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The Book of Don: A Sacred Chronicle of the Trump Era
Kirkus Reviews says: GET IT.
The Trump era, retold as scripture.
The Book of Don is a biting, deadpan satire of Donald Trump, television, power, politics, and the American talent for turning spectacle into belief.
Written as a mock sacred chronicle, it follows Trump from Queens to Manhattan, from The Apprentice to the White House, from golden escalator to pandemic, insurrection, exile, trials, return, and the unfinished gospel still being written around us.
At first, it is funny because it sounds absurd.
Then it is unsettling because it sounds familiar.
Towers become temples. Campaigns become crusades. Television becomes prophecy. The sacred hill is breached. The plague does not observe Easter. The story refuses to end.
Whether you love Trump, hate Trump, fear him, cheer him, mock him, defend him, or still cannot believe any of this happened, this is the version of the story you haven't read before.
Read it for the satire.
Keep it for the mirror it holds up to America.
Gift it to anyone still trying to understand what happened to the country.
The Trump era, retold as scripture.
The Book of Don is a biting, deadpan satire of Donald Trump, television, power, politics, and the American talent for turning spectacle into belief.
Written as a mock sacred chronicle, it follows Trump from Queens to Manhattan, from The Apprentice to the White House, from golden escalator to pandemic, insurrection, exile, trials, return, and the unfinished gospel still being written around us.
At first, it is funny because it sounds absurd.
Then it is unsettling because it sounds familiar.
Towers become temples. Campaigns become crusades. Television becomes prophecy. The sacred hill is breached. The plague does not observe Easter. The story refuses to end.
Whether you love Trump, hate Trump, fear him, cheer him, mock him, defend him, or still cannot believe any of this happened, this is the version of the story you haven't read before.
Read it for the satire.
Keep it for the mirror it holds up to America.
Gift it to anyone still trying to understand what happened to the country.
230 pages, ebook
Published June 14, 2026
About the author
T.B. Calder
1 book2 followersT.B. Calder studied history and law at American universities, which was either excellent preparation for this book or a complete waste of time. They write satire and fiction exploring power, authority, and the myths we build around them.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 24, 2026
I thank Granite Ridge Press LLC and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC copy of the book, which I freely chose to review.
When I saw this book — described as a ‘mock sacred chronicle” and a “deadpan satire”— I was intrigued by the concept (a book about Donald Trump written in the form of a Gospel), the cover (which I suspect the protagonist of the book would love), and the reviews. And I can confirm that the reading experience is pretty original as well.
The narrator (in this case, ‘The Scribe’) manages to write twelve ‘books’ recording the story of an international figure whose career is ‘peculiar’ to say the least, and whose actions and words do not leave anybody indifferent. The chronicle is unfinished, as the Scribe explains at the end, for evident reasons, and not everything is included either. I am sure most readers will miss events or allegations of one kind or another, but what makes the book fascinating is the way the Scribe sets to record what happened without offering any explicit comment or judgement. He writes in a style and manner that those used to reading the gospels will recognise, and he lets the facts speak for themselves. And they do, loud and clear. This is one of those stories that proves reality is indeed stranger than fiction, and despite being familiar with much (if not all) that is included in the book, the impact of seeing it as a chronological account, without any specific analysis or from any particular point of view, is undeniable.
The writing style and the cleverness of the exercise won me over, and even though the subject might not appeal to many (because there is so much one can read, hear, or watch about a topic before feeling overwhelmed or fed up), it is a fascinating narrative. I will make sure to follow the work of this author, who is not afraid to try novel approaches or tackle controversial issues, to see what he does next. I suspect the surprises will keep coming.
When I saw this book — described as a ‘mock sacred chronicle” and a “deadpan satire”— I was intrigued by the concept (a book about Donald Trump written in the form of a Gospel), the cover (which I suspect the protagonist of the book would love), and the reviews. And I can confirm that the reading experience is pretty original as well.
