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The Troublemaker: How Jimmy Lai Became a Billionaire, Hong Kong's Greatest Dissident, and China's Most Feared Critic
by Mark L. CliffordThe astonishing story of the billionaire businessman Jimmy Lai who became one of Hong Kong&’s leading activists for democracy and is today China&’s most famous political prisoner.Jimmy Lai escaped mainland China when he was twelve years old, at the height of a famine that killed tens of millions. In Hong Kong, he hustled; no work was beneath him, and he often slept on a table in a clothing factory where he did odd jobs. At twenty-one, he was running a factory. By his mid-twenties, he owned one and was supplying sweaters and shirts to some of the biggest brands in the United States, from Polo to The Limited. His ideas about retail led him to create Giordano in 1981, and with it &“fast fashion.&” A restless entrepreneur, as Giordano prepared to go public, he was thinking about a dining concept that would disrupt Hong Kong&’s fast-food industry. But then came the Tiananmen Square democracy protest and the massacre of 1989. His reaction to the violence was to enter the media business to push China toward more freedoms. He started a magazine, Next, to advocate for democracy in Hong Kong. Then, just two years before the city was to return to Chinese control, he founded the Apple Daily newspaper. Its mix of bold graphics, gossip, local news, and opposition to the Chinese Communist Party was an immediate hit. For more than two decades, Lai used Apple and Next as part of a personal push for democracy—in weekly columns, at rallies and marches, and, memorably, sitting in front of a tent during the 2014 Occupy Central movement. Lai took his activism abroad, traveling frequently to Washington, where he was well known in Congress and in political circles. China reacted with fury in 2019 when he met with Vice President Mike Pence and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. A draconian new security law came into effect in Hong Kong in mid-2020, effectively making free speech a crime and censorship a fact. Lai was its most important target. Apple Daily was raided on August 10, 2020. He was arrested and held without bail before being convicted of trumped-up charges ranging from lighting a candle (&“incitement to riot&”) to violating a clause in his company&’s lease (&“fraud&”). At the end of 2023, a lengthy trial began alleging &“collusion with foreign forces&” and printing seditious materials. China&’s most famous political prisoner has been in jail for more than 1,100 days and could spend the rest of his life there. The Troublemaker is his story.
The True Adventures of Rolling Stones
by Greil Marcus Stanley BoothStanley Booth, a member of the Rolling Stones' inner circle, met the band just a few months before Brian Jones drowned in a swimming pool in 1968. He lived with them throughout their 1969 tour across the United States, staying up all night together listening to blues, talking about music, ingesting drugs, and consorting with groupies. His thrilling account culminates with their final concert at Altamont Speedway--a nightmare of beating, stabbing, and killing that would signal the end of a generation's dreams of peace and freedom. But while this book renders in fine detail the entire history of the Stones, paying special attention to the tragedy of Brian Jones, it is about much more than a writer and a rock band. It has been called--by Harold Brodkey and Robert Stone, among others--the best book ever written about the 1960s. In Booth's afterword, he finally explains why it took him 15 years to write the book, relating an astonishing story of drugs, jails, and disasters. Updated to include a foreword by Greil Marcus, this 30th anniversary edition is for Rolling Stones fans everywhere.
The True Adventures of Rolling Stones
by Stanley BoothStanley Booth, a member of the Rolling Stones' inner circle, met the band just a few months before Brian Jones drowned in a swimming pool in 1968. He lived with them throughout their 1969 American tour, staying up all night together listening to blues, talking about music, ingesting drugs, and consorting with groupies. His thrilling account culminates with their final concert at Altamont Speedway--a nightmare of beating, stabbing, and killing that would signal the end of a generation's dreams of peace and freedom. But while this book renders in fine detail the entire history of the Stones, paying special attention to the tragedy of Brian Jones, it is about much more than a writer and a rock band. It has been called--by Harold Brodkey and Robert Stone, among others--the best book ever written about the sixties. In Booth's new afterword, he finally explains why it took him 15 years to write the book, relating an astonishing story of drugs, jails, and disasters.
