Unbelievable: My Front-Row Seat to the Craziest Campaign in American History

When I heard that Katy Tur was writing a book about the Trump campaign I was super excited. After all, Ms. Tur is an outstanding TV journalist with great insight into Trump, and more importantly, she was the one and only journalist that was there with Trump from the very first minute of his campaign to the end. This book will be the definitive Trump presidential run book.Oh, God, was I disappointed. Here is a journalist in which God's luck, God's grace, God's wisdom shone upon -- of all the people on planet Earth, Katy Tur was given the opportunity to be with the Trump run from day one. What was essentially a goofball assignment ("Hey, Katy, go cover this Trump announcement at Trump Tower") turned into the single most extraordinary political story in our nation's history. Donald Trump is running for President...and he won? Ms. Tur was the lucky one to be there for this monumental, head-shaking story from the very start. Her book should be the definitive story. The ins and outs of Trump's rise, the campaign blunders, the campaign wonders, the Trump followers, the growing support, the waning support, the scandals, the coverups, the strange group of people within Trump's team, Trump himself, the importance of certain campaign stops...all that should have been covered in a 1,000 page work by Tur. She was there for it all.But, no, instead we get a 300 page nothing that deals with drinking on a plane while another reporter uses the refreshment cart as a sled to slide down the aisle of the plane. Instead we get Katy stressing out over her assignments. Instead we get Katy longing to be in London. Instead we get Katy watching cartoons. Instead we get Katy writing as though she is an eighth grade school girl about how she misses her boyfriend. My God, the greatest political story in our nation's history and Ms. Tur gives us an entire chapter of her lugging her luggage through the snow to catch a plane!Katy, you were there for it all. Why didn't you conjure up the Woodward and Bernstein in you and give us a solid, in depth telling of the most incredible political run in history?She blew it. Ms. Tur was struck by lightning and given the opportunity of a lifetime, and she turned it into a 286 page book about herself. And apart from the chapter about her family, none of Ms. Tur's life was that interesting and none of it mattered at all against the larger picture of Trump's presidential run.

Liked this (even if I knew going in that the finale would depress me). Every time she talked about the deplorable (yeah, I said it) behavior by some attending the Trump rallies, my blood pressure went up. Where were these horrible humans raised? Mostly, you get a sense of how exhausting it was to cover the Trump campaign, particularly for a rising young journalist whose entire career was thrust into a highly-visible overdrive by the unpredictable campaign. I wish there had been more mind-blowing inside stories -- the stuff we never saw or knew about. Mostly, it's a pretty predictable telling of events we all experienced from one unique perspective -- almost a journalist's work journal. No OMG stories that would have made this a more titillating read. You have to remember -- this is an active journalist who wasn't about to embarrass any of her then (and current) sources. My favorite part of the book was learning of her childhood with gonzo journalist parents. A full book about that would probably have been more exciting.

I actually really enjoyed this book. From how it was written to the stories and details she added. It was a nice perspective to see. I honestly don’t know much about Tur or her journalsmis, but I like how she continued to say that it was her responsibility to be objective and to ask the tough questions. Even though I like Trump much more than Clinton I hope she was sincere in that pursuit and not doing it because of personal bias.From her writing you can tell that she is no fan of Don. I do wish she gave a little more credit to him and the campaign that he was running but I understand where she is coming from and why she did not after hearing her side. It was unfortunate to hear about how some supporters treated her. I think it’s also a valuable lesson that shows, how people felt Washington, D.C. had left them behind and their interests.Overall, I give the book 4 stars just because Tur seemed a little too jaded by Trump vs objective and open minded. If you are to the left you’ll love this book. If you are to the right you’ll appreciate a different perspective that is unique, fresh and captivating to read about. I couldn’t put the book down!

Gahhhh....Not sure where to start. I opened and closed this book several times before reading it through. Ms. Tur begins with the night of the 2016 election and I seriously had some PTSD and had to put it down and get some distance before I could get back to it. As an embedded reporter for NBC during the Trump campaign, Ms. Tur had a front row seat to the weirdest presidential election in the history of this country. Her insights are both terrifying and eye-opening, but honest and straight-forward. Highly recommended read for anyone who wants to find out more about how we got here.

My Goodreads review: "I cannot write a full review of this book-too political and, for me, too painful. To get the basics out of the way, it's very well-written (Katy knows her grammar), fast-paced, and engaging. Voters who supported Donald Trump, regardless of party, will not read it, or, if they do, will not believe a word. Voters who did not support Donald Trump, regardless of party, may not read it, and if they do, already know the facts. Tur did not ask for or desire the grueling assignment to the Trump campaign, but, attending virtually every event for nearly two years, she not only predicts his victory, but also exposes the ugly nativist underbelly of America in which people do not like and will not tolerate those who are not white, Christian, or born in the USA. I'm glad she wrote it."

I too, was one of those news soldiers for print. A 5am soldier to get to that presser for some breaking story that really, never mattered anyway. But you do it and it ultimately destroys you. Like drugs always do. This story is the real deal, spine shivering real. Of course the story was as it turned out, strong. You can be lucky. To write it though, so well, is something great. So, what you have here is a great story, well told. Superbly well told. Without fear or favour, its one of those great reads. A road book, a great one. Do not hesitate....read it and weep.

This is a first-hand and personal account of the Trump election campaign, written by a journalist who found herself following the Trump trail as his election chances seemed to grow and grow…Disturbing to read how the media were vilified during the campaign, and how Trump took exception to being asked challenging questions quite early on.Tur’s close-up perspective on the campaign gave her a front-row seat as the campaign grew in confidence. Trump’s election success came as no surprise to Tur, as she could see night after night, the strength of his following.Tur’s account is also very personal, telling the story of how gruelling covering a long campaign can be. While the candidate flies in luxury, the media are on a bus surviving as best they can. By the end, the close group of journalists who have been together on the trail develop very close relationships.

BY REBEL WITH OUT A COATThis is the most interesting and best written book about Donald Trumps election campaign. Katy Tur is heads and shoulders above the other book's that I have read about Donald Trump. A fascinating story about the behaviour of trump,s supporters at his rallys, the crude disgusting t shirts his supporters wore and how and why they were willing to support him no matter what he said or did or lied about. The life of a journalist is not any easy one, if they are trying to report the facts, but this journalist and others actually needed security protection, mainly because of Donald Trump. A must read if you are at all interested in Donald Trumps becoming the 45th president of America. This book tells you more facts about his campaign, and what was happening in America during his campaign than we in the UK were aware off. Personally I'm petrified that some one like him has so much influence now and it is obvious that his campaign will unfortunately influence future presidential campaigns in a terrible way, dumbing down to peoples worst instincts. I hope that I'm wrong.

This is a pretty fascinating book written in prose that is remarkably easy to read. Perhaps that's a downside: it's a very quick read and not one that I expect to repeat, not for lack of interest but because ... well, it's not as if there are hidden plot points that I may not get until the second or third reading. All the same, it makes a good read - first time though!

Just finished Katy Tur's brilliant book, "Unbelievable", and wow, what a roller coaster ride it was. A candid insight into one of the most memorable campaigns of a lifetime. The book's innovative layout seems a little disconcerting at first, until you realize that you're running on twin tracks: the long campaign itself on white paper and the day of the election on grey. An ingenious contrast that makes it even more interesting. Overall, a great and compelling read.

A good read, I like the insights into the profession of broadcast journalism. Some of the events in this book are chilling, especially the threats and intimidation she was subjected to by Trump, and I'm really impressed that she didn't let him and his supporters drive her out of her chosen profession. I hope she'll write more in future, she's got a nice writing style.

Didnt tell me much I didnt already know, but an engaging read about whats its like on the inside of the Trump bandwagon.

I have read a lot of accounts of this time. This one is be far my favourite; funny, honest, scary. Not too much but enough to paint a picture. Great book.

A must read for anyone who thinks Trump is a one of the good guys!

Well written, inciteful, entertaining and illuminating on both Trump's rise to power and the man who is now President.

Enjoyable read, remembering how the madness began

Loved this book. Katy's story is insightful, funny and fascinating.

Unbelievable was an easy read. An incredible insight into one journalist's year of following the Trump campaign. The title is appropriate - "unbelievable". Reading Ms Tur's experiences, I could almost feel her fatigue and exhaustion. She does not hesitate to record several of Trump's outrageous outbursts - some of which I had forgotten. One almost wishes for a different outcome. A good reminder of one of the most distasteful and mean spirited campaign's in American history.

I loved this book. Katy Tur takes you on the rollercoaster ride of 2016, Donald Trump's election campaign--how she was deprived of coffee and sleep following across America. I enjoyed how she shared much of her life--her parents' unconventional life in helicopters--how herself she got bitten by the journalism bug while stopping in a forest fire. Katy writes well--I felt her being torn as she gives up so much of her personal life while living in cheap hotels on the trail, having the right clothes for the right climate, and the challenge in looking good for the cameras when you are just plumb exhausted. She details beings singled out by Trump--and an embarrassing moment on Morning Joe. The anecdotes make this book a very engaging read--like when Trump was giving one of his speeches Katy knew by heart, she could be found on the risers, hiding behind the cameras and knitting a scarf. Right on, Katy!

I couldn't stop reading Tur's gripping account of her experiences covering the Trump election campaign. Especially her direct interactions with Trump, I find, reveal even more about the insanity of Donald Trump and his kidnapping of the presidency. Sometimes her narrative becomes too personal - most of us buy the book, I assume, primarily because we want more dirt on Trump, not because we are interested in Tur's personal life - but her own story is a compelling one and sheds some useful light on the life of a TV journalist. I like her writing style, it's punchy and to the point, not cerebral or overstated.