Trump: The Art of the Deal

Donald Trump details his approach to high-stakes real estate negotiation through a chronological look at his New Jersey and New York projects. He outlines distinct tactical principles including thinking big, protecting the downside, and using leverage to secure favorable terms. The text focuses on the logistics of the Commodore Hotel renovation, the development of Trump Tower, and the acquisition of the Mar-a-Lago estate. Trump describes his methods for dealing with city bureaucracies, managing contractors, and using the media to build public profiles for his properties.

Business professionals and aspiring entrepreneurs read this book to understand the mechanics of large-scale dealmaking and self-promotion. It provides a look at the trade-offs involved in property speculation and the technical steps of closing a contract. Readers walk away with a specific vocabulary for competitive negotiations, such as strategic persistence and the importance of having multiple options during a sale. The book serves as a primary source for those studying the intersection of urban development, branding, and individual business strategy in the late twentieth century.

Practical, outward-looking, growth-minded and clear-cut; an easy read.

Best for readers like The Practical Optimizer. Which reader are you?