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That Donald Trump is an asshole is a fact widely agreed upon even by his supporters, who actually like that about him. But his startling political rise makes the question of just what sort of asshole he is, and how his assholedom may help to explain his success, one not just of philosophical interest but of almost existential urgency.
Enter the philosopher Aaron James, author of the foundational text in the burgeoning field of Asshole Studies: the bestselling "Assholes: A Theory." In this brisk and trenchant inquiry into the phenomenon that is Donald Trump, James places the man firmly in the typology of the asshole (takes every advantage, entrenched sense of entitlement, immune to criticism); considers whether, in the Hobbesian world we seem to inhabit, he might not somehow be a force for good i.e., the Stronger Asshole; and offers a suggestion for how the bonds of our social contract, spectacularly broken by Trump s (and Ted Cruz s) disdain for democratic civility, might in time be repaired.
You will never think about Donald Trump the same way after reading this book. And, like it or not, think about him we must."
Enter the philosopher Aaron James, author of the foundational text in the burgeoning field of Asshole Studies: the bestselling "Assholes: A Theory." In this brisk and trenchant inquiry into the phenomenon that is Donald Trump, James places the man firmly in the typology of the asshole (takes every advantage, entrenched sense of entitlement, immune to criticism); considers whether, in the Hobbesian world we seem to inhabit, he might not somehow be a force for good i.e., the Stronger Asshole; and offers a suggestion for how the bonds of our social contract, spectacularly broken by Trump s (and Ted Cruz s) disdain for democratic civility, might in time be repaired.
You will never think about Donald Trump the same way after reading this book. And, like it or not, think about him we must."
108 pages, Paperback
First published May 3, 2016
64 people are currently reading
613 people want to read
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Aaron James
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 88 reviews
September 21, 2025
I am curious as to whether some of these "prophetic" anti-Trump books that were published before or during the first couple months of Trump's presidency will make a resurgence in sales, given what happened in the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 and the fact that it was directly related to Trump's incitement of violence and four years of telling people that it's okay to hate and vilify and throw temper tantrums. Aaron James's book is, I'm sure, like a lot of books meant to be somewhat funny at the time, a lot less funny to read now.
Numerous women, throughout the years, have made claims of sexual misconduct perpetrated by Donald Trump. He is on record admitting that he has committed sexual assault, and that, because of his celebrity status, “they let you do it”. He has repeatedly, throughout the years, insinuated that he would fuck his own daughter if she wasn’t his daughter. (https://newrepublic.com/post/173968/d...) He has also been accused of rape and attempted rape three times in his life, including a 13-year-old girl and his own ex-wife, Ivana Trump. There is no question---even in the minds of most of his supporters---that Trump is an asshole, if not an outright criminal. Like most rational-minded folks, I lean also toward criminal, but somehow (so far, at least), Trump has escaped prosecution or even a slap on the wrist.*
This probably says more about the Republican party and Trump supporters than it does Trump himself, although Trump is part and parcel of the whole problem. Trump is an asshole, yes, but he is being kept in power by a cabal of even more-powerful assholes. Assholes need other assholes to continue their assholery. (I’m pretty sure I just made that word up, but you get the gist...)
In 2012, a philosophy professor named Aaron James published a book called “Assholes: A Theory”. With a good bit of humor, James intelligently and philosophically addressed a serious problem: the proliferation of assholes in our society. Strangely enough, James wrote about Donald Trump in the book, using him as a textbook example of an asshole.
In 2016, prior to elections, James published a follow-up, a short 127-page treatise entitled “Assholes: A Theory of Donald Trump”. While it is, for the most part, cheeky and funny, there is a seriously un-funny implication to the book, much like his longer 2012 book: when non-assholes start giving up in despair at calling out asshole behavior, the assholes win.
James, in both books, first defines an asshole as “the guy (they are mainly men) who systematically allows himself advantages in social relationships out of an entrenched (and mistaken) sense of entitlement that immunizes him against the complaints of other people. (p. 4)”
Let’s break that down further:
We all know assholes in our daily lives, and, yes, some of them are probably women, but, statistically speaking, most of them are men. Why? Most likely because we still live in a predominantly patriarchal society. Men still hold most of the positions of authority. Men are also raised from a young age, for the most part, to believe that it’s okay for them to be assholes. That’s what makes them men. “Boys will be boys”. That’s the kind of thinking that creates assholes like Harvey Weinstein, Roy Moore, Louis C. K., Bill Cosby, Woody Allen, and Trump.
