ChristisGod
Well-Known Member
Synopsis[edit]
The book takes the form of a chronological biography; while Donald Trump is the stated focal point, Mary Trump devotes significant attention to other members of the Trump family as a way to shed light on their mutual dynamics and financial dealings. Drawing on her skills as a clinical psychologist, the author attempts to provide the inner familial workings as a background from which to analyze Donald,[12] but has avoided outright diagnosis.[13]
In Part One: The Cruelty Is the Point,[14][15] the author describes the character of the family's patriarch, Fred Trump Sr., and attempts to elucidate how his treatment of his children has had a lasting impact on them. Based on recollections from family members, Mary diagnoses Fred Sr. as a high-functioning sociopath who sought to use those around him for his benefit.[16] Donald, while observing his brother Fred Jr. being criticized over perceived shortcomings, would adapt his nature to avoid displays of sadness, weakness or kindness.[17] Mary states Fred's influence ensured that Donald would have limited access to his range of emotions.[13] Their mother, Mary, is described as physically and mentally challenged during the children's formative years as a result of osteoporosis.[13] Later in life, she would reveal to Mary that she was relieved when Donald was sent to military school, as he had become belligerent and disobedient towards her.[18]
In Part Two: The Wrong Side of the Tracks, the author chronicles the early career of Donald Trump. She observes that, since Fred Sr. never achieved the fame he considered deserving of his business acumen, he was happy to allow his son Donald to play the public face while he took care of the actual work by leaning heavily on political and other connections.[19] Meanwhile, Fred Jr. saw that, after Fred Sr. unfairly blamed him for the collapse of large housing projects, he began sidelining his eldest son in favor of Donald, and thus chose to leave the family business to pursue a career as a commercial pilot.[13][20] The family's constant denigration of his chosen profession contributed to his struggles with alcoholism and other issues, leading to both his aviation career and marriage failing.[13][21] He eventually died due to a heart attack in a hospital away from family, while his parents waited at home and his brother Donald was at a movie theater.[21]
In Part Three: Smoke and Mirrors, the author details how, as the influence of Fred Sr. waned, Donald Trump struggled to operate his business without the knowledge and connections his father provided. Mary describes Donald as an inept businessman who could keep up appearances only due to his associates' unwillingness to tear down the façade, as they saw his notoriety as an asset.[18] At one point Donald had to negotiate with his creditors for a monthly allowance of $450,000.[22] Mary also focuses on how the family turned on her after Fred Sr.'s death, including cutting off her and her brother's health insurance, resulting in precarious conditions for her brother's child. Mary decided to settle by allowing the rest of the family to buy out her partnership of a family corporation at what she now understands to be a significant undervaluation.[13][23] She eventually learned the true value of her family's wealth by acting as an anonymous source in the Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times investigation.[7]
In Part Four: The Worst Investment Ever Made, the author provides her view of the period when Donald Trump mounted a successful campaign to become President of the United States. Mary again draws on her training as a psychologist to claim that her grandfather Fred Sr. initiated a direct line to more power actors, all enabling Donald's worst instincts to serve their respective needs.[18] She states that, due to Trump's psychological capacity being forcefully stopped from fully developing at a young age, he remains extremely susceptible to manipulation by more capable local and foreign actors.[13]
The book takes the form of a chronological biography; while Donald Trump is the stated focal point, Mary Trump devotes significant attention to other members of the Trump family as a way to shed light on their mutual dynamics and financial dealings. Drawing on her skills as a clinical psychologist, the author attempts to provide the inner familial workings as a background from which to analyze Donald,[12] but has avoided outright diagnosis.[13]
In Part One: The Cruelty Is the Point,[14][15] the author describes the character of the family's patriarch, Fred Trump Sr., and attempts to elucidate how his treatment of his children has had a lasting impact on them. Based on recollections from family members, Mary diagnoses Fred Sr. as a high-functioning sociopath who sought to use those around him for his benefit.[16] Donald, while observing his brother Fred Jr. being criticized over perceived shortcomings, would adapt his nature to avoid displays of sadness, weakness or kindness.[17] Mary states Fred's influence ensured that Donald would have limited access to his range of emotions.[13] Their mother, Mary, is described as physically and mentally challenged during the children's formative years as a result of osteoporosis.[13] Later in life, she would reveal to Mary that she was relieved when Donald was sent to military school, as he had become belligerent and disobedient towards her.[18]
In Part Two: The Wrong Side of the Tracks, the author chronicles the early career of Donald Trump. She observes that, since Fred Sr. never achieved the fame he considered deserving of his business acumen, he was happy to allow his son Donald to play the public face while he took care of the actual work by leaning heavily on political and other connections.[19] Meanwhile, Fred Jr. saw that, after Fred Sr. unfairly blamed him for the collapse of large housing projects, he began sidelining his eldest son in favor of Donald, and thus chose to leave the family business to pursue a career as a commercial pilot.[13][20] The family's constant denigration of his chosen profession contributed to his struggles with alcoholism and other issues, leading to both his aviation career and marriage failing.[13][21] He eventually died due to a heart attack in a hospital away from family, while his parents waited at home and his brother Donald was at a movie theater.[21]
In Part Three: Smoke and Mirrors, the author details how, as the influence of Fred Sr. waned, Donald Trump struggled to operate his business without the knowledge and connections his father provided. Mary describes Donald as an inept businessman who could keep up appearances only due to his associates' unwillingness to tear down the façade, as they saw his notoriety as an asset.[18] At one point Donald had to negotiate with his creditors for a monthly allowance of $450,000.[22] Mary also focuses on how the family turned on her after Fred Sr.'s death, including cutting off her and her brother's health insurance, resulting in precarious conditions for her brother's child. Mary decided to settle by allowing the rest of the family to buy out her partnership of a family corporation at what she now understands to be a significant undervaluation.[13][23] She eventually learned the true value of her family's wealth by acting as an anonymous source in the Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times investigation.[7]
In Part Four: The Worst Investment Ever Made, the author provides her view of the period when Donald Trump mounted a successful campaign to become President of the United States. Mary again draws on her training as a psychologist to claim that her grandfather Fred Sr. initiated a direct line to more power actors, all enabling Donald's worst instincts to serve their respective needs.[18] She states that, due to Trump's psychological capacity being forcefully stopped from fully developing at a young age, he remains extremely susceptible to manipulation by more capable local and foreign actors.[13]
