Trump: The Art of the Comeback

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Trump: The Art of the Comeback
AuthorsDonald Trump
Kate Bohner
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
SubjectBusiness
PublisherTimes Books
Publication date
October 31, 1997
Media typePrint (hardcover and paperback)
Pages244
ISBN978-0812929645
Preceded byTrump: Surviving at the Top (1990) 
Followed byThe America We Deserve (2000) 

Trump: The Art of the Comeback is a 1997 book written by businessman and former President of the United States, Donald Trump and journalist Kate Bohner.[1]

Synopsis[edit]

In the book, Donald Trump writes about his bankruptcy in 1990 and how he managed to "comeback" through negotiations.[2] In the book, Trump notably revealed that he was "a germ freak" and "often thought of taking out a series of newspaper ads encouraging the abolishment of the handshake."[3][4][5][6] Trump also explains why he divorced Ivana Trump and Marla Maples, his first two wives; he claims that Trump talked too much about work while Maples wanted him to return earlier. Trump's accounts were denied by both ex-wives.[7] Trump also criticizes journalist Tina Brown, claiming that she reneged on a promise to write favorably about him in the past.[3][8] Trump called Brown "the worst," stating, "She's totally overrated. I think she's third-rate at best. If you look at Vanity Fair, it's a better magazine today than when she ran it." Brown was also the wife of Harold Evans, who was the president of Random House at the time.[3] Trump also lists the "problems [he] had with her (Alicia Machado)", the winner of Miss Universe in 1996, including her weight gain and her criticism of Trump in an interview with The Washington Post.[9]

The book also offers ten tips for success:[10]

1. PLAY GOLF
2. STAY FOCUSED
3. BE PARANOID
4. BE PASSIONATE
5. GO AGAINST THE TIDE
6. GO WITH YOUR GUT
7. WORK WITH PEOPLE YOU LIKE
8. BE LUCKY
9. GET EVEN
10. ALWAYS HAVE A PRENUPTIAL AGREEMENT

Writing[edit]

After the release of Trump's 1990 book, Trump: Surviving at the Top, he said that his next book "will be the real story, describing my comeback and the success of it all." Trump said he would write the book "in a couple of years." Peter Osnos, the editor for Surviving at the Top, said, "If Donald's career unfolds the way he is determined it will, his next book will make a great story."[11] Trump said he was asked by Random House to write The Art of the Comeback, his third book, after the company was impressed by his emergence from bankruptcy.[3] According to Trump's niece, Mary L. Trump, he briefly hired her as a ghostwriter for this book, but gave her little information to work with and eventually removed her from the project. [12]

On August 1, 1997, eight hours before the deadline, the final draft of the book was turned in.[13] Kate Bohner's life as Trump's ghostwriter was documented by her "best friend", Candace Bushnell, of New York Observer.[13] While writing for Trump, Bohner was nicknamed "Kateso".[13]

Reception[edit]

Fred Andrews of The New York Times wrote "The man combines imagination with muscle. If only he could keep his mouth shut" and noted that "Trump is forever saying the obvious, as though his perceptions were original or important."[14] Meanwhile, Craig Offman of Salon noted that Trump "admits he suffers from an even greater political liability: honesty."[15]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Bushnell, Candace (November 3, 1997). "A Leggy Stunner of Page Six Becomes Trump's Sexy Ghost". Observer. Retrieved June 22, 2017.[permanent dead link]
  2. ^ Flitter, Emily (July 17, 2016). "Art of the spin: Trump bankers question his portrayal of financial comeback". Reuters. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d Lacher, Irene (November 30, 1997). "Back on Track". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
  4. ^ Kruse, Michael; Arrieta-Keena, Ruairi (October 13, 2016). "The 7 Oddest Things Donald Trump Thinks". POLITICO Magazine. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
  5. ^ "Trump handshake showdown: France's Macron just won't let go". Associated Press. May 25, 2017. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
  6. ^ Shalby, Colleen (May 27, 2017). "From the shove to the orb, no single Trump moment from trip abroad stands out. There are too many". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
  7. ^ Mcshane, Larry (January 4, 1998). "Here's the book on Trump: He loves it!". Associated Press. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
  8. ^ Singer, Mark (November 23, 2016). "Donald Trump has always been paranoid". GQ. Retrieved June 23, 2017.
  9. ^ Lozada, Carlos (October 20, 2016). "The time Donald Trump got groped". The Washington Post. Retrieved June 23, 2017.
  10. ^ Jones, Del (March 12, 2004). "Paranoia won't destroy ya, according to Trump". USA Today. Retrieved July 3, 2017.
  11. ^ Cohen, Roger (October 11, 1990). "Sales of Trump's Book Are Lagging". The New York Times. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
  12. ^ "'Far beyond garden-variety narcissism.' Book by Trump's niece paints him as habitual liar, inept businessman". USA Today.
  13. ^ a b c Bushnell, Candace (November 3, 1997). "A Leggy Stunner of Page Six Becomes Trump's Sexy Ghost". Observer. Archived from the original on September 28, 2019. Retrieved June 24, 2017.
  14. ^ Andrews, Fred (December 14, 1997). "The Donald Redux". The New York Times. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
  15. ^ Offman, Craig (October 21, 1999). "The political wit and wisdom of Donald Trump". Salon. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
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