10 Best Books by Donald Trump

Today, Donald Trump is a name that connotes infamy and controversy. However, not many people know that behind all that, Trump is also a successful businessman and an interesting character.

His strategies may not be conventional, yet he has proven time and time again that they are valid. This exact effectiveness has led him to become the president of one of the most powerful nations in the world, America. 

In this article, we are going to take a closer look at Donald Trump’s history and life’s work. 

In this article we will cover the following topics;

Who is Donald Trump?

Donald John Trump is the son of a real estate tycoon in Queens, New York. He was born on June 14, 1946. He studied and received a bachelor’s degree in economics from the premier Wharton School. Later on, in 1971, he eventually took over his father’s real estate business. 

Trump achieved so much more than his father. He rebranded their company and renamed it into “The Trump Organization” and opened its operations in Manhattan and Brooklyn. They primarily engaged in building and renovating skyscrapers, casinos, hotels, and golf courses. 

Trump’s climb to the ladder of success was not always easy. He filed for bankruptcy protection for 11 times and had a few failing business deals here and there. However, it wasn’t in Trump’s character to sit by and sob over a loss. Instead, he went out there and made more business deals, which eventually established him as one of the biggest real estate developers in the prime locations of New York. 

Eventually, he made the Trump brand a synonym with luxury as they offer and advertised top class service and merchandise for the 1 percent of the population who can afford them. 

Aside from being a ferocious businessman, Trump had multiple attempts to enter politics. The most notable ones were in 2000 and 2016, on which he finally succeeded. Today, he is now a President of the United States. 

Also, other than being a businessman, Trump ventured as a celebrity and author. This has resulted in many insightful and exciting outputs.

What was Donald Trump Best Known For?

Donald Trump first gained attention from the mainstream media through “The Apprentice” reality show. During that show, Trump showcased his cut through business moves and character. Aside from that, he was also highly associated with the Miss Universe franchise. Later on, he became more famous as he launched and won the 2016 presidential candidacy. He is now the 45th president of the United States of America. 

Best Books by Donald Trump: The List

Although Trump has been known to employ the help of ghostwriters such as Tony Schwartz, Meredith McIver, and Dave Shiflett, his publications still show a significant influence on his ideas, experiences, core values, and personality. Here is a list of the books credited to Donald Trump:

1 – Trump: The Art of the Deal

In this book, Trump provides readers unprecedented access to how he runs his life and organization. He details his time-tested formulated guideline for success and his interaction with his colleagues, friends, and families in an exciting and Trump-like manner. 

He cleverly isolates essential elements in his accomplishment. He also destroyed myths and name drop colleagues and his experiences with them. He also showed real monetary figures and divulged the secrets behind the deal-maker’s art. 

Throughout the entire book, Trump did what he did best and talk about himself, his family, and his success. Also, this book is the 1st installation of his Trump series publications. 

Quotes from the book; 

“One of the problems when you become successful is that jealousy and envy inevitably follow. There are people—I categorize them as life’s losers—who get their sense of accomplishment and achievement from trying to stop others. As far as I’m concerned, if they had any real ability they wouldn’t be fighting me, they’d be doing something constructive themselves.”

“The point is that if you are a little different, or a little outrageous, or if you do things that are bold or controversial, the press is going to write about you.”

“My people keep telling me I shouldn’t write letters like this to critics. The way I see it, critics get to say what they want to about my work, so why shouldn’t I be able to say what I want to about theirs?”

“That experience taught me a few things. One is to listen to your gut, no matter how good something sounds on paper. The second is that you’re generally better off sticking with what you know. And the third is that sometimes your best investments are the ones you don’t make. Because”

“The worst of times often create the best opportunities to make good deals. The”

“I have a very simple rule when it comes to management: hire the best people from your competitors, pay them more than they were earning, and give them bonuses and incentives based on their performance. That’s how you build a first-class operation.”

“Most people think small because they are afraid of success, afraid of making decisions, afraid of winning.”

“I like thinking big. I always have. To me it’s very simple: if you’re going to be thinking anyway, you might as well think big. Most people think small, because most people are afraid of success, afraid of making decisions, afraid of winning. And that gives people like me a great advantage. My”

“Contrary to what a lot of people think, I don’t enjoy doing press. I’ve been asked the same questions a million times now, and I don’t particularly like talking about my personal life.”

