Donald Trump’s Ghostwritten Book Catapulted Him to the Presidency

Did you know that a ghostwritten book released in 1987 ultimately led to the election of Donald Trump to the presidency of the United States of America? Yes, the Donald Trump presidential campaign wouldn’t have gone anywhere, probably wouldn’t have even got off the ground, except for the power of a book.

His autobiography, The Art of the Deal, was ghostwritten by ghostwriter Tony Schwartz, and became a runaway bestseller that put Trump on the map as the epitome of a brilliant businessmen. From that point forward, he became the example of a successful entrepreneur. His eccentricities, forceful opinions and quotable phrases appeared everywhere, and the book catapulted his brand into the minds of everyone.

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 Got A Great Deal

The ghostwriter didn’t get a bad deal out of the 18 months he spent working with Donald on the book. He received a $500,000 fee plus half the royalties, making him a millionaire. Even better, unlike most ghostwriters, Tony Schwartz received credit for the work And his name is even included on the front cover.

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

It is an interesting read, glamorizing the life of the man who created the Trump organization. It talks about his childhood, the creation and the development of the Grand Hyatt Hotel and Trump Tower, and so forth. Trump also lays out an 11 step formula for business success, which is inspired by Norman Vincent Peale’s The Power of Positive Thinking. The Art of the Deal wasn’t, as Donald Trump claimed, the second best seller of all time, but there’s no doubt that it is well read and often quoted.

Trump The Underdog

Trump even sets himself up as the underdog who fought his way to the top, because of a difficult childhood with a demanding father. This sets the stage for a fairytale like ascend to power, as if he was a king fighting his way to the throne.

That’s why I’m so screwed up, because I had a father who pushed me so hardDonald 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.

Donald Trump The Master of Public Relations

In the years since, Donald cleverly used the fame generated by his book to appear in cameos and countless movies and even be the star of 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.

Donald Trump became the master of public relations. He appeared in movies in brief cameos, 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. Trump made sure that he kept his face and name in the public eye. That’s one thing that no one can doubt that he’s exceptionally good at – being heard and being seen.

On June 16th, 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 the president of the most powerful country in the world. I think if they just ignored him, for the most part, he wouldn’t have been elected.

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

The Effect Of Ghostwriting Your Book

If you’re considering how to promote yourself and become a leader, remember the power of this simple little ghostwritten book and the effect it had on the election of Donald Trump. The strength of words to shape the emotions of people, build a story, and create a narrative is immense and cannot be overstated. A ghostwriter can help you meet your goal of gaining exposure, building credibility and defining  your expertise.

Richard Lowe Jr

Richard is the Owner and Senior Writer for The Writing King, a bestselling author, and ghostwriter. He’s written and published 63 books, ghostwritten 40+ books, as well as hundreds of blog articles.