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58 of 61 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
The Life and Times of Donald J. Trump, May 26, 2004
If you've picked up "Trump: How to Get Rich" in hopes of learning the secrets or the path to become wealthy you'll be very disappointed BUT the book is still an interesting read. Here's the lowdown on the book.WHAT IT IS NOT Trump doesn't really tell you how to become rich. There are no tips on landing the high paying job or making the killer investments. So if you're looking for a manual to get rich you'll want to look elsewhere. Realistically you'll probably want to get a good personal finance book or a entrepreneurial book. WHAT THIS BOOK IS This is actually more of Trump's memoirs where he tells you the tales of some of his big deals he's made and his manual for having a SUCCESSFUL CAREER and life. Among the gems he shares with you are: 1. How to recruit and hire good talent to work for you. (Hire people who WANT to do your work and are talented and loyal). 2. Get a job good. (Do something you enjoy) 3. Get the pay raise you want. (Ask the boss when he/she's in a good mood) 4. Make good investments. (Invest only in what you are knowledgeable about) 5. Timing is everything when it comes to making deals. 6. You need to know what the other guy is thinking when making deals and meet their needs A lot of it is common sense really but hearing it from someone like Trump reinforces it. The book is broken down into 6 main sections: 1. "The Donald J. Trump School of Business," 2. "Your Personal Apprenticeship: Career Advice from the Donald," 3. "Money, Money, Money, Money," 4. "The Secrets of Negotiation" 5. "The Trump Lifestyle," 6. "Inside the Apprentice." In the first 3 sections he basically talks about those little gems we mentioned. In "The Secrets of Negotiation" he goes into the stories of how he made his biggest deals in real estate which is a fascinating read and is, to me, the best part of the book and where the true value in the book lies. He also gives you some tips on public speaking which is pretty valuable. In "The Trump Lifestyle" he basically gives you the "week in the life of" treatment where he details his schedule in a typical week. Getting a peak into his life and how his business works is pretty fascinating to read and a bit inspiring but can also been seen somewhat as "fluff" for the book. It's a real insight though. "Inside the Apprentice" is exactly what it is. He talks about how the show came about, how it was produced and gives you his opinion on the candidates. Interspersed in the book The Donald also gives you his opinion on a lot of the various big wigs in business, politics, entertainment, etc. Trump comes across as a pretty fair guy but he also has his moments where you can tell he's got a gripe with some people (as the chapter "Sometimes You Just Need To Screw Them" tells you). At the very end of the book is a little Appendix detailing all of Trump's various properties and ventures. THE ANALYSIS Again, the book isn't exactly what you'd think it is from the cover BUT Trump's stories and the look behind the scenes at the Trump Organization are interesting and you can take away some knowledge of what it's like to run a successful company and live the successful lifestyle. His tools for success again are pretty common sense you probably didn't need to pay to read that but if you look at the book as more of a memoir it's a real interesting read. Fans of The Apprentice will appreciate a look behind the show and a look into life at The Trump Organization (Carolyn, George, Robin and Norma or in here too). THE VERDICT Well, the book somewhat fails as a "How To Get Rich" book, but it succeeds as a memoir into the life of one of America's richest men. So, if you want to learn how to get rich put your money into a good personal finance book BUT if you want to read about how one of America's most successful businessmen operates this is a great book for that. If you're interested in what he says to say on this stuff, cool, pass otherwise Mildly Recommended
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