A Very Stable Genius: Donald J. Trump's Testing of America

With so many books out about Trump and more to come, he will soon be competing with Hitler, Napoleon, Jesus, and Alexander the Great for the most number of publications in print to appear about a single individual. I will leave it up to others to decide which one he should most likely be compared to.Until now I felt that the two books written by Michael Wolff were the best overall presentation of Donald J. Trump and his administration whose presidency has already altered the fabric of that office forever - or at least until everyone on the face of this planet today has passed away along with an additional three generations to follow. (Assuming we still have one given the denial of Climate Change and Science that currently emanates from the WH.) Having already read far more than I ever expected to regarding The Donald as well as Javanka, I still decided to purchase this book based upon its authorship. Rucker and Leonnig have made multiple appearances on MSNBC and have never disappointed. With the publication of A VERY STABLE GENIUS they have only added to their collective and individual reputations.Given the length of this book - well over 400 pages - and a recent promise by its authors that there will probably be more "Epilogues" to come it is a most difficult task to pick and choose what sectors of this book to talk about or emphasize. Even with its lavish depth, Trump's "reptilian" ability (in the words of one critic) to protect himself and hide key information one way or another makes it almost impossible to fully penetrate the veil of secrecy that surrounds him despite the best efforts of the aforementioned two authors. Tax information has still been withheld; exact specificity of monetary loan sources remains obscure; what was said in private meetings with Putin is still unknown; the Mueller Report was so tarnished prior to its official release by Trump's latest henchman - William Barr - that its focus still expounds the falsehood that he "was totally exonerated"; etc., etc.In an attempt not to duplicate what others have already stated, I shall present my own summary analysis of Trump and his Presidency based upon what I read in AVSG in addition to my own observations of these past three+ years. At the outset I will say that it is not a pleasant task. Diving into a full latrine is a fair comparison. Indeed. While reading AVSG, there were times when I laughed, cried, cursed, and just plain wanted to scream. Its authors have exposed what is already known, thought to be known, unknown, and unknowing. However, they have brought a clarity and depth to their expose which is astounding. Just consider the sheer number of interviews! This book is a "hot potato". Hopefully, it should give one pause and make one think before "flying off the handle". The rhetoric and language used during commentator debating says it all.Now for some particulars: The title of this book is a direct quote from the mouth of its subject - Donald J. Trump. Yet anyone who has to call himself that, and more than once, is the exact opposite. Trump is neither "stable" nor a "genius", unless you put the word "evil" before the latter. His constant temper tantrums, quixotic decisions, perpetual paranoia, and willful lying put the "lie" to that first word. According to those in the know, Trump was a poor student. He has demanded that his college transcript be kept secret or he'll sue (something he constantly threatens which also is indicative of instability). Trump gives the impression that, because he went to the Wharton School of Business, he holds some kind of business degree. He doesn't! Trump possesses a degree in economics and anthropology (of all things) which he probably took to fulfill his science requirement. He is fundamentally uninformed and impaired when it comes to basic history, geography, and culture. This is clearly delineated in this book. The subject of nepotism is delved into. The crudity that exists in the WH with the "F" word being the most frequently used is highlighted. No surprise there given what Trump says on his various campaigns. LOYALTY above all else is always being considered, questioned, tested, and criticized. There is even an entire chapter titled "Loyalty and Truth" which deals with the likes of M. Cohen, W. Barr, M. Mulvaney, R. Mueller, et al. Like the others, this may sound familiar but with more detail. The chapter titled "Axis of Enablers" is especially enticing. It clearly shows how Trump can be manipulated by the likes of Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter. I cannot remember what office they were elected to. Mitch McConnell is another story. He has run defense for Trump as if he were an entire football team protecting a quarterback. He and Barr are the perfect present day Cardinal Richelieu for Trump's Louis XIII.Twenty-five chapters, an Epilogue, and 16 detailed pages in small print constitute the End Notes which are highly informative in their own right. All in all, for now, this book in my opinion is the crowning achievement for the literary tsunami that continues to flood the publishing market involving the 45th President of the United States.

