The Man Who Sold America: Trump and the Unraveling of the American Story

Written by Joy-Ann Reid

Narrated by Joy-Ann Reid

THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

MSNBC'S Joy-Ann Reid calculates the true price of the Trump presidency

""The host of AM Joy on MSNBC argues that President Trump’s administration is characterized by grift and venality that demeans the office and diminishes America.” —New York Times Book Review, “New & Notable”

Is Donald Trump running the “longest con” in U.S. history? How did we get here? What will be left of America when he leaves office? 

Candidate Trump sold Americans a vision that was seemingly at odds with their country’s founding principles. Now in office, he’s put up a “for sale” sign—on the prestige of the presidency, on America’s global stature, and on our national identity. At what cost have these deals come? Joy-Ann Reid's essential new book, The Man Who Sold America, delivers an urgent accounting of our national crisis from one of our foremost political commentators.

Three years ago, Donald Trump pitched millions of voters on the idea that their country was broken, and that the rest of the world was playing us “for suckers.” All we needed to fix this was Donald Trump, who rebranded prejudice as patriotism, presented diversity as our weakness, and promised that money really could make the world go ’round.

Trump made the sale to enough Americans in three key swing states to win the Electoral College. As president, Trump’s raft of self-dealing, scandal, and corruption has overwhelmed the national conversation. And with prosecutors bearing down on Trump and his family business, the web of criminality is circling closer to the Oval Office. All this while Trump seemingly makes his administration a pawn for the ultimate villain: an autocratic former KGB officer in Russia who found in the untutored and eager forty-fifth president the perfect “apprentice.”

What is the hidden impact of Trump, beyond the headlines? Through interviews with American and international thought leaders and in-depth analysis, Reid situates the Trump era within the context of modern history, examining the profound social changes that led us to this point.

Providing new context and depth to our understanding, The Man Who Sold America reveals the causes and consequences of the Trump presidency and contends with the future that awaits us.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperAudio
• Release date: Jun 25, 2019
• ISBN: 9780062880147

Joy-Ann Reid

Joy-Ann Reid is the host of MSNBC’s The ReidOut. Her books include the New York Times bestseller The Man Who Sold America: Trump and the Unraveling of the American Story. Reid previously hosted the weekend MSNBC show AM Joy. The former managing editor of The Grio, Reid has had columns appearing in The New York Times, The Guardian, The Miami Herald, New York, and The Daily Beast. She lives in Maryland and Brooklyn.

Reviews for The Man Who Sold America

[Stephen Braswell · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book answers the ever-present question, " How did we ever end up with Trump?." Moreover, Ms. Reid informs America about the Trump Corruption Machine and the sycophants surrounding him.

[Tamara Baldwin · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I love watching AM Joy. I felt like this book had a lot of useful information, however, the narration was, in a word, BORING. I barely made it through to the end. I remember none of it. It felt like I was in high school listening to a student forced to read aloud. I honestly prefer it when the author narrates their own book, but in this case...no. I'm honestly shocked she was so bland. I don't know, I love Joy, but I will have to read it myself to get anything from it.

[JoelHFX · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Politically motivated drivel. America is under attack from dishonest people like this author.

[astridaae · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Some interesting bits, but the author is so pc that even the decimation of the native population by illnesses they didn't have immunity against, almost sounds like it was a willed development, and not an unfortunate event. The info about Barr regarding the Müller report was interesting, apart from that, I didn't learn much.

[Aretha Siegrist · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

The writer should’ve spent a little time doing research before writing.

[Fariba Babaei · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

it can be a good book if you switch Trump's name with DemocRATS

[Habibah Sulayman · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great book by Joy Reid!!! A great view of the toxic, tragic President.

[Joy Cichewicz · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great insight on issues and wide field of sources that lead up to the situation we are in and alarm to action.

[Steven Stankevitz · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I found it so educational and can now see what politics is and isn’t. Thanks. Couldn’t put down

[Jo bozie · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Wow. I felt like I was reading an opinion of a person searching personal gain. This book is false in so many ways. Being honest here I can find the same information and have heard the same on youtube. Seriously. Had to put it down. I'm sorry but I don't recommend.

