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Confidence Man: The Making of Donald Trump and the Breaking of America by Maggie Haberman

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Confidence Man: The Making of Donald Trump and the Breaking of America is a highly acclaimed, #1 New York Times bestselling biography by Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times reporter Maggie ...

Confidence Man: The Making of Donald Trump and the Breaking of America is a highly acclaimed, #1 New York Times bestselling biography by Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman. The book chronicles Donald Trump's life and career, from his rise in New York City real estate to his presidency and beyond, exploring the personality traits and transactional relationships that defined his time in office.

Book Summary

The book is a comprehensive look at the world that produced Donald Trump, arguing that his behavior as president had echoes in his life long before he entered the White House. It is based on hundreds of interviews, including with Trump himself.

Early Life and Career: The first half details his upbringing and business career in the New York City "demimonde" of the 1970s and 1980s, where he cultivated a flamboyant image and learned from figures like Roy Cohn how to use media and power to his advantage.
Path to Presidency: Haberman describes how Trump's media savvy and use of social media, including promoting the "birther" conspiracy theory, laid the groundwork for his political career.
Presidency and Aftermath: The book covers his chaotic leadership style, his disregard for norms, and his refusal to accept the results of the 2020 election, including reports that he told aides he would not leave the White House.
Character Analysis: Haberman portrays Trump as a complicated figure who is insecure yet overconfident, capable of kindness but relying on "casual cruelty," and driven by a need for attention, dominance, and loyalty (which he often did not reciprocate).

Critical Reception

The book was a major bestseller and named a "Book of the Year" by publications like the Financial Times and The Economist. Reviewers generally praise it as an essential, primary source for understanding the former president, though some found it dry or noted that those who closely followed the news would not find many brand-new revelations.

Authoritative Portrait: Reviewers like Joe Klein from The New York Times concluded it would be a "primary source about the most vexing president in American history for years to come".
Detailed and Insightful: Many readers and critics praised Haberman's deep knowledge and decades of reporting on Trump, finding the book well-researched and insightful into his motivations and consistent behavioral patterns.
A Political Epic: The Guardian described it as a "political epic" and "the book Trump fears most," according to Axios.
Criticism: Some in the media criticized Haberman for allegedly withholding some key details for the book's publication instead of reporting them earlier in The New York Times, a charge her representatives defended, stating confirmation of some details only came after Trump left office.