This is not to insinuate that Dreyer is incorrect in any of his suggestions, recommendations, or rules. Rather, this is to suggest that contemporary English has become so out of whack with the basic rules that we sometimes write in a piecemeal method akin to how Dr. Frankenstein built his monster (shout out to anyone who has read Dreyer’s English).

What struck me while reading this book was the fun, playful humor that Dreyer embeds into an otherwise dry, drab, sometimes angry subject. Some of you may recall your English classes as boring or dull or, worse, instructed by someone who was either of these two unfortunate descriptors. I’m glad to say that I did not have that experience (and thus, I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English). But I do feel for those of you who may have had poor instructors and now are plagued with a poor appreciation for the rules of our English language.

Perhaps my favorite part of the book – and a comment that I agree with – is that rules are made to be broken. Of course, you have to know the rules before you break them. I’m with Dreyer on that stance. Yes, go ahead and end a sentence with a preposition if you want to. However, be sure to know what the rules are around why some folks don’t like to have sentences end with a preposition.

For those of you who underwent a rigorous education in the grammatical arts, you’ll find Dreyer’s English to be a great refresher and also a fun trip down what I hope is a pleasant memory lane. For those of you who are not as familiar with the strange peculiarities that make up the English language, you might find this book to be filled with the rules and grammatical laws that have evaded you. Or a playful read. Or both. Whatever. (Another shout out to those who read the book and its fun footnotes.)

Just a final comment, while this book is a fun read and enjoyable for those of us who like linguistics, I was a bit disappointed at the unnecessary distraction added by the often awkward and off-topic insertion of the author’s politics. Early in the book, he takes a shot at the Bush family. Later, he uses Donald Trump, Jr., as an example in a rather derogatory way. He swipes at President Trump in a footnote that looks, feels, and reads laboriously crowbarred into the book. There are other awkward shots at anything not Democratic or left-of-center littered throughout the book including a bizarre footnote where he comments that he originally used the verb “trumps” in an example but he now has an aversion to using that verb. Frankly, it’s creepy for someone to see politics all around them, including in verbs. Break free, people. Don’t let politics run (ruin?) your life.

These types of unnecessary political distractions are awkward in a book about the English language. Of course, part of my frustration with politics being included is that I vehemently reject the politicization of everything in today’s society. The English language should not be politicized. Excess fall backs to political commentary is also why I followed and then, sadly, stopped following the author on Twitter.

The whole world doesn’t need to be political. And, this may be just me, but I’ve begun to become uninterested* in people who only see the world and all of its marvelous elements in shades of Democratic blue and Republican red. Do better, everyone.

*A third shout out to those who read the book. I am uninterested in those who see politics in all shades of life, even linguistics. This is because I am disinterested in politics. There’s a difference, as Dreyer explains.

That unhappy note aside, I’m a fan of this book and I appreciated the humor that Dreyer used in his writing. This was a fun read and as someone who never picks up a brand new book, I am glad that I broke with my historical book-buying approach and purchased this one. If you’re into the English language and its many oddities, then give Dreyer’s English a try. I think you’ll enjoy it!

The biggest problem that I have with the message in this book is that both Donald and Robert completely neglect and discussion of existing debt. Granted, my $116,000 student loan debt is a bit extreme, but there is no discussion of how to handle credit card debt, smaller student loan debt, or other types of “bad” debt.

Both authors make implied points that readers should pay off their existing bad debts before they make strides towards becoming financially free, but they don’t address the fact that today’s workers need to work to pay off their long-term debts. Neither of these men have had these issues in their personal life and it shows. Sure, they’ve had huge losses in the business world, but it’s much different when an LLC is at risk of being dissolved as opposed to when an individual is at risk of losing their credit rating.

Unfortunately, there is no discussion of the real problem that many people face today. It’s not a growing debt for existing debtors – it’s a growing number of existing debtors overall. Many people have finally realized that they can’t spend like drunken sailors and that they need to stop using credit cards and taking out high interest loans. These people have indeed stopped these bad habits. However, there is absolutely no option to stop working or start putting money in a different high-interest yielding account when you have to pay to keep the electricity on as well as to pay down your credit card debts.

So, if you’ve got real-world debt and you are literally in a situation where you need to work to continue living – this book is not for you.

Now then, there ARE people who do NOT have large debts or who are lucky enough to have a completely free college education. THIS BOOK IS FOR YOU! Both Trump and Kiyosaki’s take on living and learning in the financial world is exactly what you should have learned in high school and college. Chances are you didn’t learn their take on assets and liabilities (where a house is a liability instead of an asset).

I highly recommend this book for those without real-world debt. For everyone else, save the $20 and put it towards your next long-term debt payment!

In the beginning of his book he makes a good point that not a lot of people tend to grasp on: you ask a baker how to make bread…so why wouldn’t you ask a billionaire how to get rich? Makes enough sense to me. Trump goes into how to make money, but he talks about how to make it in his context – the context of a billionaire.

I think one of my problems with Trump’s book is the same problem that I have with every money book that I read – it’s unrealistic to the majority of people in my age category (18 – 34). We’re saddled with debt that reaches the six figures from credit cards, student loans, consolidation loans, mortgages – you name it. Reading this book only serves to reinforce the fact that we’re up shit’s creek without a paddle. Sure, the Rich Dad series and some other books give you a better view on how to get OUT of the situation that you’re in, but they still assume that you’re able to just cut out needed expenses like cell phones, food bills, and internet access.

Doesn’t work like that in 2006.

Overall, the Trump book isn’t so bad that I would suggest not reading it. I do, however, suggest that you take it as a work of fiction…

Not only is he making money by putting new episodes of The Apprentice on the air, but he’s got people like me out there buying his books! I read The Art of The Deal last summer and am only getting around to posting the book review now. Sorry about that, folks. Sometimes life gets in the way!

I liked this book. I liked looking at business deals the way that Donald Trump looks at them – or at least seeing what vantage point he takes when judging a new real estate deal. Trump provides an interesting look at how he approaches a deal, the players involved, and the politics involved.

Of particular interest is the Wollman Rink story. Trump takes the reader through the story of the city spending tons and tons of money on a project that he felt he could complete at a fraction of the cost and in a quicker time period. I won’t ruin the ending of that particular story (does The Donald actually make it?), but I’m sure that those of you who are old enough to remember this actually happening – which I am not – know how it ends!

Other good parts of the book include: the story of how Trump employed his then-wife Ivana to manage one of his hotels because of her meticulous attention to detail, how/why Trump renovated his buildings in the manner that he did especially those that are in the heart of New York City, and when Trump knows he’s got a good deal and when he’s got a failure.

For anyone out there who likes looking at money in a non-traditional way (like I do), I recommend this book. It’s not too domineering to be unreadable, nor is it too secretive to not be informative. I give it two thumbs up!