[Crystal Chong Qiao Ying · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

i love this book! it offers interesting insight on the whiny big baby in the white house

[dylan tenner · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

An awful book that is full of factual errors and misleading statements and quotes

[D. Chance DeBoe · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Nothing new or particularly insightful. What's the point? Orange man bad? Trite

[Danielle N H · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I would give this 0 ⭐'s if I could. This book is filled with propaganda and out of context lies. Just ask yourself who has caused the division over the last 3 years? Who has called for unity and has done more for all Americans than any other President? Just do a quick google search and see who has been responsible and are being indicted for Voter fraud? Yes, it's the Democrats. Any American citizen can take 20 minutes to do their own research to find the truth. Most Americans are waking up to the lies and corruption of the MSM and the Democrat party. And No I'm not a Russian Bot so stop pushing that propaganda!

[r · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Not another let down. God, I couldn’t believe how packed with crap this book also was. Why is she so nasty?

[Kerri Phillips · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

It’s disappointing that it is not offered in my country!!

[Shaun&Lisa Raunig · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

Worse book I’ve ever read. This outlines exactly how the democrats are actually destroying America now and how they lied to the people for years to steal an election and make promises they are not going to keep. Grass isn’t greener because Trump is actually out of office now.

[10orabolas · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Ideologically driven approach leading to miss judgement and fair assessment of former President performance .

[over.the.edge · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Man Who Sold America:Trump and the Unraveling of The Americsn Storyby Joy-Ann Reid2019Image4.5/5.0A troubling, but necessary look at our country and democracy being run by a con who refuses to accept the reality of his intentional and deliberate assassination of our country's government. A man who has still is not brave enough or conscientious enough to admit his obvious racism, sexual obsessions and deviance and entitlement, his nativist and racist dictatorship, or the hateful xenophobia conditioning and division he flames and encourages every day. By attempting to normalize his prejudice and his alarming misconceptions of what corruption is, he has lead many onto a path that will never leave because he makes their hate and prejudice acceptable and normal.We need more people not afraid of a bully who threaten and encourage division, nationalism and entitlement.p.58. Trump convinced voters that a self -declared billionaire real estate tycoon was on their side. They didnt necessarily believe he could revive their towns, bythe would punish the people- the Mexicans and Chinese- that they blame for its decline.p.80. What's different about Republicans under Trump, said Tom Nichols, is that they are s party of negative aims rather than positive goals.p.185. He has certainly reminded us of our vulnerabilities- of the ways in which our unresolved racial tribalism and mutual suspicion can be easily roused and used against us...Racial resentment, xenophobia, and nativism fueled Trumps candidacy and allowed Russia through the doorway.p.230. The Republican party intended to ensure Trump remain in power, by whatever means necessary, so that his immunity from the reach of the federal law would continue.And my favorite....and why impeachment is necessary....p.255. That sense that everything about our society is unfair, and someone has to be blamed or made to pay is a breeding ground where fascism, nativism and racism can fester.This book is exactly how I feel about the deep seated corruption that is folding our government. When a person is driven by ego or saying it's on both sides is not only missing the point, they are leaving the future of a government to a man who wants to steal our freedom and civil liberties. Make Life Great Again. Vote for a person with enough leadership, heart and soul, intelligence and clear thinking to see through the con and the corruption and restore some vital, important values to our youth, and country. The children growing up today will be living in the world we leave them. It's important they are also given the chance, and choices, we had. Democracy is too important . People are too important. Diversity is too important. Make Life Great Again.

[bookboy804 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Well-written, fast-paced description of the Age of Trump and its origins. Would have preferred more extensive notes, a bibliography and an index, but it's not written by an academic so I'm thankful that it does have some notes.

[perednia_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent recap of current low point in American social and political affairs, using research and anecdotes to bring into focus the historical and cultural roads that got us here. Also, there is great use of comic book mythology. Every current affairs book about politics needs to reference classic Captain America and Batman in 1980s Gotham.