The Media versus the Apprentice: The Devil Mr. Trump

by Alberto A. Martínez

This book is about the conflicts between Donald Trump and the media during the U. S. Presidential Election of 2016. Reporters and political commentators discussed with horror the controversial campaign words of Mr. Trump, while in turn he brashly claimed that they were “totally dishonest.” Who was right? Professor Alberto Martínez meticulously analyzes infamous incidents and news stories to find out how accurately the news media covered the tempestuous candidate. Surprisingly, Martínez finds that the media often failed to accurately report the news. Fiction was reported as news.
Alberto A. Martinez is a professor of History at the University of Texas at Austin. He is the author of five other books, including Science Secrets: The Truth About Darwin’s Finches, Einstein’s Wife, and Other Myths (University of Pittsburgh, 2011). He also writes articles for periodicals such as The Hill, SALON, The Austin American-Statesman, the USA Today newspapers, Scientific American, The Houston Chronicle, The Daily Texan, Latina, New Standard Press, The Chronicle of Higher Education, Sloan Science & Film, and others.
Reviews of Martínez’s past books:
“his scholarship is admirable. Every subject needs its history told in a careful and useful manner, and Martínez clearly succeeds in this endeavor.” ⎼ Choice
“at once scholarly and readable. ... anyone with an interest in intellectual history would benefit.” ⎼ Books & Culture

555 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 30, 2019

Reviews

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an extraordinary book. The author, a University of Texas history professor, critically scrutinizes the news media coverage of Donald Trump in 2015 and 2016. I had of course noticed strange behavior on the part of journalists during this period - but I had no idea what was going on. The author is Hispanic, left-leaning politically, and says he is a supporter of Bernie Sanders - characteristics which may reassure readers who might otherwise wonder if his personal biases are making him unduly critical in his analysis.
I've read the first third of the book so far, and can unreservedly recommend it.

[Jean Y Jones · Rating 1 out of 5]

I do not recommend this book. Advertised as a historical analysis of how the media has misrepresented trump and his words and actions it is s pathetic and likely politically motivated effort to try and justify the awful things trump has said and done Very intellectually dishonest and poorly sourced using right wing falsehoods and talking points to justify things trump has said and attack the media. Don’t buy into the idea that this book is in anyway objective or an honest assessment of the role that the media, for all its faults, covered trump in the election. Sad to think someone who calls himself a historian would write such politically motivated propaganda.

[Rick Elkin]

Nice summary of all of the issues and claims about Trump that are mostly Fake News. It is nice to get to the bottom of it and see just what was true and what was misleading BS.