Susan Tunis's Reviews > Peril

In reviewing another of the recent Trump books, I compared my Trump reading to an obsessive, examining the Zapruder film, frame by frame. And the more I think about it, the more apt the analogy feels. Not merely for insight into my own frame of mind, but for the insecurity people were feeling about our institutions of government at that turbulent time. The Kennedy assassination was a national trauma that is still being felt nearly 60 years later. I believe the Trump years, concluding with the events of January 6th, will be no less traumatic and scarring to our national psyche.

Which leads us directly to Mr. Woodward's and Costa's latest. First, the cover is very good, because the book is as much about Joe Biden as it is about Donald Trump. It's mildly annoying that the news media spoils the most provocative parts of these political books. Though, I was somewhat surprised the the Mark Milley call with his Chinese counterpart was literally page one!

One of the other recent books had some revelations about Milley, but they were different revelations. And that's exactly the thing that keeps me coming back to these books--not just Woodward's, but Rucker's, Wolfe's, et al. They all contribute to the big picture that I'm desperately trying to take in, so that I can begin to understand the inconceivable times we are living in. Yes, there's overlap in the reporting, but I've never once felt like I didn't glean new insights and angles from the coverage. And, each book has slightly different areas of interest and emphasis.

Plus, as much of a news junky and fan of long-form journalism as I've become, there are always new revelations in the reading of each book. There are always a few fascinating details or anecdotes that fell between the cracks of earlier reporting. Here, for instance, the authors report in some detail on former Senator Paul Ryan's real-time response to the events of January 6th. I had not read this anywhere else. Also, even as recent as these events are, the slightly greater perspective allows time for additional research and new information that simply wasn't available as events unfolded.

Having wallowed in the muck of the Trump presidency for years now, the reporting on Biden is an absolute balm! Listen, this isn't a hagiography, and they're certainly not suggesting that he's some kind of perfect politician, but the thing that comes across loud and clear--and it's just this HUGE juxtaposition--is that he's a really descent human being.

But the other thing that feels really eerie about the book is how very up-to-the-minute it feels! Towards the end, there's a lengthy discussion of the decision to pull troops from Afghanistan. And of course we all know how that ultimately played out. Or, I should say, is still playing out. But it really feels like this book must have gone to press mere days ago. It's not true, but it definitely gives that impression.

Will Bob Woodward continue documenting of-the-moment presidential politics? If he does, will I continue reading them? Only time will tell. But I feel that in the near future I am hooked. Because Trump is haunting this country like the monster under the bed. And contemporary history still feels inconceivable. I'll tell you one thing... The members of the press are not the enemies of the people.