Confidence Man: The Making of Donald Trump and the Breaking of America By Maggie Haberman
In "Confidence Man," Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Maggie Haberman delivers a powerful and nuanced portrait of Donald J. Trump. Heralded as the book Trump fears most, it stands as a primary source for understanding the enigmatic 45th president and his tumultuous presidency. Haberman draws on extensive interviews with hundreds of sources, including Trump himself, to unravel the complexities of his life.
From Trump's rise in New York City to his post-presidency, the book navigates the paradoxes of his character—capable of kindness yet relying on casual cruelty, pugnacious yet insecure, lonely yet menacing. Haberman peels back the layers, revealing a man deeply embedded in popular culture, galvanizing support for a high office run that he meticulously laid groundwork for over three decades.
"Confidence Man" explores the transactional relationships that shaped Trump, from romantic entanglements to alliances with figures like Roy Cohn, George Steinbrenner, Mike Tyson, and Roger Stone. The book unveils the world of the "Trump Disorganization," shedding light on the influences that molded him and the echoes of his past behavior in the White House.
Haberman skillfully weaves a narrative that transcends biography, delving into the world that produced Trump and illuminating the norms-shattering and consequential era in American political history that he embodied.
"Confidence Man" stands as a monumental and illuminating reckoning, providing a comprehensive understanding of the man, the presidency, and the world that shaped both. 📚❤️