These are the “advantages in social relationships” that James is referring to: the so-called “white” privilege and “male” privilege that are awarded men from birth. Most men don’t even have to work at being assholes. They just are.
Like Trump. He was born to it naturally. In a sense, one can’t blame him for that. That’s just genetics, or nature, or sheer luck of being born with that silver spoon. What we can blame him for is taking that privilege to the extreme and saying, “I deserve everything.” It’s the same “entrenched (and mistaken) sense of entitlement” that led Charles Koch to once say, “I just want my fair share---which is all of it.”
Assholes like Trump truly believe that they deserve everything because they’ve been given everything, and they honestly don’t care if they hurt people in the process. Trump is that asshole in the slow lane that cuts you off in the fast lane, almost resulting in an accident. No matter how hard you curse him out, he can’t hear you, and he wouldn’t care if he did. In fact, he’d probably just give you the finger.
Trump is giving everyone in this country the finger every day that he is president.
James could not have foreseen the nationalistic, white-supremacist, Nazi-sympathizing racist douchebaggery of Trump, but he nearly predicts the authoritarian attempts by Trump to promote violence, silence the media, and play the victim. His book prophesizes (not that it was too hard) the ridiculous, unrealistic, and cruel attempts to implement his own policies, whether it’s resurrecting the coal industry, building a wall on the Mexican border, or initiating a travel ban on Muslims.
James couldn’t have guessed any of that, but he knew that, with electing an asshole like Trump, most of that was at least a possibility.
*I read this in 2017, before the 34 felony convictions. Prophetic, huh?
Numerous women, throughout the years, have made claims of sexual misconduct perpetrated by Donald Trump. He is on record admitting that he has committed sexual assault, and that, because of his celebrity status, “they let you do it”. He has repeatedly, throughout the years, insinuated that he would fuck his own daughter if she wasn’t his daughter. (https://newrepublic.com/post/173968/d...) He has also been accused of rape and attempted rape three times in his life, including a 13-year-old girl and his own ex-wife, Ivana Trump. There is no question---even in the minds of most of his supporters---that Trump is an asshole, if not an outright criminal. Like most rational-minded folks, I lean also toward criminal, but somehow (so far, at least), Trump has escaped prosecution or even a slap on the wrist.*
This probably says more about the Republican party and Trump supporters than it does Trump himself, although Trump is part and parcel of the whole problem. Trump is an asshole, yes, but he is being kept in power by a cabal of even more-powerful assholes. Assholes need other assholes to continue their assholery. (I’m pretty sure I just made that word up, but you get the gist...)
In 2012, a philosophy professor named Aaron James published a book called “Assholes: A Theory”. With a good bit of humor, James intelligently and philosophically addressed a serious problem: the proliferation of assholes in our society. Strangely enough, James wrote about Donald Trump in the book, using him as a textbook example of an asshole.
In 2016, prior to elections, James published a follow-up, a short 127-page treatise entitled “Assholes: A Theory of Donald Trump”. While it is, for the most part, cheeky and funny, there is a seriously un-funny implication to the book, much like his longer 2012 book: when non-assholes start giving up in despair at calling out asshole behavior, the assholes win.
James, in both books, first defines an asshole as “the guy (they are mainly men) who systematically allows himself advantages in social relationships out of an entrenched (and mistaken) sense of entitlement that immunizes him against the complaints of other people. (p. 4)”
Let’s break that down further:
We all know assholes in our daily lives, and, yes, some of them are probably women, but, statistically speaking, most of them are men. Why? Most likely because we still live in a predominantly patriarchal society. Men still hold most of the positions of authority. Men are also raised from a young age, for the most part, to believe that it’s okay for them to be assholes. That’s what makes them men. “Boys will be boys”. That’s the kind of thinking that creates assholes like Harvey Weinstein, Roy Moore, Louis C. K., Bill Cosby, Woody Allen, and Trump.
These are the “advantages in social relationships” that James is referring to: the so-called “white” privilege and “male” privilege that are awarded men from birth. Most men don’t even have to work at being assholes. They just are.
