From Publishers Weekly
With a central role in NBCs The Apprentice, Trumps star is soaring. In his fifth book (after The Art of the Deal, he offers a cursory glance behind the scenes of the hit reality show, but the bulk of the text consists of business advice ("Be Tenacious"; "Play Golf"; "Be Optimistic, but Always Be Prepared for the Worst") with illustrative details culled from his real estate and media dealings. (The glimpses he presents of his transformation of 40 Wall Street hint at a story that might deserve a more serious book all its own.) There are some surprises; at times, the quintessential New Yorker sounds almost like a California New Ager as he recommends up to three hours of quiet reflection a day along with the writings of Carl Jung. But hes soon back in recognizable form, advising readers to "screw enemies back" and explaining why various people (including former governor Mario Cuomo and talk-show host Joy Behar) are dead to him. Trump appears comfortable with himself, and he even makes light of potentially touchy subjects, such as his hair: "My hair is one hundred percent mine. No animals have been harmed in the creation of my hairstyle." There are occasional missteps, like an imitation of the New York Posts iconic gossip column "Page Six," which reads more like an annual Trump Christmas letter. But Trumps books have done an effective job of capturing his grand personality in print, and this volume is no exception. B&w photos throughout. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
From AudioFile
The famed entrepreneur delivers an audiobook of anecdotes and advice. Thickly laden with bravado, bonhomie, and name-dropping, HOW TO GET RICH will teach you much about Trump's passions, the people he loves, and those he detests as he rambles from tidbits about real estate, entertainment, and rules for living to commentary on which celebrity is a jerk and which is "a great guy." Trump is black or white--he loves or hates, demanding his version of excellence from all he deals with. "The Donald" lives large and boldly, and really doesn't care whether you like it or not. Barry Bostwick tackles the role with gusto, venality, testosterone, and tongue firmly in cheek. And if you don't learn something from Trump, as incredibly determined, focused, and busy as he is, you should be fired. D.J.B. © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine
Trump -- How to Get Rich: Big Deals from the Star of The Apprentice FROM THE PUBLISHER
First he made five billion dollars.
Then he made The Apprentice.
Now The Donald shows you how to make a fortune, Trump style.
HOW TO GET RICH
Real estate titan, bestselling author, and TV impresario Donald J. Trump reveals the secrets of his success in this candid and unprecedented book of business wisdom and advice. Over the years, everyone has urged Trump to write on this subject, but it wasn't until NBC and executive producer Mark Burnett asked him to star in The Apprentice that he realized just how hungry people are to learn how great personal wealth is created and first-class businesses are run. Thousands applied to be Trump's apprentice, and millions have been watching the program, making it the highest rated debut of the season.
In Trump: How To Get Rich, Trump tells all-about the lessons learned from The Apprentice, his real estate empire, his position as head of the 20,000-member Trump Organization, and his most important role, as a father who has successfully taught his children the value of money and hard work.
With his characteristic brass and smarts, Trump offers insights on how to
invest wisely
impress the boss and get a raise
manage a business efficiently
hire, motivate, and fire employees
negotiate anything
maintain the quality of your brand
think big and live large
Plus, The Donald tells all on the art of the hair!
With his luxury buildings, award-winning golf courses, high-stakes casinos, and glamorous beauty pageants, Donald J. Trump is one of a kind in American business. Every day, he lives the American dream. Now he shows you how it's done, in this rollicking, inspirational, and illuminating behind-the-scenes story of invaluable lessons and rich rewards.
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY
DONALD J. TRUMP is the very definition of the American success story, continually setting standards of excellence while expanding his interests in real estate, gaming, sports, and entertainment. Aside from The Apprentice, Trump and NBC are also partners in the ownership and broadcast rights for the three largest beauty competitions in the world.
In New York City, the Trump signature is synonymous with the most prestigious addresses, including the renowned Trump Tower, the Trump International Hotel & Tower, the soon-to-be converted Delmonico Hotel at Park Avenue and Fifty-ninth Street (Trump Park Avenue). The Trump Tower, and 40 Wall Street. He also has acclaimed golf courses in Briarcliff Manor, New York and Palm Beach, Florida and two others in development in New Jersey and Palos Verdes, California.
Trump is the number one New York Times bestselling author of The Art of the Deal, Surviving at the Top, The Art of the Comeback, as well as The America We Deserve. All told, these books have sold millions of copies.
An ardent philanthropist, Trump is involved with numerous civic and charitable organizations. In June 2000 he received his greatest honor, the Hotel and Real Estate Visionary of the Century, given by the UJA Federation.
