NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER“Compelling… this book couldn’t be more timely.” – Jill Abramson, New York Times Book Review From the Recipient of the 2017 Walter Cronkite Award for Excellence in JournalismCalled “disgraceful,” “third-rate,” and “not nice” by Donald Trump, NBC News correspondent Katy Tur reported on—and took flak from—the most captivating and volatile presidential candidate in American … correspondent Katy Tur reported on—and took flak from—the most captivating and volatile presidential candidate in American history.
Katy Tur lived out of a suitcase for a year and a half, following Trump around the country, powered by packets of peanut butter and kept clean with dry shampoo. She visited forty states with the candidate, made more than 3,800 live television reports, and tried to endure a gazillion loops of Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer”—a Trump rally playlist staple.
From day 1 to day 500, Tur documented Trump’s inconsistencies, fact-checked his falsities, and called him out on his lies. In return, Trump repeatedly singled Tur out. He tried to charm her, intimidate her, and shame her. At one point, he got a crowd so riled up against Tur, Secret Service agents had to walk her to her car.
None of it worked. Facts are stubborn. So was Tur. She was part of the first women-led politics team in the history of network news. The Boys on the Bus became the Girls on the Plane. But the circus remained. Through all the long nights, wild scoops, naked chauvinism, dodgy staffers, and fevered debates, no one had a better view than Tur.
Unbelievable
is her darkly comic, fascinatingly bizarre, and often scary story of how America sent a former reality show host to the White House. It’s also the story of what it was like for Tur to be there as it happened, inside a no-rules world where reporters were spat on, demeaned, and discredited. Tur was a foreign correspondent who came home to her most foreign story of all. Unbelievable is a must-read for anyone who still wakes up and wonders, Is this real life? more
It’s a front row view of the media spectacle surrounding Trump’s 2016 campaign. Witty and informative, it was the most “page turner” book I’ve read in many a day.
Katy Tur’s experience covering the clown is an interesting read. A book all Republican’s should be forced to read, and memorize.
The best behind-the-scenes look at the 2016 presidential campaign trail, bar none. A must read, no matter which side you’re on.
Katy Tur takes you on the improbable journey of the political campaign of Donal Trump from the escalator ride to his improbable election in November 2016. If you are a political junkie, a history or government major this book is right up there with the 1992 “All’s Fair” by Mary Matalin and James Carvile about the Bush v Clinton campaign. I recommend both of these as well as Hunter Thompson’s “Fear and Loathing” for readers interested in how campaigns for the highest office work or don’t…. behind the scenes. I adore how Tur writes. She is literally speaking to her reader, much as she does when she is interviewing on her weekly afternoon news program. She wants to understand events and more importantly wants US, “We, the People” to understand the political events occurring around us. An excellent read.
Very readable and personal account of more than a year following the Trump campaign.
The title says it all. A compelling look at the evolution of the Trump campaign, and how America ended up electing the least prepared candidate in its history.
Fascinating account of the most unusual, sordid campaign of Donald Trump.
Interesting and a chilling reprimand of the Donald Trump presidency.
Great read and honest insight of not only the campaign but the life of a reporter/journalist. I have a greater respect for Katy Tur and her work.
I liked the down-to-earth way that Ms. Tur told her story. It was fascinating for me, too, in its account(s) of what goes on both in a (high-profile) political campaign and in the back- and foreground efforts of the journalists who cover such campaigns. I learned a lot and appreciate what I learned.
Katy Tur is a terrific writer. The whole sad unbelievable story is so tragic. But Katy tells the story well.
A reporter’s perspective of covering a unique candidate as he runs and wins a shocking victory with an unorthodox campaign destined to change American politics forever. A new star reporter is discovered.
Interesting read about the Trump campaign, though, ultimately, it was more about Katie Tur than about Trump. And some of the things she said about her fellow journalists may not have made her any new friends, telling friends secrets is tacky, especially so in print.
This is a book about traveling with Trump. Like the title: unbelievable all that she went through. I did not realize that reporters do not get to ride on the private plane of the candidate; booking commercial planes can be a problem. Thank Mr. Trump for being so condsiderate! I enjoyed the book very much, especially if you like politics at all.