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Fear - Trump in the White House

Overview

Author: Bob Woodward

Three-Sentence Summary

"Fear: Trump in the White House" by Bob Woodward is a detailed account of Donald Trump's presidency which portrays an administration consumed by chaos, infighting, and a disregard for established norms. Woodward's rigorous reporting, based on interviews with first-hand sources, presents an image of a president often at odds with his own staff and dismissive of facts that contradict his worldview. The book also provides deep insights into the key events and decisions of Trump’s first years in office.

Extended Summary

"Fear: Trump in the White House" chronicles the tumultuous first years of Donald Trump’s presidency as seen by veteran journalist Bob Woodward. Drawing on hundreds of hours of interviews with most members of the Trump administration, it provides a detailed account of infighting, dysfunction, and chaos within the White House.

The book begins at the onset of Trump's campaign for presidency, exploring his unorthodox approach to politics marked by a disregard for established norms. It then follows his transition into office and his struggles to adapt to the role. Key events covered include controversial decisions such as withdrawing from international treaties like Paris Climate Agreement and Trans-Pacific Partnership; handling issues such as immigration; dealing with foreign crises involving North Korea and Russia; as well as internal scandals including investigation into Russian interference in 2016 election.

Woodward portrays President Trump as impulsive, often ignorant about basic aspects of governance, prone to making false or misleading statements, and dismissive or hostile toward anyone who challenges him. This has led to high staff turnover rate and constant state of crisis.

Major figures featured include Steve Bannon, Reince Priebus, John Kelly, James Mattis among others - each struggling to contain or direct President's impulses while navigating their own political agendas.

Key Points

The book presents an image of a chaotic and dysfunctional White House, marked by infighting, high staff turnover, and a president dismissive of advice and facts that contradict his worldview.
Woodward portrays Trump as impulsive and often ignorant about basic aspects of governance, leading to controversial decisions and constant state of crisis.
The book provides deep insights into key events and decisions during Trump's first years in office.

Who Should Read

This book is ideal for readers interested in recent American history, current affairs, or politics. Fans of investigative journalism would also appreciate Woodward's rigorous reporting. Those seeking to understand the inner workings of the Trump administration will find this book particularly insightful.

About the Author

Bob Woodward is an associate editor at The Washington Post where he has worked since 1971. He has shared in two Pulitzer Prizes, first for his coverage of the Watergate scandal with Carl Bernstein, and second for coverage of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He has authored or co-authored 18 books, all of which have been national non-fiction bestsellers.