. Not because of his character or similar unflattering items but basically for the fact that the Trump name is a “Brand”, how is he going to promote the super rich pay me to use my name if he's not worth mega bucks? After all Donald did supply plenty of fodder for the grist helping the author write the book. So folks buy and read all of his non fiction, fiction books pay him for classes and sorry to tell you it's all “smoke and mirrors”, there is only one and that's Donald and he is “The Greatest American Con Man”. Will he be the greatest President? History will one day examine his Presidency and all the controversy surrounding it. After he does retire, I don't doubt he will write another book “The Art of the Con: How I Duped Millions of American's to Vote For Me” and it will most likely be a best seller. I do recommend this book for everyone, especially if you have any future plans on doing business with the Trump.

Unfortunately, I feel compelled to read Trump book even though I detest him. I was hoping this book would give me an insider's look at this monster, but O'Brien just kept repeating the same information throughout. How many times can you recount the dollars Trump stole and maneuvered and pilfered. In this book the answer is "until you're blue in the face." It became a chore to read it, and finally I stopped. If you hate Trump or (God forbid) love him, there are a ton of better reads. Put this one at the bottom of your list.

Despite the age of this book, it's even more timely now than when it was originally written. If you want to find out about the man behind the self-created myth, this is a good place to start. Be warned: you will not sleep well afterwards. Reading it, one feels like a steerage passenger aboard the Titanic reading a book about hypothermia.

This book was written in 2004, and published in 2005. However, it shows the real Donald Trump. He was a failure as a businessman, when his casino company went bankrupt. The Trump Hotels which included the three casinos in Atlantic City had him as Chairman and CEO, and each of them went bankrupt several times. However, Trump received his millions in salary, and his jet pilots were on the payroll of this company. He showed no ability to run the company. If this was common knowledge, why would anyone think that he would do the same when he ran the United States of America. This book also questions whether Trump was as wealthy as he says he is. It shows that in the 1990s, he was virtually broke, and had to get money from the banks and his family to keep the Trump Organization afloat.The book shows the real Donald Trump. In one chapter, O'Brien relates how DJT is like P.T. Barnum, the huckster from the 1800s. I think this is a fitting analogy to the Trump Presidency. DJT is a master at marketing, publicity, but not a manager. We shall see what happens to the USA under his Presidency.

Extremely well written! Entertaining and enjoyable! I decided to buy the book after listening to the author on MSNBC. I felt he had a good insight into Trump. I wasn't disappointed! He tells the story with facts and data through the sweep and color of the 80's, through the 90's and up to 2005. What I thought about Trump was heightened in both directions; positive and negative. His creativity and vision as a builder was "amazing." But then his mismanagement combined with an out of control personal life puts him on the edge of financial destruction, Yet he manages to climb back from that through his "unbelievable" capabilities for self promotion. He is unique and brilliant at this. The problem is that the next thing that he says is solely for his self-promotion and self preservation. Doesn't have to be the truth! Doesn't have to be a lie! It's all about him. It's a disaster for Trump to be our president. You can't trust what he's saying. He could destroy our country and not even realizing he's doing it!

Well, since trump waltzed into the Oval Office, Mr. O’Brien has been on various CNN, MSNBC panels discussing trump ‘s art of having everything that America holds dear thrown under the bus. I had an impression that he knew trump more intimately than this loose biography. He (O’Brien) has mentioned that trump sued him for $12,000,000 over it. I expected more details of trump’s bad business practices, his mob, both American and Russian, affiliations, and other revelations of shady deals that are being dug up and hung out to dry each and every day of this administration. It has been well documented that trump is a self-promoting rube and schmuck, a conscienceless slime ball with no moral compass, who just happened to have a rich daddy. I did not see a basis for a legal battle over what was in this tome. There was no new insight on how this blight on democracy came to be. The quizzes at the end of each chapter were cute.

A biography that deserves wide attention in this election season. Trump sued to stop it, not because he thought it was unfavorable to him, but simply because it estimated his net worth at much less than Trump claimed. Trump lost. The book is full of enlightening details of Trump's business failures and successes.

Sometimes critical of Trump, sometimes in awe of him, this book is not the tell-all I was hoping for, but it is nonetheless a fascinating insight into America's next (and possibly last) President.From a young man in the shadow of his father to a reality show superstar, this details every move along the Trump career path, including his inability to make money from a casino his "non-fiction works of fiction" books, and his dreadful taste in what constitutes a "theme", as well as showing the human, likeable side. Read this book while you still can....

Wow! Eye-opening! What a con man!His father and siblings bailed him out multiple times through the 1980's, 1990's, and by 2005? He was dead broke. No wonder he didn't want to show his tax returns. He has only dealt with mobsters and crooks. He was never a billionaire. He was worth nothing, assets vs. debts, until "The Apprentice" saved him from losing everything he had. Then, his attempts to keep himself in the news constantly, while condemning the media. Don't buy it. He lives for the media. He lives for constant attention - good and bad, as long as his name is constantly mentioned. He is quite mentally ill. A pathological liar. No conscience whatsoever. A confirmed racist.He tried to sue the author over the writing of this book, for 5 billion. It was thrown out of court by the judge. Lots more. Very insightful book. Well researched. This is like a truthful continuation of "The Art of the Deal." I recommend it highly. I can't put it down!

I found this book difficult to read. The author tends to ramble on, goes back and forth in time in a section and I often forgot where his starting point had been. As to the information provided would consider it reliable (many sources listed). I think he likes hos own words a bit too much. There is much information in this book, it is, however, sometimes difficult to extract (out of the many words in a sentence/section)

THANK YOU!

Received on Time and as promised!