Rage

By: Bob Woodward

Narrated by: Robert Petkoff

Length: 13 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's Summary

An unprecedented and intimate tour de force of new reporting on the Trump presidency facing a global pandemic, economic disaster and racial unrest, from Bob Woodward.

Woodward, the number one international best-selling author of Fear: Trump in the White House, has uncovered the precise moment the president was warned that the Covid-19 epidemic would be the biggest national security threat to his presidency. In dramatic detail, Woodward takes listeners into the Oval Office as Trump’s head pops up when he is told in January 2020 that the pandemic could reach the scale of the 1918 Spanish Flu that killed 675,000 Americans.

In 17 on-the-record interviews with Woodward over seven volatile months - an utterly vivid window into Trump’s mind - the president provides a self-portrait that is part denial and part combative interchange mixed with surprising moments of doubt as he glimpses the perils in the presidency and what he calls the 'dynamite behind every door'. At key decision points, Rage shows how Trump’s responses to the crises of 2020 were rooted in the instincts, habits and style he developed during his first three years as president.

Revisiting the earliest days of the Trump presidency, Rage reveals how Secretary of Defense James Mattis, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats struggled to keep the country safe as the president dismantled any semblance of collegial national security decision making. Rage draws from hundreds of hours of interviews with first-hand witnesses as well as participants’ notes, emails, diaries, calendars and confidential documents.

Woodward obtained 25 never-seen personal letters exchanged between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who describes the bond between the two leaders as out of a 'fantasy film'. Trump insists to Woodward he will triumph over Covid-19 and the economic calamity. 'Don’t worry about it, Bob. Okay?' Trump told the author in July. 'Don’t worry about it. We’ll get to do another book. You’ll find I was right.'

©2020 Bob Woodward (P)2020 Simon & Schuster UK

not surprising

Enlightening.
Its been almost 5 years of watching with utter sadness, the cruelty and unchristian nature of the most powerful man in one of the most powerful countries in the world. Been perplexing that so many could put their trust in him.

Hopefully this is read by some and may cause them to look honestly at what they did to America 4 years ago and change course.

Recordings

Basically a putting down the recordings of interviews with Trump. I would have liked more interpretation from the author. Scary thought that people like Trump can be elected as President.

great compelling read

great compelling read with some interesting insights into the hires and fires and craziness that was the trump presidency

Great objective journalism

Bob is extremely amazing. The narrator is excellent. The book is highly revelant & meaningful.

Unfortunately true

This book is well researched, competent and quite objective. And it is terrifying. It provides background and detailed information on events that are all well known. It is a must read for anyone interested in current events.
Btw Trump sounds quite intelligent and almost coherent when his words are read by a good narrator. And that is probably the weirdest thing about this audiobook.
Also, this book has the most understated last sentence in the history of writing. It could be defined as definition of understatement.

A surreal horror show

I 've been listening to Bob Woodward's "Rage" - the detailed account of the first 3 years of Trump's presidency based on 18 interviews and extraordinary relationship he built with him. Wow - it really is Alice in Wonderland stuff, very surreal, but it's real, therefore bloody horrifying. A brilliant piece.

wakeup call to the world. the US is in peril

A robust, eloquent review of DTrump as president of the U.S., of democracy and the state of the U.S. nation, and the intricacies of world politics wealth and power. Hugely valuable contribution to the thinking person's library. Thank you Mr Woodward.

Absolutely enthralling listen.

Rage is an absolutely enthralling listen. It feels as though the listener has a seat in every room, taking in every conversation and observing the participants. Giving a much clearer picture of the events than we can glean from the news media. All this is done without un necessary comment, judgement or vitriol from the author or others who participated in the events portrayed. I can recommend it to any one who seriously wants to understand the current political decisions being made or not as the case may be without descending to the level of spurious gossip.

The Age of Trump

Woodward’s last book on Trump ‘Fear’ was excellent. I believe ‘Rage’ is superior.
The key notable difference is that Trump has contributed heavily in this book. It illuminates what a buffoon, a dangerous buffoon the current leader of the ‘free’ world is.
Let’s hope the American electorate make a wise choice in the coming weeks. Another 4 years of the current occupant of the WH might prove to be unbearable for most people.

Got to love a Bob Woodward book

I thoroughly enjoyed Rage after having read Fear too. The insight that Bob woodward gives in his 17 recorded interviews with Trump is fascinating. He asks brilliant questions, bringing trump back to the subject when he tries to obfuscate or his attention span dwindles. Dan Coats section really interesting as well as James Mattis rebuke of Lafayette park clearing. I only wish more and more would go publicly on the record. I am not at all surprised at what trump says in the book...he hasn't got a clue and is the wrong man for the job!

Changed my opinion of Trump completely !

So easy to listen to and follow along. no bias one way or the other from the author that I could hear. I am definitely getting the previous book " Fear".

Another great book by Woodward

An honest report and insight into the Presidency of Donald Trump. A lesson for the future and a whole chapter for history on how America got it drastically wrong and changed the power balance of the world. I wish the next President all the luck in the world, he or she will need it to right the wrongs of this administration and restore confidence in America. This book will be a basis on which history will be written and studied.

As always one of the best.

As always one of the best political books of this time, and I have read quite a few at this point. Insightful insider knowledge from the horses mouth. With the tapes to back up every word. just brilliant Woodward does it again.

You couldn't make it up.

A favourable account of Trump. Our future is in his hands and here you get to know him.