The True Adventures of Charley Darwin
by Carolyn MeyerThe fascinating journey of a famous naturalist Young Charley Darwin hated school--he much preferred to be outside studying birds' eggs, feathers, and insects. And so, at the age of twenty-one, he boarded a ship called HMS Beagle and spent five thrilling but dangerous years sailing around the world, studying plant and animal life that was beyond anything he could have imagined. Here, just in time for Darwin's 200th birthday and the 150th anniversary of the publication of his groundbreaking On the Origin of Species, historical novelist Carolyn Meyer tells the story of his unconventional adventures. It's the story of a restless childhood, unrequited teenage love, and a passion for studying nature that was so great, Darwin would sacrifice everything to pursue it.
The True Adventures of the World's Greatest Stuntman: My Life as Indiana Jones, James Bond, Superman and Other Movie Heroes
by Vic ArmstrongThink you don't know Vic Armstrong? Wrong! You've seen his work in countless films... He's been a stunt double for James Bond, Indiana Jones and Superman, and he's directed action scenes for three Bond movies, Mission Impossible 3, Thor, and the upcoming The Amazing Spider-Man to name but a few. Counting Harrison Ford, Steven Spielberg and Arnold Schwarzenegger among his friends, and officially credited in the Guinness Book of World Records as the World's Most Prolific Stuntman, Vic's got a lot of amazing stories to tell, and they're all here in this - the movie memoir of the year!
The True American: Murder and Mercy in Texas
by Anand GiridharadasThe True American tells the story of Raisuddin Bhuiyan, a Bangladesh Air Force officer who dreams of immigrating to America and working in technology. But days after 9/11, an avowed "American terrorist" named Mark Stroman, seeking revenge, walks into the Dallas minimart where Bhuiyan has found temporary work and shoots him, maiming and nearly killing him. Two other victims, at other gas stations, aren't so lucky, dying at once. The True American traces the making of these two men, Stroman and Bhuiyan, and of their fateful encounter. It follows them as they rebuild shattered lives--one striving on Death Row to become a better man, the other to heal and pull himself up from the lowest rung on the ladder of an unfamiliar country. Ten years after the shooting, an Islamic pilgrimage seeds in Bhuiyan a strange idea: if he is ever to be whole, he must reenter Stroman's life. He longs to confront Stroman and speak to him face to face about the attack that changed their lives. Bhuiyan publicly forgives Stroman, in the name of his religion and its notion of mercy. Then he wages a legal and public-relations campaign, against the State of Texas and Governor Rick Perry, to have his attacker spared from the death penalty. The True American is a rich, colorful, profoundly moving exploration of the American dream in its many dimensions. Ultimately it tells a story about our love-hate relationship with immigrants, about the encounter of Islam and the West, about how--or whether--we choose what we become.
The True Benjamin Franklin: An Illuminating Look into the Life of One of Our Greatest Founding Fathers
by Sydney George FisherIn spite of being dead for over two hundred years, Benjamin Franklin remains an object of fascination for many history buffs. He was a diplomat, postmaster, political theorist, politician, scientist, satirist, musician, civic activist, and so much more. With his manifold accomplishments, it is nearly impossible to believe that still so little could be known about him.In The True Benjamin Franklin, Sydney George Fisher showcases a Benjamin Franklin not seen in other stories of the man's life. Following him from his time as a boy who wrote articles in Boston for his brother's paper to his years as a statesman, inventor and diplomat, The True Benjamin Franklin tells the story in a wider scope than Franklin's own autobiography. From political intrigue with the British and French to his children out of wedlock, this is a comprehensive biography of one of the most fascinating politicians in American history.
