I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found it well-rounded and informative for an administration that was a considerable dumpster fire. Which only got worse as it dragged on.

I'm sure I'm the first person to say, the back page of Sports Illustrated was always the first thing I read when I got a new issue. Rick Reilly is one of the funniest and most touching sportswriters, but he can also cut to a point. That's exactly what he does in this book. Needless to say, one demographic will not be able to stomach this (even beyond the title). If you are not part of that demographic, however, the book is an absolute delight. I loved it, and it circulates moderately well at my library (in a conservative area, nonetheless).

Probably more along the lines of 4.75 stars.

Let me say it now: You don't have to know much about golf to understand the book.

At first, I was very apprehensive about reading this--even as much as I dislike Trump and what he supports/stands for, I also didn't really know if I wanted to delve into a book that further outlines the president's history of corruption, scandals, and unethical business practices (just to begin the list of notorious acts). One also can basically just check the news to see what unfortunate events he's up to now. Why would I need to read a book about that negativity, and especially since I have never even hit a single golf ball in my life?

Reilly must know where I'm coming from: Much like we are drawn to the criminal element by watching gangster movies, some of us consciously working to better understand those who execute heinous acts to others, you see Reilly exploring Trump and how his devotion to the game of golf provides a fantastic decoder ring that can be applied to nearly every dimension of our president's life.

His buying up of golf courses, the lawsuits aplenty, the arguments, the taunting, the bullying, the showboating, the rule-breaking, the lying and, of course, the cheating. It sucks hard to say it about a sitting president, but it all fits nicely. Reilly's book is a damning indictment, a mountain that you can scale any which way you please: For instance, we see many outraged that they were swindled by Trump, yet Reilly produces several examples of those same people having no problem casting a vote for him as the leader of our country.

Lest someone think that Reilly is simply going to speak only negatively about Trump, let it be also said that he has some good things to say about Trump in here.

It doesn't get as political as you think it does, and many of the things that Reilly is reporting are things you heard about leading up to the 2016 election (when news outlets were trying to warn voters that he absolutely was not the top-tier business man he touted himself as). I don't necessarily see this changing anyone's views on the man, but it's a great guide to really figuring out how Trump sees his role in the White House.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Books for this copy to read.

This is one of the funniest books I have read.  As a golfer, I understand the humor that the author portrays as he recounts stories about President Trump.  The golf parts of the book are very interesting.  When the author tries to sway into politics, the book loses its power.  I would recommend this book to any serious golfer- it is a hilarious read.

Rick Reilly did a decent job comparing the way Trump plays golf, or for people that don't know golf, substitute almost anything Trump does personally or professionally and it comes down to the same philosophy: he lies and cheats to win. Some seem to think lying and cheating are okay and what define "winning". I think, in a light-hearted, yet serious way, Reilly points out the question of "Is this what we really want for our country or the world?" Do we want someone as the face of American values and morality in the world as someone whose entire way of functioning comes down to lying and cheating his way through it? Golf can be a difficult and challenging game that is magnificent to see or it can be a cheat-fest and disaster, completely chaotic. What do we want for our country?

#CommanderInCheat #NetGalley

I was not expecting to be impressed with this book. I know nothing about golf and I couldn't see how Trump playing golf could explain how he was running the country. Well, I was impressed. Either I know more about golf than I thought I did, or Rick Reilly does a good job of explaining the game as he goes. There were only a few times when I had to turn to other sources to figure out what terms meant and even at that, I could have gotten a decent idea just from the context. As for explaining how Trump runs the country based on how he plays golf, Reilly explains that as well. I had assumed that this would be one of those quickie money makers that are fun to read and short on real substance. I have definitely changed my mind. Admittedly, the author is not one of the great political history minds of the twenty-first century, However, I think this is a book that will be useful for future historians. He doesn't try to explain how Trump should be running the country, but how his behavior on the golf course compares to his behavior as president. This is a book that should be kept for future historians on the Trump era. It really belongs in both the public library and an academic library.

Commander in Cheat is beneath the writing talents of Rick Reilly. He set up his premise in the title , went out and documented it with proof from far and wide and kept proving the same thing over and over again. Some may like it because of their politics, others might not. Stripped of all that I found it lacking. I certainly hope that Rick’s journey down to the minor leagues is short and hope his next endeavor is worthy of his past successes.
I was provided an e-arc for review purposes.

Mr. Trump had disgusted me from the very first moment I saw him interviewed on television. I only voted for him in the most recent election because of who he was running against. After reading this book, however, I might not even vote.

If it only it were not so frightening, this book would be hilarious!
Reilly digs deep into the persona of Donald Trump, revealing his true character (or lack thereof). Trump's passion is golf. I think everyone knows that. But what kind of person would diminish his life's passion by constantly cheating, bragging, and lying? The author shows explicitly that that kind of person would be Trump.
The man is completely incapable of telling the truth. He lies about his score. He kicks the golf balls into a better space (or has his lackey do it for him). He lies about the championships he's won. He lies about everything.
You might think that the author is another member of the "fake news" group that Trump rails on, however he documents incident after incident, as told by upstanding members of society who have golfed with him. It's a running gag among golfers everywhere how bad Trump cheats and lies.
And if you can't believe anything he says about his passion, how can you think he is going to tell the truth about anything else? You would have to be completely gullible.
Someday, just like our parents warned us, the lies will catch up to you. And the day of reckoning will be painful. Evidently Trump's parents didn't impress that upon him. How he has made it this far is amazing (and frustrating). When that day comes, I just hope that he doesn't take us all down with him!

