Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the Most Dangerous Man Review
I can't believe it's already December 2021, and a short year ago, we were just getting out of the Trump era. Thinking about that made me remember I actually read the book by Mary Trump and reviewed it, however just on a different platform. So, today's review is going to be my thoughts on her book. It goes into great depth on the family dynamic, like how Fred Trump Jr. was disinherited whereas Donald wasn't. I think it was very informative, interesting, and quite possibly the best book I've read within the last year!
I found this book incredibly interesting because it explained the reasons behind Donald’s very peculiar behavior. It discusses how Donald Trump’s father did not care very much for his kids, only enough to the extent that his children’s particular skills can serve him. She goes on to explain that her father, Fred Trump Junior never showed the attributes that Donald’s father was looking for in a successor to his business. The book gives the impression that Donald, in contrast to his brother, learned that a person should do anything in his or her power to get ahead in life, even if it's a cost to other people.
This book also shows that Donald Trump was not much of a student and did not care at all for studying. The best example of this is when he paid a classmate to take the SAT test for him. Donald Trump was such a poor student that his father thought that sending him to military school would toughen him up and in a way it did because it taught Donald Trump, never to back down no matter if he was right or wrong.
This book also points out that Trump wasn’t as good a businessman as he portrayed himself to be. I know I’ve stated this before in previous posts, but he had six casinos that all failed, and the only reason he was able to keep the casinos running for as long as they did is because his father bailed him out. I think the bailouts and special treatment is because his father saw something in Donald that was similar to him; he saw the same ruthless drive in Donald that drove him forward. From what I read, I feel like Donald Trump felt that the best method of getting through life was to emulate his father in every way possible. The only real difference, it seems, is that Fred Trump Sr. was able to maintain a marriage long-term whereas Donald Trump has gotten divorced four times lol. I feel like the one big thing Donald Trump has failed to learn is people. He obviously does not care about the people who worked for him, but also failed to learn not to mess with the wrong people. The part that was not surprising at all was that Donald Trump enjoyed both fighting and enjoying having the finer things in life.
One thing I've found consistent amongst the books I've read about Donald Trump is that he is an individual with a flashy exterior of being rich, but not very much substance beneath it. The book also explains that Trump has almost always been rude towards people who did not like him and that Donald Trump was his father’s mouthpiece and during his entire life. He has felt like he is living in the shadow of his father. And I didn’t think it was possible, but this book made me hate Trump more than I already did because it revealed more awful things he's done that weren't as obvious. For instance, he'd use poor-quality materials in his construction, underpay or overwork the workers, then bring in all the profit towards himself. Not to mention, he tried to fluff his own results in a poll to make himself seem richer than he actually was. And last but not least, he and his family is known for dodging taxes.
In short, this book has shown me that Donald Trump will throw anyone he no longer deems useful to the wolves, and somehow justifies it to himself as a necessary sacrifice to further his own goals. And he is a person who only thinks in terms of immediate gratification. I wish to reiterate that this book was truly excellent, and I highly recommend that anyone who wants to have a truly deep understanding of who Donald Trump is to read this book. To anyone who is reading this book, what are your impressions of it?