I don’t normally read books like this, but the Trump phenomenon over the last several years is so seismic (or yuge) and because the book was on sale, I felt that I had to give it a shot.

Unbelievable
by Katy Tur
Dey Street Books
September 2017

I’d heard some of the complaints by Trump about “Little Katy” during the campaign but didn’t understand what was going on. I don’t watch the news on cable or TV and had almost no experience with who this reporter was or her role in covering the Trump campaign. I almost stopped reading during the first couple chapters. Tur came across exactly how I had worried she might – argumentative, vulgar at times, and – most importantly – clearly biased. I had no interest in reading a book by someone with an axe to grind. But I was listening to this book – thanks Audible! – while playing Elder Scrolls Online so I left it playing while I became the Scarlet Judge. After a couple hours at 155% speed I was about half way through the book and had overcome my concerns. Oh, Tur is definitely biased and she I believe she definitely has an attitude (she narrates and I believe it’s clear in her tone). But she is also really interesting.

The background of what happened at key interviews and campaign stops was fascinating. Recognizing her bias and taking that into account I can say that this book was worth reading/listening for the first hand insight into the campaign and how Trump thinks (which may be extrapolated by how he acts in conjunction with Tur’s opinion.)

I’m not sure I’ll read other books by Tur in the future – or other books about Trump or his campaign – but as a one-time, sale-induced read it wasn’t bad.

Scott Asher is the Editor-in-Chief of BookGateway.com and a believer, a husband, a dad, a geek, an artist, a gamer, a teacher, a learner and tired.