Great overview of the cheater we have in the White House and how people have allowed him to get away with it all these years

I really enjoyed the project of this book-- rather than dive into the maddening hand-wave-ium that typical critiques of Trump's character devolve into (e.g. "who cares if he's a philanderer, don't all politicians do that," "all rich people lie about how much money they have," "he's just using colorful language about immigrants, can't you take a joke," etc etc.), Reilly picks an area that is not as emotionally charged to unpack what kind of person Trump is. And that area is his golf game. Reilly has a really enjoyable narrative voice and provides a wide ranging view of Trump's relationship with golf: how he got into it, how other presidents have related to the game, the documented lies/exaggerations that Trump has told about his golfing abilities and accomplishments, etc. Like I said, this is a smart approach to evaluating Trump's character in a sport that takes honesty & honor very seriously, and Reilly explicitly ties his outrage to the affronts to the game, not Trump's politics, which I think was another smart choice in terms of making his depiction less polarizing or charged. But in studying this part of Trump's life, we're able to get an important window into the man's values & character without having to wade through the truly painful recaps of his more egregious past sins. Overall, would definitely recommend

This witty book explores the pysche and persona of Donald Trump through his golf game and golf courses. Trump is shown to be just as deceitful and narcissistic in these realms as he is in his business and political dealings. As an American and an ethical person, one is amazed at the lengths Trump will go to wi at all costs!

I certainly am NO fan of Trump. I thought the book was ok. Just not at all amazing. Thanks to NetGalley for the advance copy.

Trump Revealed Through Another Prism

Poor Rick Reilly. This is an exceptionally entertaining and well written book, with loads of fascinating tidbits about golf, golfing presidents, and everything that surrounds the game at the presidential level. There is, literally, an engaging fact, perceptive observation, joke, amusing story, or wry throwaway line on every page. But, it's unavoidable, given the premise here, that everything circles back to and focuses on Donald J. Trump. And I guess there is no way to avoid that, although I am happy to note that at least it's mostly the introductory chapter that is the biggest downer. After that Reilly focuses on the golf, even if it is Trump's version of golf.

Trump isn't a funny golfer, or a goofy golfer, or a supremely accomplished golfer, or a potentially fun or even interesting golf partner, (unless you're a bit of a masochist). Trump is a liar and an unrelenting cheat in a sport that values, above all else, honesty, courtesy and playing by the rules. Linger on that thought too long, and the stories here can be sad and depressing.

But then - well, gosh it can be funny. As the Borscht belt comics would say - "It's funny, because it's true". Trump is immersed in and obsessed with golf, (playing it, owning the courses, rubbing elbows with celebrity golfers), and all aspects of that obsession are considered and illuminated. Reilly dissects each of Trump's claimed Club Championships. He is merciless in describing Trump's "idiots abroad" approach to Scotland. He recounts innumerable stories about cheating, phony handicaps, and baseless and ludicrous claims by Trump about his skills, his courses, and his prowess. Reilly gives Trump props where appropriate, but always has to circle back to the fact, observed repeatedly, that Trump is constitutionally compelled to exaggerate that which is merely "good" into splendiforous magnificence, and is so convinced that everyone cheats at everything that cheating and winning at any cost is the real normal. Harmless enough, ultimately, on the golf course. But.

So, poor Rick Reilly. He has written a very good, thorough, and sometimes laugh out loud funny book. But, you know, Trump. Read it, and despair.

(Please note that I received a free ecopy of this book without a review requirement, or any influence regarding review content should I choose to post a review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.)

This was a truly pathetic attack on President Trump. Not worthy of your time. If this is the best his haters can come up with, then he’s doing great!

Reilly is unafraid to tell his side of the Trump/Golf story. He really puts himself out there, apologetically uncovering how Trump's golf habits echo his dealings in business and politics. Brave and needed.

If you love golf and hate Trump, you will love this book. The author gives a multitude of corroborated accounts of Mr. Trump's world of golf in which he cheats, lies, and steals money from rich and poor alike.

The Donald plays golf regularly yet has only posted 20 scores in the past 7 years. The scores he has posted indicate a handicap of 3, yet most observers estimate him as having a 9 to 12 handicap. He always tees off first after which he and his caddy race down the course before the rest of the group tees off. According to his caddies "He wants you to throw it (his ball) out of the woods, kick it out of the rough, fluff his lie. We all deal with it." There are even stories of his moving an opponent's ball from the fairway to a bunker.

Trump brags that all his courses are the greatest in the world even though golf magazines don't even have them in the top one hundred. He boasts of his 50 million dollar investment and then whines that the tax assessor is overvaluing his property at 11 million. He sues governments in which he has golf courses because they won't tear down their "ugly" windmills (Scotland), or won't let him build a wall because of the rising ocean (Ireland). Quite ironic considering his climate change denials. And he's been known to under-pay his bills. One of his clubhouse architects tried to get the $141,000 he was owed, but had to settle for $25,000 because he was threatened with a lawsuit that could stretch on for years.

I could go on and on. Mr. Reilly has created a well written book that will boggle your mind in regards to the man we call our President.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review.

Hilarious read perfect title.Yes Trumpis a notorious cheater liar this book will fill you in on his lies his cheating the kengths he’ll go to make himself appear to be the best at everything especially golf, #netgalley #hatchettebooks