Trump Revealed: An American Journey of Ambition, Ego, Money, and Power by Michael Kranish

Trump Revealed: An American Journey of Ambition, Ego, Money, and Power by Michael Kranish
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have read many biographies of our past Presidents. Trump's biography does not fit into it any of them – – maybe Warren Harding's. This book provided additional details and insights into Trump than the earlier biography I've read from David Cay Johnston (The Making of Donald K. Trump). Unfortunately this reader wondered how someone like Trump could be elected president. Read the chapters on the Atlantic City casinos, his bankruptcies and the USFL, and you're at a loss to explain why just these failures were not disqualifiers to be President.

Well written book. I just wish that the last chapter showed that he failed to be President.


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The Making of Donald Trump by David Cay Johnston

The Making of Donald Trump by David Cay Johnston
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I choose to avoid books about political candidates published in an election year. Most books tend to be written by hacks and are not worth the time to read them. However "The Making of Donald Trump" is written by a respected investigative journalist who has credibility for his integrity. If you are a supporter of Donald Trump who has no interest in hearing bad news about him, you will not like this book. If you do not like Donald Trump, this book will provide additional ammunition for you to dislike him further and work against his opportunity to be President.

I can't say that there were many surprises for me in the book, though I did not know the backgrounds of his father and grandfather or their motivations in life. To coin a phrase, looks like the apple didn't fall far from the tree. Basically Donald Trump is portrayed as a very selfish and vain man focused on making money at any cost. He has very few friends and his poor treatment of people is detailed in the book.

The book is well researched and documented. It is very depressing that this man has gotten this far in business, media and in politics. I think this says more about the deterioration of our culture and judgment then Trump himself.


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How To Think Like DaVinci by Daniel Smith

How to Think Like da Vinci by Daniel Smith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Brief biography of DaVinci merged with tips on how to be a "renaissance man or woman." DaVinci was an accomplished painter, sculptor, architect and innovator. He also had interests in anatomy, civil engineering, philosophy, politics, religion, mathematics and science. Though he came from very humble beginnings and birth, he was largely a self-made man who took upon himself his education and training.

I've also read Michael Gelb's books on Leonardo and also recommend them for reference. Smith's work was succinct, inspiring and a pleasure to read.


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Looking for a Good Biography?

I'm catching up on my recent reads and skims. I highly recommend the Morris book below.

1. Colonel Roosevelt  by Edmund Morris (4 stars of 5)
Maybe not our best President of the 20th century but certainly one of our most interesting. Theodore Roosevelt was a Renaissance man. Very well researched and written but very long. However there were very few slow periods in Roosevelt's life so the reader does not get bored. Book covers the period he left office until his death. He did not go quietly to his death.

I was fascinated by the story where he was shot but still insisted on giving a speech while running for President in 1912.

2. End Game: Bobby Fischer's Remarkable Rise and Fall-From America's Brightest Prodigy to the Edge of Madness by Frank Brady (3 stars of 5)

Bobby Fisher was a genius at chess. But he was also a very strange man. Brady captures the quirkiness and brilliant mind of possibly America's greatest chess player. He was a hero in the 1970's by defeating Soviet chess grandmasters.

3. Mr. Nastase The Autobiography by Ille Nastase (2.5 stars of 5)
I liked watching Ille Nastase, a good but uneven tennis player, in the 1970's. You never knew what he would do. Very temperamental. But when he was on, he had great touch. If you found him a boor and bully, you may feel a twinge of sympathy for Nastase after reading his book. This book (as well as the player) is not in the same league as recent tennis tomes about Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras and Patrick McEnroe.