The True German: The Diary of a World War II Military Judge
by Werner Otto Müller-HillA recently discovered diary held by a German military judge from 1944 to 1945 sheds new light on anti-Hitler sentiments inside the German army.Werner Otto Müller-Hill served as a military judge in the Werhmacht during World War II. From March 1944 to the summer of 1945, he kept a diary, recording his impressions of what transpired around him as Germany hurtled into destruction—what he thought about the fate of the Jewish people, the danger from the Bolshevik East once an Allied victory was imminent, his longing for his home and family and, throughout it, a relentless disdain and hatred for the man who dragged his beloved Germany into this cataclysm, Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party. Müller-Hill calls himself a German nationalist, the true Prussian idealist who was there before Hitler and would be there after. Published in Germany and France, Müller-Hill's diary The True German has been hailed as a unique document, praised for its singular candor and uncommon insight into what the German army was like on the inside. It is an extraordinary testament to a part of Germany's people that historians are only now starting to acknowledge and fills a gap in our knowledge of WWII.
The True Happiness Company: A Memoir
by Veena DinavahiIn this darkly humorous and wrenchingly sincere memoir, a young Indian American woman&’s dreams of being a well-adjusted college student get wildly derailed when her struggles with mental health land her in the office of a charismatic alternative therapist and his self-help cult.&“Honest, brutal, funny, fascinating. A vital reminder of how important it is to trust ourselves.&”—Jenny Lawson, New York Times bestselling author of Let&’s Pretend This Never Happened and Furiously Happy&“Veena Dinavahi is a ferocious writer with a poetic left hook.&”—Bethany Joy Lopez, New York Times bestselling author of Dinner for VampiresIt is hard for Veena Dinavahi to live while her classmates keep dying. The high-achieving daughter of loving Indian immigrants, Veena lives in a typical white American suburb—except for its unusually high suicide rate. For years, she tries to manage her mental health in all the right ways, but nothing seems to work. Until, on a late-night Google search, Veena&’s mom discovers Bob Lyon—a sixty-year-old white man in the backwoods of Georgia who claims he can make her want to live again. He calls himself &“The True Happiness Company&” and, as their relationship progresses, &“Daddy.&” Veena becomes increasingly enveloped in his strangely close-knit community, and before she knows it, she&’s a college dropout, married mother of three, and Mormon convert who has gotten way too good at dismissing her gut feeling that something is wrong. But when Veena&’s treatment goes too far, she slowly begins to question whether true happiness can even exist as an absolute.In this revelatory debut, Veena traces the contours of her life to explore the question that plagued her in the years afterward: how did I fall for that? And what will it mean to move forward?Told with unflinching clarity and shot through with incisive wit, The True Happiness Company is Veena Dinavahi&’s singular exploration of what it means to lose and reclaim your identity, rethink mental illness, and learn to trust your intuition in a world determined to annihilate it.
The True History of Merlin the Magician
by Anne Lawrence-MathersA medieval historian examines what we really know about the man who was &“Merlin the Magician&” and his impact on Britain. Merlin has remained an enthralling and curious individual since he was first introduced in the twelfth century in Geoffrey of Monmouth&’s Historia Regum Britanniae. But although the Merlin of literature and Arthurian myth is well known, his &“historical&” figure and his relation to medieval magic are less familiar. In this book Anne Lawrence-Mathers explores just who he was and what he has meant to Britain.The historical Merlin was no rough magician: he was a learned figure from the cutting edge of medieval science and adept in astrology, cosmology, prophecy, and natural magic, as well as being a seer and a proto-alchemist. His powers were convincingly real—and useful, for they helped to add credibility to the &“long-lost&” history of Britain which first revealed them to a European public. Merlin&’s prophecies reassuringly foretold Britain&’s path, establishing an ancient ancestral line and linking biblical prophecy with more recent times. Merlin helped to put British history into world history.Lawrence-Mathers also explores the meaning of Merlin&’s magic across the centuries, arguing that he embodied ancient Christian and pagan magical traditions, recreated for a medieval court and shaped to fit a new moral framework. Linking Merlin&’s reality and power with the culture of the Middle Ages, this remarkable book reveals the true impact of the most famous magician of all time.&“The story of how the image of Merlin as political prophet, magician and half-demon evolved in the Middle Ages is as fascinating as any romance.&”—Euan Cameron
The True History of the Elephant Man: The Definitive Account of the Tragic and Extraordinary Life of Joseph Carey Merrick
by Peter Ford Michael HowellDue to horrible physical deformities, he spent much of his life as a fair-ground freak. He was hounded, persecuted, and starving, until his fortune changed and he was rescued, housed, and fed by the distinguished surgeon, Frederick Treves. The subject of several books, a Broadway hit, and a film, Joseph Merrick has become part of popular mythology. Here, in this fully revised edition containing much fresh information, are the true and unromanticized facts of his life.
The True History of the First Mrs. Meredith and Other Lesser Lives
by Diane JohnsonA classic of alternative biography and feminist writing, this empathetic and witty book gives due to a "lesser" figure of history, Mary Ellen Peacock Meredith, who was brilliant, unconventional, and at odds with the constraints of Victorian life.&“Many people have described the Famous Writer presiding at his dinner table. . . . He is famous; everybody remembers his remarks. . . . We forget that there were other family members at the table—a quiet person, now muffled by time, shadowy, whose heart pounded with love, perhaps, or rage.&” So begins The True History of the First Mrs. Meredith and Other Lesser Lives, an uncommon biography devoted to one of those &“lesser lives.&” As the author points out, &“A lesser life does not seem lesser to the person who leads one.&” Such sympathy and curiosity compelled Diane Johnson to research Mary Ellen Peacock Meredith (1821–1861), the daughter of the famous artist Thomas Love Peacock (1785–1866) and first wife of the equally famous poet George Meredith (1828–1909). Her life, treated perfunctorily and prudishly in biographies of Peacock or Meredith, is here exquisitely and unhurriedly given its due. What emerges is the portrait of a brilliant, well-educated woman, raised unconventionally by her father only to feel more forcefully the constraints of the Victorian era. First published in 1972, Lesser Lives has been a key text for feminists and biographers alike, a book that reimagined what biography might be, both in terms of subject and style. Biographies of other &“lesser&” lives have since followed in its footsteps, but few have the wit, elegance, and empathy of Johnson&’s seminal work.
The True Jesus: Uncovering the Divinity of Christ in the Gospels
by David Limbaugh<P>"Who do you say that I am?" <P>Uttered by Jesus Christ, this profound question has presented an age-old challenge to believers, skeptics, scholars, and rulers. <P>In attempting to answer this question, The True Jesus goes straight to the unimpeachable source: the books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Only in the Gospels, says #1 New York Times bestselling author David Limbaugh, do we come face-to-face with the Son of God, Whose sublime teachings, miraculous actions, and divine essence leap off every page and into our hearts. <P>In this book, Limbaugh combines the four Gospel stories into a unified account (though not, he humbly admits, a perfect harmony) and guides readers on a faith journey through the Four Evangelists' testimonies of the life of Jesus Christ. Along the way, Limbaugh shares his insights on Jesus' words and deeds as well as His unique nature as fully human and fully divine. In The True Jesus, you will learn: <br>- Why even the apostles failed to completely understand Jesus' true identity and mission until after His crucifixion <br>- The real basis for the rejection of Jesus' message by skeptics in His hometown and elsewhere <br>- The historical events preceding Jesus' birth that providentially paved the way for Christianity <br>- How Jesus' message utterly contradicted modern attempts to portray Him as being non-judgmental <P>Limbaugh's passion for the Gospels infuses the pages of The True Jesus, which is both a primer for new Bible readers and an outstanding guide to the Gospels for long-time believers. Who really is the true Jesus? Open this book and begin your odyssey toward the answer. <P><b>A New York Times Bestseller</b>
The True Joy of Positive Living: An Autobiography
by Norman Vincent PealeThe inspiring autobiography of the world-renowned minister and revered self-help giant whose positive thinking techniques have bettered the lives of millions of people In his 95 years, Norman Vincent Peale made a profound difference. The son of a minister in Lynchburg, Ohio, he went on to preach the Lord's word at Manhattan's now-famous Marble Collegiate Church, where he served as pastor for 52 years and oversaw the church's growth from 600 members to more than 5,000. He had a popular radio program for more than half a century, and appeared regularly on television. But perhaps his most lasting and powerful contribution was as author of the mega-bestseller The Power of Positive Thinking, the groundbreaking book that provided new guidance and hope and changed countless lives for generations throughout the world. The True Joy of Positive Living is the inspiring true story of a humble man who started out poor in a small Midwestern town and rose to become one of the most famous and influential American figures of the 20th century--a man of God who was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the country's highest civilian honor, by President Ronald Reagan in 1984. Together with this wife Ruth, Dr. Peale founded the Peale Center for Christian Living and Guideposts magazine to ensure that his messages of self-confidence and the power of faith would continue to guide millions around the world even after his death. In his own uplifting words, Dr. Peale shares the story of a remarkable life lived with dignity and purpose. This stirring chronicle of an extraordinary soul--his unwavering service to the Lord and his remarkable development of the principles of positivity that had a life-altering effect on so many--will be an inspiration to all who read it.
The True Saint Nicholas: Why He Matters to Christmas
by William J. BennettIf you've ever been asked, "Who is Saint Nicholas?". . . If you've ever wondered if he is just a commercial invention. . . If you've ever thought there is no such person. . . You may be surprised to know the true Saint Nicholas. You'll never again think of Santa Claus in quite the same way. An instant classic by one of America's most respected thinkers, The True Saint Nicholas is a book to be shared with family and friends every year to evoke the true spirit of Christmas.
The True Saint Nicholas: Why He Matters to Christmas
by William J. BennettFormer secretary of education and New York Times bestselling author William Bennett blends his historical expertise with his gift for storytelling into a heartwarming book about the man who ultimately became known as Santa Claus.Beloved writer and speaker William Bennett brings the legendary Saint Nicholas to life in this fascinating and faith-affirming book that will change the way you think about Santa Claus and the meaning of Christmas. Bennett reflects on Saint Nicholas&’s storied life, which has spanned seventeen centuries across Europe, Asia, and Africa, and reveals an inspiring tale of devotion to God and an example of eternal goodness. The True Saint Nicholas: Why He Matters to Christmas focuses on three aspects of Saint Nicholas—historical facts from his life, his legacy in the centuries following his death, and the legendary status that transformed his likeness into the present-day jolly, toy-bearing Santa Claus. The book vividly captures the heart and life of someone who lived long ago—and yet whose life remains an inspiration for everyone to aspire to a higher order of generosity, giving, and devotion to others. An instant classic by one of America&’s most respected thinkers, The True Saint Nicholas is a memorable keepsake to be shared with family and friends every year to evoke the true spirit of Christmas.
The True Story of J.Edgar Hoover and the FBI
by Barry DenenbergA biography of the former chief of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, focusing on the FBI's impact on the major law enforcement issues of the 1920s through the early 1970s.
The True Story of Noah's Ark
by Tom DooleyBased on the account of Noah's ark recorded in Genesis 6-9, tells the story of how God asked Noah to build an ark to save Noah's family and representative animals from the flood.
The True Story of Notorious Arizona Outlaw Augustine Chacón (True Crime)
by David GrasséBy the time he was hanged in 1903, Augustine Chacón had become the most notorious Mexican outlaw in the Arizona Territory. His alleged crimes had made him a virtual legend, but the facts show that Chacón wasn't the bloodthirsty fiend he was made out to be. Journalists of the era chased sensationalist stories, pandering to a readership that longed for excitement. Each retelling of Chacón's exploits added outlandish details, painting the escaped prisoner as a brutal gunman responsible for as many as fifty-two murders. In reality, Augustine Chacón may not even have killed the man he was hanged for shooting. Join author David Grassé as he uncovers the true story of Arizona's most enduring criminal legend.