Like Trump. He was born to it naturally. In a sense, one can’t blame him for that. That’s just genetics, or nature, or sheer luck of being born with that silver spoon. What we can blame him for is taking that privilege to the extreme and saying, “I deserve everything.” It’s the same “entrenched (and mistaken) sense of entitlement” that led Charles Koch to once say, “I just want my fair share---which is all of it.”
Assholes like Trump truly believe that they deserve everything because they’ve been given everything, and they honestly don’t care if they hurt people in the process. Trump is that asshole in the slow lane that cuts you off in the fast lane, almost resulting in an accident. No matter how hard you curse him out, he can’t hear you, and he wouldn’t care if he did. In fact, he’d probably just give you the finger.
Trump is giving everyone in this country the finger every day that he is president.
James could not have foreseen the nationalistic, white-supremacist, Nazi-sympathizing racist douchebaggery of Trump, but he nearly predicts the authoritarian attempts by Trump to promote violence, silence the media, and play the victim. His book prophesizes (not that it was too hard) the ridiculous, unrealistic, and cruel attempts to implement his own policies, whether it’s resurrecting the coal industry, building a wall on the Mexican border, or initiating a travel ban on Muslims.
James couldn’t have guessed any of that, but he knew that, with electing an asshole like Trump, most of that was at least a possibility.
*I read this in 2017, before the 34 felony convictions. Prophetic, huh?
May 15, 2016
Accidentally reviewed his other book. No this one felt rushed and was pretty useless but at least we can all agree Trump is an asshole.
January 19, 2017
The distasteful title of this book should not dissuade you from picking it up. James takes his reader by the hand through a series of political and philosophical discussions that help provide useful context for understanding the rise of Trump within the framework of America's founding political philosophy. I closed this slim volume feeling more settled and even somewhat optimistic about the future. James points out ways in which Trump, although inadvertently, has done good in society - for instance, in his rants against "political correctness," he has finally kicked aside the Nixonian tradition of using racism as an unexamined and unacknowledged foundation of GOP coalition building. Now we can clearly see and acknowledge such behavior.
As the book progresses, James moves nimbly from a discussion of the very well known definition of an asshole into deeper and more sophisticated waters, reminding us of the philosophers, men and ideas that laid the foundation for the great experiment that is America - Hobbes and Rousseau, Jefferson and Madison, republicanism and democracy - and finally situates the reader in the center of today's political environment, challenging her to take up the mantle of republicanism: to listen with an open mind and argue with measurable reason and restraint; she also is reminded that democracy's success rests on the perspective that disagreements are solved through words, not violence, and that democracy cannot succeed if the public disavows its duty and responsibility to hold elected officials accountable for their actions.
An excellent resource for anyone living in Trump's America, whether you supported his candidacy or not. The election may be over, but our roles as participants in the democratic republic we all love has only just begun.
As the book progresses, James moves nimbly from a discussion of the very well known definition of an asshole into deeper and more sophisticated waters, reminding us of the philosophers, men and ideas that laid the foundation for the great experiment that is America - Hobbes and Rousseau, Jefferson and Madison, republicanism and democracy - and finally situates the reader in the center of today's political environment, challenging her to take up the mantle of republicanism: to listen with an open mind and argue with measurable reason and restraint; she also is reminded that democracy's success rests on the perspective that disagreements are solved through words, not violence, and that democracy cannot succeed if the public disavows its duty and responsibility to hold elected officials accountable for their actions.
An excellent resource for anyone living in Trump's America, whether you supported his candidacy or not. The election may be over, but our roles as participants in the democratic republic we all love has only just begun.
June 21, 2016
The saving grace, while only slight, for this one is that the author has a compelling protagonist. I did like this line - "I'm suggesting a thin theory of the man: he's a showman, a cut-down master, an ass-clown, civically oblivious, a sexist, a racist, a xenophobe, a partial ignoramus, an authoritarian, a demagogue, a threat to the Republic, and an asshole all at once." Always have liked the term ass-hat, and what better place to use it?
October 16, 2016
La traducción del título del libro no es la más acertada, Trump: ensayo sobre la imbecilidad, del original Assholes: A Theory of Donald Trump.
No trata realmente de la imbecilidad –la de Donald Trump o la compartida por todos–, sino de otra cosa.
Asshole, nos dice el diccionario, es en su segunda acepción una persona estúpida, incompetente o detestable:
Asshole.
2. Usually vulgar : a stupid, incompetent, or detestable person.
En el contexto del libro Trump es las tres cosas, con la condición de que al ser las dos primeras no deja nunca de ser la tercera. En cambio en español imbécil es un tonto, y la imbecilidad implica flaqueza:
Imbécil.
1. Tonto o falto de inteligencia.
Imbecilidad.
4. Flaqueza, debilidad.
Trump es justo lo contrario, un estúpido que teniendo o no la razón, siempre se asegura de una cosa: salir fortalecido de cualquier situación, por encima de quien sea y lo que sea. Quizá calificarlo de patán, rufián o simplemente hijo-de-puta hubiese sido más acertado.
El ensayo analiza por qué Trump puede ser calificado de asshole, lo que esto implica –como que inherente a las características de su personalidad cualquier cosa que salga de su boca podría carecer de aval en la realidad y cuán poco esto importa–, deriva hacia un análisis de este tipo de personalidad en general, y regresa a por qué Trump no puede ser la solución al descompuesto sistema político estadounidense, sino acaso la garantía de que este sistema se desgaste aún más.
Basado en un libro previo del autor, Assholes: A Theory, y enfocado a la figura del candidato republicano a las elecciones presidenciales del año 2016 en Estados Unidos de América, el análisis del autor va más allá del personaje, siendo aplicable a la cultura de glorificación de la estupidez y la doctrina de la autoestima injustificada que domina a la sociedad estadounidense quizá desde la década de los 1990s.
No trata realmente de la imbecilidad –la de Donald Trump o la compartida por todos–, sino de otra cosa.
Asshole, nos dice el diccionario, es en su segunda acepción una persona estúpida, incompetente o detestable:
Asshole.
2. Usually vulgar : a stupid, incompetent, or detestable person.
En el contexto del libro Trump es las tres cosas, con la condición de que al ser las dos primeras no deja nunca de ser la tercera. En cambio en español imbécil es un tonto, y la imbecilidad implica flaqueza:
Imbécil.
1. Tonto o falto de inteligencia.
Imbecilidad.
4. Flaqueza, debilidad.
Trump es justo lo contrario, un estúpido que teniendo o no la razón, siempre se asegura de una cosa: salir fortalecido de cualquier situación, por encima de quien sea y lo que sea. Quizá calificarlo de patán, rufián o simplemente hijo-de-puta hubiese sido más acertado.
El ensayo analiza por qué Trump puede ser calificado de asshole, lo que esto implica –como que inherente a las características de su personalidad cualquier cosa que salga de su boca podría carecer de aval en la realidad y cuán poco esto importa–, deriva hacia un análisis de este tipo de personalidad en general, y regresa a por qué Trump no puede ser la solución al descompuesto sistema político estadounidense, sino acaso la garantía de que este sistema se desgaste aún más.
Basado en un libro previo del autor, Assholes: A Theory, y enfocado a la figura del candidato republicano a las elecciones presidenciales del año 2016 en Estados Unidos de América, el análisis del autor va más allá del personaje, siendo aplicable a la cultura de glorificación de la estupidez y la doctrina de la autoestima injustificada que domina a la sociedad estadounidense quizá desde la década de los 1990s.
November 29, 2016
Flat out didn't like this book. It's a fast read, but felt repetitive with worthless information...
October 9, 2017
Así que la conclusión en sencilla: no puedes formar parte de un estado republicano si vas a romper todas las leyes o reglas que conforman el estado republicano: Trump no es un imbécil sólo por el hecho de no saber lo que hace, creyendo que sí. Sino también porque lo ignora voluntariamente: No quiere un mejor país o un estado prolífico, únicamente está sediento de poder.
Me encantaría poder decir mucho más, pero veo mucha de la situación respecto a Trump reflejada en nuestro país que es tan maravilloso y está tan mal gastado.
Considero, además, que el populismo mediático que se está haciendo en cada país está llevándonos a tomar malas decisiones conjuntas. Me encanta sobre todo el ejercicio que hace respecto al concepto de gobierno, poder y república, donde no "necesitamos" un gobierno, siempre y cuando el ciudadano sea apto y esté al nivel de la misma institución, donde se pueda manejar conjuntamente al estado, simultáneamente, los individuos deberán aprender a cumplir con todas las responsabilidades políticas y sociales para poder mantener el orden, o de lo contrario las entidades gubernamentales comienzan a ganar peso y poder, centralizando y con eso provocando el posible (casi seguro) mal manejo de recursos y toma de decisiones.
Creo que aprendí más de política general aquí que en cualquier diplomado.
Me encantaría poder decir mucho más, pero veo mucha de la situación respecto a Trump reflejada en nuestro país que es tan maravilloso y está tan mal gastado.
Considero, además, que el populismo mediático que se está haciendo en cada país está llevándonos a tomar malas decisiones conjuntas. Me encanta sobre todo el ejercicio que hace respecto al concepto de gobierno, poder y república, donde no "necesitamos" un gobierno, siempre y cuando el ciudadano sea apto y esté al nivel de la misma institución, donde se pueda manejar conjuntamente al estado, simultáneamente, los individuos deberán aprender a cumplir con todas las responsabilidades políticas y sociales para poder mantener el orden, o de lo contrario las entidades gubernamentales comienzan a ganar peso y poder, centralizando y con eso provocando el posible (casi seguro) mal manejo de recursos y toma de decisiones.
Creo que aprendí más de política general aquí que en cualquier diplomado.
June 9, 2016
First and foremost, what you need to know about this book is that it is not a joke book, in spite of what the title may make you think. It is a serious analysis of Donald Trump's personality, as well as other similar politicians. The book is written by Aaron James, a PHD from Harvard, and chair of the Philosophy Department at the University of California in Irvine. The way the author uses the term "Asshole" in this book is really to describe a particular personality type that really has no other name. It's a personality type that is much more than just a narcissist, or even an authoritarian personality. It combines elements of those personalities plus others. Some have compared Trump with Hitler or Mussolini. Although both of those dictators had an authoritarian personality type, they built their personal philosophies around a strong core political philosophy. That's the element, that according to James is missing in Trump. His only core philosophy is Trump. No matter what your political persuasion is, this book is worth a read. It's very short and can be read in one sitting, but you are bound to gain insight into today's politics as well as the future of America.
August 9, 2016
Assholes: A Theory of Donald Trump poses as lighthearted political satire but ends up turning into shameless liberal propaganda. Author Aaron James borrows from his previous book, Assholes: A Theory, and uses Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump as a template to discuss the sociological role and function of the asshole personality type, along with several of its differing variations (with particular emphasis on the political asshole). It all starts out fairly clever and reasonable, but before long it becomes apparent that James isn’t talking about the real Trump, but the caricature that liberals have painted of him (an ignorant, totalitarian, racist hate-monger). One need only to look at the multiple comparisons to Hitler to see that this “theory” is nothing more than facetious tripe. Ridiculous garbage, Assholes: A Theory of Donald Trump is the raving of a real asshole.
December 21, 2020
Interesante introducción al estudio de la imbecilidad. ; )
Mientras describía la imbecilidad de Trump, resultó evidente lo que cualquiera sabe, el demente presidente de México es un imbécil en el mismo sentido que Trump, pero aún más idiota.
Interesante el análisis sobre la política de Estados Unidos, aunque por su brevedad, el libro sólo me dejó con la sensación de no saber ni lo mínimo de ese turbio y absurdo mundo.
El final invita a un diálogo con argumentos en el que puedan manifestarse todas las ideas.
Un espíritu de pensamiento racional e incluso científico que no debemos olvidar.
Mientras describía la imbecilidad de Trump, resultó evidente lo que cualquiera sabe, el demente presidente de México es un imbécil en el mismo sentido que Trump, pero aún más idiota.
Interesante el análisis sobre la política de Estados Unidos, aunque por su brevedad, el libro sólo me dejó con la sensación de no saber ni lo mínimo de ese turbio y absurdo mundo.
El final invita a un diálogo con argumentos en el que puedan manifestarse todas las ideas.
Un espíritu de pensamiento racional e incluso científico que no debemos olvidar.
