The Trumps: Three Generations of Builders and a President

by Gwenda Blair

Book Overview

The definitive family biography of President Donald Trump.The revealing story of the Trumps mirrors 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 President Trump's immigrant grandfather, who as a young man built hotels for miners in Alaska during the Klondike gold rush. His son, Fred, took advantage of the New Deal, using government...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0001PG42M
• ISBN13: 9780743210799
• Release Date: December 2001
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Length: 592 Pages
• Weight: 1.29 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.7" x 5.4" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Excellent US History and Family Biography

It's hard to find an impartial, fair, biography of President Trump. This one was the closest I found, and I'm so glad I bought it! While it only covers Donald Trump's life up to about 2000 when the book was published, the first half is biographies of his father and grandfather, following the immigrant Friedrich Trump from New York City to the gold rush in Oregon and Alaska, and back again. Fred trump's influence on his son is clear, as the man who founded the Trump organization before handing it off got ahead by being bold, daring, and, eh, creative. On par with other presidential biographies as far as impartiality (if you only want to read the bad stuff, read something else!), this book has been a terrific discovery! The author followed this with 2005's "Donald Trump: Master Apprentice," which basically published the second half of this volume as its own book. But if you want to know the man, you need to know his history--get this one! [Disclaimer: I am still reading at the time of writing this review (p. 263 of 469 text pages), but I have no reason to believe the book will not meet my expectations from here on out.]

Trump Triumphs

This is one of the best biographies I have ever read. It led me to appreciate and admire Donald Trump and his family. Gwenda Blair spins a fascinating account of Trump's grandfather's exploits in the Gold Rush days, then details Trump's dad's rise to mogul status in New York real estate. Trump then builds on that heritage with grand achievements of his own. It's a remarkable story because the progeny of so many prominent families fail to match, and sometimes even disgrace, their forebears (Paris Hilton, for example). Donald could easily have chosen the life of a spoiled playboy, but that wasn't about to happen when you are a Trump. You see that in Trump's kids. As I recall the oldest ones, like his dad, graduated from the Wharton School of Business. You don't get into that school because your daddy is Donald Trump. You have to have the scholastic credentials. A lasting image is Fred Trump's Sunday visits to construction sites, with his boy Donald in tow, picking up discarded nails as they walk the project. Then there was Donald's dutiful attendance at a military academy. It was tough going at first, but he had a family obligation to fulfill. He later became a BMOC. Some sons have the spirit knocked out of them by Type A dads, but Fred Trump managed to instill even more drive and ambition in his son. The book recounts several of Trump's battles to get his projects off the ground. He faced obstacles that would have made quitters out of less persistent entrepreneurs. But The Donald kept plugging away. It wasn't just in pursuit of riches, but to realize his vision. The author openly lauds The Donald as one of the most positive people on the planet. Yes, Donald was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, but we can all learn from his story. You have to hang in there, roll with the punches, and keep fighting. A biographer has a responsibility to paint a complete picture. Blair doesn't shrink from that. She details, but doesn't dwell on, Trump's womanizing and other scandalous exploits. Overall, the book is an inspiring tribute to the Trumps.

THE FOUNDER, THE BUILDER AND THE STAR

Did you ever wonder how Donald Trump could have been so knowledgable and astute at so young an age. How did he do it? Who taught him? Family that's who. Unbelievably true. Ms Blair's research spans three generations. Friedrich who eventually earned a fortune in Alaska; his son Fred Jr. who made millions from U.S. government housing programs and his grandson, "the Donald" real estate developer and promoter. The book gives us an up close view of Donald Trump's ego, his wives and their role, his survival after near-bankruptcy, his eagerness for publicity and his "midas" touch. The man can close a deal. Well written and fascinating. Once upon a time there was the Rothchilds and the Rockefellers. This era it seems belongs to the Trump Dynasty.

New York through the lives three fascinating Characters

This is a wonderful book. Ms. Blair has taken a complex and difficult subject and made it exciting and fascinating. The Trumps have always deserved analysis beyond the scandal-sheet treatment they usually get in the press. Ms. Blair has provided an account of all the real adventures behind their successes and failures: political, financial and even personal. After reading this book, one feels that the links between strong individuals and the unfolding of history beome clear and alive. The writing is great, the story even better.

Trump-three generations

Being interested in the Donald - for better or for worse - it was a pleasant suprise to discover that he actually had a grandfather, Friedrich Trump - who left Germany at 16 and started out as a barber and saloonkeeper. The rich background about Friedrich and father Fred help to understand what makes the Donald tick. It is also fascinating to see how these ancestors overcame obstacles of different types, and became successful in their own right. Three men - three different ages - three areas of specialization, all tied together over time. I like to analyze Donald's morals to see what works and what wouldn't work in my own life. Being in real estate myself, I want to prepare my own children to carry on my own work, if they are so inclined. There is much to learn from these three generations of Trumps.