Recommended reading: ‘Trump: How to Get Rich’

Wed., June 16, 2004

Reviewed by Cindy Elavsky King Features Syndicate

Hot on the heels of his hit television show, “The Apprentice,” Donald Trump proves that he not only knows the art of the deal, but also the art of timing. In his latest book, “Trump: How to Get Rich,” Trump dispenses business advice for would-be entrepreneurs in easily digestible, bite-sized vignettes.

His advice, as inferred from the title, is geared toward those who want to become rich. However, much of what Trump advises can be used to help further any career, at any stage in that career. You don’t have to be on your way to becoming CEO of a multinational corporation to benefit from this book. As someone who worked his way to the top from the very bottom, Trump’s wit and wisdom can apply to all his readers.

Many of the chapters are bits of everyday common sense applied to business life. From dressing for your surroundings and getting a prenuptial agreement to holding a grudge and knowing when to say no, Trump gets to the nitty-gritty of things you know subconsciously that you should do.

An especially vivid chapter is “The Trump Lifestyle,” where The Donald takes his readers through a week in the life of Donald Trump. And, of course, being the excellent businessman that he is and knowing the art of self-promotion, he also includes a section devoted to “The Apprentice.”

The book is most intriguing when Trump is at his most personal. While everyone wants to know if his hair is real or not, we also want to know about the man under the hair. We respect his admiration for his father, we appreciate his sense of humor and self-deprecation, and we envy his ability to pull himself up from the squalors of bankruptcy to become of one of the top businessmen in America.

Books reviewed in this column are available at your local bookstore.

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