Free, Melania

The Unauthorized Biography

By: Kate Bennett

Narrated by: Kate Bennett

Length: 9 hrs and 37 mins

Publisher's summary

This program is read by the author. 

The first behind-the-scenes look at the life of the most enigmatic First Lady in US history.

Melania Trump is an enigma. Regardless of your political leanings, she is fascinating - a First Lady who, in many ways, is the most modern and groundbreaking in recent history. A former model whose beauty in person leaves people breathless, a woman whose upbringing in a communist country spurred a relentless drive for stability, both for herself and for her family. A reluctant pillar in a controversial presidential administration who speaks five languages and runs the East Wing like none of her predecessors ever could - underestimate her at your own peril (as a former government official did and was summarily fired). But who is she really? 

In Free, Melania we get an insider's look at Melania Trump, from her childhood in Slovenia to her days in the White House, and everything in between. We see the Trump family dynamics that Melania has had to navigate, including her strained relationship with Ivanka. We get a rare glimpse into what goes into her famous and sometimes infamous clothing choices (including perhaps the real message behind Melania’s controversial jacket, "I Really Don’t Care, Do U?", which she wore while visiting the US-Mexico border), and how a publicly quiet Melania actually speaks very loudly - if you just know where, and how, to listen. And we get a behind-the-scenes look at her often eyebrow-raising relationship with Donald Trump, from their beginnings to becoming the most unusual First Family in modern history. 

Looking at Melania in the pantheon of historic First Ladies, Kate Bennett shows just how different Melania Trump is and why she matters. Bennett, an expert on First Ladies, has unparalleled access to Melania’s very small and loyal inner circle. As she shows in this audiobook, the seemingly most reluctant First Lady is, in many ways, the most compelling and complex First Lady ever. 

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2019 Kate Bennett (P)2019 Macmillan Audio

She is Who We Thought She is

If given the most broad outline of Melania's biography - personally driven yet private model from communist Slovenia who marries Donald Trump and becomes the most unlikely first lady ever - and asked to take our best guess at the details, we'd imagine exactly what Kate Bennett has written in this book. Aside from the juggernaut of all surprises - namely the fact of Melania being the FLOTUS - this book is totally rote. It has all the depth of a thimble. I was unfamiliar with Kate Bennett before reading this book and I think I'll steer clear of her future work. She's a reporter for CNN and I find this book representative of the news put out by that organization. I don't think it's "fake news," or puppets of some Deep State conspiracy to mess with Trump, I just think they suck. This book has all the gravitas of a middle school research project. Melania doesn't come off as very interesting, because she doesn't seem very interest*ed*, which is fine. My less-than-glowing feelings about this book have little to do with Melania and more to do with Kate Bennett's inability to craft a real story around Melania's life. Her super-secret sources provide little insight. There's no behind-the-scenes reportage of the more seminal moments in Melania's public life - namely the revelation of Trump's infidelity and a medical procedure that had Melania disappear from public life for a while. We just don't know... What we come to suspect is that there really is nothing TO know... which is fine. Just don't write a book about it.

It's not a horrible book. Don't be mislead by the "unauthorized" denotation in the title. It's closer to a hagiographical sketch than a Kitty Kelly tell-all. There's some light jabs in this book, but they're aimed at Ivanka Trump and (oddly) Hillary Clinton's "androgynous" pant suits. Aside from a few barbs, it's just kinda... inert.

Horrible editing of the narration

The editing was terrible. You can clearly tell where parts were edited because the volume and tone of the narration were noticably different.

Surprisedly-A Great Book to Read!

Despite me not agreeing at ALL with her husband’s policies, chaotic behavior and Presidency, this was a great book to read about First Lady Melania Trump. I learned so much about her (good things). She is elegant, very strategically smart and a graceful First Lady. After reading she indeed is the “grown-up” in their marriage and the White House. If you would like a contract to President Trump’s chaotic lifestyle, this is a great book to read about Melania Trump.

Plays it too safe

I felt like the author here, who still is in the First Lady’s press pool, just didn’t want to step on any toes. The book plays it too safe, and where the author says the First Lady is guarded, you get the impression the author never got in close enough to fill a book. Most of what’s here is corroborated by other media reports, yes, but not much we don’t already know. I wanted a deeper dive.

I finished what I doubted I'd start

I should start out that I am not a fan of our current President. Even so, I'd heard something on TV about the book and I was mildly interested. I'm not sure why I bought this book, but I was curious. Surprisingly, I found it engaging, interesting and educational. The writing style was crisp and the subject was made interesting, both by the First Lady and the author. I am a fellow who could care less about fashion, but this book made it interesting. I've no interest in the lives of the rich and infamous, but this book kept me focused and I was introduced to someone completely outside of my interests. The book was worth reading and I am surprisingly pleased that I enjoyed it to the end. Great work!

Understanding Melania

This book gave me exactly what I was seeking. I wanted to understand who Melania Trump is from an informed source rather than sound bytes and speculation. I heard an interview with the Author Kate Bennett; the interview piqued my interest and the book was incredibly enlightening. I keep trying to wrap my brain around this administration and the more factual information I learn the better. I remain alarmed and disturbed however I now understand yet one more facet of the Trump culture.

Very Objective

Kate Bennett who I always enjoy on CNN. Wrote an excellent thoughtful book on FLOUTS. It was very objective while being true full. There were a lot of things I did not know. Ms Bennett insights are excellent. Even if you are a liberal like myself however interested in the history of the presidency you will greatly enjoy listening to this book

Very heavy on liberal opinions

I was really hoping this would be an unbiased book and give a true depiction of Melania. However, after listening to three chapters, it is all bias. Just more politics.

Manure spreader

This writer wasted their time and energy compiling garbage and spreading it. It was totally pathetic. Not recommended for anybody

CNN Slam Book

I really tried to get through this. The first hour or two were tolerable but once you get to Trump winning the election it is just a slam book. Kate Bennett's voice drips with loathing. I had anticipated the story of an immigrant making it in America to become First Lady and ended up with a hate-filled, contemptuous reading steeped in innuendo that left me wondering how anyone could 'hate' this much. Why? I believe Kate Bennett could use some counseling. And, I'd like my $$ back.