American Oligarchs

The Kushners, the Trumps, and the Marriage of Money and Power

By: Andrea Bernstein

Narrated by: Andrea Bernstein

Length: 15 hrs and 36 mins

Publisher's summary

A multigenerational saga of two families who rose from immigrant roots to the pinnacle of US power that tracks the unraveling of American democracy.

In American Oligarchs, award-winning investigative journalist Andrea Bernstein creates a vivid portrait of two emblematic American families. Their journey to the White House is a story of survival and loss, crime and betrayal, which stretches from the Gilded Age through Nazi-occupied Poland to the rising nationalism and inequality of the 21st century.

Drawing on hundreds of interviews and over 100,000 pages of documents, many previously unseen or long forgotten, Bernstein traces how the families grew rich on federal programs that bolstered the middle class, and then sheltered their wealth from tax collectors. Wielding half-truths, secrecy, and media manipulation, they blurred the lines between public and private interests, then leveraged political, prosecutorial, and judicial power to avoid legal consequences. At once intimate and sweeping, American Oligarchs reveals how these dynasties encouraged and profited from a system of political dark money that has pushed America to the precipice of oligarchy.

©2020 Andrea Bernstein (P)2020 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

"Anyone concerned about American democracy should read Andrea Bernstein’s devastating exposé of the Trump and Kushner families. With meticulous precision, she documents the pernicious effects of dynastic wealth and power, now threatening to turn the highest rungs of the US government into a corrupt oligarchy." (Jane Mayer, The New Yorker staff writer and New York Times best-selling author of Dark Money)

"A rich and highly readable compendium...Bernstein is an intrepid reporter." (William Cohan, New York Times Book Review)

"By building American Oligarchs around the Kushner and Trump family narratives, Bernstein offers readers a fresh perspective.... Readers who follow the news more casually will also find the epic family tales a compelling way to understand the myriad deals and ambitions that define the Kushners and Trumps." (David Kocieniewski, Bloomberg.com)

Excellent content, sing song presentation.

I thank the author for her diligent research. The more information made public, the better for the country. I would recommend a professional reader for your next effort. I almost quit listening several times because of the annoying sing song cadence.

I’m glad I didn’t.

Fabulous book with far reaching historical context

Fabulous book with far reaching historical context that helps to “explain” as far as one can in our current times, how these two families ended up where they are, doing what they are doing.
Obviously well researched despite the many obstacles both families put up.
Everyone should read this book, regardless of political persuasion. Bernstein is known to be a fact based reporter with a long history reporting in the greater NYC region and provides important information to every citizen about who is running things and what can’t

scum bag - corrupt

Sadly we know what a crook and a scum bag Trump is - along with his psychological issues - he grew up in the corrupt world of NYC real estate. Moral compass is a word he knows not of
What is surprising is the family background of the Kushners and Jared still is so void of compassion.... his grand parents suffered much in Nazi Germany.
Well, if you haven't tired of learning more about the background of what hopefully are now the end of darkness that took over the country - this book is interesting & well researched. Personally - I'm just hoping Donald goes away

revealing & scary stuff

The content of this book shouldn't be shocking at this point as we have seen this family's corruption up close. Ms. Bernstein shows us just how deeply it goes and that is alarming.

Informative, Interesting and Illuminating

Well researched, organized and thoughtful. Balanced and documented.

But authors who think they can read well enough for an audio book need better advisors and would best listen to the advice. Pleasant enough voice but painfully plodding. “Much. Of. The. Money...” Slow word by word punctuated with lengthy, breathy pauses.

Thoroughly researched, highly credible

This book chronicles the origin stories of the Kushners and the Trumps and the tangled web of corruption across generations that has led them to the center of the swirling cesspool of Americans politics.

Things voters should have known

I cannot believe there are people that would vote for and actually believe Trump is doing his job to improve the country. He has never done anything except slimy, underhanded, and illegal moves to advance himself. The web of deceit is so thick.

Brilliant, Terrifying, and Inspirational

Chronicles with astonishing detail and journalistic integrity the rise of the Kusher and Trump dynasties.

The epilogue contains one of the most inspirational passages about hope that I've heard in a long time.

Andrea Bernstein deserves a Pulitzer for this!!

A hard truth to hear

I admire the writer of this book, what an undertaking, such a sad commentary on our government
Thank you for writing it,

Well researched and written

The book presented these complicated history of 2 families with such clarity once I started it I had to finish it.