It was depressing returning home at the end of September to face the rain, the dampness and the cold temperatures after a warm-weather vacation. But the thought of following the final stretch of one of the most bizarre U.S. presidential elections soon warmed my spirits.
If you would like some in-depth insight into the two presidential candidates, you may want to read some of the following books.
Living History and Hard Choices are two comprehensive and absorbing reads by Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. The former is an interesting and lively narrative of her personal life: her childhood, education, marriage, years as first lady and New York senator. Hard Choices is a detailed documentation of her tenure as secretary of state from 2009 to ’13, during which she visited 112 countries and travelled nearly one million miles.
Much of the mudslinging centres around two issues: the means by which the Clintons have increased their wealth and funded their Foundation and Donald Trump’s behaviour to people in general. In Clinton, Inc.: The Audacious Rebuilding of a Political Machine, Weekly Standard reporter Daniel Halper compiles a wealth of research to reveal how the Clintons rebuilt their reputations (after they had left the White House) and reconstructed their political ambitions to position themselves for even greater success.
During this campaign, many admit they just don’t like Hillary. In a recent TV interview, Oprah Winfrey spoke to them directly, “She’s not coming over to your house. You don’t have to like her. Do you like this country?” Unlikeable: The Problem with Hillary, may shed some light as to why some resent Hillary. Bestselling author Edward Klein discloses startling revelations, more about scandals and less about accomplishments, raising questions about whether Hillary is suitable for the most powerful office in the world.
Trump has written, with others, numerous books on the subject of his expertise: marketing strategies, effective leadership, business acumen, amassing wealth, real estate investments. But in The America we Deserve, published in 2000, we can see the beginning of Trump’s political aspirations. His 2015 book, Crippled America: How to make America Great Again, is a printed documentation of much of what he says daily on his campaign to become president of the U.S.
Because we have formed our own opinions about Trump from what he says and what we see and hear on the media, those of us who might be interested in his story might well consider two recent biographical titles by Pulitzer Prize-winning Newsday journalist Michael D’Antonio. Never Enough: Donald Trump and the Pursuit of Success and The Truth about Trump are both well-researched stories of Trump from his beginnings as a businessman to business icon, his celebrity status, his stormy romances and his insatiable drive for power on many levels.
Another recent, comprehensive biography worth considering is Trump Revealed: An American Journey of Ambition, Ego, Money, and Power by a team of Washington Post journalists, including Michael Kranish and Marc Fisher. Two copies of this title are on order at CPL and can be put on hold.
A Good Read is a column by Tri-City librarians that is published on Wednesdays. Teresa Rehman works at Coquitlam Public Library.