The narrator (in this case, ‘The Scribe’) manages to write twelve ‘books’ recording the story of an international figure whose career is ‘peculiar’ to say the least, and whose actions and words do not leave anybody indifferent. The chronicle is unfinished, as the Scribe explains at the end, for evident reasons, and not everything is included either. I am sure most readers will miss events or allegations of one kind or another, but what makes the book fascinating is the way the Scribe sets to record what happened without offering any explicit comment or judgement. He writes in a style and manner that those used to reading the gospels will recognise, and he lets the facts speak for themselves. And they do, loud and clear. This is one of those stories that proves reality is indeed stranger than fiction, and despite being familiar with much (if not all) that is included in the book, the impact of seeing it as a chronological account, without any specific analysis or from any particular point of view, is undeniable.
The writing style and the cleverness of the exercise won me over, and even though the subject might not appeal to many (because there is so much one can read, hear, or watch about a topic before feeling overwhelmed or fed up), it is a fascinating narrative. I will make sure to follow the work of this author, who is not afraid to try novel approaches or tackle controversial issues, to see what he does next. I suspect the surprises will keep coming.
July 17, 2026
"The Book of Don" is the story of Donald Trump from his youth to the beginning of his second term as president. I received an advance review copy for Kindle from BookSirens for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is the second ARC I've read and I must say that this one seemed considerably more polished than the previous, despite this being the author, T.B. Calder's first published work.
What the author -- or the scribe, if you will -- does here is present Donald Trump's tale as though it were a book in the Bible. It is broken down like an epic tale of a man who does great things. Maybe not good things. But great things.
Calder's wit really comes through, especially early in the book. Take, for example:
"He had parents who loved him and pushed him and apparently did not, at any point, sit him down and say: Perhaps a little less of all this."
The absurdities of the Trump phenomenon are presented, at times with commentary from "the scribe." And often times without commentary. It allows the facts to comment on themselves. Or it allows the reader to make their own conclusion.
While the book is definitely not pro-Trump or pro-MAGA, and it definitely isn't neutral, it's not as bombastic or anti-Trump as I would have expected. A great deal of reservation must have gone into its writing for it to be as balanced as it was. (Note, I'm not saying it was balanced.)
I found a single typo and one factual error. MUCH better than the last ARC I read.
"The Book of Don" was amusing, funny, and at times, insightful. I would definitely recommend it to those who say, "how did we get here?" Because it sums it up pretty clearly.
Oftentimes, while reading a book, I consider whether it would be fun to narrate. This would be a blast. An audiobook version is purported to be arriving next month. I'm a little jealous of the unknown narrator.
This is the second ARC I've read and I must say that this one seemed considerably more polished than the previous, despite this being the author, T.B. Calder's first published work.
What the author -- or the scribe, if you will -- does here is present Donald Trump's tale as though it were a book in the Bible. It is broken down like an epic tale of a man who does great things. Maybe not good things. But great things.
Calder's wit really comes through, especially early in the book. Take, for example:
"He had parents who loved him and pushed him and apparently did not, at any point, sit him down and say: Perhaps a little less of all this."
The absurdities of the Trump phenomenon are presented, at times with commentary from "the scribe." And often times without commentary. It allows the facts to comment on themselves. Or it allows the reader to make their own conclusion.
While the book is definitely not pro-Trump or pro-MAGA, and it definitely isn't neutral, it's not as bombastic or anti-Trump as I would have expected. A great deal of reservation must have gone into its writing for it to be as balanced as it was. (Note, I'm not saying it was balanced.)
I found a single typo and one factual error. MUCH better than the last ARC I read.
"The Book of Don" was amusing, funny, and at times, insightful. I would definitely recommend it to those who say, "how did we get here?" Because it sums it up pretty clearly.
Oftentimes, while reading a book, I consider whether it would be fun to narrate. This would be a blast. An audiobook version is purported to be arriving next month. I'm a little jealous of the unknown narrator.
June 17, 2026
A Clever, Hilarious, and Surprisingly Well-Written Political Satire
★★★★★ A Clever, Hilarious, and Surprisingly Well-Written Political Satire
I picked up The Book of Don expecting a few laughs, but I was genuinely impressed by how well executed the concept is. Written in the style of an ancient sacred text, it retells the rise of Donald Trump with a blend of biblical language, historical events, and sharp satire that is both funny and surprisingly insightful.
