7 Powerful Ways a Ghostwritten Book Propelled Donald Trump’s Journey to the Presidency

The release of a ghostwritten book in 1987 played a significant role in Donald Trump’s path to the presidency. The autobiography, “The Art of the Deal,” was written by ghostwriter Tony Schwartz. It propelled Trump into the public eye and solidified his image as a successful businessman in ways that real estate deals alone never could have.

I like thinking big. I always have. To me it’s very simple: If you’re going to be thinking anyway, you might as well think big.Donald J. Trump

The Ghostwriter’s Deal

The collaboration between Tony Schwartz and Donald Trump was lucrative for both. For more, see powerful ways to make money from a book. Schwartz received $500,000 and half of the book’s royalties, making him a millionaire. Unlike most ghostwriters, Schwartz was acknowledged for his work and featured on the front cover. For more, see advantages of a ghostwritten book.

Tony created Trump. He’s Dr. Frankenstein.Edward Kosner, the former editor and publisher of New York

The memoir covers Trump’s childhood, the development of the Grand Hyatt Hotel and Trump Tower, and lays out an 11-step formula for business success inspired by Norman Vincent Peale’s The Power of Positive Thinking. The Art of the Deal wasn’t, as Trump claimed, the second-best seller of all time, but there is no doubt that it was widely read and frequently quoted.

Trump’s Narrative: From Underdog to King

Within the book, Trump crafts a narrative of himself as an underdog who overcame adversity to achieve success, attributing his drive to a demanding father.

That’s why I’m so screwed up, because I had a father who pushed me so hard.Donald J. Trump

Because of this book, Trump became a household name, famous far beyond his role as a real estate tycoon in New York. In the late 1980s, The Art of the Deal was the book to read. Everyone seemed to be talking about it, and they all wanted to know about Donald Trump. Who was he? How did he get so rich? The thought on everyone’s mind was that Donald must have the answers because he was obviously rich and successful.

How did we know that? The book said so. That’s how we came to know Donald Trump. He was the hero, leaping like Superman from the pages of a book. It seemed he could make anything happen with ease. He could make deals happen easily and quickly. He knew the answers, he knew how to negotiate, and he had everything that we wanted. He had wealth, people looked up to him, he was surrounded by beautiful women, he lived in luxury, and he knew what to do without any doubts.

That’s the man we met in that book.

It doesn’t matter whether the book truthfully laid out Donald Trump’s life, philosophy, and talents. It’s irrelevant that much of it may be a work of fiction, springing from the mind of a ghostwriter. All that matters is that we, the general public, have a ferocious appetite for people who succeed at all costs and achieve the life and goals that we desire.

The Rise of Trump’s Brand

In the years since, Donald cleverly used the fame generated by his book to appear in cameos in countless movies and to star in a reality show. I avoided The Apprentice like the plague. Trump didn’t impress me because I’ve worked for difficult bosses before, and it seemed to me that Trump was an expert at belittling and browbeating people into submission. But perhaps that level of arrogance is needed to make a good president of the most powerful country in the world.

Trump became the master of public relations. He appeared in movies, talk shows, interviews, and seemingly everywhere else. He was regularly in the news and knew how to manipulate the press to give him free publicity. He made sure that he kept his face and name in the public eye. That’s one thing no one can doubt he’s exceptionally good at: being heard and being seen.

The Presidential Campaign

On June 16, 2015, Donald Trump announced from the lobby of Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue that he was running for president of the United States. He claimed that “We need a leader that wrote ‘The Art of the Deal.'”

I don’t think very many people were surprised by his announcement. Somehow, the man found a theme of rage that he was able to manipulate to his advantage and catapult his way into the presidency. The press, who love controversy and hated what Donald Trump stood for, happily and ironically helped this man become president. I think if they had just ignored him, for the most part, he wouldn’t have been elected.

And it all started with a ghostwritten book. If that book hadn’t been written, Donald Trump probably wouldn’t be what he is today.

What This Means for Anyone Writing a Book

The Trump story is the most dramatic example of what a ghostwritten book can do, but the principle scales down to every executive, entrepreneur, and expert sitting on a story they haven’t told yet. A book changes how people perceive you. It creates an identity that exists independent of your day-to-day work. It gives audiences a narrative to attach to your name.

Trump didn’t become famous because he was the best real estate developer in New York. He became famous because a ghostwriter turned his life into a story that millions of people wanted to read. The deals were real enough, but the book is what made them matter to people who would never set foot in a Manhattan skyscraper.

That’s the power of getting your story on paper. Not everyone needs to become president. But everyone with decades of expertise has a story worth telling, and the right ghostwriter can turn that story into something that outlasts the career that created it.

The New Yorker: Donald Trump’s Ghostwriter Tells All

Penguin Random House: The Art of the Deal Excerpt

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