Fear

Trump in the White House

By: Bob Woodward

Narrated by: Robert Petkoff

Length: 12 hrs and 20 mins

Publisher's summary

THE SUNDAY TIMES NUMBER ONE BESTSELLER

THE OBSERVER BOOK OF THE YEAR

'I think you’ve always been fair.' — President Donald J. Trump, in a call to Bob Woodward, August 14, 2018

THE INSIDE STORY ON PRESIDENT TRUMP, AS ONLY BOB WOODWARD CAN TELL IT.

With authoritative reporting honed through eight presidencies from Nixon to Obama, 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. Woodward draws from hundreds of hours of interviews with firsthand sources, meeting notes, personal diaries, files and documents. 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.

Fear is the most intimate portrait of a sitting president ever published during the president’s first years in office.

©2018 Bob Woodward (P)2018 Simon & Schuster UK

Critic reviews

"Fear is a meticulously researched account of a White House and a president in financial, legal and personal disorder...essential reading." (Daily Mail)

"The sheer weight of anecdotes depicts a man with no empathy and a pathological capacity for lying.' (The Financial Times)

"Fuelling his narrative is an astonishing cast of rogues, ideologues, self-made millionaires and men in uniform who have spent the past two years in and out of Trump's administration." (The Sunday Times)

More questions than answers

This book had so much hype that I thought I knew where it would go.
I’m now more confused than before I listened to it.
Trump should be happy with the ending, with his attorney pretty much making the case for his exoneration for anything Mueller might have.....or did he?

That’s the question.

If you have the ability of rational thinking than you know he’s not fit to be president if for no other reason but his ignorance of how to run a country. Woodward made that case though trump has made it for him really. But as far as any charges that I may once thought might be forthcoming from the entire investigation...well I’m not so sure.
That doesn’t make me one bit happier that this egotistical maniacal pathological liar is the president of my country. But to tell you the truth I almost feel sorry for him!...almost that is. However when you throw into the mix his treatment of women that so many others are now either fired because of or are serving time for, his rash dealings with North Korea, his treatment of others to include Australia, blah blah blah, my pity turns again to anger.
That the people who are his base were so determined to get someone in office that could validate their mostly self-serving bigoted ideas, their championing any rogue so they need not be politically correct and roll the clock back to our countries dark ages of women as second class citizens, inequality, racist attitudes, intolerance of anyone not white, straight, anglo-saxon, male dominated world because that’s the way it should be cause we wear the pants...I am left at a loss.
Obviously not of words as this badly written review exemplifies, but of any illusion I might have had that I had a good understanding of human nature.

So yes I would recommend this book if for no other reason that it will definitely give you a perspective that you just might not know lurks under your radar!

Enthralling and probably fair

I enjoyed listening to this book and found the writing and pace to be informative and enjoyable. There are no great revelations in this book other than those already covered in the media. However, the portrail of Trump's capabilities and how he operates within the walls of the white house is vivid and gives a very detailed second hand account of the day to day of the current presidency.

One discordant note is the complete failure to capture the President Trump's voice. In the book he speaks in complete sentences, which does not reflect how Trump actually speaks. As an audio account there is no way to see where quotations are marked, however, it is noticeable and a little jarring.

I wont go into credibility or impressions, I will just note that it is well worth the credit and that the book improves as you progress.

Fair, balanced and convincing

Not much in this title is new considering what is in the news. What surprised me most was that the way the narrative is consistently phrased is such that you can see the other side of the story. Rather than outrage, you are taken along and sort of see that aspects are reasonable for a certain view, even if that view itself is not reasonable.

That does not make what is going on comfortable or offer excuses, but does offer some assurance things are considered, while at the same time showing that the consideration is based on wrong perceptions, interpretation, 'facts' and mostly preconceived notions of appearance, hopes and dreams.

Great title that does not hold back but does offer context so often missed.

Fantastic book!

Fantastic book, scarily real look at a failure to identify a compulsive liar and snake oil salesman.

Like listening to someone reading directly from a

....diary, all be it an extremely interesting one. Definitely well worth a listen. Trump....Danger close!

Terrifyingly credible

Corroborating the Michael Wolff book, but in a less sensationalistic style and with an entirely credible, authoritative voice. it makes clear that things are much worse than we might have feared.

Not that good

A rambling, disjointed book that has nothing new , no particular insights and very thin on context. I expected more considering the reaction to it online and in the media.

