A Warning

By: Anonymous

Narrated by: Robert Fass

Length: 8 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's Summary

In time for the 2020 presidential election, Anonymous returns to expand on their "must read" (Time), number-one best-selling behind-the-scenes "scathing portrait" (USA Today) of the Trump presidency with new words of warning for Americans everywhere. 

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-listen 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. 

This book is a sobering assessment of the man in the Oval Office and a warning about something even more important - who we are as a people. 

©2019 Anonymous (P)2019 Twelve

A Warning about 'A Warning'

Make no mistake, "Anonymous" is an unrepentant partisan Republican hack. That this author has deep dislike for Donald Trump, and his utter incompetence as President of the United States of America, should not lead anyone to believe that they (I won't presume the gender of the author) have a moral compass with which to help citizens guide the nation. Nor in fact to wrestle it away from a narcissistic man-child like Trump.

First of all, the author fails to follow through on the promise to shed greater light on the clown show. There's virtually nothing new here, only that the author can vouch for for the insanity first or second hand. And that the public can take heart that the laughably self-proclaimed "Steady State" (the name for the insiders who claimed to be the adults in the room, in response to "Deep State" paranoia) worried about the stability of the President, choosing to wring their hands, rather than actually do anything. By the way, no Cabinet member would contemplate invoking the 25th Amendment without seriously thinking of its possible implementation. The assertion otherwise is fanciful and intellectually dishonest.

Secondly, is the peculiar defense of the supporting cast, calling Nikki Haley, Rick Perry and Jeff Sessions as "valuable lieutenants", heaping praise on Trump critics Mitt Romney, Paul Ryan and Jim Jordan, and offering only mild rebukes to those who later became sycophants and enablers. That author has the gall to paint Betsy DeVos a a defender of education, claiming the administration doesn't hold education as a priority. Oh, how rich is that? Scattered throughout the book is fawning adoration of the likes of Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, and Henry Kissinger along with jingoistic musings of the origins of the Republic, which sets the tone clearly. "Anonymous" fears Trump is not nearly right-wing enough for where they want the current GOP to be. Notably missing is virtually any credit given to Democrats, other than the statement that Obama, along with George W. Bush, was a voracious reader (unlike Trump), and that Hillary Clinton, Elizabeth Warren, Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders have gotten puerile nicknames from the President. Jimmy Carter, by any definition, the most honorable and decent President in anyone's memory, doesn't rate at all. Any credibility to the author's claim to be seeking civility and open dialogue across party lines is lost with this strategy. To make the case that the nation deserves better than Trump, necessarily requires an acknowledgement that the opposition party is at least legitimate In this way, "Anonymous" is more sinister even than Trump, with their passive-aggressive sneering at the Democratic Party. One wonders how much the author's feelings actually stray from Trump's most outrageous slurs, as the writing makes it unclear at times whose opinion is being stated.

Third, I find it very telling that among all the people, countries and organizations defamed by Trump, the author never once mentions the names of Rep. Ilhan Omar, Rep. Ayanna Pressley, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, or Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, nor the collective term "the Squad". Not once by my recollection. I will re-listen, but I doubt they were ever mentioned. AOC, is only referred to obliquely, recounting how Trump sycophants roar with approval when bashing a "left-wing first term congresswoman from New York, an evil liberal trying to revive socialism in America". It's unclear if the sentiment is just Trump's, or shared with the author. I don't doubt it was meant to be read that way.

But the cringe-worthy racist rhetoric gets worse. In a passage regarding the efforts to understand the GOP's poor results in midterms, the author, with absolutely no sense of irony or any attempt to distance themselves, recounts that "many minorities wrongly think the Republican Party doesn’t like them”. Well, ain't that white privileged of y'all! Telling the minority folks how wrong they think. It's easy to forget these days, that more and more the "mainstream" GOP is becoming hardly better than Trump. Accordingly, the author has very little in the way of strong criticism for Senate enablers in the "Apologists" chapter.

Almost as disturbing is the utter disdain for truth that "Anonymous" displays. The author uses the term "rivalling" in talking about Trump's use of Executive Orders in his first three years in office, compared to Democratic predecessors (deftly ignoring George W. Bush), when the word should have been "surpassing". Then comes the old trope of GOP, party of Lincoln and of small decentralized government. How can conservatives make that claim with a straight face? They want Lincoln and limited government. So goes the intellectual integrity of the GOP. Even more, there's a lot of media and Democrat bashing about sensationalizing the pathology in the White House, saying for example that Jim Acosta "may be a jerk" anyway. Glossing over the fact that rescinding press credentials is the practical application of the "media is the enemy of the people" mindset. A mindset the author has been railing against for the last several pages. But I guess Jim Acosta had it coming though, right?

Read or listen to this book skeptically. It is not merely an accounting of the embarrassments and corruption of the cretin residing in 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. It's a right-wing polemic no more concerned with the rule of law than Trump. No mention of court-packing (except for the President's own benefit, the author doesn't quick connect the dots that judicial activism for personal gain is a cousin to judicial activism for party gain.), Israel, NRA. None of the third-rail topics for the Republican party. "Anonymous" lays out a compilation of reprehensible, and even impeachable offenses, coyly stating there is more that can't be divulged. But don't be fooled. "Anonymous" is a coward, posing as a hero.