May 17, 2017
I loved Aaron James' first installment in the newly established field of Assholeology. Seriously; if you're a fan of Harry Frankfurt's On Bullshit for its crisp writing and relevant use of philosophical analysis to problems we actually face in everyday life, you will love Assholes: A Theory. This book, sadly, while entertaining in parts, is a bit of a cash-grab. It took me probably an hour to read, and the extended Trumpian case study he offers to amend his original theory isn't meaningful enough to change anything. (And I say this as someone who finds living under a Donald Trump presidency a daily experience in terrifying, surreal chaos.) He wrote this during the 2016 campaign, when it wasn't seeming like Trump could win. The most worthwhile part of the book is the final chapter, when he turns to classic political philosophy (Hobbes, Locke, Federalists, Rousseau) to point out that voting for Trump is what he calls "republican Roulette," and makes a compelling case for the danger to our system that Trump represents. Obviously, he meant this as a warning, which makes it poignant and painful to read now, but his diagnosis and prognosis are still helpful. Just not enough to justify forking over $15 for a really thin hardback.
December 28, 2018
Me pasa por leer sobre este tema
May 2, 2016
3.5 stars
Basically, Donald Trump is looking like Hobbes's Leviathan. Just the biggest, most dominating asshole of them all, showing up American politics for the circus it has become. And from that point of view, the phenomenon makes perfect philosophical sense.
Only proving that philosophers don't always deal in the real world ;-)
Basically, Donald Trump is looking like Hobbes's Leviathan. Just the biggest, most dominating asshole of them all, showing up American politics for the circus it has become. And from that point of view, the phenomenon makes perfect philosophical sense.
Only proving that philosophers don't always deal in the real world ;-)
September 12, 2016
For what looks like kind of a novelty title this is pretty earnest philosophical look at Trump and his potential effect on our country and democracy. If you like serious philosophy you may like this. It was a little too earnest for my tastes.
January 10, 2023
I agree with the premise of the book. And there were definitely some funny parts. But the tone was weird and it seemed like the author took his work too seriously when I’m he should’ve tried staying light. But oh well, it was short and kind of funny
December 30, 2017
The author saves this from being more or less pointless reading. It's entertaining, and that's enough. I don't mean to belittle the author mind,the actual construction of the argument is not so obvious, but the content of that argument is entirely obvious. We need people to do things like that, if only to give structures we can try our own thought upon, but the author himself is what takes this to being enjoyable reading.
December 23, 2017
Aaron James does a good job contextualizing Donald Trump as the type of person who feels there's something intrinsic to his nature that entitles him to special advantages. There's some advice for what we as a society could do to deal with the unjustifiably entitled, which involves ignoring or censuring those people to the extent that we can, and also not letting the feeling of entitlement rub off on us. The book is a bit fluffy, though, I think. It's short and yet too long for that.
June 18, 2016
Just what kind of asshole Donald Trump is?
It should be cut and dry, isn't it?
Review to come.
It should be cut and dry, isn't it?
Review to come.
May 30, 2017
not much substance to this book
August 7, 2018
A brief sequel to his Assholes: A Theory, in which James considers—during the 2016 GOP primary—what it might mean for our republic if we elect Trump. Contains a good discussion of the role and nature of government, in which James contrasts the views of Rousseau and Hobbes, as well as practical advice on how we could take the reigns and save our country from entitlement capitalism. James does a better job than most at getting inside the heads of those who find Trump viable, without contempt but also without giving in to them.
September 5, 2025
Definitive proof that Donald Trump is indeed an asshole and an assclown (two distinctively separate things. Both apply to that assclown asshole)
November 7, 2019
Entertaining idea by a guy who wrote Assholes: A theory, which I have not read. But nothing here that I didn't really already now.
April 9, 2019
I found this “small book” and decided to see what it was about. While there is really nothing in it about President Trump that is unknown or undiscussed, there is an important point about our future which is articulately argued.
The author notes that to be successful in today’s political environment, candidates must be showmen and grandstanders. I agree with the author that Donald Trump won the election by being perceived as a disruptor. The author posits (I believe correctly) that the general population is angry with their situation and this translates to anger with their leadership. While all politicians are “A-holes”, Trump was perceived as an A-hole who might have been able to push back on all the others, because he is an "outsider" As*hole who is angry just like us. For those most angry, this resulted in the hope that he would clean things up (for example, "drain the swamp").
