T Spencer

A Much Needed Defence Of Objective Truth

Revisado: 08-18-24

This was very well written and I enjoyed Rachel's narration. If you're a fan of her MSNBC show, this will seem like one of her show opening monologs. It's interesting and very informative but if you're an avid political junkie like me, you've read all of the stories before and you've seen all of the supporting evidence for the author's conclusions before. But I still enjoyed the book because it diagnoses the problem with the current GOP and their cult leader Donald Trump, with laser like precision.

The brazen lies and gas lighting continues to hurt our democracy so we need to support media in all forms when they call out the lies like this author does. We can't become numb to this because there's too much at stake. Eventhough the author doesn't offer any solutions, hopefully this book will inspire someone to create one.

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Captivating story

Revisado: 05-01-23

This had me hooked from the very first episode. The ending was a bit of a letdown but it's still worth a listen just to witness the tenacity of the journalist who created it. You can hear the sincerity in her voice and it makes you want to keep listening. She makes you feel like you're there with her tracking leads and finding evidence.

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Very informative, but not much is new

Revisado: 09-21-22

This was very well written and the performance was a little above average, but most of the information was stuff that's already been reported on. However, the author's personal opinions and musings were interesting and worth getting through the things we already knew.

If Jeffery Berman's account of everything is accurate (which doesn't seem to be in dispute), he behaved honorably and tried to do his job free of political influence. I still believe he made some big mistakes in the way he dealt with Trump, Barr, and Nine Tre, but I do not believe those mistakes were intentional. The mistakes were common among those in his profession and the best reforms that are needed can be found in the social justice movement. Unfortunately that is something he did not dicuss in this book.

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Good But Left Wanting More

Revisado: 09-26-21

I did like the book overall. It was very informative and gave more detail to events that were widely covered by the press. But after finishing the book I was left wanting more. I thought the book was going to focus more on the January 6th insurrection. They didn't spend as much time on that as I think they should have. I wanted to known exactly what was going on in the white house before during and after the attack. There were reports saying Trump looked pleased and almost giddy when he saw his followers storm congress on the news. There were reports that many aides pleaded with him to send help and there were calls from many of the trapped legislators asking him to tell the rioters to go home, and Trump was very reluctant to do any of that. But the book did not reveal much of those details, and only briefly mentioned Trumps heated call from Kevin McCarthy.

I did like the blow by blow coverage they dedicated to Biden's rescue bill and how it got passed. There were new details in that story that I did not know. The writers really captured the nervous energy the democrats and Biden must have felt while trying to pass that bill. I'm a close follower of politics but even I didn't fully appreciate how hard they had to work to get it through both chambers and on to the president's desk for him to sign.

So overall if you're a dedicated politico like me most of this book isn't going to be new to you. But some of the details about the well know stories can add new tidbits to what you already know. It's a good read overall and the pacing was almost perfect. I'm happy to add this one to my "Trump Years" collection on my bookshelf so years from now I can show my future grandkids how insane the last 4+ years have actually been.

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Great reporters using great reporting.

Revisado: 07-29-21

I follow politics very closely because I find it interesting and my job requires it. I had already heard 90% of the stories and revelations in this book but never has anyone put it all together to tell a coherent chronological story that keeps you engaged the entire time. I finished the book in one day. That's rare for me but I couldn't put it down.

When history looks back at the Trump Era I believe this book will be referenced more than any other contemporary account of his chaotic presidency. The authors really did an amazing job.

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Details details details

Revisado: 12-03-20

A detailed story filled with a rundown of his first term in office. Great read/listen.

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Racist And Inaccurate Trash

Revisado: 12-25-19

I was excited to get this audio book. I'm a big fan of hip hop and wanted to hear the perspective of an investigator who investigated the death of Notorious BIG. Instead I got a book about how black police officers were too dumb to pass a police exam and only got promoted because of their race. And how white police officers were the victims of false claims of racism. The author also claims white liberals are only critical of police because they don't know how violent black people are. The author returns to this point several times.

