Judith L. (jlautner) reviewed Disloyal: A Memoir: The True Story of the Former Personal Attorney to President Donald J. Trump on + 106 more book reviews
Cohen has a flair for the dramatic. The first line of his forward lets us know how this book is going to go: "The President of the United States wanted me dead". He then amends that to say that Trump would not have put it so plainly, but rather: He wouldn't mind if I were dead. I suspect that Trump's feelings would have been exactly that; it would be convenient if Michael Cohen were dead. But, whatever else he is, Trump is not a killer. We'll give him that.
Not that people's lives matter to him; lives other than his own. I'm not even sure he would shed a tear if one of his children or his wife were to die. I'm simply not sure he is capable of the feeling for others that would lead to grief.
I formed this opinion of Trump independently, before I read Cohen's book. What he tells us here supports my conclusions, but also provides some surprises.
But why am I believing his story? Cohen is an admitted liar, and a good one. Having lost his livelihood when he went to prison, he had to be at least a little desperate for a way to recoup some of that loss, and authoring a sensational tell-all is a winning strategy.
It is interesting that he went with Skyhorse Publishing, home of a wide range of books with equal shock value along with such innocent works as adult coloring books. The publisher had a tantalizing carrot to offer Cohen: they could get the book out quickly. I felt that the speed meant cheap paper that absorbs ink and does not do justice to Cohen's photographs (not that he's a pro at photography). It also reflects Cohen's standing, on the edge of respectable, given that he wrote this book in prison.
All that aside, I believe Cohen. On the whole. I wouldn't be surprised to find that he shaded a little to make himself look better, even though he provides many mea culpas throughout. In fact, all of the grovelling and apologizing got a little annoying. Is he fishing for pity?
The story takes us from the beginning, when Cohen first met Trump (through Trump's son Don), through the ten years he spent mostly as Trump's right-hand fixer. Cohen would do anything for his idol. He left his conscience at the door in the service of winning at any cost, reflecting his master's ethics. We get the insider view of Trump's maneuvers, each one emphasizing the Trump practice: do whatever it takes; never accept blame; resort to anger to win. We have seen all of this during his presidency. The other part of Trump that helps explain why he loves being president so much: he's cheap. Everything is paid for by the government he professes to hate. It has to be the zenith of winning for him to have the U.S. Government paying for his stays at Mar-a-Lago and elsewhere, along with all of the secret service agents and other required accompanists.
Trump stiffs the little people. Cohen tells us of case after case where he would not pay the bills - because he could. Because what can the little guy do? He even stiffs his right-hand man, Cohen, because Cohen's loyalty is so strong that Trump knows he can use him and abuse him and Cohen will just say "Thank you. May I have another?". Trump did miscalculate, though. You can't throw someone under the bus and expect him to cheer you for it.
Some aspects of Trump that I did not know: he does not drink. He saw what drink did to his brother Fred. As we know from Mary Trump's book (Too Much and Never Enough), Donald had nothing but scorn for his brother, a scorn that echoed that of his father.
Trump also is an early riser, and according to Cohen he actually is a workaholic. What we see on the presidential stage is not the result of Trump's working hard to understand the issues; his work focuses on what he can do for himself, what new way he can make more money. However, Cohen's book does not go into detail on the presidency because he was not as close to Trump when Trump finally got to the White House. He did finally gain the title of special attorney to the President, but he wasn't there every day as he had been when Trump was in New York.
It's an easy-to-read expose, revealing Trump's character in tale after devastating tale. Yet, while Cohen lays it all out there, sparing neither Trump nor himself, he admits to still feeling some affection for the 45th president. And while he makes it clear that the Trump children are just as ruthless as Trump himself, he asserts that they, and Melania, are humans, are real people, and therefore deserving of some compassion. I think he may want us to think the same of Donald Trump as well.
Not that people's lives matter to him; lives other than his own. I'm not even sure he would shed a tear if one of his children or his wife were to die. I'm simply not sure he is capable of the feeling for others that would lead to grief.
I formed this opinion of Trump independently, before I read Cohen's book. What he tells us here supports my conclusions, but also provides some surprises.
But why am I believing his story? Cohen is an admitted liar, and a good one. Having lost his livelihood when he went to prison, he had to be at least a little desperate for a way to recoup some of that loss, and authoring a sensational tell-all is a winning strategy.
It is interesting that he went with Skyhorse Publishing, home of a wide range of books with equal shock value along with such innocent works as adult coloring books. The publisher had a tantalizing carrot to offer Cohen: they could get the book out quickly. I felt that the speed meant cheap paper that absorbs ink and does not do justice to Cohen's photographs (not that he's a pro at photography). It also reflects Cohen's standing, on the edge of respectable, given that he wrote this book in prison.
All that aside, I believe Cohen. On the whole. I wouldn't be surprised to find that he shaded a little to make himself look better, even though he provides many mea culpas throughout. In fact, all of the grovelling and apologizing got a little annoying. Is he fishing for pity?
The story takes us from the beginning, when Cohen first met Trump (through Trump's son Don), through the ten years he spent mostly as Trump's right-hand fixer. Cohen would do anything for his idol. He left his conscience at the door in the service of winning at any cost, reflecting his master's ethics. We get the insider view of Trump's maneuvers, each one emphasizing the Trump practice: do whatever it takes; never accept blame; resort to anger to win. We have seen all of this during his presidency. The other part of Trump that helps explain why he loves being president so much: he's cheap. Everything is paid for by the government he professes to hate. It has to be the zenith of winning for him to have the U.S. Government paying for his stays at Mar-a-Lago and elsewhere, along with all of the secret service agents and other required accompanists.
Trump stiffs the little people. Cohen tells us of case after case where he would not pay the bills - because he could. Because what can the little guy do? He even stiffs his right-hand man, Cohen, because Cohen's loyalty is so strong that Trump knows he can use him and abuse him and Cohen will just say "Thank you. May I have another?". Trump did miscalculate, though. You can't throw someone under the bus and expect him to cheer you for it.
Some aspects of Trump that I did not know: he does not drink. He saw what drink did to his brother Fred. As we know from Mary Trump's book (Too Much and Never Enough), Donald had nothing but scorn for his brother, a scorn that echoed that of his father.
Trump also is an early riser, and according to Cohen he actually is a workaholic. What we see on the presidential stage is not the result of Trump's working hard to understand the issues; his work focuses on what he can do for himself, what new way he can make more money. However, Cohen's book does not go into detail on the presidency because he was not as close to Trump when Trump finally got to the White House. He did finally gain the title of special attorney to the President, but he wasn't there every day as he had been when Trump was in New York.
It's an easy-to-read expose, revealing Trump's character in tale after devastating tale. Yet, while Cohen lays it all out there, sparing neither Trump nor himself, he admits to still feeling some affection for the 45th president. And while he makes it clear that the Trump children are just as ruthless as Trump himself, he asserts that they, and Melania, are humans, are real people, and therefore deserving of some compassion. I think he may want us to think the same of Donald Trump as well.
