Addictive garbage

Feel bad for falling for the hype. feels more like fiction but probably is the sad truth.

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9 people found this helpful

Substantiated and Well Written

Would you listen to Fire and Fury again? Why?

Yes.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes.

Any additional comments?

The narration is really good, and the book well written. Far from dry and stuffy, but it does come across as authoritative; you think you know the worst of it from the tweets and news stories but Wolff has substantiated what he says by citing sources and re background material, this seems well researched, so it's far from gossip and lies. While it's shocking and a bit scary what is going on in the White House and in Trump's head, it's actually really sad that the position of President of the United States of America can be disrespected and treated so badly by its current incumbent.

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8 people found this helpful

Madness

I bought this quickly incase for whatever reason it was pulled from the world. Anyway, having listened to the hard to believe first few hours I ended up listening to 10 mores just so the madness would end. It's a crazy fact/fiction (who knows) that scares me. If was American I'd find this hard not to purchase in some form.

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7 people found this helpful

House of Cards meets The Office + The Thick of it!

This was a real 'page turner' that ramg true in every chapter. I actually felt sorry for Steve Bannon throughout the book.

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5 people found this helpful

Awe!

12 hours of mouth gaping open, laughing, or shaking my head.

If only a fraction is true....then it's amazing... But it feels like it's all most likely accurate.

I'm going to have to listen again as there is just way too much to take in!!

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3 people found this helpful

good book

Good book it does need a second volume to keep everyone up to date with all that has happened since

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1 person found this helpful

Gossip powered current affairs

So you want measured scholarly analysis of the Trump Presidency? You want a sober, analytical dissection of this political phenomenon? Look elsewhere.
Because this is high octane "wait 'til you hear this" gossip, delivered by someone who corners you at the bar with a manic gleam in their eye, flushed with excitement. You try to catch someone else's eye, to make your excuses and leave, but before you know it, you're hooked.
This is larger than life (or in a sane world a would be) American grotesque. Like some kind of film where maniacs seize the White House, and you scoff at the implausibility, but snuggle down to a guilty pleasure, because the writer knows what he's doing.
And I do think that at its core is truth. The direction of travel it tells is attested whenever we read a Trump tweet, or see him on the news. I'd love to dismiss the contents of this book as lurid tittle tattle. But that it is not wise. For the barbarians have breached the gates, and have their torches poised to burn down the city.
Michael Wolff tells a story that is a demonic retelling of the American dream. Donald Trump, surrounded by a crowd of sycophants, power brokers, machiavels and political mercenaries makes a bid for the Presidency. The book reveals that he would like to have lost, as does his wife, the beleaguered Melania. Most of the rest share the conviction that this candidacy is a doomed bid, but one that will bring victory in defeat: an enhanced brand of the wronged 'man of the common people' contender brought down by Crooked Hillary. Stocks will soar. Portfolios will go stellar. This sounds plausible. Just as Boris Johnson and Michael Gove looked horrified to have helped win Brexit, so the Trump team looked visibly stunned and aghast at their victory. Especially Melania. But once victorious, Trump convinces himself that maybe he is the best President ever, and his team resolve to salvage what they can, make the best of it, and rescue Trump from himself, variously.
So you'll be familiar with a lot of this book's revelations, which have been well reported. The diet cokes, cheeseburgers, two tv screens in the bedroom, manic rages, air of contempt in the staff, bloody infighting, treason, and more, is all there, told in dry and sardonic tones that occasionally break into open disgust.
There are insights in addition, less well reported, as to why, for example, Paul Ryan is so supine, and of some of the pressures, internal and external, that lead to Trump saying such breathtakingly stupid and beyond offensive things, the "good on both sides" when talking about death dealing fascists for example, and more, too much more.
Wolff also conveys the culpability of large sections of the media, that can't break out of the hyper-speed news cycle, can't dwell on anything long enough to let it breathe and cause the damage and concern it should do, before falling into Trump's trap and speeding onto the next beyond belief stupidity.
Steve Bannon plays a big part in proceedings. Obviously Wolff's principal source, the book paints a very vivid picture of him, and I think it does give him too much attention. The portrayal steers over too much into anti-hero or likeable rogue. No, he's a grotesque, eviscerated by even Trump, not worthy of so much attention. He literally has the last word in the book, and shouldn't.
That said, this is un-missable. Historians are going to have so much fun separating fact from fiction. Grab a copy, because events are moving fast.

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All rings too true. it's worse than you thought.

Rushed out for obvious reasons. But a glimpse behind the already pretty transparent curtain. the situation is worse than you thought.

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Worrying!

It is a worry, if true, about the Trump presidency. Only time will tell. Let's hope that the good guys get a look in.

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I'm amazed at how it's all not fiction.

this book kinda filled in all the blanks for me about trump and what they were doing in the white house.
It was so entertaining that I felt amazed at how everything was not a television show or even a Chinese period drama about the emperor and his court.

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