What makes this book stand out is that it doesn’t rely on cheap jokes or partisan outrage. Instead, it uses wit, irony, and clever storytelling to examine one of the most remarkable figures in modern American politics. Whether you love Trump, dislike Trump, or simply find the phenomenon fascinating, there’s plenty here to enjoy.
The writing is consistently strong, with memorable passages that made me laugh out loud and others that made me stop and appreciate how skillfully the author blended real history with the book’s “sacred chronicle” format. The chapter titles, interludes, commandments, and mock-scriptural verses are especially creative.
The author clearly did their homework. Beneath the humor is a surprisingly thoughtful retelling of major events, personalities, and cultural moments that shaped the Trump era.
If you’re a fan of political satire in the tradition of The Daily Show, The Onion, or Christopher Buckley, this book is absolutely worth your time. It’s entertaining, clever, and one of the more original political books I’ve read in years.
Highly recommended.
★★★★★ A Clever, Hilarious, and Surprisingly Well-Written Political Satire
I picked up The Book of Don expecting a few laughs, but I was genuinely impressed by how well executed the concept is. Written in the style of an ancient sacred text, it retells the rise of Donald Trump with a blend of biblical language, historical events, and sharp satire that is both funny and surprisingly insightful.
What makes this book stand out is that it doesn’t rely on cheap jokes or partisan outrage. Instead, it uses wit, irony, and clever storytelling to examine one of the most remarkable figures in modern American politics. Whether you love Trump, dislike Trump, or simply find the phenomenon fascinating, there’s plenty here to enjoy.
The writing is consistently strong, with memorable passages that made me laugh out loud and others that made me stop and appreciate how skillfully the author blended real history with the book’s “sacred chronicle” format. The chapter titles, interludes, commandments, and mock-scriptural verses are especially creative.
The author clearly did their homework. Beneath the humor is a surprisingly thoughtful retelling of major events, personalities, and cultural moments that shaped the Trump era.
If you’re a fan of political satire in the tradition of The Daily Show, The Onion, or Christopher Buckley, this book is absolutely worth your time. It’s entertaining, clever, and one of the more original political books I’ve read in years.
Highly recommended.
June 23, 2026
This isn't something I would normally gravitate towards but the cover peaked my interest. I LOVED the writing style of this. It's clever and witty and I chuckled several times throughout. I had a blast with this and I would HIGHLY recommend it! Special Thank You to T.B. Calder, Granite Ridge Press and Netgalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 14, 2026
The thing people want to know about a book: what’s it about? This book is about the Trump presidency. It’s a literary satire, told in biblical form by a scribe. It also has one of the most appropriate and gorgeous book covers I’ve ever seen: a golden backdrop with a saintly-coded image of Trump, holding the book of MAGA, draped in stars. The word DON is in red, like Trump’s ties. From the cover alone it feels like nothing in this book will be accidental and everything will reflect careful thought and selection.
Let’s talk about that biblical form a little more… it’s not going to be for everyone, but it is GENIUS. It *is* the satire. This is reflecting the cult of personality around Trump and the way his words are often received by his followers as gospel. The form ON ITS OWN makes this argument before the author writes a single word.
But what I really love about this book is that it functions like the Harry Potter Room of Requirement. It’s a digestible and entertaining accounting of the absolutely bananas years we have lived through as well as a contemplative literary text. I marked up several sections and often found myself putting the book down to ruminate on the words. I could easily imagine this entering a high school or college curriculum in both the history and literature departments. I mean, I could also imagine it made into a super compelling Broadway musical, but I digress.
There will be people who take issue with areas of the book. Some will say it doesn’t do enough to acknowledge Trump’s accomplishments. Some will call it sacrilegious for its biblical form. Some will say it should have been more overly critical of the Trump administration rather than winking at it, that this is not the time in history to be an observer. BUT, that’s what the scribe’s role IS, which fits with what we know of the author: someone who studied history and law. As the scribe would write: the scribe notes the reader’s reactions. The scribe continues. The fact that people will have viscerally different reactions to this book reinforces its point and demonstrates the division in society, not a failing on the scribe’s work or approach. Consider it a Rorschach inkblot test that reveals things about you, the reader. It would be easy to breeze through this book; it isn’t a challenging read. It’s straightforward. And if you’ve been alive the last ten years, you know the stories. But it’s a book that deserves to be read slowly and savored and thought about. I did wish there was more, by which I mean, there were times in the last 10 years that I thought about that didn’t make the book, things like the Epstein files or rape allegations or the infamous awkward Bible photo during the George Floyd protests. Were these omitted on purpose, I don’t know. But the scribe did give us some truly generous passages like the one about an everyday healthcare worker during the pandemic (which was startlingly poignant), and a another about the prosecutor Alvin Bragg and his novel approach to legal action. Incidentally the legal components were beautifully done, no shock given the author’s education.
