📖 Overview
Think Big combines Donald Trump's business philosophy with personal anecdotes from his career in real estate and media. The book outlines strategies for success through Trump's experiences negotiating deals, building his brand, and expanding his business empire.
Trump presents his methods for identifying opportunities, maximizing leverage in negotiations, and maintaining a competitive edge in business. He includes specific examples from his real estate projects and television ventures to illustrate key principles of deal-making and leadership.
The narrative alternates between practical business advice and behind-the-scenes glimpses of Trump's decision-making process during critical moments. Each chapter focuses on a different aspect of business success, from hiring practices to marketing strategies.
The book serves as both a business manual and a window into Trump's mindset about wealth, power, and achievement. Its core message emphasizes the relationship between confidence, ambition, and material success in American business culture.
👀 Reviews
Reader reviews position this as a straightforward business advice book that repeats themes from Trump's other works. The book maintains a 3.8/5 on Goodreads (2,500+ ratings) and 4.5/5 on Amazon (400+ ratings).
Readers appreciated:
- Clear, direct writing style
- Practical negotiation tactics and deal-making examples
- Personal anecdotes from Trump's business experiences
- Focus on thinking ambitiously and taking calculated risks
Common criticisms:
- Material recycled from Trump's previous books
- Self-promotional tone throughout
- Lack of concrete, actionable steps
- Too many real estate-specific examples
Multiple reviewers noted the book works better as motivation than instruction. One Amazon reviewer wrote: "Good for inspiration but light on details." A Goodreads reviewer stated: "The advice is basic - work hard, think big, be persistent. Nothing groundbreaking."
Several readers mentioned the book's value decreased after Trump entered politics, as they found it harder to separate the business advice from political views.
📚 Similar books
The Art of the Deal by Donald Trump
Trump shares his business strategies and principles through stories of his real estate empire development.
Zero to One by Peter Thiel The PayPal co-founder presents methods for building innovative companies and creating new markets through examples from Silicon Valley.
The 10X Rule by Grant Cardone A framework for setting larger business goals and taking massive action to achieve exceptional results in business and personal life.
Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki The author contrasts the financial philosophies of his biological father and his mentor to illustrate principles of wealth creation and entrepreneurship.
The 4-Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferriss A blueprint for escaping the traditional work structure through business automation, outsourcing, and lifestyle design principles.
Zero to One by Peter Thiel The PayPal co-founder presents methods for building innovative companies and creating new markets through examples from Silicon Valley.
The 10X Rule by Grant Cardone A framework for setting larger business goals and taking massive action to achieve exceptional results in business and personal life.
Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki The author contrasts the financial philosophies of his biological father and his mentor to illustrate principles of wealth creation and entrepreneurship.
The 4-Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferriss A blueprint for escaping the traditional work structure through business automation, outsourcing, and lifestyle design principles.
🤔 Interesting facts
📚 The book was co-written with Bill Zanker, founder of The Learning Annex, who paid Trump $1 million per speech to teach his success principles at real estate seminars.
💼 Released in 2008 during the financial crisis, the book specifically addresses how to thrive during economic downturns and turn market challenges into opportunities.
🌟 Trump emphasizes throughout the book that thinking small is a self-fulfilling prophecy, and he claims that his father Fred Trump taught him to "think big" when he was just starting in real estate.
🎯 Each chapter ends with "Think Big Action Steps" - practical exercises designed to help readers implement Trump's business strategies in their own lives.
💡 The book reveals that Trump deliberately cultivated his media persona, explaining how he used controversy and publicity (both positive and negative) to build his brand value - a strategy he later applied to politics.