You Can Judge a Book By Its Cover: These Say Vote An End to This Chapter

The adage is that it is usually important not to judge a book (person, situation) by its cover, but in the case of our current president, the messages couldn't be clearer: we must VOTE an end to this shameful chapter in our history. Almost thirty books have been written about him since his term in office began in 2016, and the vast majority of them reach alarming conclusions—that he lacks empathy and is a narcissist who cares only about himself and his business dealings; that he has trouble telling the truth and obeying the law. That he demands unconditional loyalty, or will fire you, even when what he is insisting on doing may skirt criminal laws. That he is alienating our worldwide allies while courting dictators who harbor ill will toward the United States. That he refuses to do what is best for our military and is regularly at odds with our country's intelligence units. That he panders to his base at the expense of a moral compass that would look out for the interests of all Americans. And that he is undermining our democracy by attacking our constitutionally mandated systems. And amazingly so, in most instances, the authors of the books say he will tell you this himself in so many words. As Maya Angelou said, when someone tells you and shows you who they are, believe them. What he is telling us is that he is unfit to be president. Many of his failures in office are detailed at length in the following books, along with their official synopses. For purposes of space, I have chosen just ten.—Chaz Ebert

1.

Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World's Most Dangerous Man (2020) by Mary L. Trump

Numerous pundits, armchair psychologists, and journalists have sought to parse Donald J. Trump’s lethal flaws. Mary L. Trump has the education, insight, and intimate familiarity needed to reveal what makes Donald, and the rest of her clan, tick. She alone can recount this fascinating, unnerving saga, not just because of her insider’s perspective but also because she is the only Trump willing to tell the truth about one of the world’s most powerful and dysfunctional families.

2.

The Room Where It Happened: A White House Memoir (2020) by John Bolton

John Bolton served as National Security Advisor to President Donald Trump for 519 days. A seasoned public servant who had previously worked for Presidents Reagan, Bush #41, and Bush #43, Bolton brought to the administration thirty years of experience in international issues and a reputation for tough, blunt talk. In his memoir, he offers a substantive and factual account of his time in the room where it happened.

3.

Disloyal: A Memoir - The True Story of the Former Personal Attorney to President Donald J. Trump (2020) by Michael Cohen

Once Donald Trump’s fiercest surrogate, closest confidant, and staunchest defender, Michael Cohen knows where the skeletons are buried. This is the most devastating business and political horror story of the century. As Trump’s lawyer and “fixer,” Cohen not only witnessed firsthand but was also an active participant in the inner workings of Trump’s business empire, political campaign, and presidential administration.

4.

Fear: Trump in the White House (2018) by Bob Woodward

With authoritative reporting honed through nine presidencies, author Bob Woodward reveals in unprecedented detail the harrowing life inside President Donald Trump’s White House and precisely how he makes decisions on major foreign and domestic policies. Fear is the most intimate portrait of a sitting president ever published during the president’s first years in office. The focus is on the explosive debates and the decision-making in the Oval Office, the Situation Room, Air Force One and the White House residence.

5.

Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House (2018) by Michael Wolff

With extraordinary access to the West Wing, Michael Wolff reveals what happened behind-the-scenes in the first nine months of the most controversial presidency of our time in Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House. Since Donald Trump was sworn in as the 45th President of the United States, the country―and the world―has witnessed a stormy, outrageous, and absolutely mesmerizing presidential term that reflects the volatility and fierceness of the man elected Commander-in-Chief.

6.

Unhinged: An Insider's Account of the Trump White House (2018) by Omarosa Manigault Newman

Few have been a member of Donald Trump’s inner orbit longer than Omarosa Manigault Newman. Their relationship has spanned fifteen years—through four television shows, a presidential campaign, and a year by his side in the most chaotic, outrageous White House in history. But that relationship has come to a decisive and definitive end, and Omarosa is finally ready to share her side of the story in this explosive, jaw-dropping account.

7.

A Warning (2019) by Anonymous

On September 5, 2018, the New York Times published a bombshell essay and took the rare step of granting its writer anonymity. Described only as "a senior official in the Trump administration," the author provided eyewitness insight into White House chaos, administration instability, and the people working to keep Donald Trump's reckless impulses in check. With the 2020 election on the horizon, Anonymous is speaking out once again. In this book, the original author pulls back the curtain even further, offering a first-of-its-kind look at the president and his record—a must-read before Election Day. It will surprise and challenge both Democrats and Republicans, motivate them to consider how we judge our nation's leaders, and illuminate the consequences of re-electing a commander in chief unfit for the role.