First published 2022
Andrew Kirtzman chronicles the spectacular rise and fall of Rudy Giuliani in this comprehensive biography. Kirtzman followed Giuliani since the 1990s and was present at the World Trade Center on 9/11, giving him unique access to his subject. The book traces Giuliani's journey from celebrated federal prosecutor to transformative New York City mayor who became "America's Mayor" after 9/11, when he was more admired than the pope. Kirtzman argues that Giuliani's fundamental flaws were present from the beginning: he mixed politics with morality, made reckless personal choices, and engaged in self-destructive behavior. His hunger for power, money, and attention led to disastrous decisions and cynical compromises that gradually destroyed his reputation. The biography follows Giuliani through his failed presidential bid to his role as Donald Trump's personal lawyer, where a series of embarrassing errors left him reviled and ridiculed. Kirtzman conducted hundreds of interviews to show how Giuliani became a central figure in both Trump impeachments and ended up ostracized, facing legal troubles and financial ruin. The book offers readers an insightful portrait of how a national hero became a cautionary tale.
Genres: biography, politics, 21st-century, american-history
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: cautionary-tale, rise-and-fall
Setting: New York City, World Trade Center
Period: 1990s, 9/11
476 pages · Kindle Edition · Simon & Schuster