Fear: Trump in the White House

In this book, Bob Woodward draws together a narrative of the chaotic mess that was the first two years of the Trump presidency. Unfortunately the book is a bit of a mess too, structured chronologically and thus following the same haphazard contours. Woodward leads with an ominous quote from an interview he had with Trump, essentially “Real power is fear.” Though he tries to return to this a few times to build a theme, it doesn’t quite work. Still, this book provides a fascinating, if that can be the right word, perspective into the Trump White House. Early on I was surprised to take somewhat of a liking to Steve Bannon, with whom I share little in common. Woodward’s portrayal of him reminded me of Walter Sobchak, in that he believed in his cause and maybe even meant well, but was just an asshole. Maybe it was all the times he said “Dude.” The portrayal of Trump is about how we should expect: sure of himself (“I know I’m right. If you disagree you’re wrong.”), simplistic (“Trade is bad.”), uncurious (“I’ve had these views for 30 years.”), unwilling to backpedal (apologies viewed as weakness), ready to backstab without batting an eye (firings via Twitter right after speaking assurances to the person.). And a “fucking liar.” But Woodward includes some details that make him more human, such as a sincere reaction to the gassing of Syrians. In all, worthwhile reading for now, but one has the sense that history’s current pace will leave it behind very soon.

Trump got massive media attention which helped get him elected but the reason behind all that coverage is there's something about him that is unique and thus fascinating. He lives in his own world and nothing can really penetrate and get in. Yes, he can be insulted which enrages him, or praised which pleases him but outside of that he's not really a person. Where's the birth certificate that shows he was born on this planet? People project human reactions on him but Woodward just describes him from the outside without judgement. I learned little new from this book about actual events but just watching Trump participate without any actual relationships with the others (who don't quite notice the human absence) is something you can't see anywhere else. The repetitiveness of already well known events gets boring at times but I found myself sympathetic to Trump at times as he continues to be himself regardless of any attempts to make him into someone who could responsibly run the country. He makes up his own reality as he goes along, not out of some fiendish plot, but because that's who he is. He's not ashamed of what he's done or trying to hide his guilt. That would require more of a relationship with the human race. He just creates reality as he likes it--"we can fix that," he says, when told certain facts are inconvenient for his candidacy--and he effortlessly becomes someone else, believing his own made up new self has always been who he is.

The dumpster fire you can't look away from: Trump's time as "leader of the free world". This time narrated by the leading establishment journalist, Bob Woodward of Nixon, Clinton, Bush and Obama fame. I enjoyed the book, partly because I am fascinated by the ridiculousness of this period in history, and partly because it is written properly. But I do have issues with the book.
Mainly, I feel this government is full of dodgy characters who, in the book, seem to come through as heroes. I am convince this is a story with no heroes, and Woodward tries hard to create a few out of very flawed characters. He is a hagiographer of power, and doesn't question the structure itself. Trump is to him an aberration, and anomaly. I believe his book would be better served by presenting him as a natural, maybe extreme, but still natural result of a system built on inequality, white supremacy, discrimination and yes, Fear.
It is interesting though, that the thin veneer of respectability afforded to Trump isn't enough to conceal his inadequacy as a human being. He is not only ignorant, but proud of it. He revels in his ignorance and refuses to learn even the littlest details. He has no shame, no empathy and most depressingly for me, no curiosity. He epitomizes the things that are wrong about our unbridled capitalistic society. We view wealth as success and created a world where people like him fail upwards into positions of power. He is a visible example of the ugly consequences of our fetish for money.
It is revealing that the book, for all it's respect of the presidential position and institution, doesn't shy away from calling him "a fucking liar". And this is were we stand.
I sincerely hope America, and the rest of the world, learn the lesson from this train wreck... and consequences are not as bad as they could get.