Should I read Fear?

[isabel]

I put a hold on Fear (Woodward's book) a couple of months ago and it just came available. Now that I can read it, I'm kind of feeling like I don't need that kind of negativity in my life. So... is it worth reading? Should I take the plunge or return it?

[bex]

So at this point I think most of the relevant tidbits in it are out there, and you probably aren't going to learn that much new from reading it.

Looking back, the parts that are the most interesting to me are the parts about Tillerson, Mattis, etc., especially in light of tillerson's recent interview and comments, because its clear that they just didn't know how to handle Trump. Even Tillerson, with no diplomatic experience - you could tell he was at least trying to do a decent job. (now to be clear, for Tillerson being a decent SoS does not mean the same things it meant to Clinton or Kerry, for example.) But trump was just a shitshow.

It was a fast read so may be worth taking a quick look.

[dutchgirl678]

It was a fast and easy read. I recommend it because it just reads like a gossip magazine although not as bad as Fire and Fury.

I just started reading Proof of Collusion by Seth Abrahamson. I already had most of the facts from his lengthy Twitter threads, but it is good to see it all laid out so thoroughly. And yes, it is depressing, but I keep hoping for the house of cards to collapse and I feel that we are getting closer every day. Later today will be a big one I think.

[CrazyLucky]

I didn't finish it. Like bex said, a lot of it is already out there and you've probably heard it. For me, it was just making me angry and disgusted and made me hate the rednecks I work with. So I stopped.

[tracita]

I liked it, but it's depressing. I'm reading Becoming now, and it's much more enjoyable to feel uplifted about what you're reading, instead of angry.

[rupertpenny]

I just read it for the same reason, I had put it on hold months ago.

It definitely wasn’t a must read. If you’ve generally been following trump news there wasn’t a ton of new information.

[wildrice]

I'm reading it now, for the same reason. I am only like 2% through it so far though so I have no advice. I will probably read it, unless I get into it and find it really boring or something.

[isabel]

Those of you saying it was depressing for you is what I’m concerned about. I’m sure there’s stuff I would laugh at, but I think I might just stick with the other stuff on my list.

I’m pumped for the audio version of Becoming to come available!

[wildrice]

Dec 8, 2018 10:47:08 GMT -5 isabel said:

Those of you saying it was depressing for you is what I’m concerned about. I’m sure there’s stuff I would laugh at, but I think I might just stick with the other stuff on my list.

I’m pumped for the audio version of Becoming to come available!

What did you end up doing with this?

I'm about 30% of the way through the book now, and I'm finding it interesting actually. There are things I had either forgotten or not quite understood, and the author does a nice job of pulling together a coherent story (vs just daily news blasts of crap). It's not uplifting, but it's not depressing me in any new ways either. I'm at a point in this administration where nothing surprises me anymore (well, I shouldn't say that or he'll come with something even worse...) so it's not dragging me down the way it would have 2 years ago. Which is maybe not a great thing because it means I'm being conditioned to the terrible state of things...

Anyway I feel like i'm glad I'm reading it. 

[onomatopoeia]

Dec 10, 2018 14:36:52 GMT -5 wildrice said:

Dec 8, 2018 10:47:08 GMT -5 isabel said:

Those of you saying it was depressing for you is what I’m concerned about. I’m sure there’s stuff I would laugh at, but I think I might just stick with the other stuff on my list.

I’m pumped for the audio version of Becoming to come available!

What did you end up doing with this?

I'm about 30% of the way through the book now, and I'm finding it interesting actually. There are things I had either forgotten or not quite understood, and the author does a nice job of pulling together a coherent story (vs just daily news blasts of crap). It's not uplifting, but it's not depressing me in any new ways either. I'm at a point in this administration where nothing surprises me anymore (well, I shouldn't say that or he'll come with something even worse...) so it's not dragging me down the way it would have 2 years ago. Which is maybe not a great thing because it means I'm being conditioned to the terrible state of things...

Anyway I feel like i'm glad I'm reading it. 

Thanks for posting this.  It's been on my bedside table for a few weeks but I was avoiding it.  I'll take another look at it!

[isabel]

wildrice, I returned the loan. I might try again later, but I have two other things I’m reading right now, so no need to add something that might depress me.