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Too Much and Never Enough: How My Family Created the World’s Most Dangerous Man by Mary L. Trump
killerkakez1224's review against another edition
5.0
As enlightening as it is horrifying
Its amazing what the inside take of a shattered man can provide. Approaching the topic from the clinical as well as the intimately involved provides a scope of understanding that is heartbreaking and maddening.
Its amazing what the inside take of a shattered man can provide. Approaching the topic from the clinical as well as the intimately involved provides a scope of understanding that is heartbreaking and maddening.
jp_priestley's review against another edition
4.0
It seems rather apposite that I should have finished reading Mary Trump's book in tandem with the end of her uncle's political career - the latter following in quick succession to the former! Some have been rather uncharitable with their critique of Mary Trump's candid insights into the workings of the mind of Donald Trump and of Trump family dynamics generally, claiming that she has stated nothing new. Well, that might be so for some. However, I frequently found Mary Trump's revelations startling and alarming.
The author appears to have approached her work objectively and truthfully - although there has to be a small degree of subjectivity in her account given her former close family association within the Trump dynasty.
There is undoubtedly much that she must have placed to one side and not included in her book, and perhaps that too will see the light of day in the years to come. What we do have, though, from Mary Trump is ample information to qualify the strap-line on the book's cover - 'How my family created the world's most dangerous man.'
As her bio attests, 'Mary L. Trump holds a PhD from the Derner Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies and has taught graduate courses in trauma, psychopathology and developmental psychology.' In other words, she is a well-qualified academic and professional who knows much about human behaviour. She is well placed to know how and why - left unchecked - Donald J. Trump and his toxic family background led to the world being placed on a knife-edge - a political, social and environmental travesty that will take years to expunge - if ever.
The author appears to have approached her work objectively and truthfully - although there has to be a small degree of subjectivity in her account given her former close family association within the Trump dynasty.
There is undoubtedly much that she must have placed to one side and not included in her book, and perhaps that too will see the light of day in the years to come. What we do have, though, from Mary Trump is ample information to qualify the strap-line on the book's cover - 'How my family created the world's most dangerous man.'
As her bio attests, 'Mary L. Trump holds a PhD from the Derner Institute of Advanced Psychological Studies and has taught graduate courses in trauma, psychopathology and developmental psychology.' In other words, she is a well-qualified academic and professional who knows much about human behaviour. She is well placed to know how and why - left unchecked - Donald J. Trump and his toxic family background led to the world being placed on a knife-edge - a political, social and environmental travesty that will take years to expunge - if ever.
davidsenpie's review against another edition
dark
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
To examine Trump not only from a psychological pov, but from the POV of a close family member while getting the deep Trump family lore feels voyeuristic but very important. Mary L’s knack for dramatizing these stories while weaving in psychological motifs and patterns is great, she’s an awesome story teller.
In this particular case, I feel a mix of anger, pity, sadness, and vindication for my views old and new on Trump and the environment which brought him about. Not only is the trajectory of 20th century US responsible for him, but it’s in part built by men like his father, who then much more literally created Donald. Almost like an animal, to see how he perceived his own rearing and adapted to it only serves to underscore the consistency with which he’s behaved his entire life, and at his current age we almost see an abstraction of it - like a baby just doing what they literally perceive as needed to survive like fake crying.
Beyond that, equally as allegorical, I see so much tragedy in the way Mary L and her father were expected to behave and how their bad treatment by their family was in large part motivated by the cruel and domineering patriarch of Fred Sr makes me sad and angry. They deserve justice, as do the working class and women in general of our country.
I learned that she’s got another book released recently, will def check it out as well. Glad to hear as my biggest complaint is honestly that it isn’t longer for such good material and inter-generational scope.
In this particular case, I feel a mix of anger, pity, sadness, and vindication for my views old and new on Trump and the environment which brought him about. Not only is the trajectory of 20th century US responsible for him, but it’s in part built by men like his father, who then much more literally created Donald. Almost like an animal, to see how he perceived his own rearing and adapted to it only serves to underscore the consistency with which he’s behaved his entire life, and at his current age we almost see an abstraction of it - like a baby just doing what they literally perceive as needed to survive like fake crying.
Beyond that, equally as allegorical, I see so much tragedy in the way Mary L and her father were expected to behave and how their bad treatment by their family was in large part motivated by the cruel and domineering patriarch of Fred Sr makes me sad and angry. They deserve justice, as do the working class and women in general of our country.
I learned that she’s got another book released recently, will def check it out as well. Glad to hear as my biggest complaint is honestly that it isn’t longer for such good material and inter-generational scope.
auntienanna's review against another edition
4.0
I’m very appreciative of the writer for writing this book. I have a version of Donald Trump in my family too. This was enlightening on a larger scale, but also provided me some insight on some more personally impactful dynamics. I am sorry for how this family trauma history has impacted the writer, and I am saddened by how it is now impacting the whole world.
michaelpdonley's review against another edition
3.0
An interesting portrait of the family the made Donald Trump. What a sad, awful family.
alreadyemily's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting Trump family memoir from the perspective of his niece, that is mainly about her branch of the family. It is followed up by a frank discussion of defects, and a blazing condemnation of behavior as well as the adulation recieved from the media throughout the years. I don't think this book's subtitle is entirely accurate, but the book certainly provides insight.
elliereadsss's review against another edition
This was completely unlike what I usually pick up, but I'm glad I gave it a try. This book is written by Donald Trump's niece who's trained in psychology, investigating his past and how it formed him in to the president he became. I always struggle with the writing style of biographical books like this one, but that's personal to me as a reader as I often struggle to grasp the author's message. But there were moments that shocked me and this book was always in the back of my mind. I definitely sensed a biased viewpoint at points in this book, but I learned a lot and I am glad I read it.
p9ng's review against another edition
4.0
After the controversy surrounding the release of this book, I felt it important to read. Surprisingly it is not entirely unsympathetic to Mr. Trump, but as much or more an indictment of Donald's father Fred. It is interesting as a point of view from a biographical perspective, granted one of a family member who it could be argued has a grudge. It's not nearly as salacious a summer read as I had anticipated, but we always have the Steele dossier for that. The writing is palatable, and it is only towards the end that I felt it become a bit repetitious. The epilogue seems to have been written from a somewhat more fixed perspective, could it be to satisfy a political narrative suggested by the editors? Or was it written after the administration began pushing back on the release of the book?