“The final key to the way I promote is bravado. I play to people’s fantasies. People may not always think big themselves. but they can get very excited by those who do. That is why a little hyperbole never hurts. People want to believe that something is the biggest, the greatest and the most spectacular.”

“good publicity is preferable to bad, but from a bottom-line perspective, bad publicity is sometimes better than no publicity at all. Controversy, in short, sells.”

“I discovered, for the first time but not the last, that politicians don’t care too much what things cost. It’s not their money.”

2 – Trump: Surviving at the Top

This book is one of the earliest publications of Donald Trump. It talks about his challenges and success in the acquisition of the Plaza Hotel and the Eastern Shuttle iconic properties. It also includes details on his Taj Mahal construction. 

Aside from that, this book also contains a sneak peek of trumps successful venture into sports as he provided heavyweight boxing sponsorship. 

Also, readers will gain advice from Trump when it comes to the importance of toughness and dealing with success. 

This book was eventually followed by the installment of The Art of Comeback.

Quotes from the Books;

“My main purpose in life is to keep winning. And the reason for that is simple: If I don’t win, I don’t get to fight the next battle.”

 3 – Trump: The Art of Comeback

This book talks about the fall of Donald Trump, which resulted in him being billions of dollars in debt and his recovery from the ordeal. He sighted that one of the reasons behind his comeback was his hard work, negotiation skills, and luck. 

However, at the same time, he also proposed an ironic top 10 comeback tips to inspire anyone who is struggling in their lives. These tips include being paranoid, playing golf, and getting even. 

It might be challenging to see how these tips are relevant in making a successful comeback, but his interesting delivery through this book will show why he on top today. He certainly knows how to win, and those who read this book will also learn a thing or two from Trump’s playbook. 

Quotes from the book;

“People have always asked me if I’ll ever be involved in politics. It seems every so often there’s some unfounded rumor that I’m considering seeking office-sometimes even the presidency! The problem is, I think I’m too honest, and perhaps too controversial, to be a politician. I always say it like it is, and I’m not sure that a politician can do that, although I might just be able to get away with it because people tend to like me. Honesty causes controversy, and therefore, despite all the polls that say I should run, I would probably not be a very successful politician.”

“…work hard and don’t allow yourself to understand the meaning of the word defeat. Above all, enjoy what you’re doing, and the only thing you’ll have is victory, victory, victory!”

“The moment someone settles or makes it easy for a particular lawyer, he will inevitably return with another suit a short time later. Also, his scavenger friends who were watching will likewise find a reason to sue”

“Get your zoning in a bad economic climate, and begin building in a good one”

“…always ask for more than you really want”

 

4 – The America We Deserve

This book will give you a clear idea of the core values that drives the political views of Donald Trump. It speaks of his attempt for the presidency in the year 2000. 

Aside from that, this book also contains the vision of Trump for America. He detailed that he wants to see it following the central values of principles of limited governance, economic growth, equitable taxation, and self-preservation. Many can note that his policies today adhere to his ideas and mindset as he was writing this book. 

This book also includes a peak of Trumps’s ideas when it comes to foreign policy, education system, and taxation during the early 2000s. Also, the delivery of this book is in true Trump fashion: dramatic, provocative, and no-nonsense.

Quotes from the book;

“We don’t have our dream handed to us. We build it. We have our vision, then we go out and make it real. Yet the tax system clearly punishes the nation’s dreamers, big and small. That’s why the Trump debt-reduction tax plan would benefit the American Dream.
Most people are not going to take time away from their families and work themselves to exhaustion trying to make more money if the government takes such a large cut of their profits. High taxes are a levy on human achievement and a subsidy for mediocrity.”

 5 – Trump: How to Get Rich

After how many years of being encouraged to write a book with this subject matter, Trump finally decided to do it as he saw the hunger of people to become rich during his time in The Apprentice. 

This is his tell-all about his real estate empire, the lesson he learned during The Apprentice, and his leadership to 20,000 members of the Trump Organization. In this book, Trump revealed the recipe of how he was able to make five billion dollars and created The Apprentice.

In a charismatic and brass delivery, Trump provides insights on investment, leveraging wages, business management, human resource management, negotiation, branding, and vision.  

Also, in this book, he finally spoke out about the art of hair.