This was a deeply satisfying read: raw but polished, confident but contemplative. This is a treasure that SHOULD be a classic. In my wildest encore fantasies, it DOES become a classic, the author maintains a social media account that continues scribe commentary on current events, a second edition comes out with an extended version, AND the author does additional works on other presidencies. As mentioned, the form for this is genius and fitting, so it wouldn’t fit as well imposed to other presidencies. I don’t know— like a jazz songbook for Clinton’s presidency? I defer to whatever muse whispered in the author and/or scribe’s ear because that seems to be going very well.
Let’s talk about that biblical form a little more… it’s not going to be for everyone, but it is GENIUS. It *is* the satire. This is reflecting the cult of personality around Trump and the way his words are often received by his followers as gospel. The form ON ITS OWN makes this argument before the author writes a single word.
But what I really love about this book is that it functions like the Harry Potter Room of Requirement. It’s a digestible and entertaining accounting of the absolutely bananas years we have lived through as well as a contemplative literary text. I marked up several sections and often found myself putting the book down to ruminate on the words. I could easily imagine this entering a high school or college curriculum in both the history and literature departments. I mean, I could also imagine it made into a super compelling Broadway musical, but I digress.
There will be people who take issue with areas of the book. Some will say it doesn’t do enough to acknowledge Trump’s accomplishments. Some will call it sacrilegious for its biblical form. Some will say it should have been more overly critical of the Trump administration rather than winking at it, that this is not the time in history to be an observer. BUT, that’s what the scribe’s role IS, which fits with what we know of the author: someone who studied history and law. As the scribe would write: the scribe notes the reader’s reactions. The scribe continues. The fact that people will have viscerally different reactions to this book reinforces its point and demonstrates the division in society, not a failing on the scribe’s work or approach. Consider it a Rorschach inkblot test that reveals things about you, the reader. It would be easy to breeze through this book; it isn’t a challenging read. It’s straightforward. And if you’ve been alive the last ten years, you know the stories. But it’s a book that deserves to be read slowly and savored and thought about. I did wish there was more, by which I mean, there were times in the last 10 years that I thought about that didn’t make the book, things like the Epstein files or rape allegations or the infamous awkward Bible photo during the George Floyd protests. Were these omitted on purpose, I don’t know. But the scribe did give us some truly generous passages like the one about an everyday healthcare worker during the pandemic (which was startlingly poignant), and a another about the prosecutor Alvin Bragg and his novel approach to legal action. Incidentally the legal components were beautifully done, no shock given the author’s education.
This was a deeply satisfying read: raw but polished, confident but contemplative. This is a treasure that SHOULD be a classic. In my wildest encore fantasies, it DOES become a classic, the author maintains a social media account that continues scribe commentary on current events, a second edition comes out with an extended version, AND the author does additional works on other presidencies. As mentioned, the form for this is genius and fitting, so it wouldn’t fit as well imposed to other presidencies. I don’t know— like a jazz songbook for Clinton’s presidency? I defer to whatever muse whispered in the author and/or scribe’s ear because that seems to be going very well.
Review of advance copy
It’s a book about Trump written as ancient scripture. I’ve never read a bible and was worried it wouldn’t resonate with me. T.B. Calder somehow kept it going for the whole ride… The chapter and verse numbering, the begats, the deadpan “scribe” who just records everything without ever telling you what to think about it. And that’s the part that got me. It never bashes the guy. The unbiased and restrained nature of the book is a home run. It just lays the events down, one after another, and lets you do the math yourself.
The WrestleMania hair match. The Oval Office being oval. The six hours of covfefe. January 6th written out in these flat, sober little verse counts that hit harder than any of my rants could. I caught myself laughing and then going quiet a second later.
