A slim, witty, and wise addition to the vital conversation surrounding arguably the most controversial presidential...
A philosophical examination of the concept of the “asshole” through the lens of our most relevant current example.
In this follow-up to Assholes: A Theory, James (Chair, Philosophy/Univ. of California, Irvine) continues his study of assholes with a disquisition on the presumptive presidential nominee for the Republication party, billionaire businessman Donald Trump. The author probes his subject’s spectacular penchant for loud, brazen self-promotion—not to mention outspoken racism, classism, and xenophobia—and finds that he satisfies three main conditions for being labeled an asshole: “He allows himself special advantages in social relationships, and does so systematically; he’s motivated by an entrenched (and mistaken) sense of entitlement; he’s immunized against the complaints of other people.” In fact, it seems, Trump is the very epitome of the term, an exemplar of asshole-ism who unabashedly touts a “transplendently simple narrative: “Crisis: America is losing; Villain: Our very stupid politicians; Resolution: Start winning again; Hero: Trump, because I’m a huge winner and we’ll all win together.” Asinine, yes, but apparently effective, since, as the author writes, “for the showman, the story doesn’t need any further detail if it feels sensical; it only has to ring as music in the ears of the audience.” Apparently, that message has rung true to a surprisingly—and frighteningly—large portion of the American public, who appreciate the bluster and the unapologetic trash-talking: “Some people get punched. Trump is a hero, and America is Great Again.” It’s a wearying, repetitive message, and some readers will find James to be a bit rough with his dead horse. However, the narrative is swift enough, and the author makes his points clearly and convincingly. Perhaps it could have served more appropriately as a longer magazine piece, but the book is a timely reminder, as we enter the down-and-dirty run-up to the general election, that Trump is “anathema to our democratic republic.”
A slim, witty, and wise addition to the vital conversation surrounding arguably the most controversial presidential candidate ever.Pub Date: May 3, 2016
ISBN: 978-0-385-54203-6
Page Count: 132
Publisher: Doubleday
Review Posted Online: May 10, 2016
A heartfelt if somewhat unsurprising view of old age by the former president. Carter (Living Faith, 1996, etc.) succinctly evaluates the evolution and current status of federal policies concerning the elderly (including a balanced appraisal of the difficulties facing the Social Security system). He also meditates, while drawing heavily on autobiographical anecdotes, on the possibilities for exploration and intellectual and spiritual growth in old age. There are few lightning bolts to dazzle in his prescriptions (cultivate family ties; pursue the restorative pleasures of hobbies and socially minded activities). Yet the warmth and frankness of Carter’s remarks prove disarming. Given its brevity, the work is more of a call to senior citizens to reconsider how best to live life than it is a guide to any of the details involved.
Pub Date: Oct. 26, 1998
ISBN: 0-345-42592-8
Page Count: 96
Publisher: Ballantine
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 1998
Less a sequel than an addendum, the book offers a close-up view of the Oval Office in its darkest hour.
Four decades after Watergate shook America, journalist Woodward (The Price of Politics, 2012, etc.) returns to the scandal to profile Alexander Butterfield, the Richard Nixon aide who revealed the existence of the Oval Office tapes and effectively toppled the presidency.
Of all the candidates to work in the White House, Butterfield was a bizarre choice. He was an Air Force colonel and wanted to serve in Vietnam. By happenstance, his colleague H.R. Haldeman helped Butterfield land a job in the Nixon administration. For three years, Butterfield worked closely with the president, taking on high-level tasks and even supervising the installation of Nixon’s infamous recording system. The writing here is pure Woodward: a visual, dialogue-heavy, blow-by-blow account of Butterfield’s tenure. The author uses his long interviews with Butterfield to re-create detailed scenes, which reveal the petty power plays of America’s most powerful men. Yet the book is a surprisingly funny read. Butterfield is passive, sensitive, and dutiful, the very opposite of Nixon, who lets loose a constant stream of curses, insults, and nonsensical bluster. Years later, Butterfield seems conflicted about his role in such an eccentric presidency. “I’m not trying to be a Boy Scout and tell you I did it because it was the right thing to do,” Butterfield concedes. It is curious to see Woodward revisit an affair that now feels distantly historical, but the author does his best to make the story feel urgent and suspenseful. When Butterfield admitted to the Senate Select Committee that he knew about the listening devices, he felt its significance. “It seemed to Butterfield there was absolute silence and no one moved,” writes Woodward. “They were still and quiet as if they were witnessing a hinge of history slowly swinging open….It was as if a bare 10,000 volt cable was running through the room, and suddenly everyone touched it at once.”
Less a sequel than an addendum, the book offers a close-up view of the Oval Office in its darkest hour.Pub Date: Oct. 13, 2015
ISBN: 978-1-5011-1644-5
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: Oct. 20, 2015
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