I finished reading Mary L. Trump’s book “Too Much — Never Enough”
a while ago. My intention had been to write a book review to post on my Potpourri blog, but I cannot in good conscience write something UN-biased after reading
this. I decided instead to write a bit of commentary and allow myself the
leeway of my opinions.
Mary L. Trump is a highly trained clinical psychologist and
the niece of America’s 45th “president” (and I use that title
lightly). No, I am not a Donald Trump supporter, but then there have been other
political figures that I haven’t been in favor of and yet never felt so …strongly
about.
Yes, I am aware that Mary Trump has written this book from
HER perspective, but perspective by itself doesn’t mean it’s false. So many of
the things she wrote, specifically about her family history, really gives
credence to so many of Donald Trump’s shortcomings. She goes into detail what
his childhood was like and in so many ways I guess you CAN blame some of what
he became on his parents, especially his father.
Donald Trump was one of five children, three sons and two
daughters, and they were all starved for affection from a mother who was “distracted”
and a father whose only real interest was money. Although Donald was the second
son and therefore not originally destined to take over the family business, he
learned early on that he could gain his father’s approval by “always coming out
on top” no matter how much he hurt others. At one point he was sent to a
military academy, not to be a soldier, but because he was completely out of
control at home.
His oldest brother, Freddy (also Mary’s dad), had interests in
things other than his family real estate business and for a while actually
seemed to be making an outstanding life for himself and his family. But he was
terribly discouraged and badgered for his choices (Donald did his
more-than-fair-share of the badgering) and eventually gave up his dreams and
his wife and children, and became obsessed with alcohol. And yes he drank
himself into bad health and eventually an early grave. His family’s lack of emotion
and concern over the oldest son’s death is unimaginable, that’s a whole other
story.
Donald became the heir apparent and although he tried to
emulate many of his father’s successes, his father had to repeatedly bail him
out and covered his errors on more than one occasion. (By the way, Donald’s
father was able to start his business from money left to him from HIS mother,
neither was exactly self-made.) Donald Trump grew up with wealth and financial
security in a basic mausoleum of family love and warmth.
It was indeed a very sad upbringing and explains a lot of why
he is so nasty and tears down others, and especially why he doesn’t seem to
respect most females. But Donald Trump is not the only one to have such a
stunted family life, he is not the only person in the world to have been
neglected; most adults who have gone through this trauma have chosen to get
help in dealing with life. Instead he has embraced the “only one winner” philosophy
and seems void of compassion and obsessed with his own self-manufactured “greatness”.
While I certainly was not part of his growing years or the
circles he hung out with, I personally know of people who were cheated out of
payment for services he demanded. I grew up in NYC when lawsuits were filed
against Donald and his father for discrimination (lawsuits which were “settled”
with money and NOT vindication!). And I know of people who worked in offices he
dealt with where he looked down on females and made them feel “uncomfortable”. Mary
Trump’s book only confirms so many things I heard about him long before he
entertained the idea of running for President.
The book is certainly an eye-opener and I would imagine that
one of his supporters would be highly offended. I still hope that everyone
would read it and perhaps explain some of what, who, we choose to vote for or
against.
And this, my friends, is why I couldn’t write a fair book review…
