Deconstructing Trump: The Trump Phenomenon Through the Lens of Quotation History - Softcover

Grothe, Dr. Mardy

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1733285008 ISBN 13: 9781733285001

Publisher: Quoterie Press, 2019

Synopsis

If history’s greatest thinkers, writers, and political leaders were around today, what would they say about Donald Trump? Happily for us, they’ve said amazing things on this very subject, often in prescient and compelling ways. In the fourth century B.C., for example, Plato described Trump perfectly in his Laws:

"There is simple ignorance, which is the source of lighter offenses, and double ignorance, which is accompanied by a conceit of wisdom; and he who is under the influence of the latter fancies that he knows all about matters of which he knows nothing."

Is it a mere coincidence that someone writing 2,500 years ago was able to capture the essence of the current U. S. President?  Hardly.  In Henry V (1599), Shakespeare did it as well:

"I did never know so full a voice issue from so empty a heart."

And, in his 1798 Farewell Address, George Washington followed suit by saying:

"Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism."

In 2015, not long after Trump declared John McCain a “loser” for becoming a Vietnam War POW, quotation maven Mardy Grothe accidentally stumbled upon a 350-year-old Molière quotation that got him thinking, “Wow! That sounds a lot like Donald Trump.” Over the next several months, after finding similar Trump-illuminating quotations from past thinkers, Grothe launched a quotation-seeking, self-help effort in order to help him cope more effectively with the disturbing reality of a Trump Presidency.

That self-help project ultimately evolved into this remarkable anthology of 1,000 quotations, all of which were written decades—or, more typically, centuries—before Trump arrived on the political scene.  This book attempts to deconstruct The Trump Phenomenon.  It has been prepared exclusively for those who’ve been alarmed, troubled, upset, embarrassed, bewildered, disgusted, or otherwise distressed by the whole idea of Donald J. Trump as President of the United States of America.

About this title

Review

“Better than anyone else, Mardy Grothe uses classical quotations from history to share the powerful insights they can provide.  In Deconstructing Trump, he builds a quotational congress of world voices spanning over two millennia, deftly showing how Donald Trump's actions run counter to history’s desire to make the world a better place. Grothe gives us an illuminating understanding through collective historical wisdom.”  John Busbee, The Culture Buzz

“Deconstructing Trump is a brilliant idea consummately executed!  Only a quotation maven with a scholar’'s grasp of intellectual history could produce this incredible “foretelling” of Trump. With a gentle hand on the reader’'s shoulder, Grothe provides a guided tour through centuries of astonishingly prescient quotations.  Deconstructing Trump corroborates what our eyes and ears can scarcely believe.  For some, it will be a comforting reminder that, like other dark periods in history, this too shall pass.  I cannot imagine someone buying the book without picking up a gift copy or two for like-minded friends.”  Rosalie Maggio, bestselling author of How to Say It

“With so many salient quotes to reflect on, it was hard to choose which one best ‘deconstructed’ the subject of this hard-hitting collection. The Introduction hits the core message in a solid way and comments throughout greatly add to the reader’s understanding. Indeed, the whole book reads like a gold-mine of historical insight brought into the present. Here’s my favorite quote: ‘Those who never retract their opinions love themselves more than love truth.’ (Joseph Joubert) Congrats to Dr. Mardy for this masterful collection.”  Barbara McNichol, Editor and creator of Word Trippers

“This is a wonderful book—erudite, passionate, and, most of all, heartening because it reminds us that narcissistic and bullying leaders have been with us all through history, and that people of wisdom, from Aristotle to Frank Zappa, have always seen through their lies and posturing, and thereby limited the damage they can do.”  Laurence Shames, bestselling author of the Key West Capers series and other books

“We live in a time when seemingly all of our democratic institutions and values are imperiled by kakistocracy—that is, government by the worst leaders.  Mardy Grothe, our most popular and entertaining quotation collector, brings his formidable talents to bear on assembling fascinating quotes from history that read uncannily like descriptions of the present situation.  All those who cherish the things that truly make America great will be gratified and inspired by the fruits of Grothe's brilliant labors.”   Fred Shapiro, Editor of The Yale Book of Quotations

About the Author

Dr. Mardy Grothe is a lifelong quotation collector and the author of seven previous "word and language" books. A retired psychologist, he is known simply as "Dr. Mardy" to his many fans around the world. Fred Shapiro, editor of the Yale Dictionary of Quotations, described Grothe as "one of the most profound and popular quotation-book authors of all time." He and his wife Katherine Robinson live in Southern Pines, North Carolina.

Edition details

• Publisher: Quoterie Press
• Publication date: 2019
• ISBN 10: 1733285008
• ISBN 13: 9781733285001
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 302