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I Alone Can Fix It  By  cover art

I Alone Can Fix It

By: Carol Leonnig,Philip Rucker
Narrated by: January LaVoy,Carol Leonnig,Philip Rucker
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Publisher's summary

The instant number one New York Times best seller | A Washington Post Notable Book | One of NPR's Best Books of 2021

The definitive behind-the-scenes story of Trump's final year in office, by Phil Rucker and Carol Leonnig, the Pulitzer-Prize winning reporters and authors of A Very Stable Genius.

“Chilling.” (Anderson Cooper)
“Jaw-dropping.” (John Berman)
“Shocking.” (John Heilemann)
“Explosive.” (Hallie Jackson)
“Blockbuster new reporting.” (Nicolle Wallace)
“Bracing new revelations.” (Brian Williams)
“Bombshell reporting.” (David Muir)

The true story of what took place in Donald Trump’s White House during a disastrous 2020 has never before been told in full. What was really going on around the president, as the government failed to contain the coronavirus and over half a million Americans perished? Who was influencing Trump after he refused to concede an election he had clearly lost and spread lies about election fraud? To answer these questions, Phil Rucker and Carol Leonnig reveal a dysfunctional and bumbling presidency’s inner workings in unprecedented, stunning detail.

Focused on Trump and the key players around him - the doctors, generals, senior advisers, and Trump family members - Rucker and Leonnig provide a forensic account of the most devastating year in a presidency like no other. Their sources were in the room as time and time again Trump put his personal gain ahead of the good of the country. These witnesses to history tell the story of him longing to deploy the military to the streets of American cities to crush the protest movement in the wake of the killing of George Floyd, all to bolster his image of strength ahead of the election.

These sources saw firsthand his refusal to take the threat of the coronavirus seriously - even to the point of allowing himself and those around him to be infected. This is a story of a nation sabotaged—economically, medically, and politically - by its own leader, culminating with a groundbreaking, minute-by-minute account of exactly what went on in the Capitol building on January 6, as Trump’s supporters so easily breached the most sacred halls of American democracy, and how the president reacted. With unparalleled access, Rucker and Leonnig explain and expose exactly who enabled - and who foiled - Trump as he sought desperately to cling to power.

A classic and heart-racing work of investigative reporting, this book is destined to be read and studied by citizens and historians alike for decades to come.

©2021 Carol Leonnig, Philip Rucker (P)2021 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"A meticulous history.... An essential read for anyone seriously concerned with the fate of democracy in the United States. The book belongs in every library seeking to record the major forces and personalities shaping the 21st century.” (New York Journal of Books)

“A deeply-reported look at President Donald Trump and his chaotic administration.... Shocking revelations.” (People)

“What [I Alone Can Fix It] argues in a detailed case is that the catastrophe of 2020 was a result of Trump's proclivity to put political optics above all else, including American lives.” (USA Today)

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The Facts are There

The book is factual. But, I would have preferred that the political biases of the authors be left out. I could write a book, but here's one example; two Supreme Court justices; one replacing the other. The Democrat-appointed justice is referred to as a "liberal hero" while the Republican-appointed one is a "hardline conservative." That's not even a taste of the authors' political bias.

Just give me that facts and let me form my own bias.... I'm not interested in yours.

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200 people found this helpful

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Trump is Limited to His Limbic

If you think you should read this book telling the story of the last year of the Trump presidency because between the authors they have four Pulitzer journalism awards, and that means they are organized, provide insightful stories, logically told to make truth discernable. Well, then you are where you need to be. Read the book. This book reveals the truth. It takes on each episode it covers with precise detail and leaves the conclusions for you to determine. The truth, it seems from the retold stories, is that Trump is not very smart, lacks business or political reasoning abilities, cares nothing for you or this nation, and functions akin to a reptile. He operates only out of his limbic capacities. If you can handle that truth, well then you are where you need to be. I Alone Can Fix It, Donald J. Trump's Catastrophic Final Year, by Carol Leonnig and Philip Rucker, and narrated by January LaVoy (nice first name and a talented reader) is enlightening. (Well, disheartening how such a valueless human can be our president.) Yet, most of all this book is an education on the office of the presidency, its power, and how it controls and influences the world of Washington forces, such as the military, the Congress, and law enforcement. The book shows Trump to be an unimpressive national leader. Yet, there is 25% to 35% of the nation thinks he is tactical and smart. (I guess they think he is the man the Apprentice scripted him to look like.) This book gives you data to consider leaving that small minority or joining it. Do we continue to live on the precipice of the danger of an autocracy taking over? Yes. We held this time. Read this book if you want to realize we may not make it next time. Just part of one of the stories here to exemplify. Trump wanted to rationalize the Black Lives Protest Movement as dangerous so he could send the military into the streets to control our otherwise freedom to protest and speak out. In this manner, he could send the military into the streets take over those very same streets from the exercise of First Amendment rights. What would you expect from a man who uses the bible as a prop instead of as a guiding light? And if he then comes for one of your children, who is it you can turn to?

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75 people found this helpful

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Do not mix politics with a novel coronavirus but for disastrous results

The book while ambitious falls flat.

To understand the pathology of this corona virus, and Trump’s disastrous response, you have to understand the pathology of Trump and his enablers.

Nightmare Scenario did a much more thorough job of fleshing out the multitude of personalities that allowed this to happen. It also has facts and conversations that are important to underscore the truth.

Sadly this book fails to do this well .

One thing is clear is that Trumps White House was like a seething pit of vipers, all focused on their own career aspirations in DC -not the corona virus or Americans?

to know that more than half a million Americans died because of his bid for re-election, greed, avarice , petty infighting and massive egos is beyond devastating.

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67 people found this helpful

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All the King's Men ... collusion empowers

Brilliant investigative journalism that connects the dots and reveals the complicity of many.

The epilogue reveals the ongoing distortion of reality and the politics of sychophants.

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54 people found this helpful

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Riveting!

Many of the books about Trump's presidency focus too much on his tantrums. This is not one of them. I found this to be truthful without demonizing anyone, even Trump had his favorably moments to shine, All in all the authors reveal the horror show that unfolded in the last year of his presidency.

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The Truth Comes Out on "Agent Orange"

Loved this book for the truth about 'The Worst President Ever". History will not be kind to him!!!!

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Excellent book. Very comprehensive!

I loved the book. It explained a lot I didn’t know about. I highly recommend it.

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Riveting!!

I could not put this book down! As a political junkie, to hear the back stories was wonderful. Of course, all the information has been available before but knowing how certain things happened was interesting. Highly recommended for political junkies.

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More of the Same

There was nothing more revealing about this book. All of these stories and events have been told from a slightly different viewpoint but mostly the same. It was well written, I would expect nothing less of these two. What I want to know is how in the hell anyone was surprised by the insurrection? If they had fortified the premises prior to the certification of President Biden, maybe it wouldn’t have been so scary. Trump had a “Stop the Steal” rally. Did anyone really think that mob of people were there for a letter writing campaign?
Politicians are magical thinkers.

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Disappointed

Let's give people that lied constantly a format and let's roll out the folks that supported Trump but now want to change the story
Bill Barr said winners write the history
In this case the losers write the story
Note to authors:
Why help rehabilitate Barr and Conway specifically or even make Jared seem human?
Access to these failed leaders? Probably. You did go to Mar Log Ho to see your old buddy right?
Won't get you anything more than book sales but hey I guess I got fooled too
Disappointed
On the other hand Landslide is funny and a lot more believable

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