Review of Stress Test: How Donald Trump Threatens American Democracy
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Susan Gibbs
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Review of Stress Test: How Donald Trump Threatens American Democracy
[Following is a volunteer review of "Stress Test: How Donald Trump Threatens American Democracy" by William Cooper.]
How Donald Trump Threatens American Democracy by William Cooper is an interesting 115-page book. It consists of some of his previously published articles spanning from 2019 to early 2022. The author honestly and eloquently gives his views on the events that transpired after Donald Trump burst onto the political scene. Cooper believes that Trump has a minimal understanding of politics. His opinion is that Trump doesn’t respect the Constitution because he has repeatedly called for his opponents to be sued. Trump has tested and is still testing the American democratic system and putting it under strain. I recommend reading this book to gain an understanding of how Trump is a danger. You will also gain insight into the author’s stance on the infamous violent uprising on 6th January 2021.
As a non-American, I was interested to read more about Trump as a political figure. I found the author’s style engaging. He has a clear and impactful way of writing. He gets straight to the point, without waffling and providing unnecessary information. He has a knack for getting to the crux of the matter. His arguments and explanations are well-thought-out and logical. I liked the quotes (from famous figures such as Abraham Lincoln and Mark Twain) at the beginning of the chapters. The writing is thought-provoking. Cooper sometimes ends chapters with a short sentence or cleverly places a short, simple sentence in just the right place to hit a point home.
I also liked the fact that Cooper’s writing and points of view are balanced. He asserts that there is good and bad in everything and everyone. The stress test that the American system has been put under recently by Trump has highlighted the system’s strengths and weaknesses. He points out that instead of Trump's rivals (the Democrats) rising above Trump’s rebellious and reckless behaviour, they have “climbed into the mud with him.” He wisely says that impeaching Trump will work in his favour, as it will energize his followers and take the focus off other vital matters like climate change, and economic inequality. Impeachment is a divisive course of action. If citizens aren’t focused on things that matter, the focus shifts to the wrong things and corruption occurs.
I also admired the fact that the book does not leave you with negative, hopeless feelings. He gives sensible advice. The author points out that American democracy survived Trump’s presidency. The main governmental institutions remain intact. Trump might want to do what he wants, but he can't as there are checks and balances built into the system. Trump’s influence needs to be lessened and his aim to undermine the trust and confidence in the electoral process must stop. He cautions that Americans should focus on setting the right policies instead of trying to prosecute the people they don’t like. The author calls for the nation to remain calm. Confusion reigns unbounded in politics, but instead, citizens need to be rational and responsible.
There was nothing I disliked about the book. I felt that it delivered what it promised. The author explained his opinions and insights clearly. The book held my interest. It was balanced and continuously encouraged the reader to see the bigger picture. I also thought it was a good length. It had sufficient detail, without getting too bogged down in detail. It seemed to be well-edited. I am happy to rate it 5 out of 5 stars.
I recommend the book to those interested in current American politics. Both Trump supporters and detractors will benefit from reading this book. Those who enjoy a good debate will also enjoy the book because the author is talented at discussing both sides of the story.
******
Stress Test: How Donald Trump Threatens American Democracy
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
How Donald Trump Threatens American Democracy by William Cooper is an interesting 115-page book. It consists of some of his previously published articles spanning from 2019 to early 2022. The author honestly and eloquently gives his views on the events that transpired after Donald Trump burst onto the political scene. Cooper believes that Trump has a minimal understanding of politics. His opinion is that Trump doesn’t respect the Constitution because he has repeatedly called for his opponents to be sued. Trump has tested and is still testing the American democratic system and putting it under strain. I recommend reading this book to gain an understanding of how Trump is a danger. You will also gain insight into the author’s stance on the infamous violent uprising on 6th January 2021.
As a non-American, I was interested to read more about Trump as a political figure. I found the author’s style engaging. He has a clear and impactful way of writing. He gets straight to the point, without waffling and providing unnecessary information. He has a knack for getting to the crux of the matter. His arguments and explanations are well-thought-out and logical. I liked the quotes (from famous figures such as Abraham Lincoln and Mark Twain) at the beginning of the chapters. The writing is thought-provoking. Cooper sometimes ends chapters with a short sentence or cleverly places a short, simple sentence in just the right place to hit a point home.
I also liked the fact that Cooper’s writing and points of view are balanced. He asserts that there is good and bad in everything and everyone. The stress test that the American system has been put under recently by Trump has highlighted the system’s strengths and weaknesses. He points out that instead of Trump's rivals (the Democrats) rising above Trump’s rebellious and reckless behaviour, they have “climbed into the mud with him.” He wisely says that impeaching Trump will work in his favour, as it will energize his followers and take the focus off other vital matters like climate change, and economic inequality. Impeachment is a divisive course of action. If citizens aren’t focused on things that matter, the focus shifts to the wrong things and corruption occurs.
I also admired the fact that the book does not leave you with negative, hopeless feelings. He gives sensible advice. The author points out that American democracy survived Trump’s presidency. The main governmental institutions remain intact. Trump might want to do what he wants, but he can't as there are checks and balances built into the system. Trump’s influence needs to be lessened and his aim to undermine the trust and confidence in the electoral process must stop. He cautions that Americans should focus on setting the right policies instead of trying to prosecute the people they don’t like. The author calls for the nation to remain calm. Confusion reigns unbounded in politics, but instead, citizens need to be rational and responsible.
There was nothing I disliked about the book. I felt that it delivered what it promised. The author explained his opinions and insights clearly. The book held my interest. It was balanced and continuously encouraged the reader to see the bigger picture. I also thought it was a good length. It had sufficient detail, without getting too bogged down in detail. It seemed to be well-edited. I am happy to rate it 5 out of 5 stars.
I recommend the book to those interested in current American politics. Both Trump supporters and detractors will benefit from reading this book. Those who enjoy a good debate will also enjoy the book because the author is talented at discussing both sides of the story.
******
Stress Test: How Donald Trump Threatens American Democracy
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Wisdom by Arun mago
