" Informative but not quite as shocking as I expected Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2020 Verified Purchase Prior to reading rage, I felt it was finally the book about Trump that I’d been waiting for. Trump has literally proven to be the “Teflon Don” over most of his presidency. Like most, I observed his occasional outrageous actions, listened to his numerous outrageous statements and read his countless outrageous tweets. Yet, Trump always seems to get a pass for even the most divisive or boorish behavior thanks to his automatic go-to excuse of “fake news” and his uncanny ability to deflect or outright deny blame.
When I purchased John Bolton’s book, I felt Trump was finally being exposed by a reliable source. Trump emerged mostly unscathed. When I purchased Mary Trump’s book, I was even more convinced that he would finally be exposed by an even more reliable source, a close blood relative. Trump insultingly dismissed his own niece in the coldest manner imaginable and many condoned it.
Teflon Don seemed invincible until I began hearing about Rage. Everyone was talking about the upcoming book by Bob Woodward that contained bombshells from an on-record source that Trump couldn’t simply dismiss, bully or humiliate into submission: himself. Bob Woodward recorded Trump on record saying shocking things and Trump didn’t disappoint. Problem is, nothing within this book is particularly shocking to anyone who hasn’t been living under a rock the past four years. Woodward isn’t telling most of us anything we didn’t already know or suspect. Even the biggest reveal, Trump’s tepid initial response to the Covid outbreak, is neither groundbreaking nor shocking. It merely confirms what most of us already knew or suspected; that Trump deliberately downplayed the severity of the pandemic at the onset. It also technically isn’t even a reveal anymore after the ton of pre-release news coverage it received.
Rage is an example of how too much media hype can set unrealistic expectations. It’s a very good but not earth shattering. Although Rage is mostly devoid of the shocking revelations I was so eagerly anticipating, I still found it to be an engaging and highly informative read. Despite Woodward’s first book, investigative journalist background and history and Trump’s own willingness to speak on record to him, some are complaining about Trump being deceived or set up by Woodward. Well, Trump himself recently tweeted about an elected official and fierce political rival being set up. As his tweet similarly asked, does anyone want a President who could be so easily set up?"