Quotes from the book;

“The world moves along at such a fast clip that we have little patience when things are slow, whether it’s the line at a supermarket or Internet access. We’ve become intolerant of those things that cannot be accelerated or skipped entirely. I can’t speed up the foundation work for a building, nor can I expect to play piano like Glenn Gould just because I want to.”

“Growth is an indication of life, so keep your organization moving forward at all times. Having a passion for what you do is crucial. If you can’t get excited about what you are doing, how can you expect anyone else to?”

“As Benjamin Franklin once said, “Beware of little expenses. A small leak will sink a great ship.” In business, nothing is ever too small to notice.”

 6 – Trump: The Way to the Top: The Best Business Advice I Ever Received

Although Trump has received a headstart in his real estate career as his father was already established in the industry, he acknowledges there were still a lot of things that he could learn. These things he eventually got from listening from his fellow successful businessman. 

In this book, Trump has compiled the insights of his close successful colleagues on the best advice in business they ever received. The answers have resulted in a new pool of wit and wisdom that shows how accomplished individuals conduct business and personal affairs.

The insights from these books encompass the advice from both small and large companies and include well know business icons. These icons comprise Carlson Companies, Orleans Homebuilder, American Airlines, Lilian Vernon, and Staples. 

Quotes from the book;

“You can’t know it all. No matter how smart you are, no matter how comprehensive your education, no matter how wide-ranging your experience, there’e simply no way to acquire all the wisdom you need to make your business thrive.”

“I’ve really had to learn everything by doing it the hard way, without the benefit of any business advice. Sometimes I think that’s what makes a person successful.” – Dian Bark

“I have been a merchant selling mattresses for more than twenty years. I pursued the best brands, the best quality, the best value, and the most innovative constructions to ensure I offered my customers the best.” – Napoleon Barragan

“Strange as it sounds, the best business advice I ever received wasn’t about how to make money-but how to give it away.” – Marc Benioff

“My dad, Robert Katz, founded our family business in 1953. While he was a visionary in the supermarket business, he was also very cautious in analyzing new locations. He always wanted to be prepared for any severe setback in business. When he died in 1996, I became President. I can still hear his voice, impartin his cautionary wisdom: “The sun doesn’t shine forever.”

 7 – Time to Get Tough: Make America Great Again!

Trump has been long vocal about his visions and ideas for America. It was already loud and clear from his “The America We Deserve” publication, yet he decided to remind people of it with a brand new release once again. 

This New York Times bestseller reveals how Donald Trumps explain how he will make America great once more. It includes topics about public safety, national security, and the economy. 

In this book, Trump stressed out the need for America to be strict and firm when it comes to policies. Aside from that, he also encourages bold and strong actions towards the pressing issues against the country. 

Quotes from the book;

“We’ve all heard a million times: “We need illegal immigrants because they are willing to do jobs Americans just won’t.” To that one I say, “Says who?” We have 25 million citizens who need jobs, and 7 million illegal immigrants holding American jobs. Do the math. If illegal aliens weren’t holding these jobs, American citizens would, because these jobs need to be filled, and guess what? Those jobs would pay more than they do now, because illegal low-wage workers drive down wage rates. Even the Washington Post has conceded that “an influx of immigrants has helped depress the incomes of low-skilled workers in recent decades, many economists agree.”

“Next Tuesday all of you will go to the polls, will stand there in the polling place and make a decision. I think when you make that decision, it might be well if you would ask yourself, are you better off than you were four years ago?” – Ronald Reagan

“Every day in business I see America getting ripped off and abused. We have become a laughingstock, the world’s whipping boy, blamed for everything, credited for nothing, given no respect. You see and feel it all around you, and so do I.” 

“Do you know that one in seven Americans is now on food stamps? Think of it. In the United States, the most prosperous nation in the history of human civilization, our people are going hungry.” 

 8 – Crippled America: How to Make America Great Again

This book was published a year before Trump was officially declared as the 45th president of the United States of America. It became associated with his “ Make America Great Again.”

This book showcases how Trump wanted to delineate himself from the popular games of politicians. He claimed that he wants to employ action-oriented and unbias policymaking. He further stresses that the significant difference that he has with other politicians is that he is already rich, which means that his policies are less likely to be influenced by 3rd party stakeholders. 
Aside from that, this book also contains the outline of Trump’s political vision in the economy, health care system. Education, military and warfare, employment, business, and immigration. Trump proudly considers this book as his blueprint on how to make America great again.