What I really wasn’t ready for was how it felt to relive all of it. I watched these things happen. I remember where I was for half of them (especially January 6th). But seeing them stacked up like this, as separate moments and then as one giant pile, was honestly kind of staggering. Any one of these “books” would’ve been THE story of a normal presidency. Here it’s just Tuesday. Something insane happens and the next insane thing buries it before you’ve even caught your breath. Reading it slowed down to verse by verse, I finally felt the weight of how much actually happened and how much it’s changed the country and our understanding of its people.
It’s also a book that rewards you for paying attention. The little asides, turning Trump’s campaign-trail nicknames into scripture, and even the Mueller report. The scribe notes that “many people said they would read it” and then adds that the same people had said the same thing about the Comey letter, and the Starr report back in 1998, and concludes they were “consistent in their intentions.” There’s a gem buried on nearly every page if you lived through this stuff and paid enough attention.
And importantly, it knows when to put the jokes away. The Capitol chapter goes dead serious, and the ending, where the scribe admits he’s writing history without knowing how it ends, actually stuck with me.
Read it. Funny, sharp, and a lot smarter than it has any right to be. It’s a short, swift read… You’ll move through it faster than you expect.
That said, buy the hard copy. Keep it on the table for weekend guests to thumb through when they visit.
The WrestleMania hair match. The Oval Office being oval. The six hours of covfefe. January 6th written out in these flat, sober little verse counts that hit harder than any of my rants could. I caught myself laughing and then going quiet a second later.
What I really wasn’t ready for was how it felt to relive all of it. I watched these things happen. I remember where I was for half of them (especially January 6th). But seeing them stacked up like this, as separate moments and then as one giant pile, was honestly kind of staggering. Any one of these “books” would’ve been THE story of a normal presidency. Here it’s just Tuesday. Something insane happens and the next insane thing buries it before you’ve even caught your breath. Reading it slowed down to verse by verse, I finally felt the weight of how much actually happened and how much it’s changed the country and our understanding of its people.
It’s also a book that rewards you for paying attention. The little asides, turning Trump’s campaign-trail nicknames into scripture, and even the Mueller report. The scribe notes that “many people said they would read it” and then adds that the same people had said the same thing about the Comey letter, and the Starr report back in 1998, and concludes they were “consistent in their intentions.” There’s a gem buried on nearly every page if you lived through this stuff and paid enough attention.
And importantly, it knows when to put the jokes away. The Capitol chapter goes dead serious, and the ending, where the scribe admits he’s writing history without knowing how it ends, actually stuck with me.
Read it. Funny, sharp, and a lot smarter than it has any right to be. It’s a short, swift read… You’ll move through it faster than you expect.
That said, buy the hard copy. Keep it on the table for weekend guests to thumb through when they visit.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I picked this up expecting a quick political satire and a few easy laughs.
Instead, I spent most of the book stopping every few pages to admire how cleverly it was put together.
Presented as a sacred chronicle of "the Don" and narrated by an increasingly weary but endlessly observant Scribe, this book transforms recent political history into mythology. The premise is funny from the start, but it is executed with remarkable precision. The biblical structure, the recurring capitalisation quirks, the page-turn punchlines, and the deadpan narration all combine to create something far more ambitious than a straightforward political parody.
The humour comes less from punchlines than from the contrast between the solemn style and the events being recorded. Again and again, the Scribe presents something absurd with complete seriousness and trusts the reader to connect the dots.
What begins as satire gradually becomes something broader. Rather than arguing for or against its subject, the book becomes fascinated by the phenomenon itself and what it reveals about the era that produced it. The Scribe never quite becomes a judge. He simply records the events and leaves the reader to wrestle with them.
This is not a book to race through. Nearly every page contains a clever observation, a layered joke, or a detail that rewards a second look.
By the end, I wasn't reading it for the subject matter anymore. I was reading it for the Scribe.
The Scribe may be my favourite narrator of the year.
One of the funniest books I've read in a long time, and one of the smartest.
Thank you to NetGalley, Granite Ridge Press LLC, and T. B. Calder for providing me with an advance review copy. All opinions are my own.