FROM THE CRITICS
Library Journal
Author and financial mogul Trump (The Art of the Deal) shares secrets on how he achieved his amazing financial success. These highly personal tips include how to impress a boss and get a raise; how efficiently to manage a business; how to hire, motivate, and fire employees; how to negotiate anything; and how to maintain the quality of a brand. These inside stories are based on the author's experiences, including lessons learned from the hit reality TV show The Apprentice. Listeners will admire The Donald's ability to recover from his now famous near financial ruin when the real estate market bottomed out in the late 1980s and rebound to remain one of the world's most colorful entrepreneurs. Narrator Barry Bostwick's solid reading adds further power to the already substantive contribution by the multibillionaire. Highly recommended for all public libraries. Dale Farris, Groves, TX Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
Soundview Executive Book Summaries
Big Deals From the Star Of The Apprentice
Still glowing from the success of his hit TV show The Apprentice, real estate mogul, beauty pageant impresario, and bestselling author Donald J. Trump has once again released another creative venture that embodies his unique style and larger-than-life persona. In Trump: How to Get Rich, The Donald has compiled the wisdom and tactics he has used to become a billionaire. Of course being born to a wealthy builder is not something everyone can do after the fact, but beyond that, he's got plenty of short, to-the-point lessons to deliver that contain the essentials he feels can make any poor "schmuck" a rich person in no time at all.
The most fascinating element of Trump: How to Get Rich is the enormity of his stories. This is not a guy who talks about small things. He dashes off statements like, "I owed billions and billions of dollars - $9.2 billion to be exact," as if dealing with billions of dollars were as normal as returning an overdue book to the library.
Big Stories
That's the fun of Trump's latest book about making it big. His stories are gargantuan, and he pokes fun at himself (and even his unique hairstyle) as often as he tosses out profound introspections like, "I was a schmuck, but I was a lucky schmuck, and I wound up dealing with some understanding bankers who worked out a fair deal." Who needs exact details when you can explain getting out of a $9.2 billion debt with such simple eloquence?
Stay Focused. Don't make a mistake like The Donald did when he lost his focus in the late '80s: "I'd fly off to Europe to attend fashion shows, and I wasn't looking at the clothing." Remember: The Buck Starts Here. "Don't intimidate people. If you do, you'll never get a straight answer from anyone, and you'll be defeating your own purpose."
The advice found throughout Trump: How to Get Rich must be taken with a grain of salt, otherwise some might get confused by the often vague or contradictory statements Trump makes throughout. For example, after teaching that one should not intimidate, he goes on to offer these tidbits of personal growth:
If You Have Them by the Balls, Their Hearts and Minds Will Follow. "Most negotiations should proceed calmly, rather than in a hostile manner. However, sometimes a negotiation works best after a few screams and some table pounding." Sometimes You Have to Hold a Grudge. If you are mad at someone, even if it is the governor of New York, scream, "You son of a b----! For years I've helped you and never asked for a thing, and when I finally need something, and a totally proper thing at that, you aren't there for me. You're no good. You're one of the most disloyal people I've known and as far as I'm concerned, you can go to hell." Now, Trump explains, whenever he sees Mario Cuomo at a dinner, he refuses to acknowledge him, talk to him, or even look at him. That's how you get rich! (But never intimidate.) Every New Hire Is a Gamble. "If people have time to be petty, it's an indication they're not busy enough with their work."
Restraint and Patience
Manage the Person Not the Job. "Your power as a leader should be used in the most positive way, which sometimes calls for a great deal of restraint as well as patience." (Except when you're pounding on the table and screaming.) Think Big and Live Large. Responding to the accusation that he is a comic book version of the big-city business mogul, Trump writes, "I am the creator of my own comic book, and I love living in it. If you're going to think, think big. If you're going to live, live large."
Trump: How to Get Rich captures Trump's management, career and financial advice as well as his personal secrets to negotiation and the "Trump Lifestyle." In this section, he provides readers with an inside peek at the many decisions he makes, the celebrities with whom he hobnobs in a single week, and his favorite soft drink (Diet Coke).
Trump: How to Get Rich also offers a behind-the-scenes look at the first season of The Apprentice and those who made it happen. In this section, Trump offers the four qualities he looks for in an apprentice: An outstanding personality, brains, creativity, and loyalty and trust.
A photo album of his holdings rounds out the book.
Why We Like This Book
Trump: How to Get Rich not only provides a close glimpse of the wealthy deal maker beneath the indescribable hair, but also allows readers to climb inside his brain and see how it works as he keeps his business running on a daily basis. Although his advice is often glib, the value of many of his points is clearly apparent in his own amazing success. Copyright © 2004 Soundview Executive Book Summaries
AudioFile
The famed entrepreneur delivers an audiobook of anecdotes and advice. Thickly laden with bravado, bonhomie, and name-dropping, HOW TO GET RICH will teach you much about Trump's passions, the people he loves, and those he detests as he rambles from tidbits about real estate, entertainment, and rules for living to commentary on which celebrity is a jerk and which is "a great guy." Trump is black or whitehe loves or hates, demanding his version of excellence from all he deals with. "The Donald" lives large and boldly, and really doesn't care whether you like it or not. Barry Bostwick tackles the role with gusto, venality, testosterone, and tongue firmly in cheek. And if you don't learn something from Trump, as incredibly determined, focused, and busy as he is, you should be fired. D.J.B. © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine