Unhinged: An Insider’s Account of the Trump White House
By Omarosa Manigault Newman
4 Stars
“Few have been a member of Donald Trump’s inner orbit longer than Omarosa Manigault Newman. Their relationship has spanned fifteen years—through four television shows, a presidential campaign, and a year by his side in the most chaotic, outrageous White House in history. But that relationship has come to a decisive and definitive end, and Omarosa is finally ready to share her side of the story in this explosive, jaw-dropping account.
A stunning tell-all and takedown from a strong, intelligent woman who took every name and number, Unhinged is a must-read for any concerned citizen.”
I just finished listening to this book. Yes, I did the audiobook version of this book due to a lack of time to actually sit down and read; I have so many other books I’m trying to physically read on my review list but when this came out I was interested to see what the infamous Omarosa had to say. I was surprised to find this book, interesting. I know “interesting” isn’t really helpful in a review but the book has made me think.
Did it change my views about the Trump Administration? No, not at all; but it did perhaps make me rethink my opinion of Omarosa Manigault Newman, a woman I have NEVER been a fan of. I now see Omarosa isn’t exactly what I perceived her to be. Although I do have to wonder is the woman she portrays herself to be in this book really her either, or is this simply another persona she is choosing to put out there for public consumption. You see, that’s the risk she takes with her strategic approach to her career. I’m not sure how anyone could read this book without the skepticism I experienced weaving its way throughout the pages.
Omarosa – The Apprentice
Years ago when she first appeared on “The Apprentice” she made a very conscious strategic decision to portray herself as “the villain”, simply to gain screen time and get herself in the public eye. It’s a strategy that worked too; I know I totally bought into her villain act back then. Unfortunately she played that role too well and many have viewed her that way ever since. But I think though she may have crafted that character too well, so much so that it overshadowed many of her other talents and skills. She then continued to play that persona too long so that in the long-run that has added to people questioning the validity of the woman she portrays herself as in this book. Am I wrong? Tell me please; if you’ve read this book yourself…am I wrong?
Let’s set all of that aside for the time-being though and talk about the book itself. Omarosa narrates her own audiobook. For this I must give her props. She has a smooth, clear, pleasant voice that adds a level of realness when listening to her read her own words and tell her own story. I really did enjoy that. I can certainly see why she would be an effective public speaker.
I found her story interesting and I’m not simply referring to her dishing about what goes on in the White House or around DJT. No, I found her personal story to be interesting. I honestly had very little knowledge of what her background was outside of “The Apprentice”. I’m sure I heard her list her skills way back then, but that was a long time ago. As I listened to her story in her own voice I found reinforcement that she is an intelligent, well-spoken, articulate and savvy woman. So whether she’s the villain she was on the show, the woman she portrays herself as here, or something in between; I respect where she came from, what she endured and what she has accomplished.
Now, that’s not to say that I bought everything she says in her book hook, line and sinker; I didn’t. I can respect the woman but admittedly, I am still very skeptical regarding her motivation for writing her “tell all”. Granted, she talks about escaping the “Trump Cult” and I can understand how she could have easily been caught up in the chaotic whirlwind that surrounds him; I get that. It is often easy to be blinded to what is really going on when you are smack dab in the middle of the chaos. BUT, I have a very difficult time reconciling her continuing to work for him for a decade and a half when she describes the behaviors of DJT and others around him as she does in her book.
It’s this continued willingness to go along with much of what she talks in the book that I believe lends a skepticism to her motivation in writing it. It isn’t as if she is in the Average Joe’s position who works pay-check to pay-check; she could have quit…and been financially secure. I know she talks about not wanting to let people down but it seemed to me as I read…she had plenty of opportunity to leave…many times had she truly wanted to. She had offers to host talk shows, lecture and….write a book among other things. She had options. But still, that was her decision to make.
Leslie Jones as Omarosa on SNL
In “Unhinged” she talks about behaviors she sees exhibited from DJT that many people wouldn’t put up with way back in the days of “The Apprentice”, long BEFORE she claims he started losing it mentally in the White House. She discusses all of those who surround him, sometimes in a favorable light, sometimes….often, not so favorably. But I cannot help noticing that it’s very convenient to write a tell-all after being unceremoniously dismissed from her position in the White House. She was supposedly one of DJT’s closest and most trusted of friends and now this?
Truthfully there is nothing she says in her “tell-all” that shocks or surprises me but while reading I kept in mind that she may have an ulterior motive in writing her book. What precisely is her motivation, I don’t know. Is it vindication of working with and for someone who she now views as a racist/bigot? Is it her way of trying to take some ownership of her own role in what she refers to as the “ship-wreck” in the White House? Is it an attempt to try to change her image from the villain she worked so hard to maintain for The Apprentice that followed her for years and continually follows her today? Or is it simply revenge on someone she once held in high esteem and thought was a friend? I really don’t know…but I do feel all of those questions were present while I listened to her speak. They stayed silently hovering in the background and quite truthfully tainted her credibility with this book.
Political Cartoon courtesy of Mark Cabot Robinson
So, I get to the point of asking myself…would I recommend this book? Yes….I would recommend it to anti-Trumper’s and Trump fans alike. Not because it is full of stuff that makes the Trump Administration look like the Keystone Cops led by Laurel and Hardy but because she really does give a good look into Omarosa Manigault Newman, she tries to give some insight into the woman the public doesn’t get to see. I no longer see a woman I love to hate. Now I see a savvy woman, smart enough to manipulate DJT on his own television show to achieve her goal, and I see a woman who (in her own words) got caught up in a cult and in the energy and fervor of that cult. She made some bad decisions….who hasn’t? She is human, listen to her story. I’m curious to see if she changes your perception as well.
I give this one 4 stars. It’s interesting, well written, well produced and entertaining…but not quite to the “I just couldn’t put this book down” 5 star category.
As always, if you have read this book I would love to hear from you.
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