Tell us something we don’t know

I’m not really sure who this book is intended for. Another reviewer mentioned that there’s nothing new you can’t see on the news everyday and I agree.

I genuinely do not like or respect Donald Trump in any way. With that being said, anonymous is so sanctimonious I could barely tolerate the lectures about honor and leadership. Anyone with critical thinking skills that hasn’t drank the Trump kool aid will not be surprised to learn that Trump doesn’t read and makes terrible decisions. We know.

Attempting to convince people there’s someone protecting our democracy from inside is a joke. If you want to see what brave “steady state” Americans look like, watch Yavonovich or Vindman call out this behavior publicly. Witnessing it everyday and not publicly condemning, and naming it, is enabling the corruption of the highest office.

Warning accepted

As a lifelong conservative and republican I thought this was almost flawlessly communicated. I wish it never had to be written but it does and it has been. Thank you for this. There are many Americans of all persuasions who will see the wisdom and urgency of this. We have to act now.

History of Incompetence from Within

A Warning, by Anonymous, and narrated by Robert Fass. The cautioning, written of in A Warning, is simple to state here and now for your consideration. Donald Trump is ignorant, believes non-truths if they titillate his inner narcissism, cannot discern a problem nor measure solutions or even if he should bumble into coming upon a proposed resolution, he will not know how to apply it properly to a problem. What is great about this work is Anonymous analyzes the President by Cicero’s vision of leadership: wisdom, justice, greatness of spirit, and seemliness. It would be difficult for the minority of Americans who chose Trump as our president to have picked a more incompetent fool; according to Anonymous. What does that say for Americans? Perhaps it means a large proportion of us are buffoons. To un-baffoon yourselves, learn how to think rationally, do not listen to incitements, apply threads of thought against life experiences (a difficult mental task) or realize your ignorance and give up on your interference with democracy.

The book is a litany of tomfoolery episodes of Donald Trump’s time as president and an insight into the harm he is costing our American Way, or at least what might be left of it after his self-aggrandizing and screw up of the elements of government. It not only talks about his lack of competence; it also introduces us to his inbred hatred for others he realizes are more competent and better persons such as John McCain, the attitude of his ill-designed aids that believe eventually no one will be able to stop them and their self-interests upon re-election will give them free reign, hatred of anyone who criticizes at the president or his administration (and pro dictatorship systems of ruling), the president’s inattentiveness and carelessness and more, oh so much more ineptitude. Reasoned presentations on such topics of national security would get the president saying, “What the F*** is this it is just words.” Conclusion: The nation is in jeopardy. Anonymous likewise tells stories of how the staff, at least early in this administration, had to ignore his hateful and deficient orders in carrying out the president’s bad decisions, to the extent possible but those people are now more missing than present. We are up the creek and do not have a paddle.

About Anonymous remaining unidentified. Courage enables one to face danger, fear, or vicissitudes with self-possession, confidence, and resolution; bravery is the result. Is it an issue that Anonymous does not come out with a full face and give further support to her/his personal imprimatur to the allegations? That may help us manage the Anonymous assuaged utter incompetence of both the president and his administration. According to Anonymous, the president is making a fool of his followers. The President believes, and for good reason, he can shovel any detritus (that’s a nice way of saying s***), at his base and they will take it as truth. He believes, and for good reason, they will not test his assertions in any Socratic manner. They will follow him like lemmings thinking he will deliver and in truth he cannot and therefore will not provide sustenance. He will continue to bankrupt America.

My gratitude, and the gratitude of our nation.

Thank you for revealing one of the greatest threats in our nation's history. And potentially to the world.

Chilling

An thorough presentation of the current political climate and the sentiment being shared behind closed doors. Finally first hand opinions that aren't censored thanks to anonymity. This piece helps to unveil the disturbing truths that are obfuscated by tweets, media attention spans, and carefully selected excerpts from the white house.

Please Read! Especially Trump Supporters!

Worth the read. Everyone should pay attention. I love how so much of the book is straight to facts - little characterizing. Just the truth you need to hear.

Insider's view. A book for both sides to know.

Whether you're a Conservative or liberal or somewhere in between, this book, written from someone who wanted Trump to succeed, and someone who saw it from the inner-most perspective, this is a book you should read!

TREASON

Where is the Secret Service, CIA or even FBI. How does anyone think its okay to encourage a spy to write a book spewing their hate page after page bragging about undermining the elected President of the USA. To brag he is not the deep deep state or even deep state that he is open in his behavior shows his hate for the American voting population page after page and tells how he jokes about assassinate the worlds most powerful leader, how he walks among him daily frustrating his plans, encouraging dissent with everyone else compromising Americas plans.

This book was recommended by a friend because he too could not believe the contents. I want my money returned because I will not support anything that goes against the voting population of the citizens. PERIOD.
I want my money back

Can we Survive as a Democracy?

The book is well written. The basics of the book provide no new information, but there are new insights about the inside workings of the Trump White House. I must admit I attempted to unmask Anonymous as I read, but to no avail. The author uses the rules of leadership and compares Trump to the standard rather than write a chronological accounting. I came away with the feeling things are much worse than I thought and will not be easy to correct. The book is well worth the read.

The book is eight hours and fifty-seven minutes. Robert Fass does an excellent job narrating the book. Fass is an actor. He was nominated for the Audie Award eight times and won it two times. He also has won multiple Earphone Awards.