Book
Unbelievable: My Front-Row Seat to the Craziest Campaign in American History
by Katy Tur
📖 Overview
Katy Tur's memoir chronicles her experience covering Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign as an NBC News correspondent. From Trump's campaign announcement through election night, she documents 510 days on the road following the unconventional candidate.
The book provides details from inside campaign rallies, press events, and interactions between Trump and the media. Tur recounts specific moments when Trump singled her out at rallies and on social media, making her part of the story she was attempting to cover.
Her behind-the-scenes account captures the intensity of life on the campaign trail - from logistics and travel challenges to navigating relationships with campaign staff and other reporters. The narrative alternates between campaign events and Tur's personal background in journalism.
The book serves as both a first-person historical record and an examination of the changing relationship between presidential candidates, the press, and the American public during a pivotal moment in U.S. politics.
👀 Reviews
Readers found this first-hand account of covering Trump's 2016 campaign offered unique insights into both campaign journalism and Trump's rise. Many noted Tur's direct, conversational writing style and her ability to capture the chaotic nature of the campaign trail.
Likes:
- Personal anecdotes and behind-the-scenes details
- Honest portrayal of journalist experience
- Clear explanation of how Trump manipulated media coverage
- Humor mixed with serious reporting
Dislikes:
- Too much focus on Tur's personal experiences
- Some readers wanted more policy analysis
- Several felt the tone was self-centered
- Complaints about repetitive content
Ratings:
Goodreads: 3.9/5 (32,000+ ratings)
Amazon: 4.3/5 (1,800+ ratings)
"She captures the exhaustion and madness of campaign reporting perfectly" - Goodreads reviewer
"Less about Trump and more about Tur's career path" - Amazon reviewer
"Gives insight into how Trump's media strategy worked" - Barnes & Noble review
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Front Row at the Trump Show by Jonathan Karl An ABC News correspondent chronicles his experiences covering Donald Trump from his rise in business through his presidency.
This Will Not Pass by Jonathan Martin, Alexander Burns Two New York Times reporters document the transition between the Trump and Biden administrations and the political transformation of America during this period.
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🤔 Interesting facts
🗞️ Katy Tur logged over 510 days on the campaign trail following Donald Trump, covering 40+ states and attending more than 3,800 rallies and events.
📺 During the campaign, Trump frequently called out Tur by name at his rallies, leading his supporters to turn against her with jeers and threats, forcing NBC to provide her with security protection.
📚 The book's title "Unbelievable" comes from one of Trump's favorite responses to Tur's questions during interviews - he would often say "That's unbelievable" when confronted with his own quotes.
✈️ Tur wrote much of the book during flights between campaign stops, often working on her laptop while traveling in coach class on commercial airlines.
🏆 The book debuted at #2 on The New York Times Best Seller list and earned Tur the Los Angeles Press Club's President's Award for Impact on Media.