He writes extensively about the righteousness and well intentions of white police in Los Angels while never mentioning any of the proven cases of police brutality and race based harrassment by white officers. The only criticism he ever gives law enforcement is on black officers. He specifically singles them out as corrupt.

If you can get past all the offensive racist stuff and make it to the parts where he discusses the investigation of the murders of Biggie and Tupac then you'll see many inaccuracies. Suge Knight was never a drug dealer and didn't claim membership into a gang until he left college. He even misquoted Maxine Waters suggesting she defended his criminal activities, which she never did.

If you want to learn more about the murders of two of hip hop's biggest stars Biggie and Tupac, this is not the book for you. I suggest you try one of the other accounts. This book is full of racist nonsense about black men like me. If officers see me in the way this author and the investigator he followed surely does, I can see why they suspect every black male is a criminal.

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esto le resultó útil a 9 personas

Scary & Enthralling Expose

Revisado: 01-07-18

I finished this book in 2 days because I couldn't stop listening. It's engrossing and unfortunately it has the ring of truth. This book paints a picture of President Trump that perfectly lines up with his entire life in the public eye. That is why I think the author gets the benefit of the doubt when it comes to how accurate his portrayal of Trump is. If these things were written about any other president no one would ever believe it no matter how revered the author's reputation was.

Even though there's not much in the book that was surprising to me, it still managed to be an exciting and compelling read. Their was one piece of information that stood out to me among the few unknown tidbits and that was about how President Trump came to believe that former President Obama personally ordered "wire tapping" of Trump and his campaign officials during the election. According to the book this information came from former British Prime minister Tony Blair who told Trump while visiting one of Rupert Murdoch's children who lived in Trump Tower. He told Trump it was a rumor but of course Trump took it as fact even though his appointees at the CIA and FBI looked into it and told Trump it was not true. I wonder if Blair regrets passing along that rumor.

Overall I really enjoyed reading this book. It was very brave of the author and I think he has done his country a great service. People need to know what this President is like and the danger that will exist as long as he continues to hold that office. His supporters like to live in a bubble that blocks out any information that may paint Trump in a negative light. The success and attention this book has garnered will make it virtually impossible for anyone to ignore the truth. President Trump is unqualified for the position he holds, and every day he's left in office puts everyone in our country in danger.

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esto le resultó útil a 29 personas

Intelligent Incite On Race In Politics

Revisado: 10-04-15

I'm a huge fan of the beautiful, intelligent articulate political analyst know as Ms Joy Ann Reid. There's so much behind the scenes information in this book about the Clinton's that I had no idea even happened. Joy pulls back the curtains and reveals a story that liberal and mainstream media have almost completely ignored. Democrats like me love exposing the racism that the republican party uses to manipulate their base but we hardly ever scrutinize the leaders in our party who use race just as callously as republicans do. Joy has really opened my eyes and I hope this kind of dicussion finds it's way into liberal media so the voters can make more informed decisions about who we put in office.

Joy's book is well worth a listen and her performance as narrator is absolutely flawless. Is there anything this lady isn't good at? I don't think so.

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A Heartfelt Self-aware Literary Masterpiece

Revisado: 07-30-15

This book manages to do something that is rarely accomplished with such a serious subject. It's well thought out and methodical but simultaneous emotional and sincerely heartfelt. Written as a letter to his son Coates explains how to exist in modern day America as a black man. He gets very introspective and deeply personal when sharing annidotes about his life and each story lead to a deeper understanding for him. If I were to write a handbook on how to raise a black male who's conscious of his circumstances but not resigned to other people's ideas of who he is, and taking those lessons to transcend what America thinks he's capable of, this would be that handbook.

After listening to this book, I ordered 10 hardback copies and gave one to each of my nephews and my uncles. I find myself quoting Ta-Nehisi now like some pretentious fanboy posting Bieber lyrics on twitter. But that's how much this literary masterpiece touched me and continues to resonate after reading it 3 times (with more to come).

Suffice to say, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys discovering new literary geniuses in the making. He's an enjoyable narrator with a soothing baritone voice. I love when authors narrate their own books. The pacing and his vocal inflection was pitch perfect throughout. 5 stars all around.

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esto le resultó útil a 291 personas