(OT) Book Review: “Too Much and Never Enough” by Mary L. Trump, PhD

(Warning: I’m a Liberal. Read at your own risk.)

As soon as I heard about this book, I immediately went to Amazon and pre-ordered my copy. Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man by Mary L. Trump sold close to 1 million copies on the day of it’s release, so I know I’m not alone in my need to get the dirt on on the current president of the United States.

And Mary dishes it from the get go. Halfway through the prologue and I was already saying, “Wow!” under my breath. She takes us deep into this dysfunctional (I wish there was a stronger word!) family’s history, conversations and interactions. Weddings, funerals and holidays are all put on display for us.

This mess of a family and their greed actually started with Mary’s great-grandmother. One could say it was out of necessity and the death of his father that Fred Trump became an angry miser, but not one of his five children could break away from his monetary hold on them to become their own person. The one child that tried, his oldest son and namesake, Freddy Jr., was driven to alcoholism trying to be the object of his father’s love, respect and attention. Only Donald caught his dad’s attention and respect. Not for his intelligence or business savvy, but because he was like his father and knew how to use charisma, lies and money to get his way. This all lead to five bankruptcies due to his lack of business skills, and yet, there was his father to throw more money at him to do whatever he’s please with.

Fred Trump was nothing short of cruel and ruthless with his children and Mary tells the stories to back it up. No weakness, no crying, no emotion…that’s what Fred demanded. A man worth hundreds of millions of dollars who expected everyone, including his children to praise him, never question him, and do as they were told. Sound familiar?

Now here’s the downside (and I wish someone had realized it before it went to print)…before I reached the halfway point of this book, I knew exactly how “The Donald” and his sycophants will spin this to his favor… He was the victim. You heard it here first…

And for that reason…

I rate this book, 3 out of 4 Beetles!