Instead, I spent most of the book stopping every few pages to admire how cleverly it was put together.
Presented as a sacred chronicle of "the Don" and narrated by an increasingly weary but endlessly observant Scribe, this book transforms recent political history into mythology. The premise is funny from the start, but it is executed with remarkable precision. The biblical structure, the recurring capitalisation quirks, the page-turn punchlines, and the deadpan narration all combine to create something far more ambitious than a straightforward political parody.
The humour comes less from punchlines than from the contrast between the solemn style and the events being recorded. Again and again, the Scribe presents something absurd with complete seriousness and trusts the reader to connect the dots.
What begins as satire gradually becomes something broader. Rather than arguing for or against its subject, the book becomes fascinated by the phenomenon itself and what it reveals about the era that produced it. The Scribe never quite becomes a judge. He simply records the events and leaves the reader to wrestle with them.
This is not a book to race through. Nearly every page contains a clever observation, a layered joke, or a detail that rewards a second look.
By the end, I wasn't reading it for the subject matter anymore. I was reading it for the Scribe.
The Scribe may be my favourite narrator of the year.
One of the funniest books I've read in a long time, and one of the smartest.
Thank you to NetGalley, Granite Ridge Press LLC, and T. B. Calder for providing me with an advance review copy. All opinions are my own.
July 14, 2026
“Thou shalt not commit to a bad deal. If thou hast committed to a bad deal, thou shalt call it a great deal until others agree.”
“If the task is impossible, blame the project manager. If you are the project manager, blame the team.”
At first blush, a reader might be forgiven for believing this book is a love letter to President Donald Trump.
It is most definitely is satire, and I am here for it. I especially appreciate how the author had to state, “no such ancient manuscripts exist” when referring to Donald Trump. I mean WOW, how gullible do readers have to be? Oh wait…
This is a great white elephant gift for the Trump lover in your life. Or even better, a great gift for those liberals in your life who, like they are told all the time, need to “lighten up, he’s not serious.” It also makes a great door stop or projectile to throw at your spouse when they've annoyed you for the last time!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.
“If the task is impossible, blame the project manager. If you are the project manager, blame the team.”
At first blush, a reader might be forgiven for believing this book is a love letter to President Donald Trump.
It is most definitely is satire, and I am here for it. I especially appreciate how the author had to state, “no such ancient manuscripts exist” when referring to Donald Trump. I mean WOW, how gullible do readers have to be? Oh wait…
This is a great white elephant gift for the Trump lover in your life. Or even better, a great gift for those liberals in your life who, like they are told all the time, need to “lighten up, he’s not serious.” It also makes a great door stop or projectile to throw at your spouse when they've annoyed you for the last time!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.
August 1, 2026
The Book of Don presents Donald Trump’s life from childhood up to his second term as president of the United States. Told through a series of “Books”, in Biblical style, with brief interludes and commandments, it is witty, imaginative and very funny. I never thought I’d enjoy a book about Donald Trump but I devoured this in one sitting.
There is limited commentary, with the ‘scribe’ sometimes turning the reader in one direction but allowing you to make the jump yourself, ultimately allowing Trumps actions to speak for themselves. Although towards the end it got a bit bleak, because as funny as this book is, it is real life and that’s depressing.
I received a free copy from BookSirens and I am voluntarily leaving this review.
There is limited commentary, with the ‘scribe’ sometimes turning the reader in one direction but allowing you to make the jump yourself, ultimately allowing Trumps actions to speak for themselves. Although towards the end it got a bit bleak, because as funny as this book is, it is real life and that’s depressing.
I received a free copy from BookSirens and I am voluntarily leaving this review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Truly excellent satire chronicling Don's actions and events. I laughed so hard (because you either laugh, or cry, amiright?!) at this entire book. If you ever had the opportunity to read 'Olde Charlie Farquharson's Testament', this reminds me of that. Just concise satire that will entertain. Thank-you, T. B. Calder and Granite Ridge Press LLC , for this complimentary copy. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Satirical book on the life of Donald Trump told by the Scribe in Scripture format. The solemn format of the book brings forth a subtle humor. At times it feels absurd until you realize what is being described actually happened. An ingenious book.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews