First published 2022
Maggie Haberman examines Donald Trump through hundreds of interviews spanning decades. The Pulitzer Prize winning New York Times reporter traces his path from New York real estate to the White House and beyond. Haberman draws on extensive access to Trump himself and those in his orbit to reveal a complex figure driven by self interest and short term survival. She explores the transactional relationships that shaped him, from Roy Cohn and George Steinbrenner to political figures like Rudy Giuliani. The book shows how Trump's presidential behavior echoed patterns established long before he entered politics. Haberman argues that understanding Trump requires examining the world that created him and the network of relationships he cultivated over thirty years of preparation for high office. This account connects his New York origins to his presidency and its aftermath.
Genres: biography, american, political-science, politics, non-fiction, 21st-century, journalism, current-affairs
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: complex-protagonist, investigative-journalism, political-intrigue
Setting: New York, White House
Period: Decades, Presidency
597 pages · Hardcover · Penguin Press