Betrayal: The Final Act of the Trump Show

This book was FASCINATING! Once I started it I couldn't put it down ... Jon Karl saw everything, knew everybody, and wasn't afraid to ask all the questions that demanded answers. He is the best reporter to cover Washington, that is 100% certain. Now I'm going to read "Tired of Winning" & I can't wait!

Not that Woodward is retiring but there's certainly room for excellence in contemporary journalism and history and here we find emerging a trend for us with Jonathan Karl. I rank him right there with Woodward and my other favorite historian Robert Caro whose last volume on LBJ has us holding our breaths and turning blue.What I appreciate about this book is the detail and breakdown of events that happened so fast in full view with such impact that, really, they had the effect of stunning perceptions. At least mine.Karl goes behind and offers information, so much Woodwardly, and perspectives that the public cannot know without access to people who were there.I myself had no idea whatever that there was a Johnny McEntee managing the loyalty turnover in the White House. This information itself makes this book uniquely valuable as history. To know that a chief executive (loved by millions) could use an individual in this way for this purpose evidently without any public vetting, responsibility or candor -- yet clearly with a vision and mission however pathological and perverse morally ethically and even scripturally, since scripture seems to matter so much to people who love the former president current candidate.Karl did not demonize McEntee but I think my bias did. i still want government to be public service where what matters most is the public interest. Certainly we all define that differently but what matters to Mr. Trump is clearly what Mr. Trump wants and needs. And this seems to be a very needy man.Anyhow, there's much more than this thread but much of it I did know intuitively without knowing for sure that it was factual. These are some astonishing facts. Thanks to the author and please keep on going.

Although I have perhaps already read too many accounts of this president and am painfully aware of nearly everything Mr. Karl reports, the sheer brevity and concise nature of his account achieved two things for me. First, it refreshed my loathing of this devastating part of our history, and second, it reminded me of the power of a black hole, where sheer compaction releases virtually unlimited energy. Unfortunately, the power contained in this brilliantly readable account dramatically reveals the darkest and most destructive aspects of our human nature and, just as regrettable, how effectively these weaknesses can be harnessed to dupe those of us who so desperately need an aggrieved "heroic" version of ourselves. Mr. Karl certainly demonstrates what a flawed but miraculous experiment our democracy is and, even more incredibly, that it even continues to exist in spite of our immense human weaknesses. To paraphrase the author, the system held in spite of the pathology of a single nearly all-power figure. But will it continue to do so?My biggest regret about this book is that the people who most need to read it will never do so and wouldn't believe it if they did. One thing I'll say for the previous president-he is, and always has been, perfectly transparent, with a brazen power to destroy that is apparently obvious to only those for whom "alternate facts" don't trump reality.Thank you, Mr. Karl, for so carefully laying out such a dramatic warning about our future choices regarding the single individual to whom we give such daunting power. You have contributed an eminently clear piece of history we dare not forget.

After reading 22 books about Trump since 2016 (I ask for your pity), I put Karl's effort in the top 5. Stories of Trump's egregious, selfish behavior are repeated in many of these books, and they all run together, but Karl has more shocking revelations. It's also more up to date than other Trump books. I also recommend the unstilted Woodward books, Michael Wolf's stylish writing, and David Cay Johnston for the most unique look into Trump World and his sleazy business and tax patterns. That said, the Karl book is, as they say, a good read.

Not my cup of tea but my partner enjoyed it

No matter how many times you read about the Trump administration, it never fails to shock. This book should be required reading for Americans before voting in 2024.

Really accurate, straight to the point. It documents many of the later findings in the Jan 6th hearings. My only question is why is not Donald Trump in jail. If all this would’ve happened in Europe, no chance, he surely would’ve gone in front of a criminal tribunal.

Tons of behind the scene Information the public does not know. Well written and informative. I would recommend the book to anyone interested in politics.

Well researched much detail abt the Trump behavior, attitude, priority and the boot lickers without conscience. Some details that were not in the other many Trump books. It is a great puzzle how a presidental candidate is not investigated and closely inspected and assessed for crimes and bankruptcy and morals before being allowed to run for such an influential position in government. The Most common of jobs require more assessment and, job qualifications etc. than when being allowed to run for the job of managing a whole county it seems. Anyway this book is a good and informative read.

A well researched and brilliantly written accounts of the chaotic end of a destructive and dysfunctional presidency. Karl takes his own first hand account and adds in-depth research and vital new information. Together with his first book a vital warning for the US electorate (and others) of the dangers of a popularist politician lacking any scruples.