Quotes from the book;

“Our country, our people, and our laws have to be our top priority.”

“A great leader has to be flexible, holding his ground on the major principles but finding room for compromises that can bring people together. A great leader has to be savvy at negotiations so we don’t drown every bill in pork-barrel bridges to nowhere. I know how to stand my ground — but I also know that Republicans and Democrats need to find common ground to stand on as well.”

“I want good people to come here from all over the world, but I want them to do so legally. We can expedite the process, we can reward achievement and excellence, but we have to respect the legal process. And those people who take advantage of the system and come here illegally should never enjoy the benefits of being a resident–or citizen–of this nation. So I am against any path to citizenship for undocumented workers or anyone else who is in this country illegally. They should–and need to–go home and get in line.”

“You do your job, you keep your job. Do it well, you get a better job.”

“The illegal immigrants who have taken jobs that should go to people here legally, while over 20 percent of Americans are currently unemployed or underemployed.”

“I own guns. Fortunately, I have never had to use them, but, believe me, I feel a lot safer knowing that they are there. I also have a concealed-carry permit that allows me to carry a concealed weapon. I took the time and the effort to get that permit because the constitutional right to defend yourself doesn’t stop at the end of your driveway. That doesn’t apply just to me either. It applies to all our driveways or front doors.”

“I don’t want to stop legal immigration to this country. In fact, I would like to reform and increase immigration in some important ways. Our current immigration laws are upside down—they make it tough on the people we need to have here, and easy for the people we don’t want here. This country is a magnet for many of the smartest, hardest-working people born in other countries, yet we make it difficult for these bright people who follow the laws to settle here.”

“Recently though, they have been claiming I haven’t put out enough specifics. There’s a good reason for this, and it fits perfectly with my overall philosophy of leadership: Many of our problems, caused by years of stupid decisions or no decisions at all, have grown into a huge mess. If I could wave a magic wand and fix them, I’d do it. But there are a lot of different voices—and interests—that have to be considered when working toward solutions. This involves getting people into a room and negotiating compromises until everyone walks out of that room on the same page.”

“If you have laws that you don’t enforce, then you don’t have laws. This leads to lawlessness.”

“Most of them have gotten really good at saying absolutely nothing. They’ve all got some kind of program, but when you listen to them, you still don’t know what they’re talking about.”

 9 – Trump Never Give Up: How I Turned My Biggest Challenges into Success

Many people wish to achieve the same amount of success as Donald Trump. This is why there was a considerable demand for the stories of his challenges, mistakes, and the lowest moment. Trump eventually complied with it by publishing this book. 

Aside from that, this book also details how he was able to use his creativity and tenacity to make failures into victory. 

Every chapter of this book contains captivating stories from Trump’s business career. At the end of every chapter, readers will also hear coaching and commentary from Paul Stoltz, who is an author and adversity researcher. 

This book will help readers navigate their failures, personal challenges, and weaknesses. 

Quotes from the book;

“You will be attacked for trying to change anything.”

“Problems are often opportunities coming at us in packaging that isn’t what we expect or want.”

“Take the pains required to become what you want to become, or you might end up becoming something you’d rather not be.”

“Emerson’s quote, “What lies behind us, and what lies before us, are tiny matters compared to what lies within us”

“Shakespeare put it this way, in a famous quote from Julius Caesar: “The fault is not in our stars, dear Brutus, but in ourselves.” That’s a clear message. We are responsible for ourselves. We are responsible for our own luck. What an empowering thought! If you see responsibility as a bum deal, then you are not seeing it for what it really is—a great opportunity.”

“That’s a good thing to keep in mind—use your mind to visualize how things might be, as you go along. That can make the plethora of details and setbacks just a part of the plan.”

“Take blips in stride—instead of trying to deflect problems or obstacles and send them off in another direction, try to embrace them. Turn them into something positive. You can often disarm people this way and get them on your side. Don’t get too attached to your ideas. Adjust, adapt, and take things in stride.”

 10 – Think Like a Champion: An Informal Education in Business and Life

In this book, Trump talks about what he knows best: his life and business. This book can be considered as a comprehensive crash course to business as Trump presents his basic principles, strategies, and ideas directly and concisely.  

Aside from that, you will also see a sneak peek of Trump’s personal life and professional life as he shares stories unknown to the majority of people. He also shares his secret in gaining momentum, getting revenge, signing contracts, and stories of people who use the think big formulas in their own lives. 