Now in 2019, we see a new group of younger politicians who are NO DIFFERENT than Trump - they are just on the other side of the isle. Those who hate Trump observe these newer politicians as “saviors.” - The author notes that this is ironic as their behavior demonstrates that they work in large part to foster contempt. One of these politicians in particular, who like Trump is an active disruptor, who works to evoke emotion as a vanity project, who says things that she acknowledges are not factually accurate (but meaningfully accurate), who speaks with authority on issues she knows little about and like Trump doesn’t care when she is proven wrong (and neither do her admirers), who’s only qualification for her position in government is that she was elected, who is uniquely adept at social media and like Trump has an unparalleled skill at trolling.
So, why is she not being perceived as an A-hole? Because, as the author notes, people have a thirst for bravado when they are angry and unhappy and in these situations such politicians are perceived not as a-holes but more as fighters for liberty and justice. Don't be fooled, because true leaders don't foster contempt, they build bridges.
The author notes that to be successful in today’s political environment, candidates must be showmen and grandstanders. I agree with the author that Donald Trump won the election by being perceived as a disruptor. The author posits (I believe correctly) that the general population is angry with their situation and this translates to anger with their leadership. While all politicians are “A-holes”, Trump was perceived as an A-hole who might have been able to push back on all the others, because he is an "outsider" As*hole who is angry just like us. For those most angry, this resulted in the hope that he would clean things up (for example, "drain the swamp").
Now in 2019, we see a new group of younger politicians who are NO DIFFERENT than Trump - they are just on the other side of the isle. Those who hate Trump observe these newer politicians as “saviors.” - The author notes that this is ironic as their behavior demonstrates that they work in large part to foster contempt. One of these politicians in particular, who like Trump is an active disruptor, who works to evoke emotion as a vanity project, who says things that she acknowledges are not factually accurate (but meaningfully accurate), who speaks with authority on issues she knows little about and like Trump doesn’t care when she is proven wrong (and neither do her admirers), who’s only qualification for her position in government is that she was elected, who is uniquely adept at social media and like Trump has an unparalleled skill at trolling.
So, why is she not being perceived as an A-hole? Because, as the author notes, people have a thirst for bravado when they are angry and unhappy and in these situations such politicians are perceived not as a-holes but more as fighters for liberty and justice. Don't be fooled, because true leaders don't foster contempt, they build bridges.
March 9, 2017
This is a restatement of Aaron James' earlier
Assholes
with a tight focus on the new president, a candidate at the time of writing. Either book will frighten and depress you with its apt definitions and dearth of strategies for coping with assholes. This book is more succinct and poignant than the previous version.
In lieu of another review, I will just leave a summary of James' asshole management strategies here, since 45 will definitely lead by example, giving more people the dumb idea that it is advantageous to aspire to assholery to get their way ("He got to be the president. I just wanna do X. Outta my way, sucker!"):
Pick your battles, try not to withdraw, work with the asshole only on your own terms, cooperate with non-assholes around you, speak out on behalf of others when the asshole goes after them, and don't waste much time on trying to manage the asshole.
My favorite thing about this book is that the librarian who labeled my copy knowingly stuck a giant orange "Biography" sticker on the spine.
In lieu of another review, I will just leave a summary of James' asshole management strategies here, since 45 will definitely lead by example, giving more people the dumb idea that it is advantageous to aspire to assholery to get their way ("He got to be the president. I just wanna do X. Outta my way, sucker!"):
Pick your battles, try not to withdraw, work with the asshole only on your own terms, cooperate with non-assholes around you, speak out on behalf of others when the asshole goes after them, and don't waste much time on trying to manage the asshole.
My favorite thing about this book is that the librarian who labeled my copy knowingly stuck a giant orange "Biography" sticker on the spine.
February 5, 2017
After enjoying Aaron James' initial book about the philosophy of assholes, it seemed like I'd really be missing out to skip his long form essay about the now president-elect. Most everyone, supporters and detractors alike, think of Trump as an asshole and he fits James' definition of the term perfectly. The third chapter of the book is maybe my favorite and the best insight here is that Trump is such a huge asshole he may wake up otherwise dormant Americans to the reality we've been an asshole country for much longer than they've realized. That's about the only hope / silver lining I can see these days. It's a shame it took getting to this point for that to happen though. Ultimately, nothing too revolutionary or out-of-this-world insightful here; I felt the same about Assholes: A Theory too. Some good thoughts though and it's an entertaining, fun time straight through!
February 7, 2017
Good book from a professor who previously wrote a book about Assholes and how they are popular.
This book rehashes that one and targets Donald J Trump.
The author claims Nixon was our first Presidential asshole and compared him to dictators and narcissists who don't care about anyone outside their inner circle.
This book was written during the election and also said the Ted Cruz was a bigger asshole than Trump because he was just a mean person.
This book as well as an episode of Frontline on PBS said Trump decided to run for President to get revenge on President Obama for picking on him at the White House Correspondents Dinner. If this is true it has to be the strangest reason to run for President that I have ever heard.
Sometimes Assholes can do good things or cause good things to happen. We can only hope.
I checked this quick book out from the local library.
This book rehashes that one and targets Donald J Trump.
The author claims Nixon was our first Presidential asshole and compared him to dictators and narcissists who don't care about anyone outside their inner circle.
This book was written during the election and also said the Ted Cruz was a bigger asshole than Trump because he was just a mean person.
This book as well as an episode of Frontline on PBS said Trump decided to run for President to get revenge on President Obama for picking on him at the White House Correspondents Dinner. If this is true it has to be the strangest reason to run for President that I have ever heard.
Sometimes Assholes can do good things or cause good things to happen. We can only hope.
I checked this quick book out from the local library.
May 22, 2016
An unfortunate title (but the book original book wouldn't have sold otherwise and certainly not this follow up).
Nails Trump pretty well and worth the read from that perspective.
Mid-way through you will think you got tricked into a liberal theory book (and you did a bit), but plow past it as there is some thought provoking content worth reading.
If it wasn't as short as it is it wouldn't be worth the read, but it is so take a few minutes.
Clearly a capitalist exploitation, but hey what's wrong with a little irony.
The only thing Trump would like about this book is the fact that the Canadian price is higher than the U.S. price, even with the exchange rate.
Not very intellectual, but again a very easy read that won't hurt too badly.
Nails Trump pretty well and worth the read from that perspective.
Mid-way through you will think you got tricked into a liberal theory book (and you did a bit), but plow past it as there is some thought provoking content worth reading.
If it wasn't as short as it is it wouldn't be worth the read, but it is so take a few minutes.
Clearly a capitalist exploitation, but hey what's wrong with a little irony.
The only thing Trump would like about this book is the fact that the Canadian price is higher than the U.S. price, even with the exchange rate.
Not very intellectual, but again a very easy read that won't hurt too badly.
February 15, 2017
Grundsätzlich ganz interessant, vor allem die Theoretisierung und Typisierung rund um Arschloch, Arsch-Clown usw. Und natürlich ist auch die Anwendung des Ganzen auf Donald Trump interessant, witzig und erhellend. Doch leider merkt man dem Buch an, dass es (wie der Autor gegen Ende selbst offenlegt) in aller Schnelle geschrieben wurde (dem aktuellen Bezug geschuldet), denn es ist über weite Strecken ziemlich wirr und den Gedanken des Autors schwierig zu folgen, da ein roter Faden kaum erkennbar ist. Vieles wiederholt sich immer wieder, Anderes kommt aus dem Nichts, obwohl es als hergeleitet dargestellt wird. Da wäre mehr Zeit zur gründlicheren Ordnung der durchaus interessanten Ansätze erfreulich gewesen.
June 1, 2017
"[...] Intanto,ognuno di noi,proprio in questo momento,può cominciare a fare la sua parte per aiutare a ricostruire la ragione comune. Nonostante tutta la rabbia,reale o inventata,possiamo contribuire a sostenere una nuova cultura della discussione. Possiamo decidere,qui e ora, di smettere di urlare e trovare modi più creativi per farci ascoltare in una conversazione allargata. Possiamo decidere di pensare e parlare diversamente,senza nessun senso di superiorità, e offrire argomentazioni chiare a una riflessione in buona fede. Per noi questa correttezza è diventata difficile ed è un'ulteriore ragione per cercare dentro i nostri cuori e rinunciare solennemente al disprezzo."
July 16, 2016
Aaron James builds upon the burgeoning field of Asshole Studies which he started with his earlier, more general book on this topic, Assholes: A Theory. In this current book, James begins by thoroughly identifying Trump as a true asshole. The author then draws upon the writings of past political philosophers, Rousseau and Hobbes in particular, to explain why electing Trump to the Presidency would cause irreparable harm to the republic.
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