Depressing as hell and well documented. This is an important book detailing the criminal, narcarcistic, inhuamne and jaw dropping times and events of the Trump White House. This book should be mandatory reading before anyone votes in November 2020. Important reading as we have all been overwhelmed by the daily sense of "drinking from the fire hose". The incessant flow of untruths, outright lies, outrages and events since November 2016 are remembered and explained in this book. Whenever Trump leaves the White House, in 2021 or (God forbid) 2025, this, and the Mueller Report, will serve as useful templates for prosecutors who will indict, convict and jail most of the enablers and cronies mentioned in the text. An easy, but depressing, read. This is what the Fourth Estate is meant to do. The writers hold up a mirror to current events and never blink. Documenting the assault on American norms, American justice, Constitutional norms, American values, American history, the American presidency, is something this book does well. Unfortunately, as experienced on a daily basis, this is only Volume 1 of this sordid, sorry tale. We owe both authors a hearty Thank You and praise for a job very well done.

The two prior books this person read were, "Too Much and Never Enough" & "The Room Where It Happened". With this reading I found little additional information and not contained in many other books. For this person all information is valuable making the book a worthwhile read. While a very quick read I appreciated John Bolton's style and appreciated his offering how he thinks. What "A Very Stable Genius " accomplished was illustrated the defeatist thinking that has not allowed common sense to allow for successful conclusion. While I share no common thread with the president it is sad there could not have been willingness to actually negotiate. Consider all the things continuously unresolved. Personally the book is sad and dark. It brings to mind criminal minds and how much good that might have been accomplished with positive intentions. Once again a book on a situation beyond repair and a terrible waste.

I read the Washington Post, New York Times, and many other publications (including many conservative publications) daily. Much of what is contained in the book was not news to me but the authors were really able to flesh out the stories. It is obvious that even though many of their sources did not want to be identified, they were able to give many first-hand accounts of conversations with each other and with the president. Unlike the book by Anonymous a month or so ago, which pretty much recounted only stories that had already been reported in the news, I thought Rucker and Leonnig did a very good job of getting deeper into the goings on around and in this White House. Definitely worth the read but very disturbing. It's obvious that as Trump breaks down each guardrail and the Republican party fails to stand up for Constitutional governance, we are in deep trouble. Trump is the epitome of "give him an inch and he'll take a mile" and no one in his party is brave enough to call him out for his abuses of power. We are entering a week when we are expecting debate in the Senate about abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, the Iowa caucases, the State of the Union address to Congress, and the the foregone conclusion of acquittal because Republicans have 53 votes and don't care about the indisputable facts. We are in trouble as a Constitutional republic and a nation, folks, and our democracy is at risk. Everyone needs to be on their guard Our country is worth more than Trump! Our only chance is to take him down in November.

Books are personal.

This is a very thorough, factual, and compelling account of Trump and the evolution of his administration since he took office. It is written in a way that makes for easy reading and I especially appreciate that. Excellent, excellent book for anyone who wants to have all the information before making any judgements about Donald Trump.

An amazing report.

Edifiant, consternant, inimaginable. A rire ou à pleurer, selon votre goût pour le second degré. La lecture permet de toucher du doigt les limites de la démocratie...

An excellent book that provides an insight into the very real and scary workings of the Trump White House. At times I had to stop and reflect on what I had just read. To think that the events described actually took place is very worrying. Well researched and well written.

I've read several interesting and good books about Donald Trump as President of the United States, but none is as extensive in quantity and quality as this. It extends over the entire term of office of the President until autumn 2019. It portrays – in detail and in relation to political decision-making in the context of his environment – his actions, characteristic for him, which are at the same time often transgressions, misconduct, misdemeanours. Again and again, during the presidency, which has now lasted more than three years, I was stunned that Trump was able to top his already well known “crazy” behaviour. Finally, I came to the conclusion that everything can be expected with this guy. And this is exactly what the book confirms. One hardly has, after the exclamation “that can't be true; that is impossible! ,”calmed down, when you are dumbfounded again. And in helpless despair, one wonders at the end how such a person could ever have been elected and how he was able to exercise his office up to now ever more unfettered. The book is a “gold mine” for psychologists and psychoanalysts: A “Michelin-man”, stuck in puberty, with a tangible inferiority complex, which is also and especially expressed in his coarse and authoritarian macho behavior. In his total self-centredness, there is only one thing that he takes seriously: himself. He therefore lacks any sense of honesty and decency, of the importance of rules and institutions, let alone education. It is indeed frightening that such a solipsistic and uneducated lout is president of the USA and will possibly be re-elected. It is good that every page of this book makes this danger, which is a threat not only to the USA, but to the whole world, visible and conscious.