Excellent writer for a difficult subject

As always, an excellent work from Mr Woodward. Two words have always came to me - fear, scary!
Also liked Petkoff’s reading, clear and vivid

very good

very good reporting, went into a lot of detail without falling into speculation. Bob Woodward still has it

Not just slinging mud

When others wrote books about the Trump administration, I wasn't particularly interested, as nothing in their selling of their books took away my assumption that it was going to be about gossip and/or score-settling. But when Pulitzer Prize winner Bob Woodward announced his book, I sat up and paid attention, as this would surely be offering credible insights based on thorough investigation — and indeed it does.

Woodward doesn't merely scratch surfaces, but dives in deep. Thankfully for lay people like myself, he also takes his time to explain matters. Nevertheless, his book provides such an information overload, that after I finished listening to the audio version of Audible, I went straight back and started listening to it again... there is just so much – mostly baffling – information to take in, and still I find myself having to rewind regularly because I'm having a 'Wait, what? Did I really hear that?!' moment yet again.

This isn't a mere mud-slinging exercise; in fact, I would argue that at least in parts it shows Trump in a better light than Trump tends to show himself to be. Moreover, anything in this book that could be perceived as criticism, doesn't appear to be levied solely at Trump, but seems directed at plenty of others as well – including Trump's predecessor Obama and his administration.

I'm sure this book isn't the final one written by Bob Woodward; it's possibly not even his final work on Trump. I look forward to any future instalments.

balanced and the text is served well by narration.

enjoyed it. As much as anything else it is actually somewhat balanced and doesn't exaggerate the importance of various debacles. some of the witnesses do seem self serving Linsey Graham being the prime example. There is little that is unbelievable in this based upon Trump's public behaviour.

must have

a clear and precise account of the madness in the white house, a must read for anyone.

Fly-on-the-wall view of a tumultuous presidency

This is an extraordinary in-depth and forensic account of the Trump presidency, based on interviews with those closest to it. The main characters are quoted as if what they said is a matter of record (which it generally isn’t), but there’s no doubt the research underpinning it was extensive. The overall effect is similar to listening to a political drama, at times thriller. It gives a unique insight into the chaotic decision-making in Trump’s White House as his administration grapples with crisis after crisis. The lengthy cast list of characters means at times it can be tricky keeping track of what’s going on, but the portrait of Trump is so vivid (and entirely plausible) that it’s a compelling listen, clearly read at a good pace.

A balanced look at imperial dysfunction

A very well written account of a time in history that reads like a novel, but is based in one of the stranges events of our period, a detailed view of how Trump was moved into the presidency of America and a look at how the dysfunction of that election has permeated the governance of the United States.
The media has focused on a few events and comments made about Trump, but this is an ensemble of this function that has many layers if anything Trump is described with compassion because through all his shortcomings he is a tragedy of mental illness and ignorance being used by the powers that surround him.
This book also shows a more complex set of players than the two-tone presented by the two tribes; we are presented with the intricacies of world power and the historical responsibilities this entails. Also, the dangers of not understanding that money is not the ultimate power but one of many.
I am sure the second part of this story will be just as thrilling, but will we survive it?

Gripping

incredible story from Bob Woodward highlighting the carnage, chaos and incredible day to day existence of the Trump White House. Adds to the many great accounts such as James Comey and makes you realise how crazy it is behind the curtain!

Frighteningly compelling

Until now I hadn’t realised what a loose-canon Trump is. I knew he went in for ill-judged tweets and incendiary rhetoric, but, having just listened to this audiobook telling a detailed account of what it’s like in the Trumps Whitehouse I feel more afraid that this Dr Strangelove-like character is in charge of a world-power. His mercurial changeability, inability and unwillingness to master briefing documents: a classic case of ignorance coupled with over-weening confidence in his own abilities. It must be Hell working for him if one has any scruples. What surprised me is his laziness: hours watching trashy news programs and frequent trips to his golf courses.
An engrossing listen that made me fearful for the world, not least the President's denial that global warning is an existential threat to the continued existence of life on Earth.

Nothing groundbreaking

Some interesting points, but very patchy, as it seems very detailed on some aspects of the Trump presidency, while numerous other aspects are largely ignored. Perhaps this reflects the sources available. I didn't think any of the content was particularly revelatory, as much of the insight is already fairly well known.

just another day

Wasn't a fan of the narrator but worth a read. National secrets laid bare for all

Riveting story absolutely RUINED by the narrator.

Downloaded 'Fear' but VERY disappointed as the person reading it sounds like someone on helium. Shame, as this book needed the gravitas of James Earl Jones and got Elmer Fudd. Asking for a refund.