Customer Reviews

The Trumps: Three Generations That Built an Empire

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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.

The first generation you will read about was never allowed to reach its conclusion, due to an unfortunate early death. The second and third generations of this grandfather, father, and son trio are much longer. The second generation too has recently come to a close after a very long and successful life, in excess of 93 years, and the verdict on the third is still evolving. There is no question where the business acumen was at its greatest, the talent rested with Mr. Fred Trump, the second of the three men, and his story is the one of substance. The grandfather never had a chance to play out what likely would have been a very successful life, but during the time he was a businessman he was creative, bold, and gutsy as any pioneer.

Donald Trump is certainly the most well known, for marketing himself is a large part of whom he is and what he does. He is a man who can only speak in superlatives about anything he is involved in, even if some grand and prominent project bears his name and little else. The name on a building has very little to do with who owns it, who paid for it, or who made it happen. Donald Trump's primary business is Donald Trump. His flair for promotion and obsession with how he is perceived has become his career. There is no question he has had his successful projects, but the question of would they ever have happened without his father is a legitimate one. And he probably would have had much more success and a much larger fortune had he stuck to the business he knew, developing real estate. He got sidetracked with buying an airline, paying absurd prices for casinos that still are far from trophy properties, and while he may have benefited, the holders of stock and various bond issues have not.

Fred Trump is the man you would have given your money to and slept soundly at night. He was an astute man of business, he was self-made, and he spent no time promoting who he was. In this manner he was like many other long time major developers in the NYC area that developed massive amounts of real estate and fortunes to match without having any interest in the world knowing what they were worth.

Forbes Magazine often documents the calls they receive from Donald Trump complaining about where he is listed on their richest people list. This is not something his father or grandfather ever would have contemplated, nor would they brag to anyone listening how they increased their net worth by failing to honor financial commitments. In the end his charismatic style allowed him to get financial institutions so grossly over invested in his view of the world that he could never be allowed to go bankrupt, as the lenders could not afford it.

His predecessors in the family rate much higher on substance, and the newest Mr. Trump rates highly on style. But for all of the perceived satisfaction he would have the public believes he enjoys, in the end the author portrays a man that craves publicity to the detriment of his personal life. Squiring around beautiful women makes for nice pictures, but he and it and getting a bit old.

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.

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.

This review is not so much on the product as it is a gift. I was new to Amazon.com and given the level of service I experienced I will definitely return to this site. Nice to see attention to details and a focus on customer service

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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.

At first glance, you might say that "The Trumps" is another well-written biography of the highly successful Trump patriachs. And while
some of the content is fair and accurate, it is quite obvious that for the most part, the book was written by a third-rate novelist with a
first-rate agenda. The negative tone she sets of the Trumps, sometimes blaring, others not; and particularly of Donald, is proof that she
can only envy the great success each has had. She takes every oppurtunity to spin that, without government subsidies, none of these
would have ever achieved greatness. The book was indeed, an interesting read, but if you can't stand the envious musings of a not-so well
known author who lives to bash those who have accomplished anything, steer clear. I was able to handle it because I enjoy controversy.
Throughout the tome, the writer provides misrepresentations of various documented facts, including even mistitling well-known
executives! Clearly, a segment of the American public does not like "The Donald"; typically because they are phonies who hate all
successful people. However, unlike this book, Trump's three titles were all #1 bestsellers. There's a reason -- they're better written and
more exciting! It's time that people like the author of this book realize that Donald Trump is nothing more than a savvy businessman
playing to the interests of his special niche; the ultra wealthy, just as this book plays to its author's class -- those repulsed by anyone who
could achieve success independently.

i like the trumps, but i don't like this book. i prefered the books written by donald much better.