insightful

very interesting look at events and inner workings of USA politics. Not usually reported in mainstream media.

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Beggars Belief

I thought I had read/listened to more than enough about the ex-president, through books and newspaper articles. Thought I would lightly skim through’Peril’ but found it riveting from beginning to end. Extremely well put together and presented. Recommend it to all who want to understand a little more about current American politics.

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Entertaining but not as thorough as usual

I thoroughly enjoyed the first two Woodward books on Trump. This book returns to some of the themes included there - for example unelected officials seeking to thwart the will of the elected President. In the first book it was Gary Cohn ducking and diving to avoid withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership. In this, the equivalent is General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs. His conversation with Nancy Pelosi are the big revelation, at least for those of us outside the USA.

Beyond the role of the military - and no one does a character study the way Woodward does - the events of 6th January have been covered repeatedly in many other books and there’s little new that this study adds. The way Trump treats his subordinates, the way he demeans, insults, seeks to bully, praise and wheedle all as methods of control, are very firmly on record.

After January 20th the book turns to the passage of the American Rescue Plan Act (the coverage here could have been taken wholesale from the New Yorker; conservative Democrats from West Virginia are conservative, Republicans are prepared to hold the government hostage, shocker) and the withdrawal from Afghanistan. The latter was looked at superficially, in my view. It relives media coverage and comments made publicly at the time, with only sporadic insights into the private conversations of President Biden and the other key players - which is something Woodward usually excels at.

I enjoyed it, for sure, but Woodward has done much, much better work.

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"It's the court of public opinion that matters."

More in depth investigative journalism from Bob Woodward of Watergate fame, this time revealing the insiders story of the year leading up to the US election in which Biden defeated the Bush attempt at a second term of office and the immediate aftermath. From the copious quantity of news coverage, I had thought I knew it all. I was wrong. This fascinating account of behind the scenes shenanigans is, at times, quite terrifying in it's implications.

Well written and expertly read by narrator, Robert Petkoff, this is one to read for anyone with an interest in the politics of rule and survival, of the power of social media, lies and bullying, and the terrors of what could happen if a psychopathic personality rules one of the most powerful nations in the world. Definitely recommended

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review

extensive research has obviously been undertaken to produce this book. very well read by narrator. in a few sections can get bogged down in almost too fine details but overall well produced. the extent of dubious financial activity is concerning and how anybody can get away with such financial irregularities perhaps the most lenient summation.

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Once you hear this book..you can't unhear it

Woodward and Costa present a rather chilling tale of two parties...and the courage of one man

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It’s more than a Trump hit-piece

Not quite as purely ‘orange man bad’ as you may be expecting. Sure Trump and his staff come off as badly as you’d expect, however there are times when I feel they go easy on some of his GOP supporters, although this may be in an effort not to pontificate. The stories about Trump himself are probably the most interesting parts, he appears weak, panicked and oblivious that everyone in his party is using him to secure their own future. In fact if he weren’t the harbinger of modern fascism then you could almost feel sorry for him at times. Almost.

The book fauns over Biden too much in places, sure he’s the lesser of two evils but a lot of his well known shortcomings and past transgressions are either omitted or quickly skimmed over.

Overall it’s worth giving this a listen if you’re interested in any way in American politics. What it really hammered home to me is that across the political spectrum there are people doing whatever it takes and making deals with whatever devil offering them the most power and financial security at that moment in time.

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The Narrator was superb!

Loved all of it, it was factual, strange, interesting, scary and definitely worth listening to. I learnt a lot!

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Very interesting and scary at times

The opening was very frightening if not entirely unexpected. I expected a little more in the way of story regarding Trump, as he’s the one who put the whole world at risk. Still an enjoyable listen.

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Dangerous Foreboding

This is a shocking book. More shocking than the disgraceful narrative is that a very substantial minority of the American people applaud this monster and would welcome an authoritarian anti-democratic regime firmly under his iron grip.
This book and its earlier volumes needs to be read and its warning heeded.

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