Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Yes, it's well written and well researched. You'd expect that from these two respected Washington Post reporters. It's hard to organize material like this--over 140 interviews, so many quotes and events. They do a great job of it, focusing on Trump's "catastrophic" last year--his failures with covid, George Floyd protests and his desire for a military response (welcome push back to this from Milley). Barr gets some welcome push back from Geoffrey Berman before Berman is fired. Berman's effort was important. These are the things you like to read--people standing up for what's right, even when it means taking on the rude, often profane and angry President. It's the same way when they get to the insurrection--we see some advisors who are normally so slavish (Barr, Pence, e.g.) standing up for the country. This is an important historical document as well as excellent journalism. Rucker and Leonnig show us the events and recreate many conversations (obviously checking with both sides as they include the denials that such conversation ever took place and leave it for us to decide whom to believe). It's a long book, and very impressive how they weave so many people and events and situations together so seamlessly. At times, I wished they judged these people inside the administration a bit more; yet I guess there's enough detail for readers to judge for ourselves. Re-reading the last part of it--on the insurrection--I appreciate their approach more than I did the first time through. It's actually rather amazing that two readers with different political views of Trump and his presidency could probably read this and not be put off by what Rucker and Leonnig are writing. They step past many opportunities for ridicule and have a respectful tone toward nearly everyone--not so easy. Trump's catastrophic last year, truly is one for the history books--from the botched covid management, to taking the wrong side in racial justice issues after George Floyd's murder, to an actual insurrection instigated by the President of the United States. The lengthy section on the insurrection alone justifies reading the book, in my opinion. It is a pivotal event in American history and, some day, will define the Trump presidency. It's easy to forget just how complicated it all was because of how smoothly they bring it all together. Impressive. Also, time has passed and more information has come out since this went to the publisher but it doesn't seem at all dated. Actually, they made news with its publishing, including General Milley's reaction to what was happening after the election. A "Reichstag moment", think of it. (I do wish those in the Trump administration were being held more accountable here, since he could have easily won a second term and many of them seem to regard that as a threat to democracy and the country. They should have--should have--done more, including going public. The authors are, in my opinion, too kind in the face of a lot of complicity, but I suppose that is for someone -else's- book). In time, I'm sure we will learn more--particularly regarding what was happening at the White House--but I think this book will stand the test of time. "I Alone Can Fix It" gives us a lot to think about, including how close we came to losing our democracy. And how easily--really easily, particularly if the leader was a smarter, and more strategic--something like this could happen again, only successfully.