This book also contains a foreword by Robert Kiyosaki. He authored the book “Rich Dad Poor Dad.”

Quotes from the book;

“There’s an old German proverb to the effect that “fear makes the wolf bigger than he is,” and that is true.”

“Whenever I start something new, I know I have a lot to learn. This does not discourage me—in fact it gives me energy.”

“There is always the possibility of failure, but there is a greater chance of success if you actually try to do something versus doing nothing.”

“You can’t sprint unless you have built up the strength to do so. Building the stamina is up to you. If you don’t work at it, it’s not going to happen by wishful thinking.”

“Strive for wholeness and keep your sense of wonder intact, and you will find yourself ready for a grand slam.”

“The worst things in history have happened when people stop thinking for themselves and listen to other people and, even worse, start following other people. That’s what gives rise to dictators.”

“Keep your door open every day to something new and energizing. Sometimes I wonder what will show up, which is a terrific way to start every day.”

“Albert Einstein said, “The mind that opens to a new idea never comes back to its original size.”

 Top Books Recommended by Donald Trump

1 – The Art of War | By Sun Tzu

This book talks about the military treatise by Sun Tzu, who is an army general, tactician, and Strategist. The origin of the compilation of the book is said to be traced to the early warring state era. 

The compilation contains 13 Chapters, which specifically discuss specific warfare topics. This is one of the most long-lasting and relevant military tactics and strategy books of all time. 

This piece of work has influenced China’s Seven Military classics. Its teachings have been embraced by thousands of people across Asia. In recent years, its influences have also shown relevance in legal tactics, western military, and business strategies.

Quotes from the book;

“Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak.”

 “The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.”

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.”

“Supreme excellence consists of breaking the enemy’s resistance without fighting.”

“Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win”

“There is no instance of a nation benefitting from prolonged warfare.”

“Engage people with what they expect; it is what they are able to discern and confirms their projections. It settles them into predictable patterns of response, occupying their minds while you wait for the extraordinary moment — that which they cannot anticipate.”

“To know your Enemy, you must become your Enemy.”

“If your enemy is secure at all points, be prepared for him. If he is in superior strength, evade him. If your opponent is temperamental, seek to irritate him. Pretend to be weak, that he may grow arrogant. If he is taking his ease, give him no rest. If his forces are united, separate them. If sovereign and subject are in accord, put division between them. Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected .”

“All warfare is based on deception. Hence, when we are able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must appear inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.”

“Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.”

 2 – Rich Dad’s Cashflow Quadrant: Rich Dad’s Guide to Financial Freedom | By Robert T. Kiyosaki

Robert T. Kiyosaki is known for his Rich Dad Poor Dad book. He as also co-author two publications with Donald Trump. 

Although this piece is not what he is known for, the theories and application it holds are well laid out realistically. In this book, the reader will learn about controlling wealth through investment or small business and avoiding job security. 

The controversial yet intriguing message fro Kiyosaki makes this book an exciting recommendation as it also talks about the similarities and differences between being self-employed and employed. 

Quotes from the book; 

“Success is a poor teacher”

“What do you think about me is not my business the important thing is what I think about myself …”

 “You will never know true freedom until you achieve financial freedom.”

“Thinking is the hardest work there is. That is why so few people engage in it.”

“If you want to be a leader of people, then you need to be a master of words.”

“Many people will not head down the street until all the lights are green. That is why they don’t go anywhere.”

“winner are not afraid of loosing”

“We learn the most about ourselves when we fail, so don’t be afraid of failing. Failing is part of the process of success. You can’t have success without failure.”

“CASHFLOW clubs are not for those who want to get rich quick. CASHFLOW clubs are there to support the long-term mental, emotional, spiritual, physical, and financial changes a person needs to go through. We all change and evolve at different rates of speed so you are encouraged to go at your own speed.”

“Finding your path means finding out what you were put here on this earth to do. What is your life’s purpose? Why were you given this gift called life? And what is the gift you give back to life?”

“Remember that anything important can’t really be learned in the classroom. It must be learned by taking action, making mistakes, and then correcting them. That’s when wisdom sets in.”

 Final Thoughts on Books by Donald Trump

Throughout the year, Trump has provided society with both positive and negative impacts. In terms of his collection of publications, many can see that it can be considered as an extension of character. It showcases his talent and skills for business and his ideas on how society should be.