Trump: The Art of the Deal – by Donald J. Trump, Tony Schwartz

100 Word Book Review:

Trump narrates how he runs his organization, his life, the people he has to meet and chat with family and friends, as well as the clashes with enemies. All the while challenging conventional thinking, cutting great deals that are almost impossible. There are some unique insight and perspectives that opens up a different dimension on how deals are agreed upon. Nonetheless, the entire book captures only the wins but not the losses. Still, it is an excellent illustration of what professional salespeople must do. Salespeople must be negotiators, by definition. And Trump has achieved that over the years.

Who should read:

Well, I think if you are looking to understand Trump, this is a good book to start with. This book does give good insights into thinking, his logic and reasoning. It helps to understand why Trump calls off meeting or even agreed deals after hours of doing so.

Who should NOT read:

Certainly this book is not for those who are not a fan of Trump. Every word on the book will probably irk you much. Period.

Takeaway points:

It is an art to close a deal, no matter the size. While this book does give a few good pointers, I do feel it lacks of the realistic aspect. Then again, this is only my personal opinion.

About the Author

Tony Schwartz (born May 2, 1952) is an American journalist and business book author who ghost wrote Trump: The Art of the Deal.

In July 2016, Schwartz was the subject of an article in The New Yorker in which he described Donald Trump, who was running for President of the United States at the time, in unfavorable terms. Schwartz said he came to regret writing The Art of the Deal. Schwartz repeated his criticism on Good Morning America, saying he “put lipstick on a pig”, and again on Real Time with Bill Maher.