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Dealing with the Devil: My Mother, Trump, and Me
Why are we the way we are? Who can we become? What stands in our way?
In Dealing with the Devil, Tony Schwartz investigates these sweeping questions by fiercely reckoning with his own life choices, regrets, and aspirations. He confronts the shame that arose after he helped craft a persona for Donald Trump in The Art of the Deal that 30 years later aided in his election as president. He provides a window into understanding our complicated relationship with Trump, and the Trump in each of us. Finally, Schwartz explores how the experience of writing The Art of the Deal prompted him to take an entirely different path in his life.
This path led Schwartz to a lifelong exploration of the factors that shape our beliefs and identity, the influence of our early caregivers, and the ways that we can heal and grow by accepting and acknowledging both the best and the worst in ourselves. Schwartz's story is defined not by his time with Trump, but rather by his lifelong quest to become a better human being - as a husband, a father, a grandfather and as the CEO of a company devoted to helping others more skillfully and wisely manage their lives.
In Dealing with the Devil, Tony Schwartz investigates these sweeping questions by fiercely reckoning with his own life choices, regrets, and aspirations. He confronts the shame that arose after he helped craft a persona for Donald Trump in The Art of the Deal that 30 years later aided in his election as president. He provides a window into understanding our complicated relationship with Trump, and the Trump in each of us. Finally, Schwartz explores how the experience of writing The Art of the Deal prompted him to take an entirely different path in his life.
This path led Schwartz to a lifelong exploration of the factors that shape our beliefs and identity, the influence of our early caregivers, and the ways that we can heal and grow by accepting and acknowledging both the best and the worst in ourselves. Schwartz's story is defined not by his time with Trump, but rather by his lifelong quest to become a better human being - as a husband, a father, a grandfather and as the CEO of a company devoted to helping others more skillfully and wisely manage their lives.
Audio CD
Published May 18, 2021
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About the author
Tony Schwartz
56 books105 followersTony Schwartz is a journalist, business book author, professional speaker,and the ghostwriter and credited co-author of Trump: The Art of the Deal. He is the founder and head of the productivity consulting firm, The Energy Project.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
September 13, 2020
This book is packed with content worthy of ongoing thought and analysis. His courageous self revelation is inspiring and full of hope, with challenges to future work on myself!
The Trump angle was woven in deftly with the influence of our personal trauma. This author is very smart and insightful. The book attacks the question of life from yet another direction and dialogue but with an underlying message shared by many disciplines. I enjoyed it and it will be with me now.
The Trump angle was woven in deftly with the influence of our personal trauma. This author is very smart and insightful. The book attacks the question of life from yet another direction and dialogue but with an underlying message shared by many disciplines. I enjoyed it and it will be with me now.
September 15, 2020
I was disappointed in this one. Believe this author when you see his mother in the title. It goes back to his childhood and shows how his mother affects his development and his choices throughout years of his life. You will slowly move from there to learn about his career choices, why he took jobs, how he felt about those jobs, what he did next.... and next.... and next......
I am not sure what this is really supposed to be about or how to even classify it. It is sure as hell all about Tony Schwartz. He will tell you why you are who you are. What your issues are, how they shape you, and how to fix/ heal them. I found this boring, with too much about the author personally and his own accomplishments and feeling of self importance.
Read this only if you are interested in the life of Tony Schwartz. Don’t expect to gain any insight into the relationship or interactions with Trump. This was a “me” “I” story.
I am not sure what this is really supposed to be about or how to even classify it. It is sure as hell all about Tony Schwartz. He will tell you why you are who you are. What your issues are, how they shape you, and how to fix/ heal them. I found this boring, with too much about the author personally and his own accomplishments and feeling of self importance.
Read this only if you are interested in the life of Tony Schwartz. Don’t expect to gain any insight into the relationship or interactions with Trump. This was a “me” “I” story.
October 6, 2020
I knew about the author the way most people probably do, as the ghostwriter of Donald J. Trump's memoir The Art of the Deal, but it was a recent podcast interview that led me to pick this up. (As an Audible Original, it's part of my membership.) The Trump related material is only about a quarter of the book, and while it does sound like a strong influence on the course of the author's life, it doesn't really have any great revelations. Thirty plus years ago, that man was cold, cutthroat, manipulative, dishonest, incurious, lazy, and endlessly self-promoting, pretty much the way it's been up to the present time. The book was a big marketing phenomenon at the time, but the royalties came with guilt (not to the subject of the book), and the bulk of the book is devoted to what led up to this episode and what he did to make up for it afterwards.
The "devil" in the main title isn't really only our current president, but also the author's mother who continued a pattern of psychological disturbance that began in her own childhood and was the cause for a lot of turmoil as he grew up and began to figure out what he was about. That trauma and the subsequent backlash to the publication of the Trump book are what led the author to his real life's work. I wasn't expecting to hear quite so much about his take on human potential that formed the basis of his business since the 1990s, and I think this might be jarring for a reader who is only interested in the political and financial angles. I don't know whether I completely subscribe to the theories of mind and culture he sets out, but his long-cultivated skill as a writer helps to make it pretty palatable. He's self-aware enough to know that whatever he accomplishes in this passion of his, he will continue to be associated with Trump as a legacy, however.
The reading by the author is fine, but makes it clear if you didn't catch it in the text that he's not very self-effacing personally. I expect that's why we haeve this memoir now at all. It doesn't end up delivering any remedies for the United States and the predicament the country finds itself in, but that would probably be too much to hope for.
The "devil" in the main title isn't really only our current president, but also the author's mother who continued a pattern of psychological disturbance that began in her own childhood and was the cause for a lot of turmoil as he grew up and began to figure out what he was about. That trauma and the subsequent backlash to the publication of the Trump book are what led the author to his real life's work. I wasn't expecting to hear quite so much about his take on human potential that formed the basis of his business since the 1990s, and I think this might be jarring for a reader who is only interested in the political and financial angles. I don't know whether I completely subscribe to the theories of mind and culture he sets out, but his long-cultivated skill as a writer helps to make it pretty palatable. He's self-aware enough to know that whatever he accomplishes in this passion of his, he will continue to be associated with Trump as a legacy, however.
The reading by the author is fine, but makes it clear if you didn't catch it in the text that he's not very self-effacing personally. I expect that's why we haeve this memoir now at all. It doesn't end up delivering any remedies for the United States and the predicament the country finds itself in, but that would probably be too much to hope for.
September 26, 2020
Not what I thought it was going to be. Trump played only a small part of the story - an inordinate amount of time was spent extolling the virtues of Schwartz's "Energy Project."
November 2, 2020
I didn't really care for the medical advice he was trying to share. I was hoping for him to provide specific details on the "Art of the new deal" that is fiction lol.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 19, 2020
I started reading this as a book, but finished as an audio book. I prefer reading but it was taking too long. I hated the narrator on the audio book. The story itself was interesting. They kind-of gave away some of the plot early in the story. Overall, it was OK, Not sure why it was called a psychological thriller.
RECOMMENDATION: READ IT
October 15, 2020
Interesting cross between a memoir and mea culpa from the author who essentially wrote "The Art of the Deal" for Donal Trump. I already knew about his guilt in helping Trump because of an article he wrote about it in The New Yorker. And I had read another book by Schwartz about his energy coaching that a business coach gave me. What was new in this book is the problems Schwartz had with his mother and how that relationship has affected his whole life.
September 17, 2020
Not quite sure what the point of this audiobook was. Shilling for his energy project? Apology for his book about Trump? Biography?
Addendum: just finished The Art of the Deal: you really hear Tony Schwartz’ voice in it.
Addendum: just finished The Art of the Deal: you really hear Tony Schwartz’ voice in it.
October 3, 2020
DON’T DO IT! Just don’t do it! I don’t know what I was expecting from this book but this was not it. Tony Schwartz is the ghost writer that wrote The Art of The Deal. Just so you know, I’m not a Trump fan. However, I’m even less a fan of Schwartz. I think he came across as whinny. I just couldn’t stand all the whining and guilty conscience Tony has from writing The Art of The Deal. When he finds out Trump is, well Trump, he can’t live with his conscience. I thought it was so pompous of the author basically saying that the book paved the way for Trump and created his persona. We all know that Trump has all these negative characteristics. But Tony takes his self importance way too far. When Trump runs for president Tony goes on and on about whether he should tell the world who Trump really is. Give me a break. It’s not like this Journalist was Trumps best buddy and knows all his secrets. All he knew is what, in hind sight, we all know about Trump now. And this is looking at 2020 where it’s possible that Trump might when another election. I just couldn’t get past the writing style and lack of any meaningful subject matter. It seemed to lack substance. Maybe this is because I was expecting learn more about Trump when the book is more about Tony. And, I hate to say it, but the whole throwing in Trumps name seemed to be more about selling a book. If you are interested in Journalism this book is for you. If you want real substance about Trump find a different book.
September 23, 2020
More than just an anti-Trump book. It has that element, and even though it is spread throughout, it could really be just one chapter. The author's mother figures more prominently in the narrative as does the author and his views and work. All in all, I feel I learned some things from this book that I can try and incorporate into my life.
January 11, 2021
A fascinating psychologically-informed autobiography of the author of The Art of the Deal. Vulnerable and profound, Schwartz takes the reader on a journey from a challenging childhood growing up with a BPD mom, through a difficult adulthood, to the promising present day. He concludes by reflecting hopefully and celebrating how we are all a work in progress, with a profound invitation to make the world a better place by loving and being loved.
October 7, 2020
¨We are all works in progress," Mr. Schwartz says at the close of this book. Indeed. The ghost writer of The Art of the Deal comes clean about his complicity in the rise of the man we´re now forced to call our commander in chief, but the story behind that deal is part of a greater narrative about his own upbringing and emotionally distant mother, his career in journalism, his family and his eventual turn to meditation and mindfulness in an ever decaying world. Too much of the book is taken over by secondary accounts that seem thrown in to me--letters from his mother and daughter, a missive from a therapist--but they´re worth the window he gives us into the world of publishing in the 80s and 90s. Nothing in here about you-know-who will surprise anyone who´s been paying attention, except, maybe, that Schwartz was expected to pay half of the bill for the Donald´s massively self-indulgent book launching party, a bill that must have run in the tens of thousands of dollars. (Only the Donald would throw a party over the publication of a book he didn´t write himself.) Available for free with an Audible membership.
October 27, 2020
Tony Schwartz is the author of “The Art of the Deal” which is the book about Donald Trump and his business dealings written in a very positive way. However, Trump had nothing to do with the writing of it as he claims, and he didn’t even want to sit for interviews. Schwartz regretted his involvement with the book and has felt much regret for helping create the image that launched Trump and his celebrity status. Schwartz viewed his royalties for the book as “blood money” and has donated it to charities and immigrant groups to those impacted by Trump.
Much of this book was an autobiography of Schwartz and a look at himself from his childhood until today with emphasis on his current work with the Energy Project. He explores his life-long explorations and factors that shape our beliefs and identity and our early influences by caregivers and in his case with his mother, and how we can heal and grow. It is his quest to become a better person and through a company devoted to helping others manage their lives.
It was an interesting book about his interaction with Trump and self-care, self-evaluation and life of ups and downs.
Much of this book was an autobiography of Schwartz and a look at himself from his childhood until today with emphasis on his current work with the Energy Project. He explores his life-long explorations and factors that shape our beliefs and identity and our early influences by caregivers and in his case with his mother, and how we can heal and grow. It is his quest to become a better person and through a company devoted to helping others manage their lives.
It was an interesting book about his interaction with Trump and self-care, self-evaluation and life of ups and downs.
November 23, 2020
In life there are people who teach us to do with their example, likewise there are people who teach us what not to do, with their bad example.
This is the case of Donald Trump, who even if he asked for adequate policies for his country, as a person is worth less than a sick cockroach.
At least that is the opinion of the one who wrote his book on the art of negotiations. Tony Schwarts in "Dealing with the Devil: My Mother, Trump, and Me" tells us a little about what his mother was like, someone very similar to Trump in himself egocentricity and perceived perfection.
Trump is a huge danger for his short attention span, rampant selfishness and for being a compulsive liar. Tony was devastated when he won, as he did know him closely.
The book has much more than critiques, Tony's thinking and his growth as a human being through many stages in his life, and his learnings from his relationship with his mother and Trump.
This is the case of Donald Trump, who even if he asked for adequate policies for his country, as a person is worth less than a sick cockroach.
At least that is the opinion of the one who wrote his book on the art of negotiations. Tony Schwarts in "Dealing with the Devil: My Mother, Trump, and Me" tells us a little about what his mother was like, someone very similar to Trump in himself egocentricity and perceived perfection.
Trump is a huge danger for his short attention span, rampant selfishness and for being a compulsive liar. Tony was devastated when he won, as he did know him closely.
The book has much more than critiques, Tony's thinking and his growth as a human being through many stages in his life, and his learnings from his relationship with his mother and Trump.
May 12, 2021
The title might not have induced me to buy this; fortunately it was in the library.
The book is surprisingly rich in insights. Well, not all that surprising from the author of the book What Really Matters: Searching for Wisdom in America (1995), but when I picked up this book, I did not think it was the same Tony Schwartz!
Schwartz was the "co-author" of Trump's Art of the Deal (1987). The account of his dealings with Trump in that context is very revealing of Trump's personality. It's all there. I would hardly have needed to read the thirty odd books I had on the man.
The book is neither long nor hard to read, but it is quite substantial and unexpectedly profound. I listened to the audio version, nicely read by the author; that added an extra personal dimension to make the book still more memorable.
The book is surprisingly rich in insights. Well, not all that surprising from the author of the book What Really Matters: Searching for Wisdom in America (1995), but when I picked up this book, I did not think it was the same Tony Schwartz!
Schwartz was the "co-author" of Trump's Art of the Deal (1987). The account of his dealings with Trump in that context is very revealing of Trump's personality. It's all there. I would hardly have needed to read the thirty odd books I had on the man.
The book is neither long nor hard to read, but it is quite substantial and unexpectedly profound. I listened to the audio version, nicely read by the author; that added an extra personal dimension to make the book still more memorable.
October 14, 2020
The book was not bad, but was a bit misleading. Tony spent a lot of time drawing parallels with his life to better understand Trump, which was interesting. However, the content was MUCH more about his life experiences than Trump. I'd say 15% Trump, 85% Tony. Again, that's fine but misleading. Throughout the book he talks about his desire to be more genuine and true to himself yet the premise of this book is a bit contradictory to that. Over all I do not feel that my time was wasted and I may have read the book on its own merits to begin with. I'd give this book a try especially if you are intrested in self awareness.
November 1, 2020
This was quite the winding book and I am glad it wasn’t any longer. It started out with his beginning career moves that led him to Donald Trump and the book he ghost wrote, but then the hard left to talking about the business/train of thought he later built felt like I was listening to a sales pitch. Just wasn’t expecting it. Then he sprinkled in some more stories about his own family/development. Just didn’t feel like a steady plot and I wasn’t sure what he was really trying to get me to take away from it, as a result. It felt a bit forced like he was trying to make sure he checked off objectives.
September 28, 2020
I enjoyed the parts where he wrote about Trump and The Art of the Deal and also the parts about self help theories but I really didn’t need to know the details about his upbringing and relationship with his mother. It sounds like a reciting of 20 years of therapy. I’m not sure if he was really messed up or just that he thought about it in such great detail.
I listened to this book on Audible because it was free. I suggest you do and quit after the The Art of the Deal is done because it’s pretty much all downhill from there.
I listened to this book on Audible because it was free. I suggest you do and quit after the The Art of the Deal is done because it’s pretty much all downhill from there.
December 6, 2020
A little about Trump, a bit about mother, and more than enough about me me me. Tony Schwartz’s life long self exploration and discovery is a quick-n-easy read, full of fascinating zigs (Trump being one of them), insight, touching moments and soul bearing, and self importance.
(Coincidentally for me, following Schwartz struggles and seeing how it led him to many of the same concepts that I’ve come across in recent reads on LSD, non violent communication, and stoic gurus has been uncanny as hell. He’s like a flawed but admirable embodiment of all those principles in action.)
(Coincidentally for me, following Schwartz struggles and seeing how it led him to many of the same concepts that I’ve come across in recent reads on LSD, non violent communication, and stoic gurus has been uncanny as hell. He’s like a flawed but admirable embodiment of all those principles in action.)
February 21, 2021
Wow. Believe him when he says that he and Trump are very alike. The whole book is an apology/excuse for how and why he sold his soul to write The Art of the Deal, and he self flagellates to atone for his infamous place in making Trump look like a somewhat believable business man. Mostly he talks about himself, and how his mom ruined him (there were definitely issues there), and all of the good he’s done in the world since The Art of the Deal. Very little insight on Trump you can’t get from much better books. Don’t waste your time.
December 9, 2020
Extremely insightful. Whereas the first half deals much with the author and Trump and how "The Art of the Deal" came to be, the beauty of the second half is the surprise insight that the author shares on the psychology of pain and trauma and personality conflicts that he and his family suffered and sheds light, much like Dr. Mary Trump herself in her seminal work, on the reason why Donald J. Trump is so hardhearted and hard-headed.
An absolute delight to read.
An absolute delight to read.
December 27, 2020
Generally don’t give 1 star reviews, but this was the worst book of the year. A story that deals with reflection but not accountability and grapples with guilt but offers no light into how to avoid the mistakes. Simply a walk in the woods that lacks both purpose or insight. I’m no Trump fan, but this seems like a vague attempt at cashing in on the Trump phenomenon while saying this isn’t a repeat of the last book’s folly. Not poorly written but poorly conceived.
January 20, 2021
The book was included with my Audible subscription and I’m glad I didn’t waste money purchasing it.
The book was less about Schwartz’s experience working with Trump and “The Art of the Deal” and more a meandering diatribe about how he didn’t get the love he expected from his mother.
I’ve read articles by the author and would not recommend this book unless you are just looking for a why me slog.
The book was less about Schwartz’s experience working with Trump and “The Art of the Deal” and more a meandering diatribe about how he didn’t get the love he expected from his mother.
I’ve read articles by the author and would not recommend this book unless you are just looking for a why me slog.
October 8, 2020
Uneven mishmash of tales about his mother, Trump and his self-improvement business. While the Trump story, and his mother’s, drew me in, the next thing he is on a tangent about his dubious self-analysis and his business tactics. Those parts are painfully self-absorbed and boring. It seems he is trying to meld two books together that would be more successful apart.
December 22, 2020
The Tony Schwartz story is almost an American Tragedy (tm). It is amazing how corrupting the influence of Trump is. A notable author who assisted such a toxic individual is virtually punished for the next 20 years, rightly or wrongly.
I fear the same is in store for the rest of us. Tony was just ahead of the curve.
I fear the same is in store for the rest of us. Tony was just ahead of the curve.
September 20, 2020
Considering the title, I thought it would have more to do with Trump. Trump, however, plays a pretty small part overall in this book. Having shadowed Trump for 18 months while writing The Art of the Deal, Schwartz had some interesting insights into the man.
September 30, 2020
This guy is the ghost writer for Trump's Art of the Deal, also knows as the Art of the Steal. He regrets making Trump look smart and accomplished and went on to research and write about many topics. Interesting, but whiney.
October 15, 2020
Really self serving. I am no fan of Trump but I really did not like this book. It felt more like a consultant writing about corporate consulting and Trump thrown in so people would read it. Really disappointing read.
March 10, 2021
This book is not really about trump and I think the title was a terrible choice this book is good and I took a lot away from it but the name is an utter lie it seems tony is great at naming books but not great at connecting the title to the content of the book
June 29, 2024
so much goodness in this - separate from the Trump stuff. Tony Schwartz has great organizational team information as well as other productivity info. Wish this was in print form! Guess I'll have to get AI on to that. It also irks me that 12 hours of listening has 0 pages read. oh well!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews