I suspect that (1) Michael Wolff is happily banking his bazillions while sniffy political journalists trash him, and (2) those sanctimonious critics are likely just a wee bit jealous of Wolff's publishing coup. I read the book. I enjoyed it. I relished some schadenfreude. I don't care if it's completely true or makes some inconsequential mistakes or doesn't cover every important issue related to the Trump administration. It's a good read: entertaining, thought-provoking, and well-crafted. All the holier-than-thou critics didn't do the work that Wolff did, either in amassing the information or getting it engagingly between book covers. Congrats, Mr. Wolff, and thanks for the page-turner.
Two observations: one, that Wolff is no doubt the first of a wave of such books, and the followers will be better, soberer, and less gossipy; and two, if The Times is complaining about what he doesn't get right about Trump, then The Times needs to remove the beam from its own eye. You ought to have been the ones to say all that Wolff says, and years ago.
Liberal "catnip" is watching that despicable white supremacist Bannon crash and burn. Well done Michael Wolff. He should get a medal.
Couldn’t finish the book. It sounded, to me, like to old gossips hashing over stale stories about a failing president. However, my main problem with this book and many others is that it simply feeds tRump’s ego. The press should remember that as long as his name is in the new, this White House resident is happy.
I suppose there is no mention of the mysterious slacker who is presumably STILL auditing Trump’s tax returns.
I feel like the press has been trying very hard to undermine the credentials of the author, so when I bought the book I expected nothing more than a salacious, tabloid-style account of the Trump White House. What I discovered was a very thorough exposé of terrified, incompetent White House officials who never expected to be in the White House. This is a book about palace intrigue: people so inexperienced and incompetent that they have divided themselves into factions of seething hatred and paranoia. But the most important message the book conveys is that none of these people ever expected to make it to the White House. It was all meant to be a big hoax for reality-TV style entertainment. This is the most terrifying modern day account of Karma.
5
"Aberrant" is an apt . . . but too kind description.
He's a venal, boorish, deeply flawed little man -- who's as addicted to his need for social media of Twitter as his brother was to alcohol.
A President of the United States of America who spends his mornings until 11 a.m. watching (3) televisions blathering Fox propaganda while he poodle styles his ridiculous comb-over and punches away at his smartphone sending angry, vindictive tweets. Then . . . he finally scans minimalized bulleted PDB reports.
Each and every day this self-absorbed cipher insults the office and our country.
He's a money launderer who would have sold his mother -- much less the USA -- to save his image and financial well-being.
He's utterly unfit and needs to be removed from the presidency with post-haste.
6
Aside what I regard as Mr. Martin's quibbles I found the book to be a gas, as good as a Marx brothers movie! Wolf provides a marvelous sense of the absurdity of the current U.S. government.
2
All the stories conveyed ring true, based on what we’ve been able to observe from Trump’s own behavior, and reports from respected news sources.
As the saying goes, “You can’t make this stuff up!”
2
Every time "Jarvanka" appeared on the page, it was like the needle scraping across a record.
2
Jonathan Martin concludes his review of Michael Wolff’s book that “given the popularity of “Fire and Fury,’ Wolff might call them something else: liberal catnip”. Rather, this book might rightly be called an exercise to search for images and symbols adequate to our predicament since the presidential election a year ago.
With “his co-author, Bannon’s help”, Wolff does pry into the roots to finger the slime that gave birth to our predicament.
Karl Marx said everything in history happens twice: the first time as tragedy, the second as farce. Wolff chronicles the first and second phase of Trump’s legacy well. The November electorate will be the authors of the third phase of this tragedy-farce in our democracy.
1
What Wolff hints at, without actually saying, is that trump is not the result of something profound or even important in American politics. A lot of commentators are falling into this the opposite trap. I would caution against reading more into trump than is there, beyond garden-variety corruption and narcissism. At the center of trump and trumpism is... nothing. Recall Hannah Arendt speaking of the "banality of evil". She was right. Evil IS banal. And there have never been a more banal POTUS than trump.
2
"Liberal catnip" is a rude right-wing slur on liberals. It that is that how Jonathan Martin feels about liberals then nothing he has to say about Fire and Fury is credible, but whether every word of fire and Fury is true or not, the crash and burn of Bannon is well worth the sloppy editing.
And if none of it is true, it's the funniest story since Mel Brooks' The Producers. As Spicer said, "You can't make this stuff up!"
2
I'm sure there were minor errors, but, most importantly, an accurate portrait of Trump's overwhelming insecurity and need for love from the mainstream media that despises him, while giving respect to virtually every other Republican whose racism and support for greed are dressed up in prettier clothes--- as well as Democrats whose own neo-liberal policies have led to massive inequality and unflinching support for friendly dictators and tolerated Israel's ethnic cleansing since 1948. Perhaps the Times and CNN can make a deal with him....just go back to using Lee Atwater's "code" and we'll back off. Don't attack NATO, stop tweeting Kim and you can still prepare for a first strike nuclear attack on Korea, In fact, if Trump started a war with Korea to deflect attention from Russian collusion CNN would be thrilled because viewership would spike. They do that for all our wars.
2
This book is fun to read, especially if you are, like me, liberal. I think it was Steve Bannon who swung the WH gate open to let Wolff in. It is certainly dishy and filled with anecdotes that confirm that Trump is a lowlife and failed businessman/gangster. But the problem is that the book is too impressionistic and incomplete. It is a collection of second, third and sometimes fourth hand accounts so its quality of truthfulness is definitely strained. What is really troubling about this story, is that no attempt has been made to understand what is happening to our country as a result of this presidency. Perhaps that sort of thing is not the author's forte. Where is Bob Woodward when we need him?
1
I have read most of it.
I think my opinion is best represented by this, from a Maggie Haberman tweet:
"even if some things are inaccurate/flat-out false, there's enough notionally accurate that people have difficulty knocking it down"
4
I enjoyed the book, which for the most part is well written. Of course many, many issues are unaddressed. Possibly the author was bored with healthcare legislation (like Mr Trump?) and hence it was barely mentioned. And he certainly never shows his own political cards. My view, for what it's worth, is that he is on the right (hence the ability to hob-nob with all of these right-wingers0 but is aghast at Trump himself, in a part-snobbish, part antipathy to chaos, style reaction.
We get to learn more about the second tier players than Mr Trump himself, who comes across as a thin-skinned narcissist (we already knew this) with a kind of feral intelligence. It makes me wonder though, how did he recover from those bankruptcies? And why is it that the base, as it is always called, so identifies him? We will have to wait for non-journalistic accounts.
Nevertheless, an interesting read. And deeply profitable for the author and publisher.
2
Having lived in Manhattan when Donald Trump and Michael Wolff were both out front and center in the media, my first impression of the book, before I read it, was that it was a NYC media takedown of a native son it loved to hate, with good reason. It's also my last impression, after reading the book.
Basically, the book is true, and Wolff is deliciously bitchy. There's also a whiff of Spy magazine about this book which makes me wonder if lurking somewhere behind the scenes of this book's genesis is - Carter Graydon, Trump's nemesis.
Between Grayson and now Wolff, our president got played by the best.
7
I have seen no one dispute a specific quote yet other than Barrack saying he never said Trump was not only dumb, but crazy too, and even that had more the flavor of "those were not my exact words" than "that's not how I feel". If the details are wrong, the gist matches enough publicly known events to feel true and explain a lot of things that have happened. I don't have to admire an author to read a book and this one was, yes - snarkily entertaining, but also educational and clarifying. If nothing else, it's good to keep reminding ourselves that this "new normal" is not normal.
6
This book confirms everything that everyone already knew or suspected -- and feared was true -- about the Trump White House. The place is dysfunctional; Trump is illiterate and stupid; his daughter and son-in-law are airheads; his sons are idiots; and the senior staff has departed, leaving policy making to Miller, an obsequious, uninformed weasel, and Hope Hicks, a fawning acolyte. In the meantime, poor General Kelly struggles to make the children behave.
It is clear, moreover, that Wolff's chief source for the unsourced material -- whatever didn't go in Wolff's townhouse -- is Steve Bannon. Bannon's voice, Bannon's opinions, Bannon's take on what's going on, is the thread that unifies Wolff's book. You can bet that this is why, grovel as he may to apologize for his quoted remarks on Donald Junior, Ivanka and Jarrod, Bannon will never, ever be forgiven. This is Bannon's version of Trump's first nine months, colorful, blasphemous, horrifying and (in a sick way) funny.
We look on in horrified fascination as the train wreck unfolds.
6
Are sceptical journalists having a problem because Wolf did what they did not. I have read the book and can finds things with which to disagree. But overall it rings true. It is not a Ph.D dissertation with footnotes. It is a book designed to sell. It is dwells on an obnoxious man. And it shows Trump as he really is: obnoxious, vulgar, deceitful, dishonest.
7
This was a quick listen as an audiobook, and while it just confirmed much of what we already surmised or know from news reports, it hit home because it put all the shenanigans of this "presidency" into one compact flowing tome. Trump's latest actions this past week just confirm the book's honesty, despite some factual errors. Worth a read just to solidify your thoughts and move on to get rid of this embarrassment of a man!
6
I read Wolff's book in almost one sitting - it was riveting and despite a slightly gossipy tone sounded all too plausible. The book should be required reading for all those poor people who still support this fool and his entourage in the White House. Can Mr. Wolff's publisher please send a complimentary copy to every Republican member of Congress?
6
Covering Trump is akin to covering Louis XIV. Which palace is he in today? Who was seated at his left at dinner. Who had the honor of caring out the royal chamber pot. What ungodly thing did the king utter today. Meanwhile, his agents loot the peasants. Ho Hum.
4
Louis the fourteenth? How about the glutinous, slavering, end of times murderer Nero?
2
As I suspected, this book is not worth reading. Judging from the comments here, most readers enjoyed this book because they hate Trump.
Aside from its sensationalism, it has very little merit. It adds little new insight into a man whose personality is already on display everyday.
As a New Yorker, I have been subjected to Trump for at least 40 years. I will really get excited when his tax returns, details of his financial and business dealings, and the the true state of his health is revealed. Then you will have my attention. That will be the book I want to read.
In the meantime, Mr. Wolff is merely practicing his own brand of Trumpism.
2
Since Trump has proven that he will sign a Chinese takeout menu if it was put in front of him, and since the GOP sees him as a useful idiot to accomplish everything they've been trying for 30 years, since even if Mueller unearths impeachable offenses, they're not going to act. So the only solution for the hapless American people is to end their careers at the ballot box.
4
Well, Mr. Martin looks like we can add you to the cadre of Donald's apologists! The book, Fire and Fury, is not perfect but it confirms what the majority of Americans and others have known all along, simply that Donald is deranged at best!
I watched two interviews with Michael Wolff and find him credible, plus, very solemn. He does not seem giddy about spreading "lies and gossip"! Former White House staff, etc., who gave information for this book seem just as concerned as the rest of us, who believe that Donald is inept, and mentally unstable!
Happy to buy a copy of the book! A book that Donald tired to stop from being published, which is sheer disrespect for our Constitution and our rights as citizens!
Republicans, YOU own this disaster!
4
I bought the Kindle version and read it.
I think, based upon his recent appearences on TV and on this book, that Michael Wolff is very credible!
Let's face it folks, this is a "Jerry Springer" White House! That's what you get when you elect a "Reality TV" star president. Since Mr. Wolff "is a media writer by trade"- he was the perfect choice to write this book!
1
Too bad this book wasn't more carefully 'sourced'. But Wolff had to get it out sooner rather than later. It is unfortunate that the book's inaccuracies may be used to discredit the entire book. Nevertheless we all have read Trump's idiotic, juvenile Tweets. So, much of what has already been excerpted before release rings true. It may not be the definitive historical expose of the Trump Presidency. But it is the beginning of the expose, which I suspect will only get more lurid as time goes on. Trump, himself, has given us a great peek behind the scenes. We all await the final act.
3
"...the Washington lobbyist Hilary Rosen spells her first name with only one 'l'..."
As soon as I read that, I realized I could never buy such an error-filled book. One "l"??? How DARE he?
1
Liberal catnip. Indeed.
Trump threatened to sue the author and the publisher for calumny. He should go ahead and carry out his threat lest be he seen as Obama-lite who famously drew redlines only to ignore them.
A book based on pure hearsay and Bannon's "revenge porn" on Trump family is hardly the kind of stuff that would sell well. But in hate-Trump liberal America, any hint that Trump is unfit to serve is potent catnip. Indeed.
2
How about in 'blind to reality' trump loving red america, that doesn't want national parks, clean shorelines, or taxes on the very very very rich. what is wrong with you, man?
2
"Of course, the recollections . . . may include what Trump himself once called examples of “truthful hyperbole.”
No, no. What Trump ghostwriter Tony Schwartz once defined as "truthful hyperbole," a phrasing Donald Trump admired.
1
I’m more than half way through. It’s a trashy book reflective of the fact that Wolff is precisely the sort of gossipy writer that Trump would let hang around for months. It won’t win a Pulitzer, but everyone should read it anyway because it is the most detailed picture presently available of the clown car dumpster fire bestride the most powerful state in human history. Wolff’s failure to settle on a theory of meetings between Trump campaign heavies and Russians is in my view a virtue. Unlike, say, Rachel Maddow, he’s not ashamed to admit what he doesn’t know. The fixation with Russia has always been more about absolving the Clinton campaign of its responsibility for losing to Trump than about focusing on what is most troublesome about having Trump in office — namely that he is an impulsive ignorant racist narcissist likely to start a nuclear war in a fit of pique. Wolff captures this more important truth in a manner that leaves little doubt. Whatever other deficiencies the book has, it’s author has performed a critical public service.
6
The really serious concern with Russia interference should be the Russian attempts to access the voter registration list of twenty-one States, including my own. If you can access voter registration lists and make minor name and address changes for voters, then those voters will have great difficulty proving that they are registered to vote and voting. Depending on state law they may either be barred from voting or may have to vote provisionally. It's a great voter suppression tactic.
1
This book reminds me of Dan Rather's fake expose on Bush supposedly going AWOL when he was in the ANG.
1
As reported by Michael Wolff.. Trump had no intention of winning.. they why (Trump)collude with the Russians.... ?
3
Trump colluded because he is a stupid tool of the Russian oligarchs and Putin who wanted to weaken our democracy and the presidency of Hillary Clinton. He has had business dealings with these thugs for years, and now, the Republicans in Congress are all aboard the new Russian train to weaken our Intelligence services and further destabilize our country - following Trump’s lead.
Wonderful patriots, aren’t they?
I have the book and am reading it now. It is interesting that Jonathan Martin seems to single out and attack the author. Yet the book obviously pique's the public's interest, as it is so damning. Though it is maybe not so well annotated on who the information for each event came from, the stories are not only believable, but many of them have already been reported out in the press. Was Wolff one of the leakers?
In any case, I am glad the book came out. I am glad the autocratic pResident and his bogus team are shown in their true colours. We all knew what Mr. Wolff wrote was true without Mr. Wolff writing it. But the book simply validates all we have been hearing over the past 1 1/2 years.
3
From what I can discern, this book only fleshes out what we already know about Trump and his cronies and enemies. It's not worth my money, especially if it is not clearly sourced.
1
Wolfe is getting rich by telling us what we want to hear and already believe to be true. Well, at least Bannon is out of a job. Trump, like his oily VP, is far to slippery to be so easily caught. If the Dems give Trump his wall, they can likely salvage some decency on immigration and maybe even healthcare. But look for a major economic collapse in the next two years. The rich, however, will do just fine.
3
Trump tactic - attack the messenger.
4
The book is terribly written. It's all a breezy, snarky, adjective-heavy, tabloid style that debases political writing to the level of Jackie Susann (except that she did it a lot better). And the inside-baseball stuff gets tiresome. That said, the portrait of Trump that emerges smacks of truth and is devastating. That alone makes it worth reading.
4
How fitting that a rat should expose a rat! I for one am excited to read all the juicy details.
1
The Dems have to be careful that they don’t exaggerate claims that he’s stupid. He’s probably of average intelligence but his narcissism and inattentiveness means that he’s prone to snap decisions with very little understanding of the facts. That’s a dangerous mix for the leader of the free world.
What he’s very good at is reading peoples emotions and using them to his advantage, such as during the campaign, but which fail him in doing the hard work of governing. He’s like a Huckster who now has to manage what he made instead of skipping off to the next scam.
Dems should beware of this trap and instead go after his monumental inattentativeness and narsisism.
Trump is easy to read: He only frames things in the single question of ... “How can I make this make me look good.”
1
One can only hope that there are Congressional Republicans whose eyes, which have been glued shut since Trump won the Electoral College, might finally see what the rest of America sees in Trump--a con artist whose entire campaign was a money-making scam, until everything backfired and he was actually elected.
I blame the Republican Party for the Trump administration, and I'm saddened that the members of the former Law and Order party have embraced Trump's racist, ignorant lawlessness. At this point, the GOP is just as crooked as Trump. Where is the honest Republican who can look at Wolff's record-breaking sales and finally put two and two together?
2
So, we're on board the Titanic and you want the color of the napkins to be perfectly recorded for posterity.
2
The book I understand has misspelled words, seems to me the author was in a rush to publish the book thinking if words get out the higher ups could stop the publishing ?
I requested the book a week ago from the Public Library and am already in a waiting list with 550 avid readers ahead of me. and the library does not even have them as yet.
So Michael Wolff will be laughing on his way to the bank.
2
Every time I read a book review I am reminded, again and again, how little (actually, zero) reviewers and critics add. That, and an advertisment just to the right of this..."article?" with a "Buy" button and the statement that the NYT will "earn an affiliate commission with each book purchase, which helps support our journalism at The New York Times" render this piece worse than valueless. Reader beware. Of this attempt to separate you from your money. It is Trumpian quality hucksterism, no more. PS, I bought the book, and thoroughly enjoyed it through the retching of what we have to live through now in our country, but supported a bookseller.
2
And please note, Amazon is selling the hardcover for $18.00 not $30.00!
Again, this is what happens when “The Press” doesn’t get “Fact Checked”. I haven’t read Wolf’s book and have no intention of reading it. There just appears to be way too many holes in the story. Don’t get me wrong. I love these stories, but inwardly I have to know that they are factually correct.
If this story was written by say The New York Times, The Washington Post or other such known and respected newspapers, even if the story was wrong, it would have been checked and re-checked before it would have been cleared for printing. What Wolf did turns out to be more harmful than if the book had never been written for someone looking for Truth.
While many of the things that Wolf wrote about maybe true and probably is, there are just enough “falsehoods” to throw water on the fire of truth about this president. That’s the biggest disservice Wolf did to our country.
2
Frankly it sounds like the Bannon sections are the lone reason to buy it...no relation.
The cat is already out of the bag if anyone belongs to a golf club whose members include some of Trump's closest advisors. We all know of the chaos in the White House it is widely acknowledged by all those who have to work with him. It is a joke that these same people defend him in public and ridicule him behind his back.
1
I am not recognizing the book I am reading in the carping and caviling of this review.
1
Whenever I read criticism of this book I remind myself that Trump spent much of the Nineties calling people like Wolff while posing as his own publicist. There are tapes of him doing this. A man who would call Page Six or New York pretending to be his own publicist is always going to be a difficult subject for the MSM to cover "properly." We're in crazy town now. I therefore see Wolff as one piece of this puzzle, a welcome one. The fact that his salacious claims actually jibe with much of the serious coverage only adds to the sense that he's getting a lot of it right. But seriously, how do you "properly" cover a lunatic in the Oval Office?
3
Imagine trying to chronicle the rise to power of the Nazi regime in the early 30’s. Given the levels of deceit, backstabbing, and perversion of the truth; truth and clarity would have been impossible to exactly discern until decades later and all the principles were either dead or neutralized. What you’d get at the time would have been a snapshot of the immediate aftermath of a tornado. Which structures fell or blew up first would be indistinguishable. With Wolff’s tell all book about Trump: ‘what who’ve seen is what you get’: a terrible mashup of Trump’s lies, distortions, and stupidity. The “sane” persons who consented to “work” in this lurid pseudo administration have to purge and regurgitate their horror and disgust in an effort to validate what’s left of their sanity. Even the Trump ‘true believers’ have had to hold their noses and run to the loo while still cashing their paychecks. Trump is the vile Enfant terrible we’ve laughed at for decades. It’s just that now he holds sway over all of us! This book captures that essence of the presidential catastrophe despite the reviewer’s nitpicking. If any more precise understanding is needed they should all be questioned under oath. Basically Trump is who we thought he was and he was obtuse enough to let an outsider spill the beans. God bless America.
2
Your article said the book is "ultimately unsatisfying." Having just finished it, I think what you say is true. And it is the same reason The NY Times or any newspaper is ultimately unsatisfying: the story slogs on from day to day, and there is no grand resolution to anything. The book has the distinct advantage that it supplies the narrative thread that a daily entry could never have. For me, seeing the connection between disparate events, even if it is speculation or rumor, illuminates the ambience of the West Wing in a way that reporting never will. Wolff provides the narrative that makes events hang together. Any narrative is "fake news" because it is told from subjective experience, not "objective fact." Humans supply meaning to events. Meaning is what we are looking for. The book doesn't recount or explain, but it certainly illuminates!
2
Why is it hard to believe trump is an idiot? All you have to do is listen to one of his speeches or press briefings. From the title of this article i expected a deeper analysis than someone's name was spelt with one l or sth. Trump doesn't base his claims with facts. He doesn't deserve the courtesy of fact checks for this book. I will take everything said as probably true.
2
A good review.
Having read this book, my conclusion is that as fact it is complete hogwash, but it is what liberals, Democrats, Trump haters and readers of the NYT (often combined in one person) desperately, fervently want to be true. The airwaves will reverberate with this garbage for weeks, in a mass hysteria that makes the Dutch tulip bulb mania look like reasoned analysis.
And the greatest point, the one everyone seems to miss or maybe they just don’t care, is this: in the meantime, under the cover of the bi-coastal public’s mass psychosis, President Trump will continue to roll the hapless left in ways large and small. One day you'll wake up to a stacked Supreme Court, Republicans in firm control of Congress, the Dow at 30,000, and Trump in his second term, and you will ask: what happened?
Wrong question. You ought then to ask, who exactly was the moron? Who exactly is it that was imbecilic?
2
All the old cliches are coming true; karma chickens are coming home to roost.
And it couldn’t happen to a “nicer guy”.
1
Sounds like the reviewer suffers from envy at the author’s success in capturing the huge audience for his book.
The same is true of Katie Tur’s aggressive on air interview of the author, in which she could not resist comparing the accuracy of her book about Trump to the author’s.
I guess Wolff Trumped Tur!
2
I detect some jealousy in Mr. Martin's review since what I really hear him saying, soto voce, is I wish it were me given unfettered access to the White House and an opportunity to collect quotes and stories and publish them for true financial gain, for the author. Thankfully, Mr. Wolff has done an immense public service by pulling down the covers and cover-ups and revealing Trump and his White House as the pathetic, byzantine and self-centered collection of egomaniacs with not much factual support for their claimed egos.
Shakespeare said it, "There is something rotten in Denmark," and so two in the House of Trump.
4
The reviewer wants to have it both ways. First he criticizes Wolff as sloppy on details and not scrupulous in his sourcing. Then he critices Wolff for "throwing up his hands" on "three key" moments (that the reviewer, not necessarily Wolff , has assigned as key).
Wolff did not "throw up his hands" about those three events. He related what he knew, didn't pretend to know more or to assert what couldn't be proven, and left it to his readers to draw our own conclusions.
The strong odor of sour grapes wafts over this review, as it does in so many other reviews and coverage of Wolff's book by MSM journalists.
2
Jonathan Martin, the NYTimes reviewer, complains: "Yet much of Wolff’s sourcing is opaque. “I’ve made stuff up forever, and they always print it,” Trump boasts about his long-running media con. But Wolff, with seemingly unintended irony, does not make clear where he harvested such an explosive line."
Seriously?
The New York Times ran a piece in December 2017 in which the author stated: "The man who once told me . . . : “People will just believe you. You just tell them and they believe you,” was, I thought, not a good choice to lead our country."
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/03/opinion/billy-bush-trump-access-holly...
And the Washington Post, among others, reported in 2016 that "Donald Trump masqueraded as his own PR man."
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/donald-trump-alter-ego-barron/20...
On the spectrum from "revelation" to "common knowledge," what Wolff wrote is old news, no more in need of "sourcing" than an "explosive" sentence revealing that Trump uses hair styling products.
2
You have to hand it to Michael Wolff, he really knows how to make a best seller: lots of gossip & drama between two warring factions in the White House fighting over influencing a dotard president oblivious to what is going on around him and only concerned with media exposure and eating cheeseburgers. You just can't make this stuff up!
It really does not matter whether the book is true or not. It is incredible entertainment for the masses who live in terror that the main protagonist will soon destroy the world. When will we get to see the movie?
2
I don't really care how much of this book is true in detail; in general outline, this is obviously what Trump, Javanka, Miller and the rest of these greedy clowns are like.
But the very bestest part is watching Trump jump up and down, shrieking, when he's spozed to be promoting "his," tax bill, then run down to Tenneesee and lie through his teeth to farmers. A $5.1 trillion tax break for the little guy, forsooth.
So of course Wolff's a nasty little nutjob, with as little interest in reality as Hedda Hopper ever had. What's joyous is watching him and Trump make sweet, sweet love.
1
Wolff needs to share his tapes. What we need is evidence, not hearsay.
1
Sounds like the reviewer would prefer a book that cannot possibly be done to one that's probably the best way can get.
1
There once was a provocative book
Some parts of which were gobbledygook
But if some of it’s true
It’s past time for a coup
To change leaders by hook or by crook
2
There is nothing new here which has been pointed out many times in these post. What I’m amazed at is simply reading trump’s speaks verbatim. Truly weird stuff. You can’t make this stuff up. Thanks to Wolfe for bringing us back to reality even though it is truly scary.
1
The book read to me like a sketch or drawing of a time, place, and administration rather than a photograph. The analogy being that while some of the lines may not be completely accurate or "photo realistic," the overall image is true.
1
If Wolff had written about the orderly, respectful, truthful, cooperative, friendly nature of this White House, we would have been shocked and calling the book an unbelievable tall tale.
As it is, Wolff's accounts are, by and large, all too believable.
1
Jonathan Martin’s failure to appreciate the value of Michael Weiss’ Fire and Fury does a disservice to public discourse. Distinction between “important” and “unimportant” --a hallmark of Alice and Wonderland--ought to be a cautionary requirement for reporters covering life and death issues. These are issues President Donald Trump regards with indifference.
If Weiss’ work were not an excellent accomplishment in its own right, the book’s ability to get under President Trump’s skin would be a virtue in its own right. Fifty years from now, when a history of the 45th Presidency is written, the text of the President’s press conference at a chilly airplane hanger at Camp David, Maryland will appear in the moral equivalent of bold face. There the President of the United States announced he is “very smart” and lamented—in shocking indifference to the First Amendment—that our country’s libel laws are not strong enough to prevent publication of Fire and Fury.
It is axiomatic that the best defense to libel is the truth. I am prepared to accept the judgment of New York Times reporter Maggie Hagerman that regarding the big picture, Weiss has presented us with an accurate account.
I'm midway through the book and finding it, yes, catnip. Wolff establishes a catchy (and, given his subject, appropriate) tone at the outset, somewhere between cynical and bemused. His pacing is superb - the pages practically turn themselves. Is he entirely scrupulous about when he's giving us the straight dope or indulging in poetic license? No. But he makes no pretense about writing a "definitive," balanced account of Trump's first year. He was a fly on the wall, with a very sharp bite. Informative? Not really. Entertaining? Absolutely.
1
I haven't read the book (yet), but I have been following the story and tuned in to several of Wolff's television interviews. My perception is that the book is probably a decent synopsis of what we all knew since Trump descended on the escalator, looking like an orange apparition of ignorance personified. And, since, he has filled the bill, just about daily.
If anything, the Wolff book offers a kind-of reassurance that, at least, those around him aren't as duped as his deplorable voters.
1
I don’t see why Michael Wolff had to interview anyone in the White House to write this book. Norman Mailer wrote most of The Naked and the Dead while still at Harvard.
4
Bannon may have no future in politics, but once he realizes he's got no future in the Republican party or the Trump administration, he could have a future as a best-selling author. On many levels, Bannon's book might be better than Wolff's.
I'd also like to read a candid book telling Rex Tillerson's story once he resigns -- something like the book George W. Bush's first Treasury secretary did with an author.
The White House staffers seem to have a lot to say. Why don't they just resign and find ghost writers and co-authors for more tell-all books? Based on the evidence of the past week, there is an insatiable demand for such books.
2
One line in this from Trump, "I've made up stuff forever, and they always print it." On cable news, this should run at the bottom of the screen, whenever he's speaking.
26
I'm about 80% through Fire and Fury. I noticed errors as well, my findings were gramatical though, and I'm really not surprised since they stepped up the release date. As someone who finds grammatical errors in nearly ever book she reads, it's really not that big of a deal. If a misspelled name or a mixing up of first names is your biggest gripe, that says something about the book in question. If you have to nitpick in order to criticize, it's probably a thing worth reading.
The book is largely full of things we already knew, but it's those little details that we didn't know (like who the sources where) and the cohesive storyline of everything coming to you back to back to back that makes the book worth reading.
I was hoping for a good, cathartic laugh out of Fire and Fury, but instead, the dread just continues to mount.
Regardless, it was $15 well spent.
20
Don’t you mean $30.00 well spent unless you got the 50% half price because you’re a Henry Holt publisher employee
1
Michael Wolff's reporting in his book is accurate, and he has gone on record with this claim. The inaccuracies belong solely to those people he spoke with, each of whom presented their subjective side of the story.
Wolff didn't expect the windfall success of Fire and Fury because he believed the information was already out there, and while this is true, his articulation and insider reporting makes it immensely readable and important. I hope this petty and nit-picking review is ignored, and that Wolff sells millions more copies.
13
just getting this high profile review in the NYT shoud help lift sales of what's already a best seller because accuracy and quality take a distant back seat to awareness in the marketplace.
already, I can't wait for the musical.
1
In all honesty, I haven't read the book, but I have paid attention to the interviews on the talk-and-news-shows circuit, and to Trump's words and behaviors during the past two years, and so far, I can't say that I am surprised by anything that I have heard is in the book. Even if the author's descriptions are a little "out there," nonetheless, they seem to fit Trump's over-all pattern.
5
Michael Wolff is the perfect Fourth Estate antidote to deal with a president prone to lies, bullying, and deception.
Mr, Wolff mixes facts, quotes, half-truths and is not concerned about old-fashioned journalism credo of fairness and balance. He writes an info-entertaining and informative book of Trump's White House. Not a beautiful picture, though.
I'm looking forward to the movie version of Fire and Fury. A movie only of bad guys and recommended for over 16 years old moviegoers only. The question is: Who will play DT?
7
I have not quite finished the book, but I think I've snorted up or whatever cats do with their nip - of reviewer Martin's appropriate detection of one major quality of Wolf's book - to conclude that Martin does a disservice to a potential reader, in not really being a substantive reviewer; for one of the major take-aways from the book is Wolf's account of the power struggles within the White House, its resolving itself into the government at its heart being the Trump family (further occasion to raise the emolument clause of the constitution?) - and with all the hilarious incompetence and third world type shenanigans that characterize this government, it being a family affair - and of Trump's family at that! - that being the the most troubling of no end of troubline matters that Wolf describes. his resorting to tricks from the New Journalism of which New York Magazine back then was a chief purveyor does not bother me; he seems pretty much in his own way the appropriate journalist to have absorbed that ghastly scene.
7
We all know who Trump is, and there is no reason to doubt the general veracity of this book regarding the "Very Stable Genius".
6
Is this a book review or Martin's personal thoughts on Wolff? Based on what I've heard, one should not read this book to understand what if any politics are played out within the White House. It's about the infighting and how people are dealing with someone who has limited capacity and no temperament when they also have limited capacity and no temperament. It is indeed a book that shows one side of what was going on and no doubt rushed to get to market. It also tells us what we already know about Trump and his White House. Martin should start writing his "proper" book on Trump politics and stopped taking jabs at Wolff. Never shoot the messenger.
5
I agree, this review by Martin is a little harsh. I liked the style and substance of the book.
Without a doubt the best book-launch in history. Otherwise, no fire, no fury. Not a single quote is attributed to the writer or anyone else. The whole thing reeks of a Bannon-inspired dirty trick. This will to cost Trump a single vote. Sad.
2
Judging from Wolff's stratospheric sales, there will doubtless be a tidal wave of exposes by incompetent former Trump officials sooner than later. Brace yourselves for White House tell-alls by Anthony Scaramucci and Omarosa.
4
I believe that any libel laws the GOP tries to create or impose upon Wolff will also apply to Faux News. Is this the case?
3
Is it possible that this book did not get proof read before publication. The mis-spelling of names is not a mortal sin. The NYT has done this many times themselves. The more important critique would be are the revelations true. And based on many newspaper reports over the last year(including the NYT) it appears that they are.
10
Dude, sour grapes much? He misspelled a surname? God forbid. Really? Professional jealousy is so rich.
8
some journalists must be annoyed he went out and made a ton of money by throwing this together
3
Yes very unexpected book. I don’t know how Wolfe kept this a secret until the very day of it’s publication. Journalistic Coup D’etat! I wonder if Bannon will get a cup of Wolfe’s enormous pay check!
Bottom line. The American electoral system, in collaboration with a public that cares more about "The Big Bang Theory" than whose finger is on the nuclear button, elected a 6th grade bully as president.
What are we going to do about it?
10
Oaw...F&F translated into Russian,N Korean and Persian.......
For the world of diplomats its a must read to see, if need be
how far the US ( ridiculous again) have fallen into isolation.
Besides, how can somebody so freely walk around in the WH.
Could one imagine such a ride in the Kremlin?
US, please solve this, yours and our problem asap
2
Why did Trump defenders flock to the Sunday morning shows? A simple statement from the White House saying the book was not worthy of comment would have sufficed. Stephen Miller's performance only reinforced the scary dysfunction described in the book.
30
The book is true.
We've all seen footage of Trump, heard him speak. and read his tweets.
21
I'm no fan of Trump, but I am a fan of the objective truth. While I recognize the difficulty of getting to the truth in this polarized era, it would seem we're not quite there yet.
8
Bravo - a voice of reason in a sea of emotional self-satisfying rants! Like you I am not fan of Trump - or any modern politician of either party - but we should still strive for the objective truth, use logic and civility in our discussions and avoid our baser instincts.
4
Wolfe's account of what happens jives with what is public knowledge of what happened. You can dispute the WAY he tells it, and even a lot of the details. But the substance is all accurate; more, it's on the record.
1
Impossible to put down this book.A great read.And it seems credible if not precisely accurate. Clearly Trump and his advisors have reacted as though the author got it right.I fear they protest too loudly.No complaint from Ivanka and Jared.Trump has learned that you do not fire Steven Bannon.Bannon knows better than anyone the rogue nature of this presidency.
20
Bannon did this way before he was fired. Facts matter.
1
I ordered my copy from Amazon and have a month-long wait before I get it. That said, this book review casts a lot of negatives but in the same breath, almost demands that it be read. It also more or less confirms all the criticisms leveled against Trump. Sadly, I fear, the worst is yet to come.
10
You can buy an electronic copy right away.
2
I’ve not yet read ‘Fire And Fury’, but I note that most of the reviewer’s criticisms are trivial and appear to be the product of rushed writing and editing. I suspect that most of these errors will be corrected in the next printing.
Given that the White House is desperate to repudiate the book, it is striking how few substantive complaints are being made about its contents. This indicates that “Fire & Fury” is largely accurate in what it reports.
46
The book reviewer misses the mark here; the point of Fire and Fury is not to satisfy Mr. Martin, whatever that might take; it is to expose the president and his staff. The essential truth of the book, that DT is a dangerously self-centered child-like sloth without the mental capacity for the job, is confirmed daily by DT himself. The book is a success.
76
The important thing about Fire and Fury is not that it shows that Trump is childish, incoherent, unintelligent, and functionally illiterate. We know all this for watching and listening to him, and reading his Tweets.
What's important in Fire and Fury is the assertion that the White House staff knows these things too and enables Trump. The new information in Fire and Fury is that the White House staff knows they're dealing with a tantruming toddler President and attempts unsuccessfully to control him.
As to the accuracy and factualness of Michael Wolff's information, we'll have to make that judgement based on what we see in other contexts and what we think when we read Fire and Fury.
So far, Trump's incoherent babbling about his stability and intelligence do nothing to disprove the assertions about his tantruming childishness. Trump is actually substantiating the book by his reaction to it.
For perspective, compare the dignified and adult reactions of Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, George W Bush, and Barack Obama to critical books written about them and their Administrations. Compare Barack Obama's adult reaction to the racist lies which Donald Trump told about him beginning with the lies about Barack Obama's birth certificate.
81
Trump has no capacity for self critical observation. Notice that he only speaks in reaction to what others say about him. There’s no there, there so he takes his cues from the environment. Beyond narcissism he is incapable of original thought or analysis. What he does know is the his father considered his older brother to be the heir apparent, not HIM! That’s a hurdle he can never leap and that the rest of us must be eternally punished for!
3
Great point, and thank you for clarifying my thoughts on it. It's the way everyone around Trump is forced to deal with him and the disconnect between that and what they really think about him, that is the nut of the book.
1
Me. Trump’s word is worthless. He fails to back up his words with actions and money.
Now he wants to spend billions on a wall when NASA needs that money. We are falling behind. Our spy satellite launches shouldn’t be falling back to earth. It appears North Korea is again one move ahead.
13
At first blush and by itself, it doesn't matter whether the info in the book is accurate or not. But overlay it with the actions, statements, stories and all the rest of the anecdotes coming from this administration, all and all, it seems to fit the picture. And the picture it portrays is not a pretty one. "Off with his head!"
21
The only regime who "100% agree" with such Trump's regime is Japanese shameless Abe Government.
3
I am about halfway through the book and find it fascinating. It sheds lights and connects the dots. It makes you understand why Bannon was quiet after publication, why after being degraded by Trump he called him a great man whom he continues to serve. Clearly the author had a lot of access, and I fully believe that he did not have it out for Trump but reported what he observed - he is astute in analyzing things and having worked for „the rich“ before, oh my goodness, is he straight on in characterizing the attitudes and behavior. Yes, the errors in the book (online version) - such as omitted words, appear weird but that is something that could have been easily corrected with more publishing time. The book tells you the back story to many of the press reports. Love it!
16
C'mon. Wolff's Fire and Fury book only restates multiple media reports of the president's unruly behavior and surly temperament, backed by courageous statements by members of his own party, and is completely in keeping with the president's speeches and tweets that we ourselves have witnessed -- again, unruly at best, dangerous name-calling attacks that endanger our national security and international respect at worst.
I didn't buy the book because I thought news reports of the contents of the book simply verified what we have been seeing and hearing from the president throughout his campaign, transition and presidency.
Whether Wolff got this or that particular detail wrong isn't the point.
The point is that there is nothing here that we didn't already know about Trump. It only gathers them into one piece, and gives name attribution for some assertions, from which Trump's beleaguered "team" is scrambling to disavow, to try to avoid the president's well-documented fury and vindictiveness.
Trump's own speeches and tweets document the overall "truthiness" (as Stephen Colbert might say) of Wolff's book.
To dither about small discrepancies or errors is just petty, compared to the magnitude of Trump's well-documented history of lying, reckless attacks on international leaders, heartless lack of empathy for fallen soldiers' families, and "wink, wink" excuses for white supremacists.
47
Good comments. I didn't buy the book and don't plan on it. However I have watched multiple interviews with Michael Wolff, and I get the sense he made some things up in the book.
His interviews lack specific details and his unwillingness to share recorded interviews makes me think he took the narrative from the press and the tweets and just added details to fill out his narrative. I am surprised at the amount of attention this book has gotten in a very short period of time. It definitely struck a nerve with the American people.
3
" Fire and Fury". No. Judge and Jury. ASAP.
Thanks, GOP. Also: NOVEMBER.
42
My guess is that Wolff flattered Trump behind Trump's back, and word got back to Trump, giving Wolff an entry into the White House orbit.
In short, Wolff conned the con.
76
You've scorched the messenger instead of the autocrat.
60
We all know its true. In fact things are probably a lot worse.
52
I haven't read the book, but it seems to bolster what has been heard and said so far. Seems to be written in a hurry and thus likely to have inaccuracies,, etc.
But Newt Gingrich and others are still peddling Clinton conspiracy stories- pizzagate, Vince Foster, and so on. http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2014/06/hillary-clinton-conspiracy-t...
Wolff's book seems an academic masterpiece in comparison to the far right screeds written about Clinton and Obama.
52
Trump maybe should have read this before reacting so violently. It was his reaction that drew more towards the book, which sounds like it’s telling us stuff we already know or stuff we didn’t, but may not be true anyway.
Oh wait, Trump doesn’t read books...
19
Trump's reaction to Fire and Fury is so extreme that it almost makes purchasing the book an act of Resistance.
35
I loved this book and read it in a day (I am retired.) Wolff is an observer and listener with great access and no particular axe to grind politically and who really understands beltway culture. His portrayal of the president is chilling but very credible. The careerism and ambition of the staff and their dismay at discovering the true Trump (nothing there but childish emotions) ring true. The criticisms in this review are expected from mainstream political journalists who have been completely out-scooped and out-written and out-earned by this chronicler.
56
Months from now, after Wolff’s “Fire and Fury” has sold more copies than any non-fiction book in the history of American publishing, Donald Trump will publicly take credit for its success. Mark my words.
56
Weeks from now it will be on the discount table along side Hillary's manifesto. It's just one of many hack trash novellas.
Thank you, Mr. Martin, for your thoughtful and precise review. I appreciate the work you did to prepare this piece.
Some commenters deride the fact that you point out misspelled names (and wrong names altogether). But, in fact, those things matter because that type of sloppiness suggests that the author has been sloppy in other, more significant respects, e.g., the lack of attribution on some of the most explosive remarks allegedly made by Trump, and failing to specify when the author was a direct witness to the comments he is quoting.
When taking down a President, we want an author with a reputation for accuracy who provides no basis for others to question his professionalism or the legitimacy of his quotes.
Thanks for the review.
19
We desperately need an accounting of how far matters went in the Trump campaign and how bad they've gotten in the Trump White House. What we needed least of all, though, is this particular account, which leaves itself open to pro-Trump critics. Wolff has long been accused of sloppy and even sleazoid tactics and his explanation of what went in here is wholly unsatisfying -- at best. Leaving matters up to the judgment of readers -- when we weren't present, have little to judge by and don't know whom to believe -- is no first draft of history. It's more like gossip-rag fare.
Certainly, the Trump skeleton lines up with that of daily journalists. But when it comes to fleshing out specific events -- which this book purports to do -- Wolff may have he let his pen run off with his imagination. It's like choosing from a Chinese menu, taking some from source A, a sprinkling of source B.... To navigate, you need to know when to suspend disbelief and when to resort to your better judgment. What else can most readers bring but their own bias?
After reading the excerpted pre-publication passages, I ordered the book. But now that it's here, while I salivate at the prospect of digging in, I just can't make myself read it. What good is there to this tour when your guide has his own conflicts with the facts?
We absolutely and urgently need trustworthy journalists to ink inside accounts of this presidency. It's just that the wait's not over. Still, it is so going to be so worth it.
3
Read the book first.
26
I have read the book. And while I don't have the advantage of first-hand knowledge of anything said in the book, none of it seems to miss the mark, from what I have learned about Mr Trump through the MSM, especially the NY Times and the Washington Post. No novel or screenplay could make this stuff up. It is all perfectly believable, and it's perfectly clear that Mr Trump is totally unfit to be POTUS.
55
Haven't read it and probably won't - but to Wolff MY CONGRATULATIONS. It has people asking the RIGHT questions concerning the nit-wit in the Oval Office. Surely, Trump will (eventually) have his 'melt down' by the various investigations to which he will be "testifying". His biggest problem is he is a liar, and he doesn't comprehend the difference between a lie and the truth (does he even know what TRUTH is?).
40
There has been so much "unusual" behaviour from this US President that we are no longer surprised by anything he does and although I haven't bothered to read this book Trump's installation of his family into WH positions alone caused me to explain from afar a year ago: "Who does that?"
We read of the Kushner vs Bannon conflict months ago and finally dear Ivanka (with her hotness) and hubby prevailed and Bannon (who sounds completely odious anyway, good riddance) was sacked. Then they all went on the first overseas trips. What the ?? Melania's undisguised fury at having to accompany Trump on these trips was also bizarre in a so-called First Lady (well, we all know who the real First Lady was anyway). And on and on it goes until the November elections in (who's counting?) a little over 10 months.
At the least it is all an affront to people who study many years for qualifications, slowly climb the ladder to work success, practise self-restraint in the service of good human relations and still do not make much money to have this bully and his self-serving family hold such high office. Of course the deplorables love them for these very reasons. After all a degree is just a piece of paper, why tell the truth when you can just make anything up, why act civilly and enhance race and gender relations when you can just espouse the basest of views?
At the worst it is significant risks to world peace, climate change mitigation and universal health care in the States.
35
As usual, I am just going to wait for the movie.
5
You are watching it on TV right now.
3
And what a movie it will be! I'm thinking maybe 8 movies. That's how long it took to tell Harry Potter's story. Of course, we can't expect Trump to grow up...
1
Compared to the editorial accuracy exhibited by the President of the United States, the authorship of this book has all the precision of a Swiss watch.
52
what is ultimately unsatisfying about this book is that Trump is still in the most powerful office in the world. Wolff's spelling errors...seriously?
29
What we need now is a picture of K.J. Un reading this book, smiling.
Then our national embarrassment will be complete..
18
Great review, thanks. No legitimate journalist today would host a dinner meeting between Ailes and Bannon as Wolff did to plot the opening days of the new Trump administration. At that point you shift from being a reporter to being a participant. And then you don't disclose you were the host? Why did Wolff hide that fact from his readers?
9
This book isn't all true or all 'right,' but is a marker in time. Over what will likely seem the interminably long arc of this administration, it will serve as a point on the timeline.
Eventually what is deeply true and real will shake out: to be confirmed by others' reporting, daily, monthly etc., other books, or simply become undeniable as being manifest by DJT's and others' actions, recorded and reproducible for all to see.
What doesn't hold up will go by the wayside.
Gonna be a lot of these tomes on the bookshelf before it's all over ... buckle up.
11
Even if 20% is true, he is still a horrible human being. He is also the singular most incompetent, uneducated, ill prepared, unqualified people to be elected president.
33
This is what’s important. Bannon May have apologized for his statements, but, he did NOT deny it. Most all of this book rings true, though it is physically impossible that Wolff was present at all these conversations.
13
Wolff didn’t claim that he witnessed all of these conversations but that he interviewed people that did.
10
Although they may not be not as page turning as the book Fire and Fury by Mr. Wolff, I'd still rather see the Trump tax returns for the past 15 to 20 years.
29
I have heard commentators on MSNBC quoting out of Fire and Fury as if it were the Bible and gospel truth. Maybe it is like it in a way in that those that are looking for something and want to believe something can find something in either that fills that void regardless of it’s true or not. Some say we must pity both.
1
The book, FIRE AND FURY, has introduced a new English idiom to deal with Trump's White House: Crying Wolff. It means deliberately to raise, not a false, but a genuine alarm about the dire consequences that follow presidential dysfunction. In short, the fresh idiom is a loud and desperate appeal for help.
10
I have to add. Yes Trump would reverse the temporary protected status decisions now just to divert attention from the book.
11
Once again, Trump wins. Why? There’s another book about him and we’re all talking about him. Check and mate. Until people realize that it doesn’t matter what is said about him, he will continue to expand in the substance that is his life-blood: media attention. Until people are bored to catatonia with him, he will continue to inflate, like our bubble economy.
4
One who turns a gimlet eye on Trump should also turn a gimlet eye on Wolff. They seem to be cut from the same fabric.
But Trump is President. Wolff just a reporter. It matters.
Wolff may not be terribly concerned with what the facts are but if we cannot be present for the actual conversations, we can surely glean something useful from what Wolff provides--and it is certainly not comforting.
We know that Trump has no regard for truth by simply listening first-hand to what Trump says.
But even if Wolff's entire book is a fabrication (and I do not think it is) the insanity he describes within the executive branch is entirely consistent with what we see with our own eyes. This is not palace intrigue, it is a reality TV show played out as government.
The usual standards, journalistic or otherwise, clearly cannot apply.
10
I know little about Fire and Fury and it's portrait of a dysfunctional president. But then I really don't have to read it. All I have to do is watch our president
on TV and on Twitter and I already recognize how dysfunctional he is.
Or I can watch with anguish the outburst of Trump's deranged colleague, Stephen Miller on CNN. Thank God Tapper him cut him off but should have done it sooner. May we never see that sicko Miller again. Please.
34
I found the review slightly irritating and pompous as if he was basically saying "Michael Wolffe is the equivalent of a romance novel writer". Yeah the guy isn't a political buff but I think this is book should stand as an expose on the Trump persona and it speaks volumes on whether or not he is fit for office.
I do appreciate the acknowledgement of the errors. Possibly he can retract and edit a new edition?
11
Thank you Jonathan Martin for a fair and balanced review of the book. Who knows? Maybe it isn’t fair and balanced but compared to the New York Times coverage of President Trump in general, and the comments on this board, Martin’s review comes across as pretty even handed. I now know enough not to bother reading it. I read the paper daily. This “Spark notes” version of the Trump presidency appears to be not just a waste of money but entirely unnecessary.
The media – both right and left – are doing a bang-up job covering this administration. However, it’s quite possible we may need another book like this one to be published close to the next presidential election in order to ensure another four-year term for the Donald.
6
The thing that equates this book to the trumpster admin is money, making it that is, publishing is about selling books. Holt is in it to make a profit. Wolff and perhaps Banman would have consulted and fact checked for the editors.
Hey, I read it this weekend and while it wasn't the best written book I've ever opened, it clarified quite a bit and opened a few more cans of worms. If even 1/2 of it is true, Mr. Wolff has done us a great public service.
29
It's all consistent with what the public sees of his behavior. Would we believe any of this had it been written about Obama, either Bush, Clinton, etc. Leaks are coming out of the WH for a reason. It's an insane asylum. I'm sure the staff walks on eggshells for fear of upsetting the tyrant, constantly scrambling to do damage control, and never knowing what dreadful thing will happen next. These people are putting their careers and reputations on the line.
16
The most appalling facts about Trump that this book points out are the facts that, at about 5:30 each afternoon, he escapes from all commitments and duties and locks himself in his bedroom, in front of three TV screens with cheeseburgers and a telephone. He never has dinner with his wife and/or children, he never entertains any foreign dignitaries. What's up with this? It's the old Trump Tower routine with a kid's clubhouse of one! That was fine then, this is now. This kind of behavior would be totally unacceptable for a president of the local Rotary Club!
30
I love the thought this book is the best selling novel in the world and flying off the shelves. It gives me faith that so many people find this transparently racist president reprehensible and an utter embarrassment to our country. The errors are trivial and the over-all picture is dead on. This book was not based on Wolff's opinion, but upon the opinion of those around him. The person who most rivals Trump as the most disliked person on earth, Kim Jong Un, absolutely nailed it when he called Trump a "dotard."
23
This book shouldn't have had to be written, if only the journalists who state that "...Politics and elections are my beat, so I can easily get pulled into stories about the Trump White House" would actually bother to get "pulled into" the stories on their beat and do careful, thoughtful investigative reporting on them. Unfortunately Mr. Martin and other members of the Fourth Estate seem more than happy to let authors like Mr. Wolff do the heavy lifting and pass judgment from the safety of the sidelines. This may not be Pulitzer-winning journalism, but it is important writing nonetheless, opening the blinds and letting the sun shine on the darker depths of the carnivale grotesque which erodes the sanctity and gravitas of the most powerful office in the world with every passing news cycle.
22
White House folks aren't out there denying much, are they? Can't risk lying just in case Mr. Wolff has their specific comments on tape. If I were Mr. Wolff, I'd have those "tapes" secured in a underground vault.
16
Mr. Wolff was interviewed today on the PBS News Hour. He certainly didn't sound like a Bannon sort, meaning he seemed truthful, was not bombastic or "glory seeking." Short of living in the White House, for the seven months before publishing his FIRE AND FURY he was a constant presence. Perhaps, there are some exaggerations, who is to say. But it is most likely that anyone would be hard-pressed to sue for libel. The fact of the matter is what he reveals is what anyone with a clear - and sane - mind can decipher her/himself re Trump. He spends usual sleeping hours and his waking hours tweeting and watching the news; he proclaims himself a stable genius; he seems distracted by his own persona when he should be turning gray right now from the state of not only this nation but also the world...like the previous three presidents.
Of course, already his loyal supporters, his sycophants in the Cabinet and Congress are already running to his defense. Not surprising at all. But to be perfectly honest, and a bit vindictive for all the damage he has already done to our country, I truly hope that this book will awaken more people to the fact that this man is incapable and ill-equipped to being our POTUS. He is a miserable man.
29
Possibly dysfunctional President? No Trump is the very definition of the word dysfunction and so is his family and administration!!
17
I can not imagine anything Wolff being any less believable than Trump! How sad is that. ( I have not read the book and I bet I have huge chance of believe the same when I it gets here and I finish it.)
4
Here's the thing I see about the book: in the public eye, Trump is now an object of ridicule. Fear, loathing--he basks in those. But ridicule? It will do his presidency in.
21
First of all, I think this book is a work of art and That Michael Wolff has done an inestimable service to the Nation and to the World an to whoever was in doubt as to the true state of affairs in Trump world. This is a work of reference now! A Bible to the imbecilic Trump and his obsequious Republican Minions. Good Bless Him and Long live freedom and the United States of America!
7
The fat lady sang.
Now, the finale.
14
The author laments that Wolff provides multiple, contradictory accounts of the same event, and apparently does not it is enough to merely explicitly acknowledge he is doing so:
>"When most anything is plausible it is also printable, but that does not necessarily mean you are getting it right.... Wolff offers several “why-and-how theories of this imbecilic meeting.” But he does not settle on any one of them."
I'm at a loss exactly who the author of this article expects Wolff to be able to do that. Only Robert Mueller has the power of subpoena, and the resources to do the investigation to determine how to judiciously use it. This article seems an exercise in criticizing Wolff for not being omniscient. the reality is that Wolff is actually following in the tradition of the one of the "fathers fo history," Herodotus, who prefaced many of his accounts with his personal skepticism about the details, but that he saw it as his duty to pass them onto the reader anyway.
20
Trump starts work at 11 am. Why do I long for the days when William F Buckley made fun of liberals saying they woke up at 11 am?
8
And works really really hard until 12 pm! With an hour for lunch
14
I'm sure there are valid criticisms to be leveled at Wolff but so far the only ones I've read have been laughable. One pundit I read actually wrote that while Wolff claimed someone in the White House said XYZ, the person being quoted said no, he never said that. Thus, Wolff's book contains "inaccuracies". Well! I guess that settles it.
The writer here provides equally weak criticisms of Wolff's book, with the items that should make us toss out the whole account such things as someone's name spelled with two Ls instead of one.
For those not willing to let someone pointing out a typo persuade them that it impeaches the entire book, the author here offers broader criticisms but these fail also. Wolff, the author gripes, offers differing versions of events that were recounted to him, and "does not settle on any one of them". Is this bad? Had the author decided himself which version was true and presented only that would the author then not be criticizing him for being too gullible? Because it seems that would be worse.
22
Bannon was held in such high regard and held so much sway that he was controversially given that extraordinary seat on the National Security Council.
In those early Oval Office photos, Bannon is the one seen pacing the floor while Stephen Miller is nowhere in sight -- Worm-Tongue Miller is not to be believed.
Furthermore, since Bannon hasn't denied saying what he said, only apologizing and attempting to put it all on Manafort, we are left with two probabilities:
One of the most powerful men in the White House considered the POTUS's son to be "treasonous,"also incriminating his lying father;
And, if Manafort is the only one labeled by Trump's ex-#1 as treasonous, then Trump can no longer lie that Manafort didn't do anything wrong while under his employ.
14
This review drifts into false equivalency territory. In an attempt to remain impartial, the writer nitpicks about minor proofreading errors that appear to in no way meaningfully change the gist of the particular story, or the book itself. Of course, a book of this notoriety must be reviewed, but it's best just to provide a bit about the author, the technique by which it was written, and let the reader make further judgments. Almost all bios, even if covering a short period of time like this one, are going to have one-on-one conversations involving the author that can't usually be fully substantiated unless a recording was made. I expect some featured in this book have not significantly denied what they are purported to have said, either because they knew a recorder was being used, or fear that one might have been. Hello, Steve Bannon.
11
Nothing that Mr. Wolff has written surprises any of us who knew better than to vote for this disgusting, mentally unstable man. We saw all of this long before last year's election. Trump proudly displayed his ignorance and his bigotry, and his base ate it up. There are no revelations here -- we all saw the traits of this disgusting man throughout last year's campaign.
His base didn't vote for him because they thought they'd get their coal mining jobs back -- they voted for him because they saw themselves in him -- wilfully ignorant, hateful, bigoted, and boorish -- and they loved what they saw in the mirror.
A book such as Mr. Wolff's could come out every month from now until 2020, and Trump's base will not waver. Trump's rabid supporters will continue to deny the simple reality that he is a disgusting, mentally unhinged man whose very presence in it dirties the White House.
This past year has proven what the rest of us knew, but still, Trump's base loves him. The qualities that draw them to him are exactly those qualities they have themselves -- hypocrisy, dishonesty, bigotry, anti-Semitism, xenophobia.
We don't need a book describing Trump's many character flaws -- we need a book describing those in his voters.
19
I am so tired of this chapter of the White House being like the world of the Kardashian family.
13
Trump and Bannon, two sociopathic egomaniacs, invited Wolff into the WH without setting any ground rules. They stupidly thought that the end result would be a book chronicling a great, tremendous, brilliant Trump administration. Whether what was written is true, false or a combination of both is irrelevant. What is relevant is that the book is now in the public domain exposing both Trump and Bannon for the fools they are.
20
If it's a fake book why is Bannon apologizing?
25
The White House is a den of liars, but I guess they conflate their lies are only little white lies, because of the eponymous origination. I would believe a Wolff over Trump and his sheep any day--they have no honor, no integrity, nothing, but craven cowardice.
12
So Bill Maher’s son of an orange haired orangutan is now the alpha male in the White House pretending to run the free world.
Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping are happy to be competing with the village idiot with a bigger button than Kim Jong-un.
The ape that cannot utter anything other than word salad without a teleprompter claims to be a stable genius.
Perhaps Trump has “American Intelligence” but it’s certainly not intelligence as the rest of the world knows it.
So one must call upon any Americans left with real intelligence to be civil and disobedient, to have an indefinite national strike, to go after the GOP zombies that keep the Trump-travesty in power and bring this disgraceful presidency to an untimely end.
Climate change is real. You deserve a president who will help you face the reality that coal mines and oil and gas guzzling automobiles are obsolete.
Thousands of American soldiers died fighting against fascism. You deserve a president who is not a fascist running your country.
Lies are not alternatives for facts.
Trump is not a joke to be idly tolerated.
For goodness sake grow a national spine again and do what is right.
30
This book is not meant to be taken literally, but seriously, very much so. As such nitpicking by the reviewer misses the point. Moreover, it is the fact checker and/or copy editor who is charged with catching mistakes, for example, like extra "l" in Hilary Rosen's name. An unsatisfying review.
16
This book, from the exceprts I have read, is breezy and lightweight, but there are two important factors here.
The first is that, for all the fluff, there are some distinctly damning characterizations and reportage in the book.
Second, and far more importantly, is that this book is hugely damaging to the president's ego. Trump lives on flattery and gossip, more reputation than reality. This book, unlile many poitical tomes, is easy to read and simple to digest. In other words many non-readers are reading (or at least listening) to it ... which means more people are getting the impression of 45 as fool.
Those who rise by false reputation can easily fall by it as well.
10
If only 50% of the book is true, that’s quite damning enough.
11
Is this a trick question? None of it is true. Look at the sources. The only true part of it is that it is truly self-serving propaganda and CYA for when this administration collapses in flames.
2
Important review that will help me read the book intelligently. Nicely done.
2
This book will forgotten before the end of the month.
4
It doesn't matter if it's true. Trump proves that.
4
I haven't read the book yet, but Wolff's descriptions of the White House as recounted in the media stories about the book are pretty much in line with what that have been reported on already.
It doesn't sound like there are any shocking *new* revelations.
But what's interesting is that so much of what has already been in the media has been reported is confirmed through the eyes of insiders like Bannon.
And I am pretty sure that Wolff would have recordings of that.
So Bannon and some insiders got cocky and blabbed. And we are now seeing some bit of what's going on behind the scenes at the White House.
And if this is a cursory (even if not complete or 100 per cent accurate) glimpse of the inside of the White House under the Trump administration --- then we need to be alarmed. This is not at all normal and it is alarming.
10
What isn't in dispute is how believable the book's excerpts seem to be. We find no surprises, and have little difficulty finding the book's allegations to be believable. This in itself is an indictment of Trump, and the hot reaction of Trump to the book suggests that it hits close to home in many allegations. What will be most interesting is if Trump will follow through on any of the threatened actions; a libel suit would throw open to testimony the internal actions of Trump's administration as well as any recordings the author might have... if Trump is willing to risk such exposure, there might be some substance behind his objections. Otherwise it is all more bluster, a feint and bullying attempt to silence the closer descriptions of reality from being brought out. In the end, Trump doesn't seem to want anything exposed on the public record - he certainly doesn't want this book out there, but would he expose his presidency's inner workings in court to block it? "We'll see..." to coin a phrase.
6
Honestly I don’t care if it’s true or not. What Wolff has done is be the first one to play and possibly beat Trump at his own game. We should all take a lesson from it if we want to hold Trump to account.
And if you want to take Trump down all one needs to do is keep this book alive and in his face. Some media outlet should have a weekly program or column analyzing a chapter or episode from the book. Not only would it be the most read or watched it would also get tons of free promotion by Trump himself as he tweets his response to each week’s “episode” (another one of Trump’s marketing strengths).
It’s now how you play the game.
9
It almost seems as if the world was holding its collective breath waiting for a Trump White House tell-all book to drop.
Veracity aside, one sure thing is about this book is that it is the first of many tell-all books as people peel out of the Trump White House. Simply by being the first, “Fire and Fury” packs the unforgettable wallop. Stay tuned.
9
If one fourth of the worst of the book is true we are in deep deep trouble.
7
I’m about a third of the way through “Fire and Fury” and this much seems to be true: Trump never really expected to win, neither did many on his campaign. Now he’s in way over his head, and he will NEVER admit it.
15
The fact that Trump hates the book so much suggests that most of it is accurate.
70
This book, as almost any book published in US, is a commercial enterprise and as such it bears close to zero credibility. The author's and editor's main goal is to sell most copies of it and that is what greatly determines its contents. We all know that hysterical anti-Trumpism sells well in the present day America - it sells in the papers, it sells on TV, it sells on campuses, it sells on t-shirts and bumper stickers. There is no doubt that it will also sell in a book. The truth? Neither authors, nor journalists, nor, most sadly, the public really care about it. Fakeness all around.
6
Tell me what detail in the book, any detail, any member of the Administration has actually denied.
10
Incorrect. Trump is an incompetent buffoon, and no one needed this book to tell them that. Trump earned his unpopularity all by himself; the media is not to blame.
3
I don’t understand your comment that since the publication of this book is a commercial enterprise it lacks credibility. By their nature, book publishing is a commercial enterprise. By your logic, Trump’s “ The Art of the Deal” lacks credibility and books that support Trump’s agenda lack credibility. As do all the biographies and history books written since Gutenberg invented the movable type printing press. So, what is your point?
3
The first sentence of this article links being a New Yorker in Washington with Trump’s narcissism. Doesn’t mean too but that’s what it doesn’t. As a very proud, born and raised New Yorker (from Queens no less) I am so tired of his behavior being linked to being from New York.
9
I’m going to stick to actual facts and reliable news outlets for Trump gossip. I need proof. There is enough real dirt on Trump. I’m going to spend my book bucks on historians who have written and researched their material with an eye to truth. Hopefully, in three years, I’ll be able to pick this read up at a Friends of the Library sale and breath a sigh of relief knowing Donald is gone.
12
if the book is false, why would you threaten to sue?
17
Defamation of character. If someone wrote a book claiming you were a prostitute and sold heroin, you might think about suing them. But Trump should have laughed this book off and told people that the only book on his list this year is Hillarys book:) But he is not very quick on his feet.
3
And why would you not actually sue?
6
If the book is false, and one would have to prove that, and then one could sue on the basis of libel. I believe libel is if the untruth is written, and slander is if the untruth is spoken. But I am not sure. It would be quite an undertaking to prove that everything in the book is false, and if the author has tapes of his interviews, as he alleges...I would be very, very careful. Perjury is also a crime.
5
Mr. Wolff has made some very important claims, and sources have publicly denied the veracity of his reporting. In response, Mr. Wolff should produce his source materials where there's already been attribution. Steve Bannon and others claim that they've been misquoted or taken out of context. Produce the original recordings or notes so that I can make my own decision about who/what to believe. Why hasn't that happened yet?
7
Dashboard, I don't know under what circumstances the author, Wolff, would HAVE TO produce his notes or his recordings. If he does not have to, he should not.
8
I'm not saying he HAS to -- he's not required by law to do anything. But to avoid the current situation where no one is able to verify what he is saying, he should produce recordings for sources that are already "on the record." Apparently, he has tape recordings of Bannon and Katie Walsh. At the very least, he could produce those so that the public knows what they actually said and is able to rebut Bannon/Trump's claims that quotes are false or taken out of context. Doing so would inject some objectivity back into the debate and avoid the endless spin-cycle the country is in. I want source material so that I can decide what is true for myself. He should have it -- I don't see why releasing it is an issue.
I understand what you are saying, and it would be wonderful to hear these recordings because they would be "the last word." I believe that there is a reason why authors often do not or will not reveal their sources unless they are forced to. In some cases it is to protect the sources, and in other cases, it is to keep from angering the sources. If you want sources to cooperate with you in the future, it is beneficial to show that you protect your sources.
5
"Vice President Mike Pence is largely airbrushed out of the book, which is puzzling given how influential he was in tapping cabinet officials and staff."
You don't bite the hand that feeds you, and a hand that now has plausible deniability and is arguably one step closer to the Oval Office
20
There's enough facts to deem the book as generally factual. The book basically exposed that the emperor has no clothes
6
By all accounts, this book is creative nonfiction at best, but the irony is that after 3 years of loudly proclaiming all major news outlets to be "fake news", while elevating actual liars like Breitbart and Fox, none of Trump & co's attacks on these accounts ring true, especially given the typically overly-belligerent response. It's not authentic enough for me to read it, but it's funny to see so much of the public believe it wholesale, because it's exactly the kind of truthiness that Trump and the far right have sowed for years. They've always relied on the mainstream media's commitment to facts to placate any of their attacks, but now that he's the president, he's finding that professional liars like himself want a piece too.
5
Conrad, on what factual basis do you assert that the book "is creative nonfiction at best." ????? When trump lies, and we have clear evidence of those lies, we know that what comes out of his mouth is a lie, (Example: As when trump denied that he mocked a disabled reporter, but we have a video of trump doing that very thing!) but what clear evidence is there that Wolff's book is creative nonfiction? I do understand that there are some legitimate errors in the book, but I hadn't understood or heard that the brunt of the book was considered fallacious. Rather, people who have read the book have been saying that the book validates what they see going on before their eyes on a daily basis.
14
It is delicious irony that Trump, who lies every time he opens is mouth, is accusing the author of being untruthful. And it is a delightful sight to behold Trump squirm: He can't keep silent, because then the book stands as truth, but by objecting strenuously, he only gives the book more publicity. Bannon's plight is icing on the cake.
34
I think we should line the entire route from the West palm beach airport to Mar Lago with people holding out copies of the book with a pen for Trump to see and hopefully stop and autograph this weekend when he comes down for golf. Ok fellow South Florida residents who else is in?
40
Oh, I am so totally in!
6
How much is true? is a question the author doesn't comes remotely close to answering. Never has a book review simultaneously said so much and so little. There is also embarrassing ad hominem -- attacking a guy's writing style does nothing to help readers of this article better understand if the claims are accurate or not. So frustrating.
6
Aron, most authors who write such books do not keep saying after each anecdote "AND THIS IS TRUE!" The author is writing a book based on interviews he has had with people, and upon his own personal observations. It is assumed that the author is reporting truthfully, factually, and unbiased, unless proven otherwise.
6
So Wolff wrote a book that tells us all about Trump with some facts some facts incorrect, some not fully proven, and some perhaps made up. At least he tried not to be unbiased (opposite of writing a story based on a pre-conception that Trump is a bump see all NYT reports) - Wolff first collects the facts and figures and then reaches a conclusion.
Whatever - more interesting and critical is an article about America as a whole eventually resulting in Trump. What is this collective USA sickness that ended in Trump - focus on the country as a whole.
6
The author appears a bit surprised that we have a book which is almost a perfect reflection of this Presidency----soft on facts, big on rumor, strong on gossip, and huge on innuendo.
9
One might suppose that the pirated e-book copies appearing last weekend over the web have given many English speakers around the world (most who lack time or ability to follow NYT, WP, etc.) a realistic glimpse into the global menace now residing in the White House. They can now be every bit as appalled as the U.S. majority, and see just how "unfit for democracy" 30% of America really is.
15
Great if as if "Fake News" wasn't enough, now they're crying "Fake Fiction".
6
Igantius: The book is a non-fiction book. So they can cry: "FAKE NON-FICTION." But not fake fiction, for fiction is fake to begin with!
1
I'm only 150 pages into the book but I can say the writing/editing is horrible. Sentence structure, punctuation, paragraph editing and other aspects just make me cringe. The lack of attribution throughout the book is astonishing. Still, based on the previous reporting of many other respected journalists I have read, the book corroborates many stories (and the details) of this presidency.
Let's put the FUN back in dysfunctional!
14
Don't you love this country? A book with horrible writing/ editing, and cringe-worthy sentence structure, punctuation, and paragraph editing can make someone a fortune! I believe that there is a reason for the lack of attribution in the book, as astonishing as it may seem. But, as you say, AudioGuy, the book does corroborate many stories and details of this presidency. And salacious sells! Doesn't matter if words are misspelled, grammar is atrocious, etc. It is all about what titillates, incites, scandalizes, and so forth. I have not yet read the book, but so many who have are saying that it simply validates the behaviors and rhetoric that we see/hear from trump and the rest of the complicit and corrupt GOP on a daily basis.
2
Firstly, I am not a fan of Trump. However, this book is nothing but overpriced tabloid trash. There is no real distinction between fact and fiction, even by the author's own admission. While the author laughably believes his book will ultimately result in Trump's impeachment, it is unlikely to happen anytime soon. Wolff by no means is a highly respected author, but he sure knew how to lie and deceive in writing this inane book to enrich himself and further sate the appetite the ever hungry Trump haters. There seems to be no end in sight of the media's frenzy to continue the political turmoil since President Trump's election.
1
There seems to be a disrespect by some for the deep emotions of those against Trump, somehow therefore believing their case illegitimate. It is not an overreaction to Donald Trump to be shocked, angry, terrified and contemptuous -- sometimes all at the same time -- about a president of the United States who provably lies every day, tries to destroy his opponents with lies, talks about flouting the law, spends a lot more time playing golf and watching television (where he takes his orders from Fox) than attending to business, supports racists, hires totally incompetent people to head departments many of them have tried to destroy in the past, continually tries to financially profit from his office and isn't even interested enough to learn the job. I'm sorry you don't respect the law of the land and the great history and achievement of the United States Constitution to become horrified and threatened by this.
4
I do have deep concerns about Trump (especially his demeanor and negative tweets). Notwithstanding, I do not believe it is beneficial to our country for the media and others who hate Trump, to continue the acrimonious hysteria shown in relentlessly bashing him. If you listen to both the conservative and liberals viewpoints, there is a wide divergence of opinion in the truthfulness of the accusations made against Trump in Wolff’s book. We need to calm down and let “due process” determine Trump’s fate.
Would that it came from someone with a better track record than Mr. Wolff. The big picture may seem on target. At least, it's grimly consistent with the one already out there. But any reputable journalist knows that you can't slide through cow flop into the truth.
3
Trump has a fog machine that discombobulates and confuses all who try to see him directly. Michael Wolff, who is very amusing- "Where can I send the chocolates?" and cool, acts as the emissary for all of us. He goes into White House, the heart of darkness, and tells us what he saw and was told. We kind of knew it, but not really. Trump is the Wizard of Oz. There is nobody "there" to know. Trump has a kind of genius, obscuring the truth, and Wolff's book, perhaps hurried, perhaps flawed, has shed light on it.
10
Have the NYTimes, Washington Post, CNN, MSNBC collectively swallowed the hook?
Trump & Bannon are perfectly capable of staging a public feud as a tactical maneuver - What if Wolff is their collaborator?
Wolff has told Journalists he has recordings of Bannon and his other sources but who has actually seen or heard any of these recordings?
What if after The NYTimes, Washington Post, CNN, MSNBC have all swallowed and regurgitated this hook for weeks Wolff is suddenly shocked to learn that his recordings are missing or admits that he never recorded anything?
If there are no recordings Bannon and Wolff's other sources can deny anything or everything, Trump's 'Fake News' accusations are substantiated, Journalism is discredited and shutting down 'Mueller's personal fake news franchise' can be justified and gain traction.
Bannon & Trump have consistently brought a flamethrower to Journalism's stick fight - why stop now?
2
They all have to go.
3
“You don't know about me without you have read a book by the name of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer; but that ain't no matter. That book was made by Mr. Mark Twain, and he told the truth, mainly. There was things which he stretched, but mainly he told the truth. That is nothing. I never seen anybody but lied one time or another, without it was Aunt Polly, or the widow, or maybe Mary. Aunt Polly—Tom's Aunt Polly, she is—and Mary, and the Widow Douglas is all told about in that book, which is mostly a true book, with some stretchers, as I said before.”
― Mark Twain, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Jack London, Mark Twain and H.L. Mencken wrote a lot of things they passed of as true that were ultimately revealed to be "stretchers."
What does it matter if a detail or two is off-kilter, if the bulk of it is true, satisfying and funny?
16
It's time journalists quit nitpicking this book as "sloppy." Wolff is not pretending to be a journalist. He wrote a book that tells a story. A story the mainstream media have been dancing around for over a year but can't seem to tell us for fear of crossing "journalism standards." While the book may have a few small errors, by and large it tells us what major newspapers have shied away from. Finally the elephant in the room has been pointed out.
15
This nitpicking review is pure absurdity and sour-grape. All journalists wish they could write a No.1 best-seller. You bet China already translated the book for their citizens to read. It's the best explanation on why the democratic system paddled by Americans forever is the worst kind of political system. Also, China is praying that Trump will remain anchored to his lazy-boy at the White House for the full term.
9
First off, please note that very few, if any, of the people mentioned in this book have come forward and actually DENIED what they were quoted as having said or done. Especially Steve Bannon. His "retraction" consisted of saying that his comments about treason were directed at the actions of Paul Manafort, not Don, Jr., Bannon did NOT DENY what he said; he just clarified what he meant by what he said. Bannon also did not deny saying that Meuller was going to "crack Don Jr open like an egg on national tv" (I suppose he's referring to potential nationally televised hearings by Meuller?)
Second, the author was given permission by the WH to "camp out" in the West Wing FOR MONTHS. He says he has over 200 (hours?) taped interviews with West Wing staff. If necessary, it won't be hard to obtain the tapes and verify who said what. I seriously doubt the book publisher would have gone forward with this book if the vast majority of what was in it was a bunch of lies BY THE AUTHOR.
Third, the author says not that he lied, but that the people he talked to may have lied when accounts of the same events differed. So the author gave us many views of the same events and lets us make up our minds. The book apparently accurately puts forth a record of what WH staff said. The written record of the quotes themselves is true. So the WH is full of liars. Don't we already know that?
And if NONE of the content is true, WHY THE REACTION??? Methinks they doth protest too much...
313
Bannon said “they,” not Mueller, are going to crack Junior like an egg on TV. Presumably he means Congress.
1
Excellent analysis.
5
Thanks, Janet. I stand corrected.
I gleaned from the book the false syllogism behind Trump's "fake news" mantra.
(1) Trump: It's fake news because: “I’ve made stuff up forever, and [the press] always print it,”
(2) The press always printed whatever they received from Trump....e.g. CNN, MSNBC (apparently Trump never sent anything he made up to Fox News)
(3) Therefore all news from CNN, MSNBC, et al, is Fake.
3
It is ironic that the Trump campaign was aided in its quest for power by a sloppily written book: "Clinton Cash," and that it's downfall may come from another sloppily written book: "Fire and Fury." Poetic Justice?
9
This is simply big media garbage seeping further into politics and by proxy into everything. We will continue to reject it. That is what the north-east continues to not understand.
1
The book has a stink about it- the stink of Trump's incessant incompetence and lies. It is not just plausible, it captures the character of Trump and his fellow travelers. Their fear of the truth is made all the more obvious by the panic of their response.
4
Trump and his hysterical supporters are accusing Wolfe lying about the world champion of lying. The irony is delicious.
15
As one of my wise friends said: “If two people tell you you look sick, maybe you should see a doctor!” The details may be debatable but the description of Trump is pretty clear.
9
The book that should be read;
The Dangerous Case Of Donald Trump
7
I keep coming back to this: how did we as Americans come to have Trump as the leader of our great country? Surely the neo nazis and the nationalists and the other god awful sorts don't account for great enough numbers on their own. Are that many of us really that awful in private? I have resisted believing it.
13
No one is going to change their opinion of Trump because of Wolff's book. Pundits can muse or fulminate, White House staffers, Trump associates and miscellaneous hangers on (what exactly IS a Scaramucci, anyway?) can deny, explain, apologize, or stand on their head while whistling "Dixie," and it will not matter. Whether the book is all true or completely made up (both extremely dubious positions) the Trump phenomenon will continue, and my guess is whatever opinion anyone had of Donald Trump on November 6, 2016, is the opinion that one will retain forever.
2
Given the number of conceded errors in the book, would you hire Wolff to report for the Times?
That's the only assessment that matters.
4
Trump looks like he is carrying a leaf blower- maybe he is doing the WH lawn himself- it would be good for him to do an honest day's work sometime after his vindictive overnight rubber stamp of Stephen Miller's immigrant hatred today.
What a petty, ugly little man.
9
How much is true? If it's only 1%, it's more than any of us should have to bear.
11
Leaving out that the initial Greenwich village townhome meeting is at his home is not a flaw, but a stroke of genius. It illustrates the fly on the wall intent. Love it.
3
I wish another author wrote this book because Michael Wolff has a terrible reputation as a liar.
1
Did you watch Trump campaign? Have you kept up with his insane tweets? Have you seen who he has appointed to destroy our institutions? Have you listened to his defense of neo-Nazis at Charlottesvile? And on and on and on....
Nitpick all you want. It's true enough.
15
Thanks for the review; you have saved me the pain of reading the book. I'm sure there are many truths in the book but it sounds like identifying them will be akin to plucking coffee beans from Kopi Luwak.
2
Even if we assume that Wolff took liberties with, say, 50% of the material, how scary is it that the other 50% is on the mark. Is this really what people voted for when they decided to shake up the establishment? It's grotesque. It's dangerous. It's a three ring circus dressed up as government.
8
I don't need a book to tell me or rremind me that America's greatest electoral mistake in its history was the last presidential election.
We need to correct this mistake and eliminate the electoral college from picking our President, clearly against the will of a majority of Americans.
11
I completely agree with your comment. Every time the Electoral College winds up being the decider, this country suffers. I understand why it was put into practice initially. The time has already come to get rid of it.
With Gerrymandering and the years since ratification of the Constitution: it is now a disservice to our union. The Popular vote and less money spent on campaigns is desperately needed. I cringe when I hear how much $ is spent. Super PAC's & money from billionaires, & other countries citizens must stop. A true Democracy doesn't entail an electoral college. The R's always are the benefactors from the Electoral College. Gerrymandering must also stop. The Supreme Court recently ruled against them for one state. It gives an unfair advantage to the R's in the recent case. More Gerrymandering cases coming. The Democrats will need to be the ones to get rid of the Electoral College. The only other option is for people to move a lot to keep the districts more fairly aligned.
Don't think anyone who keeps up with the news needs a "book review" of Wolff's book, which sums up what most of us have observed! Think political reporters exist to report on political news rather than to comment on each other's work.
2
I found the book a bit tame. Trump's age shows. I have seen much worse in the office. The described jockeying for position is standard stuff at every court, I fear.
The idea that Trump did not really want the presidency is the impression that I had all along.
That he has no real vision was clear to me all along as well: and maybe his absence of vision is better than having the vision that Bannon has. The big institutions will survive.
I am amazed that Trump cares so much about what other people say, about the impression he makes.
And whether it reflects the truth?
I think that that is less important than the shown lack of awareness of the possibility that the US is being outmaneuvered by foreign powers. Here Bannon even may have a point.
2
Wolff has provided a huge public service for our endangered democracy and way of life. Special thanks for his efforts and result, however flawed. We need more of this. The base needs to be somehow woken up - though that may be impossible.
3
With all due respect, this review enlightens NOT. The reviewer essentially confirms Wolff's premise of imprecise yet telling whiffs of national emergency from an enemy within--Trump's psyche. Where's the emergency exit?
2
Brilliant review. Fair and balanced.
Justifies my decision.
Not to buy the book.
I readily acknowledge its vitality.
I prefer veracity.
2
Heard Wolff on The News Hour...
Wavering. May buy it...
The man knows himself, and he's honest.
If you have not yet read the book, on what do you base your conclusion that the review is " fair and balanced."
This is not the first time that Michael Wolff's writing has been called controversial or "a work of fiction". Those who know him well remember that his writings on Vietnam war caused a much larger controversy in Washington and everyone connected to that war was strenuously accusing him of twisting or falsifying the truth. But it turned out that he was actually right on the mark 99% of the time.
We can all do ourselves a big favor. Instead of listening to those who have a dog in this fight, we can go online and dig up Michael Wolff's old articles on Vietnam and, now that we have a better understanding of that war, see how close or far he was with the truth.
9
If this was a book about Obama described as child like we would all burst out laughing but when it is about Trump it sure seems to fit his actions. If only 10 percent is fully accurate that alone is enough for alarm, but I fear it is more like 75-90 percent accurate.
Once Trump sent the cease and desist letter I bought it and will be sick for my country as I read it.
5
Wolff's 'Fire and Fury' is only the first draft of history, but it is a good indication of the history of Trump to come, and there will be a lot more. Trump's Tacitus, Suetonius, and, best of all, Procopius are yet tome come. Oh yes, and then there will be Gibbon, from which he will never recover, after which nothing more will need be said.
3
Book is a page turner. Can't put it down. A year ago, I said to my family and friends... "let's give the guy a chance. Maybe it will work out" Now. Horror. Wolff's book should scare every clear thinking adult who reads it. How did we get here? And where are the responsible adults?
9
Just what The Donald deserves for a first insider book about his so-called presidency. Who better to document this disaster than someone who might have a loose association with accuracy.
After all, this president has no association with truth and accuracy. Whatever sells his brand is the truth of the day. Like Oliver Stone history, it may lack accuracy in the facts, but it probably captures the essential dirty truth about Trump and his entourage.
It’s not like we aren’t treated to a daily front seat view of this train wreck of an administration. I don’t expect this book to alter the political landscape. Trump was elected to take a sledge hammer to the Washington establishment and their notions of government.
No one outside the political class will care much unless and until it is clear that serious problems arise from his maladministration, and it is not clear that such a disaster will happen on his watch. He’s a bad dream and most likely we will wake up from it and shake it off.
1
I've ordered the book. I'll read it with a skeptical eye and celebration of just deserts for the Oaf King of Mar-a-Ego.
2
The view from France
Joie de guerre may be Wolffs favorite French expression, but the French are skeptical about la vérité , the truth, of his book
Trois raisons de se méfier de Michael Wolff, l'auteur du livre qui déclenche le feu et la fureur de Donald Trump
Three reasons to be wary of Michael Wolff, the author of the book that triggers the fire and the fury of Donald Trump
Reason number one
Il prend ses aises avec la vérité
He takes it easy on the truth
https://www.msn.com/fr-ca/actualites/monde/trois-raisons-de-se-méfier-de-michael-wolff-lauteur-du-livre-qui-déclenche-le-feu-et-la-fureur-de-donald-trump/ar-BBHWMvP?li=AAanjZr
3
Read it this morning. And since you seem not to have noticed, what "Le monde," actually said boiled down to the idea that these two jokers pertty much deserve one another, both being blowhards with at best a casual relation to reality.
Then the paper argued that say what you will, Wolff's portrait sure seemd pretty accurate.
Oh, read where, you ask? Morning train out of Chartres, thank you very much, in a country where a lot of the headlines concern Macron and other world leaders spending their days either working to comoensate for the vaccuum my esteemed President is leaving, or finagling their way into filling it up with simething even worse.
1
All we have to do is read Trump's tweets, or listen to him talk, or see photos of his blank stare that makes him look like he doesn't know what's going on, to know that Wolff's book is true.
50
This is the problem with placing trust in the professional scribblings of a writer for "The Hollywood Journal" and the UK edition of "GQ". At one extreme of journalistic offerings is the New York Times, and at the other are supermarket tabloids claiming that Madonna’s latest adoption was of an alien abandoned on Earth by her parents, who hail from Proxima Centauri. And then there’s this amorphous mid-layer of journalism that sometimes aims for the Times, and sometimes aims for the Tattler. It’s up to the reader to figure out which in each offering.
Now, what I just wrote is how Trump should have reacted. There’s a lot to be said for deflationary humor.
Sadly, that wasn’t how he reacted. One wonders just how much stock he owns in various media and content companies that he tries so assiduously to keep them afloat with his utterances.
Michael Wolff is a charter member of our joke-press. Thank all the Buddhas in Asia, the continent and sub-continent, that Jonathan Martin is not.
3
@Richard Luettgen: "This is the problem with placing trust in the professional scribblings of a writer for 'The Hollywood Journal' and the UK edition of 'GQ.".
But it's okay to trust the Presidency to a man with no political experience and a history of business bankruptcies who points with pride to his leadership of The Apprentice, one of the cheesiest pieces of schlock on reality TV?
6
Wolff is the continuation of Trump by other means.
Richard,
As I recall (i.e. imperfectly), during the run-up to the vote you were almost as appalled by DJT as the rest of us.
You're just going to have to face up to the fact that he really is the face of 21st century conservatism. (Actually starting with the ascension of The Newter a decade or so earlier). It's not your idea of conservatism (I take it),
but that show was cancelled years ago. I'm sorry.
The new series is - and will continue to be - about Birthers & Birchers.
1
Who says they're nervous?
James Dobson joined Intercessors for America for the organization’s monthly prayer conference call, during which he called on conservative Christians to engage in a day of fasting and prayer against efforts to impeach President Trump.
3
"Truthful hyperbole" is not what we need.
I'd like to know how much of Wolff's book is true. This review didn't help.
7
As most publishing pros know, if you tell the average person to read a book their eyes glaze over. To get them to read it a book it has to be banned by the government. When Trump demand that the publisher not release the Wolff book he almost guaranteed it would become a best seller.
34
>
"True...is what you can defend against all comers."
Richard Rorty
3
I have read the book. It's a five star books with some errors of fact. Perhaps more than some. But in this case, its relative enough. And truthy enough. If our President believes he alone establishes the standard for what is true and what is not, and that his words don't need any further accountability, then where are we? If Trump is right, then we are living in a fictional country. A fiction that could be very realistically destroyed. The real truth is that we have a lot to fear and not merely laugh at behind every one of the president's self-proclamation of genius. This book at least provided me some hope that our country might still not be fictional, and that our children might still have a future.
49
Like a child
So desperate for attention
Donald Trump... and
Michael Wolff, Trump’s deserved Boswell...
Boswell he’s not. He’s a creep..
In creep’s clothing.
2
Politics is the art of the possible, as is the art of a political book. Wolff's content is based on what he could get the people in the White House to tell him. It's not like a book sourced from the library stacks, but so what?
11
Wolff is less than kind to Martin’s colleagues Maggie Haberman and Glenn Thrush, so it is unsurprising that Martin is unsatisfied. I love reading this trio of NYT reporters’ columns, but they too often rely on unnamed sources and even more unnamed sources.
My sense is that after the fact checkers are done with Fire and Fury, the gist of every chapter will remain standing as essential truths despite the inevitable, yet inconsequential, errors. Wolff has the advantage of being able to forego future presidential access, something that NYT reporters can’t relinquish, and thus Wolff isn’t required to pull any punches. Wolff makes this point in his book.
Fire and Fury stands out as a group of insightful personal profiles of the bizarre characters who’ve passed through the White House during the past years. Some characters are treated sympathetically (Katie Walsh) and others less so.
One is left wondering whether DJT’s supper request goes like this: “I’d gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today!”
26
Mainstream Media would do itself a lot of good in the eyes of a very distrustful America if it:
i) Fact-checked Wolff as it does Trump; and,
ii) If it reports on when Wolff will release his tapes.
2
Wolff will release his tapes when DJT releases his tax returns.
1
This comes from a guy who worked previously at Politico, which reinvented this exact kind of horse-race/who's-up-who's-down reporting. Spare us the pearl-clutching.
7
Mr Bannon has just had a self administered dose of Trump's poison play: Throw out a lot of vile and nasty invective about people who you should have a sense of loyalty to, the better to make yourself look the cleverest and the smartest, and then spend a few days apologizing and arse smooching when you find yourself on the wrong side of the circle of wagons. I hope Bannon will disappear from view. His ambition reached a lot farther than his true influence. He is a disgrace of a human being, with nothing insightful to offer, nor positive ideas for change. He's just an angry old white man.
24
Could care less about the quality of the book. Read it or don't.
Trump deserves all the aggravation he could possibly get. And more after his 5 + years of peddling his smarmy birther lies and more. When you sling mud some of it may hit you Donald.
151
Glad to see we as a people are better than that... maybe we deserve trump as a reflection of our true selves these days.
Dreaming of course, but I would like to turn on the news and not see some "TRUMPATUDE" isolating, dividing, or persecuting some group of "thems."
3
All this attention to the Trump/Bannon split is clearly a distraction planned by Bannon so that bigger stories slip by unremarked upon. The fact that so many liberals fell for this classic ploy doesn't bode well for the resistance. We need to watch what both hands are doing, and their footwork as well if we are going to win.
9
I paid rapt attention to the entire election and numerous trump rallies. I also follow the tweets daily, or as much as I can stand. There is no doubt in my mind that the tales in the book are at least 90% factual.
68
Mr. Martin may want to edit his next-to-last paragraph of his review of "Fire and Fury."
Since it's generally acknowledged that Trump's "The Art of the Deal" was indeed not written by him, it may be a mistake to attribute the "truthful hyperbole" term to him.
6
He signed off on it, didn't he though?
1
So true. I'd be surprised if he even knew what the word "hyperbole" meant.
1
I saw some one today recall the phrase "fake but accurate." It may be, but it is hard to decide who is the more pathetic -- Trump or Wolff.
Trump does appear to be dumb, ill-informed, incurious and an array of other characteristics that make him ill-suited to be president, but some of the tales told by Wolff just seem absurd. And Wolff -- an adulterer by admission and self-promoter to the point of obsession, is ill placed to be moralizing on the subject.
Sadly, Trump has accidentally, or maybe even occasionally intentionally, stumbled upon some good policies, but his incompetence at politics prevents their execution.
But the Times and the other ideological press, in its uninhibited contempt for Trump, has yet to write an article on the logical consequence of all this - President Pence.
4
What this does not address is why Trump tried to stop the publishing of this book. If he was so confident of its inaccuracies, etc. then why fight it? My sense of it is that regardless of flaws and seemingly poor editing by the publisher, it is pretty accurate! Look at Bannon’s reaction - not to mention the grotesque Stephen Miller on CNN. That was shocking. At a time when almost nothing, no matter how appalling, is shocking.
NYTimes, I am waiting for a “have you no decency” approach from you. This time in our history is devastating. At a time when we are facing many crises, we have a White House full of liars and probable serious criminals trying every day to mislead and detract. You aren’t doing enough as a press I count on.
My nuclear button is bigger than yours? Via twitter? I feel like no one gets it and my frustration is building. I am counting on the press to tell the devastating truth. Hold Trump and these people accountable.
50
Bannon does not deny what the book says. He apologized, but does not deny. In his haste to be the Greatest President of All Time, Trump succumbed to Michael Wolff and his glorification of his presidency. He was at the White House, at the invitation of the White House. He was allowed to tape, take notes and document his conversations. Gorka was told (as reported by the Hill) to cooperate with Wolff. All I can say, for a "very stable genius", Trump and his people fell hook, line, and sinker. What I see is a bunch of stupidity mixed in with an overabundance of ego, plus an administration placating the man who has to be told where to sign.
32
If you had double-checked with the publisher to see if this indeed was rushed to print to avoid a libel lawsuit, that would have explained the mistakes in spelling, etc., that a good copy editor, followed by the publisher's proofreader, would have caught and corrected.
Certainly, your column goes through copy editors and an editor before we see it in print. Although a good copy editor, because of the unusually speedy release of this book, would have had you check with the book's publisher for context. Just saying ....
7
How would publishing earlier, with less editing, help AVOID a libel suit?
1
Based on the passages that have been discussed in the press, they seem to be consistent with the reporting for the last 13 months. There seems to be little doubt that the president is both an idiot and insane.
65
Let's not be so serious about Fire and Fury. Whether or not any of it is true is besides the point - this is America and the American Way is to make a buck anyway you can. We have a con man in the Oval Office so it's only fitting that a con man writes a bio about a con man. May all involved make lots of money...
6
Yeah, finally we have judged. It is just a con job! Really?
Truth?
Facts?
Accuracy?
No, no, no, no, no.
Those things are not necessary anymore.
This is "The Age of Trump".
Many, many, people are saying very, very, great, great, things.
Michael Wolff is just another person saying very, very, great, great, things.
He is using "Alternative Facts".
Like Obama's Birth Certificate from Kenya, or the Bowling Green Massacre, or crowd size. PERIOD!
Paybacks, Kellyanne.
Paybacks.
52
We need to have publicly funded campaigns. Not just for the Presidency, but for the House and Senate.
78
I think the most useful review is the one from Washington reporters that answers a fairly simple question: Are the accounts in this book consistent with what reporters have been hearing 'off the record' from insiders on Capitol Hill and in the White House? I get the sense that perhaps they are. Yes, we need to understand if Wolff's reporting is sloppy and the other similar critiques that are out there. What voters really need to know, however, is whether or not the book offers a generally accurate portrayal of the workings of the Trump Administration.
There has been information swirling around since this bizarre chapter began, where across the board, the not-quite-courageous Washington crowd has been willing to say off the record that Mr. Trump is unstable, disorganized, dangerous, vindictive, etc. Now with Wolff's book, we have a record.
So, what is off-the-record and 'background' information for, but to serve to corroborate or discount other, on-the-record information? Let's get to it. Is the book consistent with all the background and off-the-record info that's been gathered, or not?
51
Unfortunately we don’t know that we are in for a ride with a reckless driver until we actually crash and there are some fatalities, newsflash!!! We are in with a reckless driver.
5
Since when does a rumor monger, known admitted lier's book deserve a mention let alone all the attention in the New York Times. Shame on you!!
4
You mean trump, right?
3
The Times featured "Clinton Cash" on its front page in March 2015, before Hillary Clinton entered the race. Every single allegation within the book was refuted, but NOT by the Times.
Peter Schweizer, the author of “Clinton Cash”, also wrote totally unbiased, objective books like:
1 Reagan’s War: The Epic Story of his Forty Year Struggle and Final Triumph Over Communism,
2 Do As I Say (Not as I Do) Profiles in Liberal Hypocrisy,
3 Makers and Takers: How Conservatives Do All The Work While Liberals Whine and Complain,
4 Victory: The Reagan Administration’s Secret Strategy that Hastened the Collapse of the Soviet Union, and
5 Landmark Speeches of the American Conservative Movement (Landmark Speeches: A Book Series)
5
The book has not been clearly sourced and is "too good to check." This is the liberal equivalent of an Alex Jones conspiracy and should be treated accordingly, which is to say as fiction.
4
Hox...that's not what he said. "Too good to check" means, in the real newspaper business...that the piece will never run. But, to a post-truthfulness White House, some alternative facts should not matter .
6
Anyone who is an observer of Trump (in or outside of the White House) knows that he is an unqualified, reckless, narcissistic sociopath. His pattern of behavior, since the beginning of his candidacy indicates that...loudly and clearly!
26
Why not find out what terms mean before you try to refute them.
1
It seems unfair to, on the one hand, suggest that Wolff's journalism is not rigorous, and then on the other, to be dissatisfied with those parts where he is candid about bring unable to ascertain the truth, and gives all versions.
Which do you want, assiduous accuracy, or a novel's consistent narrative?
Any error of fact is regrettable, to be sure, but the only ones clearly indicated here are pretty minor.
41
In the era of faux news and a White House full of people with no regard for reality, does it actually matter if "Fire and Fury" is accurate?
15
Yes because we should hold ourselves to be better.
If we as a electorate were better people, we would have picked better candidates. Instead, we got two reflections of our own absurdity, and we picked one.
1
No matter true or not, it is a fabulous narrative that will hound DJT, Sr. & Jr. to the end of their days. Look how the rightwing media crucified HRC on flimsy pretext (e.g., Benghazi) yet those lies continue to dog her to this day.
48
"liberal catnip"? More like conservative cyanide.
70
Doesn's Trump's initial reaction - the cease and desist letter - really tell you what you need to know about this book? He's afraid of it because he knows it is true. Even Gorka somewhat hilariously made an accidental acknowledgment in a column in The Hill that senior WH staff was told to speak to Wolff. See Gorka's op-ed: "Don't Believe Wolff's Book About Trump". Liars gonna lie.
42
Yeah, this is sour grapes by the New York Times.
I'm only through four chapters of the Wolff book, but the most striking thing is that most of the reported news consists of things things anyone who reads about politics already knows, just laid in a new frame.
And that is the problem with the New York Times' critique -- The Times got its own scoop a week ago when Times White House Reporter Michael Schmidt got his own "sit down" moment with the President at Mar a Lago. It was an interesting story, but the Times' reporting and Schmidt's appearances tried to talk about the "issues" presented.
In fact, the three main scoops in the Times' story went unspoken:
1) Why is our President unable to effectively communicate in the English language?
2) Why is our President seemingly unable to process a human thought?
3) How does the White House allow a New York Times reporter unsupervised access to the President? Who is managing him?
(I wish I were being flip. I'm not.)
So it was a good story in the Times, but it missed the point.
Michael Wolff doesn't miss the point.
270
Jonathan Martin and Michael Schmidt are political correspondents for The New York Times. They are not the New York Times.
Surely one can see this rather large difference.
7
You're dead right(unfortunate term, but...). THIS is the story. And we continue to be in big, big trouble.
2
And Mike Schmidt of the Times appeared to agree with Trump verbally on some issues in their interview that were unlikely actually his own. This is simply the way an interviewer has to work to get candid, even unexpected, responses from the subject. Wolff does what a good writer must do. That doesn't mean the subject's responses are untrue.
3
Whatever it’s shortcomings, the book resonates because it exactly what we know about this President - dumb as a post and entirely unfit for the job.
140
Yes. He told you exactly what you wanted to hear. Echo chambers anyone?
I live in one of the most conservative parks of Arizona, and have legitimately thought about purchasing 15 copies and leaving them at the community mailbox for every uber Republican here to have a stroke.
270
Please do it. Better yet, find a kickstarter to flood your state!
6
Why don't you do it, instead of just thinking about it?
4
Love this idea! And another commenter’s idea that a mob show up at Mar-a-Lago with copies of the book, and ask him to sign them - ha! If we slipped the dust jack from one of his god awful books onto Fire and Fury, he probably wouldn’t even notice : D
4
However accurate or inaccurate this book may be, it is very satisfying to hear Trump and his lying little minions whine and howl about anybody other than themselves being dishonest.
78
My brothers and sisters in this country have lost their way.
I hope you find your way back to a place of love and mutual respect, understanding what is real and what is sensationalized rhetoric designed to take your money. You are all taken, please break free!
2
ME from Georgia: And the ones who are the most "taken" are the ones who watch and believe Fox News. A bunch of craven liars. At Fox News, they all laugh up their sleeves at their viewers.
5
A decade or so from now, some unsuspecting college student will eschew Wikipedia and use F&F as the primary source for a paper. The somewhat older and better educated professor or TA will make it clear that "truthiness" may have been fine for the forgotten (but highly entertaining) Colbert Report, but in order to obtain an A in this course, better sources are necessary.
4
Maybe five decades from now. Or ten. A decade from now, Stephen Colbert will be far from forgotten but likely still commenting with fair and due truthiness on our daily political squawks.
1
The summarize the comments so far: 1. The book does not meet high standards for journalism. 2. A great majority of what it tells is true. 3. The picture it paint is entirely consistent with everything else we know about our President and his gaggle.
83
Hey, Congress! It's the Republic, stupid-heads!! It's not the economy.
I thank Wolff for writing this book, for the conversations it propels into the mainstream news are important and needed. I thank Charles Blow for his unwavering beliefs about the Trump White House.
I wonder when the Congress and the senior Trump staff will come out of the banana-tree jungle to finish off Trump's efforts for a banana republic. How much more abnormal, more arrogant, and more needy of praise does the president have to be to be removed?
35
I finished the book today. It is sloppy, and written almost as a rush-to-press job. But it confirms most of the impressions that Trump has created via his tweets, statements, actions on the record, and via his personal and professional history. Is he insane? Probably not, but that does not limit the danger he poses to the nation. Are his keepers running the country? Yeah, but Bush (41 and 43) were also handled and spoon-fed. Trump is hardly the first womanizer and harasser in the Oval Office. JFK and RFK team tagged Marilyn Monroe, and JFK was with a woman when his wife miscarried; FDR died in the arms of his mistress, and LBJ pulled his share of Harvey Weinstein behaviors. Clinton - well, we all know about Clinton. Yet all of these Presidents accomplished great things. This does not excuse their behavior, but Trump offers NOTHING that can improve the lives of Americans, outside the small sliver of White nationalists. That is what came across to me while reading. Trump has no redeeming features, and his fragile ego may well result in some unplanned behavior that triggers monstrous consequences. The book, for all its flaws, rings true about the desperate, flawed, mistake that is our current President.
102
Really, Trump is not the only danger we are facing. I dare say that Trump is not even the most dangerous person. Bigger danger lies in the person who stand in the shadows and next in line. America is besieged by an inept and bought out Congress which is more delusional and less mature than Trump. The Media runs the Circus. The Corporations and the Billionaires are having a field day. The Masses are nonchalant but nonplussed. Neighbors, Friends, and Adversaries are bewildered. The Planet is scorched. Nature is going wild. WHAT ARE WE, THE SANE, THE SERIOUS, AND THE SINCERE TO DO?
34
That is the question. Well, we can support good candidates, we can voice our outrage, we can march on the 20th, and we can even run for office. As we know, the popular vote put Hillary in the White House, not this spiteful hobgoblin of low wattage. So, vote by vote, me must stay the course. As soon as we have an opening, we must safeguard against outside interference and gerrymandering. And we mustn't let identity politics -- voices that must be heard in unison, not in separation -- fracture our United States of America.
6
Unfortunately the untruths in this book are going to be fodder for Trump.
As sure as the sun will rise tomorrow, he's eventually going to use it as an example of the Lying Media. And he's also going to ask how he can be accused of lying when a book this book is received so well.
7
Because some names were misspelled?
3
- and I don't want to sound too cynical - but the NYT and the reporters of the NYT still want to have access to White House - Right?
And I accept is as the excuse that I never read in the NYT - what I read in the book Fire and Fury.
2
When we have to ask how much is true, then the answer seems obvious.
11
Peter, not everyone is asking how much is true. Millions are saying: "This is exactly what I thought; this just validates the minutiae that goes on beyond the stunning insanity that we see and hear on a daily basis."
8
It is as the author sees it, just like the things that Trump sees.
Everyone has their beliefs how things are, the real question is what do the majority believe as that is what determines the reality of anything whether it's true or false.
It's unfortunate that a more rigorous editing was not done on this book, but then how many books receive this kind of instant scrutiny?
I'm thrilled that Wolff ran with this opportunity and gave us a peek into the derangement behind the tweets. Better to know now than with the post-term tell-alls, which I also look forward to, if only for grim confirmation.
44
Time to rethink the U.S. presidency. The responsibilities are too great, too demanding, and beyond the capacity of one human being, regardless of how well prepared. Since World War II we have had a mix -- good (Eisenhower, Bush 41, Obama), fair (Kennedy, Johnson, Carter, Reagan, Clinton, Bush 43), poor (Nixon, Trump). These presidencies have produced a few remarkable achievements, like NASA and the interstate highway system, but also tragic decisions, like Vietnam, Iraq, and a military constantly on the brink of war.
No American corporation would accept such a record of weak performance without reflection and an effort to reform.
Our Founding Fathers in their wildest imagination could not anticipate what the modern presidency has become -- commander in chief of a trillion dollar defense establishment, sweeping regulatory authority, a huge federal bureaucracy -- all answerable to one person. And that person is selected after a billion dollar election campaign where "none of the above" has become the most popular choice.
We've forgotten that our Constitution is meant be be amended, and we're overdue.
36
Agreed. Do you like the French system? Government officials (say mayors, governors, congress) vote first to select 10 candidates. Then the people vote twice, first to narrow the field to 2 and then a final runoff to choose the winner. I think this will achieve, at least, what the founding fathers tried to do unsuccessfully with the Electoral College: prevent a talented demagogue from getting elected.
Apart from what Steve Bannon gifted, this book has been a distraction. The nebulous claim that Trump is not mentally incompetent just has no handle on it. In contrast, every bad Trump related policy has a handle and should be grabbed.
When Trump makes a point of protecting American Truckers or saving American coal miners from fairly certain financial ruin, do you think they will be impressed that a gossip writer says Trump is mentally unstable?
1
Criag...Coal mining is not coming back. I do not believe that trump can or will save American coal miners from financial ruin unless he plans to support all of them either single-handedly, or through some kind of welfare program. That trump promises these poor people that he can bring coal mining back is clear evidence that trump is mentally unstable.
2
Trucking ain’t coming back either. Self-driving technology.
2
The real issue isn't how "true" or exaggerated the book's content really is. It's that Trump's character and all its flaws were known, made available to the general voting public and there STILL were people who voted for him! Not as many as voted for Hillary, Trump merely won the Electoral College vote not the popular count, but a few million still voted for him. If he is childish and lacking much intellectual understanding what does that say about his supporters?
What's it say about his minions?
39
Like so many other media presentations attempting to reveal Trump during the best season for it, this book sacrificed accuracy for speed and shows that. But it is easy to understand the haste of an enterprising fellow tempted by timely millions and an publication date. Frankly, I don't think Trump and his gang deserve better.
The title reveals the common misunderstanding of Trump. It should have been merely "Trump Tantrums". At that, Americans might one day thank Trump. Their society, in almost every aspect, has became dysfunctional, contemptible and a lie. It is time that became apparent to all. Trump is merely a distillate of America and the sooner that is realized, the more that can possibly be salvaged.
5
When the dust settles the book may bolster Trump rather than help bring him down. It gives the first impression of documenting what we should have known about Trump anyway, but Wolff's methods are so flawed that the impact of his book may be to allow Trumpies to more easily refute and deny the portrait of Trump it presents.
4
This review represents classic reviewer posturing. First the reviewer hits us with his credentials. He is a REAL expert. Then he does what all reviewers do. He goes on and on not about what the book is, but instead he tells us what the book is not. That is nothing but an attempt to showcase his expertise. The book is exactly what the author intended it to be.
What the book is not is that it is not a newspaper article that tries convey exact factual information, 100% of the time. That does not detract from its value. In fact, the author, Wolff, states as such right at the beginning. What the book attempts to accomplish is to tell a story that is largely based factual information. It is a sort of docudrama that informs the reader of the goings on inside the White House. It accomplishes that task extremely well.
The reviewer states that the book is unsatisfying because of its factual errors and style. The errors are not of a gross magnitude. They do not substantially detract from the main narrative.
What the author does do is paint a picture of the mood, intent and process of the activities of the internal workings of the Trump administration. He does that extremely well.
We learn form this text that the processes of the Trump administration border on chaos, gross incompetence and mental instability. That alone should scare the pants off of anyone. We learn that incompetence rules. We learn that Trump is unfit to lead. Satisfied yet?
90
The review is pure snark. The cute opening paragraph (Wolff as Trump's dopelganger) was supposed to be arch, but it's been done before. Basically, what this reviewer is saying is, Damn! Why didn't write this book! Wolff admits the shortcomings of his book in his introduction, as this reviewer notes. I don't know. This review is just an example of why it's so difficult to like New Yorkers.
9
Michael Wolff did something almost no other journalist in Washington has been willing to do - burn bridges in the name of exposing the truth. The journalitariat should certainly be discerning and point out questionable facts, quotes or details, so we maintain the highest standards in a "fake news" era.
However, nitpicking this book - without lauding Wolff for the bigger picture service he has done for the country in pointing out the conspiracy of silence in the GOP and surrounding the White House - is akin to spell-checking Woodward and Bernstein's coverage of Watergate.
But thank you for pointing out the correct spelling for Ms Rosen and making sure we don't get our Bermans wrong when next we dine at the Four Seasons.
205
I’ve preordered the hard copy on Amazon based on Trump’s cease and desist order. That way I get a double hit on Trump, given his ire towards Jeff Bezos.
My sister in law read it on her Kindle in two days, telling me it was a riveting read but also pretty scary.
Today we hear that Trump’s office hours are pretty short by presidential standards. Whatever one thinks of the gossipy error-laden nature of Fire and Fury, it’s prettiy clear that the books main premise—that Trump is no intellectual and barely reads—seems very true.
But of course we already knew that, didn’t we?
84
We all know by now the character of Trump: narcissistic, combative, abusive, unhinged...all we need to do is see the the forest, not count each tree, to confirm that this country is now at the mercy of a dangerous president and a small but vociferous entourage that worship him... as a demi-god.
22
Wickedly, deliciously funny. Trump is such an impish bully, and it takes it so hard when the tables are turned, and he is the object of ridicule. This is well deserved, and all the better because the stories ring true.
54
"Fire And Fury" will have achieved its unintended public service if it moves the needle, if only slightly, for the near-future removal of the definitively worst Administration in the nation's history from the White House and, correspondingly, its sickening Republican enablers from the halls of Congress.
93
The book excerpts we've seen are disturbing, salacious, and make for a surefire bestseller, but provide nothing new about this presidency. Trump and his team have been giving us concrete evidence of their competence every day since...well, since the campaign. Nothing new here, folks, just details on what you already know.
5
I did not need this book to clearly see the problems with Trump. Trump supporters won’t read it, and their RSS feed sources will highlight inaccuracies to discredit the entire book.
I will not reward Wolff’s sloppiness by buying his book.
I am interested only in information that Robert Mueller can use to hold this administration accountable for any obstruction of justice, abuse of power, and/or conspiracy to collude with foreign agents to manipulate the election. And of course any information that exposes along the way money laundering, tax evasion, exploitation of visa programs, etc.
13
From what I have read, I would say Michael Wolff's coverage of Donnie Bonespurs holds much more truth than anything NYT's bevy of reporters wrote about HRC's emails during the 2016 election cycle.
84
And then congratulated itself on its marvelous coverage of the election.
Unbelievable.
3
The very "looseness with the truth, if not with reality itself" that Wolff himself concedes is an elemental thread in his book is the pervasive theme of the Trump presidency as well. "Fire and Fury" may be damning, attention-getting, and timely, but rather than offering clear, incisive evidence from multiple sources, Wolff seems to enjoy wallowing in the chaos of the circus Trump has created around himself. It feels like a missed opportunity.
2
Unscholarly book written by a somewhat inept and low brow author. This weakens the message about Trump.
4
Who says the book needs to be scholarly to have impact? It is the work of a professional, opportunistic journalist, who was tenacious enough and savvy enough to not only see the story, but to get it. Hard to see how it "weakens the message" about Trump. It screams the message, actually.
41
susanic, You're absolutely right it "screams the message". I don't think histrionics has any place in this endeavor but I'm (unsurprisingly) in the minority among NYT commenters. Cheers
In the book, Rupert Murdock, the puppetmaster, impresses Trump with his wisdom and support via Fox and WSJ. Murdock, as an immigrant, should be deported before any Dreamers.
13
Mr. Martin is criticizing Wolff for something the book didn't claim to do, nor is it likely to even be possible for any author, even after the fact, for lack of sources unwilling to be quoted, or words heard only in passing or fear of lawsuits for publishing off the record information.
What Wolff did claim to do was capture the personal interactions that define the functioning, or utter lack of functioning, of the Trump White House. In broad general terms Wolff was quite successful in portraying that insight which dovetails perfectly with the rumors and leaks that have been spread throughout the media for the last 18 months. If some details are wrong, then everyone who has ever said anything to anyone, and made a mistake, is similarly wrong.
What Wolff did not pretend to do, nor was he given White House permission to do, was to attend White House policy meetings, review documents during preparation and interview the people who prepared them. And, not being privy to that sort of information, politics is, possibly disappointingly, given a minor place in Wolff's book.
I liken "Fire and Fury" to Katie Tur's book, "Unbelievable ..." which documents the trials and tribulations of an NBC reporter who followed the Trump campaign for 500 days. She reports on the horrors of the behavior of Trump supporters and interactions of Trump and his aides with reporters, and the way reporters were treated. She didn't pretend to do more and can't be criticized for it.
10
Notice that even Stephen Miller didn’t deny any of the specifics about any of the people in the WH. He just bellowed at Jake Tapper that his boss is a genius and that CNN is so mean.
94
Did anyone else notice that Miller kept looking down and rarely made eye contact with Tapper while looking extremely nervous? His body language and stumbling over his words seemed to me to convey that he was almost choking with the lying that he was doing...
4
Most amusingly, from Miller and others in the Trump camp, it's all lies and fabrications! Well, they sure are harshing on poor Steve Bannon over a book that is pure falsehood. Poor guy.
12
Bruce Sears, EXCELLENT point - thank you.
1
You don't need to be a Harvard scholar to immediately grasp at least one obvious truth in this book - that Trump is barely literate and that his lack of mental fitness is beyond question. A man who can barely form coherent sentences, cannot hold a train of thought for more than a few seconds, and who, on camera, walks into a reporter filled room to sign a piece of legislation, and then walks out having forgotten to sign it, is obviously devoid of the minimum mental faculties you would expect in a President of the United States. That fact being self evident, it becomes easy to believe that those who continually surround Trump on a daily basis do indeed disparage his intelligence in precisely the colorful ways documented in this book.
79
These things are already known. The question is; When will Congress impeach this impostor of a president? He does not know how to know something. Clearly there is a mental incapacity; a major cognitive problem of some sort.
This is something the US should not suffer, nor the world.
8
When the GOP finds it in its own best interest. Don't hold breath.
2
Did you ever go to a movie and find that the trailers showed the best parts? That's how I feel about Fire and Fury. I do not think it is a page turner. I do not find it compelling. In fact, I keep falling asleep when I read it.
I do not think it is particularly well written and have the sense that every page or so he accesses the thesaurus to upgrade a few words.
I'm having quite a different experience. I find it gripping, fascinating, horrifying, and much better written than I'd been led to believe.
17
Not to suggest the book is in any way art, but in the vein of Picasso's notion that art is a lie that helps us see truth, the veracity of specific quotes in Wolff's book seems less important than how the people quoted overlap in confirming what is in fact evident to anyone who listens to or watches Trump in public. It's no revelation that Trump is a thin-skinned, fairly ignorant, venal narcissist who has a certain cunning and ability to manipulate people that has managed for the most part (though not always) to keep him one step ahead of his creditors. Politicians, after all, are not exactly a bunch of distinguished intellectuals, nor are many of them particularly moral; mostly they are a bunch of hypocritical and self-serving liars. But the 'truth' of Wolff's book, even if he fictionalizes to some degree, is hard to escape. And until those in a position to do so stop Trump's American carnage, the circles of misery and ruin will continue to widen, with the (very) White House at their center.
27
Should we not be asking "what is true and what is false?" Independent fact-checkers should be telling America the answers to that question. How can we judge when we have no idea of what is truth or fiction?
1
How much is true? The authors name nothing else.
2
He says he has lots of tapes. We’ll see.
9
Tapes of people lying.
Surely you grasp the irony of defending Trump who lied about 44 for years- years.
Trump is a liar. That is what he is, not genius. Delusional.
6
I just finished the book--first read. I will reread after letting it settle. The only things I can say are two:
First, if even a third of the book is accurate--even a quarter--we have a very big and scary problem on our hands with the Trump presidency; and
Two, a whole lot of the problem appears to be Steve Bannon. Like Trump, the "media" have gretly contributed to his "fame." We'd all be a whole lot better-off if he was left to his own musings.
225
I agree, with one strong exception... we need to keep an eye on people like Bannon. I don't think people like that should be just ignored... they are just too dangerous. Show them for who and what they really are.
1
Even if 25% of it is true, it's terrifying and Trump and co (all his enablers, elected or otherwise) are beyond the pale. And we have 30+ years of documented crazy directly from Trump to, without hesitation, believe the 75% which might be "truthful hyperbole".
18
First all what was President Obama's legislation was obliterated.
Then the wilderness and the landscape were destroyed.
Then the middle class were destroyed by the destruction
of the health care system,and pandering by trump to the 1%.
Then immigrants were rounded up and deported.
Then the press started to be censured and controlled.
The country started to look and feel like _____________!
11
The message that Trump is sending is to his base; he can lie to them, he can provide them with misinformation, he can make false promises, and that they aren't worth an ounce of sand in his grand scheme of things. And all they get is a hashtag, MAGA.
The entertainment value to Trump is that he gets to make people look like fools.
29
Some of them got a hat.
4
It's unfortunate that the author of this book has so many inconsistencies, but I'm sure that a keen, diligent writer wouldn't have been allowed access into the chaos that is the White House.
In any case, I don't need to believe every word of "Fire and Fury" to already accept its basic premise. I've seen enough Trump tweets and speeches, and I know, by his own words and actions, he is an idiotic child. He has no self-control, he is completely ignorant on almost every subject, he's belligerent, bigoted, and bullying.
Trump is, in short, not fit to be president. I've known this for many years, like most intelligent people. The unfortunate thing is, apparently nearly 40% of voters are totally delusional, not very bright, and want to switch to a dictatorship. So he's got the support of the worst of America, the bigots and blowhards, the uneducated and the fundamentalists.
The "Fire and Fury" book is not the main problem here. Trump is a childish idiot, sure, but luckily he can't do too much harm, hasn't even started a war yet. The real problem is that much of America are childish idiots as well, and I fear this means we have fallen already, and the American Dream is over. Every empire must collapse and it sure looks like ours just has.
227
RIP Pax Americana
7
".....he's belligerent, bigoted, and bullying." And lazy. You forgot LAZY.
4
Whether it's 96.9% or 98.9% true is immaterial. It's timely, and the resulting publicity is going to expedite removal of this president one way or another.
45
To Trump supporters, the book is a compilation of unfounded and utterly false and malicious accusations by a writer who so lacks journalistic skills that he would be rejected by supermarket tabloids.
To Trump opponents, the book is a compmilaition of episodes based in truth, if not in absolute accuracy, which demonstrates a president frighteningly unfit for office.
Pick your side.
11
What would you say to "part true?" Is the picture painted wholly white or wholly black? If you're willing to look at some possible grey, I'd say it's scary stuff.
6
Just about everything "explosive" in the book has been well-tread in the media. I was disappointed that once those dozen or so anecdotes and quotes had been passed through, there was nothing beyond a typical Inside the White House tell-all. The book certainly has stolen the thunder from whatever Bannon might have hoped to write. The subtitle could have been "Bannon in the Trump White House".
5
The reactions of Bannon and Trump give credence to the book. And the tapes.
What were Bannon and others thinking when they allowed Wolff free rein? That he was going to write a hagiographical book? Are they that much in a bubble?
This reminds me of Scaramucci and the New Yorker.
28
True, true, and true!!!
2
Wolff has made more than his share of enemies among the press corps (often for good reason) and articles like this are symptomatic of that fact. Any fly-on-the-wall book is bound to have some inaccuracies, which gives his detractors plenty of openings. For me, the best measure of the book's credibility is the nature of the White House response. They didn't say "Wolff made it all up!" Instead they said "Bannon revealed confidential information." In other words, "It's all true, folks."
506
Exactly, and where is Bannon now? No one cares. Well done Mr Wolff!
Trump has taken down or damaged many people with lies and innuendos, ranging from Obama and HRC and Republican opponents, to reporters, a hapless ex-beauty queen, and women accusing him of sexual improprieties. The list goes on and on. I actually would be quite happy to see him taken down though allegations and falsehoods; this would be more satisfying, along the lines of "hoisted with his own petard", than if he is damaged by truth and facts, which Trump himself scrupulously avoids in his various campaigns of personal destruction.
235
Trump never managed to damage or take down President Obama. Obama will go down in history as a great man and a very good President. Trump will go down in history as one of the most despised human beings on the planet, a failure on every level personal and professional.
16
Sorry- I can't agree. There is always the temptation to use the devil's own weapons against him (metaphorically speaking at least), and it always ends badly. We can't "fight fire with fire" in this case of fact vs. falsehood; nothing short of truth will do. Once you've sold your soul to achieve a short term victory, you've lost the war.
Trust and credibility, and a commitment to truth for its own sake, have to be our political currency. Unfortunately, these take a lifetime to build up and can be lost in a moment.
It's a shame that this lesson has to re-learned, again and again, with each new generation.
1
I will second that wholeheartedly. What I was alluding to was Trump's efforts to damage Obama by (among other things) the ridiculous "birther issue", which did diminish Obama in the minds of Trump sycophants. I would love to see Trump brought down by baseless wild assertions, even more than I'd love to see him taken down by facts and truth.
3
I think any criticism of from the New York Times is absurd. After all, Hillary Clinton’s emails were treated as a sensational scandal in your paper. As such, any criticism about reporting concerning Trump is laughable in the New York Times.
Your paper caused the Trump presidency.
75
No. What caused the Trump presidency is 62 million people in the right electoral districts who were willing to be hoodwinked by a con man. Believe me.
18
The election was won by a tiny amount of votes, when you get down to it. And HC won the popular vote. The NYT sets the tone for coverage of national news. The people they persuaded about Clinton’s oh-so-evil emails could easily have meant the difference between the candidates’ success. Believe me.
2
Sadly, if you have watched the Trump family, Bannon, Flynn and co, all this is far more accurate then not.
58
Ordinarily I wouldn’t read a book when its veracity is called into serious question. But the frighteningly aberrant tenor of the Trump administration begs that people read it. And with the president, his family, his Cabinet, his staffers and other retainers hastening to give Fire And Fury the lie, I’ve got to believe that there’s s lot more fire than smoke in those pages. We’re a country dangerously under both presidential and Congressional siege as never before. Even during Watergate, 45 years ago, there was bipartisan support to investigate whether or not Richard Nixon lied, suborned perjury or otherwise obstructed justice. We have no solid assurances—none— that Donald Trump can be trusted, let alone held accountable for his actions as both candidate and, later, president. He created this tension and, sorry, but no amount of speculation as to his behavioral history gives him a pass (not in this space anyhow). We’re gaping over the abyss as we speak and the Republicans on Capitol Hill have enabled and abetted his weird vision for America, a crazy set of circumstances that they would never have accepted from, say, Barack Obama. Or, dare I say it, G.W. Bush.
333
This is not a book review, it is instead a very lavish bowl of sour grapes, the centerpiece of a very fashionable table in the NY Times executive offices. If only Mr. Martin and others at the newspaper of record had had the courage and work ethic to produce such an important book.
37
the truth is the truth is the truth.
2
Right On!!
I am only halfway through the book but I appreciate the background stories of the various characters and factions within the Trump Administration interacting with an aberrant President.
Arguably the most important thread of the book is the Trump approach to organization, which is to surround himself with family and other loyalists, avoid giving anyone else real power, criticize any initiative and threaten to fire those who reflect his own failures too clearly.
Wolff calls the President post-literate, someone who sees the world and people through a TV screen, no reading required, like many of his base. Trump's complete disregard for reality and truthfulness leads him away from carefully crafted speeches into extemporaneous fantasies that drive his fans wild.
Discussions around the accuracy of various details of the book miss the big picture, the portrayal of a bumbling and corrupt head of a gilded family business whose narcissistic personality is perfectly suited to TV, but a disaster as President.
Definitely read it. Half price on Kindle. We need more books like it.
172
More books like it are coming, one on Jan. 16. It's Even Worse Than You Think: What the Trump Administration is Doing to America. It's by David Cay Johnston, a Pulitzer Prize winning reporter and a professor at Syracuse University College of Law.
10
Rather than Jarvanka, I prefer Ivanred which has a nice Russian lilt.
212
When readers know the sentence “Of course I’m talking about” is coming up, Maybe it’s time to retire the “of course I’m talking about” lede.
4
To quote Pat Paulsen, a Smothers Brothers regular and a revered presidential candidate in his own right, "Picky, picky, picky."
So Wolff doesn't mention that the dinner with Ailes and Bannon happened at Wolfe's own townhouse where he was the host. Or he mixes up his Bermans, or drops and "l" in a name.
So what?!
Those are all minor mistakes/omissions that don't undermine the overall veracity of his portrait of a president whose nuclear button appears so big to himself only because his hands are so small.
Let's face it, Wolff has been writing for a long time without -- as far as I've heard -- having his basic output being challenged in court, so all the nitpicking in this review may be doing is overlooking the larger truth contained within this book's covers.
Maybe you and your fellow holier-than-thou reviewers should stop missing the forest for the trees, Jonathan.
121
Oh for Pete's sake, we all know it's true. With all due respect, how much more proof of Trump's incompetence, thoughtlessness, bad temper, poor manners and general malfeasance do we need? Since before Trump began his campaign countless vendors, the ghost writer of his first book, victims of his scams, all of them and more, warned us what he was like. His tweets confirm the same thing. His belligerent rants at campaign rallies, his recorded vulgar remarks about women--all of it more of the same. Wolff does not need to be fact checked that hard. We have seen or heard it all...now we just have confirmation that it is all happening in the White House just as it has occurred throughout the whole of Trump's life. No surprise. With that much smoke, we were expecting an inferno.
847
"Wolff does not need to be fact checked that hard."
Even though W's conclusions are pretty much in line with what we have learned over the past year from other sources, Trump's supporters will go over the book with a fine tooth comb and treat every inaccuracy as an earth-shattering refutation and vindication of Trump. That's one reason I hope for all our sakes that Wolff hasn't made stories up, even if they seem "truthy" enough. But, if W has tapes as he said, and those tapes contain what he says they do, that will be fantastic. Otherwise, I fear this could blow up in all our faces.
4
Since Trump was elected there has been 3.2% GDP growth; stock market at 25,000; people with 401Ks experiencing 10-17% growth; 2.2 million fewer people receiving food stamps; tax cuts for more than 90% of taxpayers so that in February people will take home more money; over 100 companies giving cash bonuses to their employees; companies raising wages of employees; consumer confidence at all time high; new housing starts at all time high; unemployment at 4%; black unemployment at 4.7% lowest in 17 years; Hispanic unemployment at 4.2% lowest EVER; manufacturing expanded in December at its fastest pace in 14 years; goods producing jobs (manufacturing and construction up 600% in Trump's first year as compared to Obama's last year; job cut announcements in 2017 at their lowest level since 1990; small-business confidence hit a record high in 2017, according to the National Federation of Independent Businesses; Americans' optimism about finding a quality job averaged 56% in 2017, the highest annual average in 17 years of Gallup polling and a sharp increase from 42% in 2016; and ISIS crushed in Iraq and Syria. Are you tired of winning yet? Maybe you live in an alternate reality.
Sure, he shouldn't have spelled a name wrong. But big picture, this book rings entirely true to anyone who has been following the news.
56
Newsflash:
Americans, your president is so vile, incompetent and amoral that even the Italians are shocked and mortified that any of you can support him.
Even Silvio Berlusconi likes dogs!
447
ExCook,
If I were an Italian National, I’d be far more concerned with the explosive popularity of the Five Star Movement ahead of March elections and the fact that, of the three other political parties enjoying double digit support, one of them, the Northern League, is openly secessionist and fascist and the other is run by Berlusconi.
1
Yes, Italy certainly has some major political problems. Fortunately, we don't have a mentally deficient leader with the power to launch nuclear weapons or start some ridiculous war. Berlusconi doesn't have such power. As far as the separatists are concerned, they are as likely to leave Italy as is TX or CA in the U.S..
2
The reason the book is resonating is because the accounts renumerated there have been revealed in many other instances over the past year and during trumps life as a “celebrity”. Numerous other people have recounted similar stuff. That makes the book seem plausible. Bannon’s self serving but ultimately self destructive quotes are so short sightedly dumb, that it blows the mind. If he knew the vindictive trump so well, then he knew what the reaction would be. A man too full of himself and the bottle.
30
"Fire and Fury" could be a work of 100% fiction, but it would still be a best seller because (1) trump is unable to respond appropriately to any kind of criticism, or just keep his mouth shut; and (2) trump is unable to conceal his ignorance and complete inability to self-reflect, analyze, etc. He is, indeed, a child in a 71-year-old body. He does not belong anywhere but the golf course at this point.
89
I'll admit I was hoping for a more comprehensive treatment of some of the internal machinations of Trump's political decisions in 'Fire and Fury', and Wolff undoubtedly has a number of details wrong, as well as a probably pass-through of some politically-motivated fabrications by White House insiders. The thing is, I've found little there that doesn't at least sound plausible, given what we have seen of the "well-oiled machine" of a train wreck that is the Trump presidency. If such a book had been published about Bush 43, for example, it would have been rightly laughed out of the bookstores as fiction, but Bush never bragged on tape about being a serial sexual predator, either.
21
I read the book over the weekend with a skeptical eye. Certainly, there are errors and some speculation on the part of Mr. Wolff, but the book is still substantially correct. That's all it needed to be.
541
"Substantially correct"? So, a little fake news, fake science, fake middle-class tax relief, climate change denial is okay with you?
Amen.
I personally don’t care how the author spells Hillary/Hilary.
1
There is a mistake, the book should be reviewed in the FICTION section. Similar to books written by Kitty Kelley or pieces in tabloids.
3
you are sadly incorrect. The book is frightening, but it is also a warning to Americans. Barely at year one, the WH is a circus with a fool for a ringmaster.
11
As Samuel Johnson once said, “You don’t have to be a carpenter to tell when a table is crooked.” Trump is crooked.
287
Since the president gamed 62 million American voters, it's only fitting that he met his match with an author who may play fast and loose with the facts just like he does every day. The cry of "fake news" now sounds like the boy who cried wolf one time too many. Nobody's listening anymore.
466
silver: "nobody's listening anymore."
Perfect.
4
ONE too many times! Trump cries wolf (and Wolff!) nearly every time he opens his mouth.
6
Sadly, the MAGA-teers (his base) are still listening.
1
Whether or not the majority of the claims and allegations are true, it's sobering enough that even the most outlandish activities are all plausible with this administration.
73
We do know that many of the accounts confirm what we've been reading in the NYT and Washington post, leaked stories from anonymous sources in the White House.
And having wrapped up reading the book, it is a page-turner for certain.
A page-turner about a group of horrible people serving a horrible person. A horrible person who isn't concerned about anyone but himself and his own image.
405
I read about half of the book (on my phone, the second it became available) and then just stopped, abruptly. The book - like Trump himself - is entertaining in the way a natural disaster is entertaining. But, after reading for a few hours, I just couldn't do it anymore. Trump is a narcissist and a child. There's only one world - his world. And he is constantly trying to pull us all into it, whether we want to be there or not. I'm so sick of Trump's world. It's weird and petty. And I'm so sick of his inane blather. Can we please get some respite?
305
I'm afraid I may also have the same reaction to the book, abandoning it partway through, realizing this man is still in the highest and most powerful office in the land, if not the world.
2
He may be the Kitty Kelly of the Trump world, but he’s still wrote and enjoyable book.....
And by enjoyable I mean this: if you despise Bannon, Kushner, Conway, Miller and all people named Trump, then this book is for you. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed having each and every one of those traitorous leeches exposed for their overall odiousness.
Like I said to my mom, nonthing about this book is surprising If you read the NYT, Washington Post, watch Rachel Maddow, Jake Tapper or Morning Joe. The difference is the level of granularity but the overall picture remains what it’s been all along. It’s like reading The Godfather after watching the movies: only the details get flushed out bit the story is the story.
I would have paid the $15 just to annoy Trump, but reading the book (I’m half way through) has reminded me of things I had already forgotten.
482
I appreciate the pick, but I’d pay for an edit button! Please pardon my iPhone/old-age-eyesight typos
6
Other than Trump and Sarah Huckabee, I am not hearing much from the Republican establishment that is refuting the most damning details of the book. Yeah the details may not be spot-on but there is enough smoke here to believe that there is a raging fire and Congress owes it to the American people to do something about it.
246
Republicans in Congress are complicit- they know Trump is a fool but as long as he signs their horrible bills and appoints their horrible judges, they will support him. They should be ashamed of themselves. They are not worthy to hold their offices.
23
Scott Werden, agree with you 100%. However, we not only need to keep beating the Trump drum but also get after the Republican Congress with the same relentless disdain for their continual self serving shenanigans, NOW.
3
I've just finished reading the book. This is pretty much a ridiculous, nitpicking review--seriously: he misspells Hilary Rosen's name? Got his Bermans at the Four Seasons mixed up? God--THAT's a massive problem. Like most other readers with whom I have spoken, this book--rushed into publication before final copyediting because of the threat of libel from this Administration--resonates with everything we've seen about the Trump Administration. It's "Game of Thrones" without the intelligence. Makes one wish for a Tyrion Lannister.
This author is trying to tell a narrative out of sources who are inimical to one another and want to kill one another. Does anyone think that Jared and Ivanka want to be FAIR to Bannon? Or he to them? Or about their support for "the Mooch"? Give me a break. Any coherent narrative requires a decision about who's doing the self-serving, and what that might mean. Wolff has done a remarkable job.
511
Even when you sift out the fluff in this book, there is clearly plenty of truth left over to keep most American voters awake at night. The real book review will begin in November.
445
Sing it, Tommy !
5
This is one of those books where you can either suspend disbelief or suspend belief. Either way, Mr. Wolff makes money.
6
Which are you suspending.
3
There may be many inaccuracies in the details, but the broader brush strokes the book paints clearly have the ring of truth. He is not the first White House observer to note that Trump is impulsive, childlike, narcissistic beyond description, intellectually shallow, and a habitual liar.
894
The ring of truth sounds like Dan Rather's justification for his fake but accurate memorandum that ended his career. Many White House observers called President Obama narcissistic (for repeatedly referring to himself in off the cuff remarks), intellectually shallow (for frequently using a straw man characterization of the opposition's talking points), belligerent (for calling his political opponents the enemy and speaking of the need to bring a gun to a knife fight), condescending (for describing Americans as "bitter clingers"), and a liar (for stating that Americans could keep their health care despite admitting to Leader Cantor that millions would lose it). White House observers cannot be the standard for supporting unverified beliefs.
President Trump is frequently mistaken and is an easy target. Unfortunately, the left insists on supporting ridiculous claims such as Mr. Wolff's entire book. The effect of the support is that President Trump has little trouble deflecting attacks by claiming that the left is poorly behaved. And he has a point.
This book should be condemned because it is poorly sourced. It should not be celebrated because it "rings true." Winning an argument against President Trump need not rest on salacious gossip. Indeed, as was the case with Mr. Rather, such an approach often strengthens the target.
Books that are collections of statements from specific individuals, gotten directly from those individuals are by definition not 'poorly sourced'.
8
Stop watching Fox “news.”
1
I sympathize with Michael Wolff and I don't feel he's being unfair to withhold judgement. I've spent my life in a narcissistic dysfunctional family fueled on gossip innuendo and betrayal. Any time I'm asked t 'hows the folks?' whether it be by friend therapist or law enforcement, all I can say is 'That's a great question. Who knows?'
35
So a sort of Kitty Kelly book, then.
2
Michael Wolff is no Ron Chernow but he does capture the weltanschauung of POTUS and his minions.
100
"He is a New Yorker in Washington..."
You know, I doubt that.
I suspect Trump claims Florida has his home so he doesn't have to pay state income taxes.
Maybe one day we'll find out.
269
Actually, my accountant told me if you spend more than 183 days out of the year in New York (even only part of the day), it doesn't matter where you claim your residency, New York will consider you a resident and tax you accordingly. I'm pretty sure before he ran for president, Trump spent at least half the year in NYC.
1
We know that in 2005 he claimed to reside in New York.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/03/14/us/politics/document-Dona...
Keep reading to the end of the paragraph, Panthiest: "I am talking, of course, of the writer Michael Wolff..."
mr trump brings all of this upon himself, all unforced errors. He is an arrogant, self-centered, narcissist, who casually shares his racist, xenophobic and misogynist views with anyone within ear shot because he is "tired of being politically correct."
His kids and inlaws are all wishing he had never run for president because the years of money laundering are going to be nationally exposed.
Wolff is simply showing the nation the clothes trump really wears - something his kids already knew which is why he wanted them in his "administration."
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Yup, money laundering by the con-in-chief as well as Jared are going to be front and center in the Mueller report. The question is: What will the Congress do with this information? Do they just want to keep him signing bills, while the rest of the world looks on in horror?
25
I enjoyed the review (some insights) and letters. Nonetheless I am left thinking this is all "smoke-screen" for Bannon's comment I heard on the telly that "The Great Leader's" constant praise for all things Putin and daily discrediting 'this whole Russian thing" - it's all about Money-Laundering! Enough about the 'knives out by all the knaves' and dig into the Money-Laundering - which presumably Special Counsel Robert Muller and his 'Crack Team' are doing. Quite obviously when you peal back any comment or actions of "The Great Leader" all you get is MONEY and not even Power.
8