The True Story of Vanilla: How Edmond Albius Made History (Orca Biography)
by Ann RichardsIn 1841, a 12-year-old enslaved boy, Edmond Albius, made history when he discovered how to hand-pollinate vanilla plants using a bamboo twig. Until that time, only bees in Mexico could pollinate the plant—botanists couldn’t figure out another way. With his master, Edmond travelled around Réunion Island to share his technique, le geste d’Edmonde (Edmond’s gesture), which is still in use today. Despite his important achievement, as an enslaved person Edmond didn’t receive payment or recognition for his contribution to science, eventually dying in poverty after being freed from slavery in 1848. Today it is recognized that Edmond’s method of pollination was key to bringing vanilla to the world, helped to create a billion-dollar industry and gave us the flavor we love to use in cooking, baking, medicine and, of course, ice cream. The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.
The True Story of the Great Escape: Stalag Luft III, March 1944
by Simon Pearson Jonathan F. VanceThe real history behind the classic war movie and the men who plotted the daring escape from a Nazi POW camp. Between dusk and dawn on the night of March 24th–25th 1944, a small army of Allied soldiers crawled through tunnels in Germany in a covert operation the likes of which the Third Reich had never seen. The prison break from Stalag Luft III in eastern Germany was the largest of its kind in the Second World War. Seventy-nine Allied soldiers and airmen made it outside the wire—but only three made it outside Nazi Germany. Fifty were executed by the Gestapo. In this book Jonathan Vance tells the incredible story that was made famous by the 1963 film The Great Escape. It is a classic tale of prisoners and their wardens in a battle of wits and wills. The brilliantly conceived escape plan is overshadowed only by the colorful, daring (and sometimes very funny) crew who executed it—literally under the noses of German guards. From the men&’s first days in Stalag Luft III and the forming of bonds among them, to the tunnel building, amazing escape, and eventual capture, Vance&’s history is a vivid, compelling look at one of the greatest &“exfiltration&” missions of all time. &“Shows the variety and depth of the men sent into harm&’s way during World War II, something emphasized by the population of Stalag Luft III. Most of the Allied POWs were flyers, with all the technical, tactical and planning skills that profession requires. Such men are independent thinkers, craving open air and wide-open spaces, which meant that an obsession with escape was almost inevitable.&” —John D. Gresham
The True Story of the Great Escape: Stalag Luft III, March 1944
by Simon Pearson Jonathan F. VanceThe real history behind the classic war movie and the men who plotted the daring escape from a Nazi POW camp. Between dusk and dawn on the night of March 24th–25th 1944, a small army of Allied soldiers crawled through tunnels in Germany in a covert operation the likes of which the Third Reich had never seen. The prison break from Stalag Luft III in eastern Germany was the largest of its kind in the Second World War. Seventy-nine Allied soldiers and airmen made it outside the wire—but only three made it outside Nazi Germany. Fifty were executed by the Gestapo. In this book Jonathan Vance tells the incredible story that was made famous by the 1963 film The Great Escape. It is a classic tale of prisoners and their wardens in a battle of wits and wills. The brilliantly conceived escape plan is overshadowed only by the colorful, daring (and sometimes very funny) crew who executed it—literally under the noses of German guards. From the men&’s first days in Stalag Luft III and the forming of bonds among them, to the tunnel building, amazing escape, and eventual capture, Vance&’s history is a vivid, compelling look at one of the greatest &“exfiltration&” missions of all time. &“Shows the variety and depth of the men sent into harm&’s way during World War II, something emphasized by the population of Stalag Luft III. Most of the Allied POWs were flyers, with all the technical, tactical and planning skills that profession requires. Such men are independent thinkers, craving open air and wide-open spaces, which meant that an obsession with escape was almost inevitable.&” —John D. Gresham
The Trump Tapes: Bob Woodward's Twenty Interviews with President Donald Trump
by Bob Woodward&“An uncharacteristic warning from one of the most respected, non-partisan journalists in the world&” —Jake Tapper, CNN &“It was riveting. I couldn&’t get enough of it.&” —Gayle King, CBS MorningsThe Trump Tapes explodes with the exclusive, inside story of Trump&’s performance as president—in his own words as he is questioned, even interrogated by Woodward, on the president&’s key responsibilities from managing foreign relations to crisis management of the coronavirus pandemic. This is the job Trump seeks again. How did he do the first time? This is the authentic answer, laying bare his repeated failures, obsessions, and grievances. The Woodward interviews take a reader to a reporter&’s laboratory meticulously examining the Trump presidency like never before—spellbinding and devastating. *Including all 27 letters between President Trump and North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un
