A Very Stable Genius cover art

A Very Stable Genius

Donald J. Trump's Testing of America

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A Very Stable Genius

By: Carol D. Leonnig, Philip Rucker
Narrated by: Hillary Huber, Philip Rucker, Carol Leonnig
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About this listen

The definitive insider narrative and the most fully characterised account yet of the chaos, scandal and destruction of Trump's first term, from two Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post journalists.

Drawing on nearly three years of reporting, hundreds of hours of interviews and more than 200 sources, including some of the most senior members of the administration, friends and firsthand witnesses who have never spoken before, Philip Rucker and Carol Leonnig take us inside some of the most controversial moments of Trump's presidency. They peer deeply into Trump's White House - at the aides pressured to lie to the public, the lawyers scrambling to clear up norm-breaking disasters and the staffers whose careers have been reduced to ashes - to paint an unparalleled group portrait of an administration driven by self-preservation and paranoia.

Rucker and Leonnig reveal Trump at his most unvarnished, showing the unhinged decision-making and incompetence that has floored officials and stunned foreign leaders. They portray unscripted calls with Vladimir Putin, steak dinners with Kim Jong-un and calls with Theresa May so hostile that they left her aides shaken. They also take a hard look at Robert Mueller, Trump's greatest antagonist to date, and how his investigation slowly unravelled an administration whose universal value is loyalty - not to country but to the president himself.

Grippingly told, A Very Stable Genius is a behind-the-scenes account of Trump's vainglorious pursuit of power in his first term - the rages and the frenzies, the dishonesty and the depravity - as his remaining loyal staffers eye the exits and he stares down the reality of impeachment.

©2020 Philip Rucker, Carol Leonnig (P)2020 Penguin Audio
Political Science Politics & Activism Politics & Government Presidents & Heads of State United States World Russia American Foreign Policy

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All stars
Most relevant
how with all this evidence is he still in power. this book will scare you

very scary

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Well written compilation of stupidity. Irrespective of one's political viewpoint, the manner of Trumps decision making, self importance, understanding of the world, self, governance, leadership, professionalism, and political knowhow, all laid out with idiocy at every turn.

Homer Simpson becomes President

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Really good insight to the dangers of Trump 2. The turmoil he will cause will leave the world in danger and put back USA on world scene for decades. China benefit if it happens.

Really good insight

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Brilliant bit of insight into the general ambience of the White House under Trump, full of first-hand accounts, the sources are first-rate.
I disagree with other reviewers complaining about the narration, I positively like the measured delivery. Can't stand over-acting and over-emphasis, have sadly sent back some books where the narrator went OTT.

Fascinating

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It is an insight into the petty, selfish and outright dangerous attitude this man has about how the presidency should benefit him first and then his friends. How he will happily throw loyal servants under the bus to keep himself safe.

Insight

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