📖 Overview
Trump: How to Get Rich presents business advice and personal insights from real estate mogul Donald Trump, published during his tenure as host of The Apprentice in 2004. The book combines Trump's business philosophy with behind-the-scenes glimpses of his work and lifestyle.
Through 53 brief "commandments," Trump outlines his approaches to negotiation, management, and building a personal brand. The text incorporates anecdotes from Trump's real estate dealings and television career, with particular focus on Trump Tower, his casino operations, and his role on The Apprentice.
The final sections examine Trump's media presence and public persona, including his experiences hosting The Apprentice and managing his personal image. The book provides specific details about Trump's business operations and management style rather than general principles for wealth creation.
This book functions more as a biographical business narrative than a traditional how-to guide, offering insights into Trump's particular methods for accumulating and maintaining wealth within his specific context and industry.
👀 Reviews
Most readers describe this as a basic business advice book that offers simple tips rather than deep insights. The promotional tone and frequent self-promotion throughout the text are noted by many reviewers.
Readers appreciated:
- Short, digestible chapters
- Behind-the-scenes details about Trump's deals
- Basic real estate investment principles
- Management advice about hiring and firing
Common criticisms:
- Too much bragging and self-promotion
- Surface-level advice without detailed strategies
- Repetitive content from Trump's other books
- Many sections written by co-author Meredith McIver
Ratings:
Goodreads: 3.6/5 (2,800+ ratings)
Amazon: 4.3/5 (500+ ratings)
Multiple readers noted the book functions more as a memoir than a practical guide. One Amazon reviewer wrote: "The title is misleading - this is more about Trump's personal success stories than actionable advice for getting rich." Several Goodreads reviews mentioned the content feels dated, particularly regarding real estate strategies.
📚 Similar books
Think Big: Make It Happen in Business and Life by Donald Trump & Bill Zanker
A companion volume from Trump that expands on real estate empire building and delivers specific tactics for closing major business deals.
Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki Presents core principles about building wealth through real estate investment and business ownership from an investor's perspective.
Art of the Deal by Donald Trump & Tony Schwartz Details Trump's early real estate development projects and negotiation strategies in New York City during the 1970s and 1980s.
The Way to Wealth by Benjamin Franklin Franklin's historical text outlines fundamental business principles and wealth-building strategies that align with Trump's focus on deal-making and personal branding.
Sam Walton: Made in America by Sam Walton Chronicles the business methods and operational strategies Walton used to build Walmart from a single store into a retail empire.
Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki Presents core principles about building wealth through real estate investment and business ownership from an investor's perspective.
Art of the Deal by Donald Trump & Tony Schwartz Details Trump's early real estate development projects and negotiation strategies in New York City during the 1970s and 1980s.
The Way to Wealth by Benjamin Franklin Franklin's historical text outlines fundamental business principles and wealth-building strategies that align with Trump's focus on deal-making and personal branding.
Sam Walton: Made in America by Sam Walton Chronicles the business methods and operational strategies Walton used to build Walmart from a single store into a retail empire.
🤔 Interesting facts
🔸 The book was released in 2004 at the peak of "The Apprentice" ratings, when the show was drawing over 20 million viewers per episode
🔸 Co-author Meredith McIver has collaborated with Trump on multiple books, including "Trump: Think Like a Billionaire" and "Trump: Never Give Up"
🔸 The book reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller list for hardcover business books and remained there for several weeks
🔸 Many of the "53 commandments" contradict conventional business wisdom, such as Trump's advice to "sometimes go with your gut" rather than always relying on market research
🔸 The timing of the book's release coincided with Trump's transformation from real estate mogul to mainstream media personality, marking a pivotal shift in his public image