The Trump White House: Changing the Rules of the Game
by Ronald KesslerThe unvarnished and unbiased inside story of President Donald Trump and his White House by New York Times bestselling author Ronald Kessler Based on exclusive interviews with the president and his staff, The Trump White House: Changing the Rules of the Game tells the real story of what Donald Trump is like, who influences him, how he makes decisions, what he says about the people around him, and how he operates when the television lights go off, while portraying the inside story of the successes that have already brought solid results as well as the stumbles that have turned off even longtime supporters and undercut his agenda.The Trump White House reveals: • Trump aides Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner have been responsible for Trump’s most disastrous decisions. Trump is aware that his daughter and son-in-law are problems and has hinted to them that they should go back to New York. Seeing Jared on TV, Trump said, “Look at Jared, he looks like a little boy, like a child.” • First Lady Melania Trump has a tremendous impact on policy and strategy. She sits in on meetings and is widely admired by aides for her judgment. • Kellyanne Conway is the No. 1 White House leaker. • Trump’s Secret Service Director Randolph “Tex” Alles proposed withdrawing protection from some Trump family members and aides to save money. Horrified White House staffers shot down the idea. • Trump has told friends that billionaires are constantly asking him to fix them up with longtime Communications Director Hope Hicks, a former model, but he says he refuses. • Trump calls certain reporters directly, feeding them stories attributed to “a senior White House official,” creating the impression that the White House leaks even more than it already does. Never before has an American president had so much impact on the country and the world in so short a time as Donald Trump. Yet no president has stirred so much controversy, dominating media coverage and conversation both pro and con. Months after Trump took office, consumer confidence hit a seventeen-year high, unemployment plummeted to the lowest level in seventeen years, and the stock market zoomed to repeated record highs. At the same time, ISIS was nearly defeated, Arab countries banded together to stop financing terrorists and promoting radical Islamic ideology, and Trump’s decision to send missiles into Syria because of its use of chemical weapons and his strident warnings to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un made it clear to adversaries that they take on the United States at their peril. Yet for all the media coverage, Trump remains a cipher. Ronald Kessler has known Trump and First Lady Melania Trump for two decades and understands him better than any other journalist. The book includes an exclusive interview with Trump, the only interview he says he has given or will give for a book as president. Crammed with media-grabbing revelations. The Trump White House is the unvarnished and unbiased inside story that answers the question: Who is Donald Trump?
The Trumps: Three Generations of Builders and a Presidential Candidate
by Gwenda BlairThe story of three generations of Trumps in a "copiously researched" (The New York Times) narrative and an account of the presidential candidate's extraordinary path to success. "Rich, detailed, and informative, and not just for Trump loyalists or detractors" (Kirkus Reviews, starred review).This richly detailed account of the Trump family reflects America's transformation from a land of striving immigrants to a world in which the aura of wealth alone can guarantee a fortune. The Trumps begins with a portrait of Donald's immigrant grandfather Frederick Trump, a restaurant owner who amassed the first Trump fortune by providing miners with food, liquor, and easy access to women during the Klondike gold rush. His son, Fred, took advantage of New Deal policy, using government subsidies and loopholes to construct hugely successful housing developments in the 1940s and 1950s. The profits from those enterprises paved the way for Donald's roller-coaster ride into the new century. With his talent for what he calls "truthful hyperbole," Donald Trump turned the deal-making know-how of his forebears into an art form. By describing Donald's much-publicized life in the context of his family, Gwenda Blair adds an important dimension to a glitzy, larger-than-life contradictory figure known around the world as The Donald.