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Think Big and Kick Ass
Book cover
Book cover
AuthorDonald Trump
Bill Zanker
Original titleThink Big and Kick Ass: In Business and in Life
LanguageEnglish
SubjectSelf-help
PublisherHarperCollins
Publication date
2007
Publication placeUnited States
Media typePrint (Hardcover)
Pages384
ISBN978-0061547836
OCLC946581955
Preceded byWhy We Want You to Be Rich(2006)
Followed byTrump 101: The Way to Success(2007)
WebsiteOfficial website
[1][2][3]
This article is part of
a series about
Donald Trump
Business and personal
45th President of the United States
Tenure
Policies
Appointments
Presidential campaigns
Impeachments
Prosecutions
Interactions involving Russia
COVID-19 pandemic
Donald Trump's signature
Seal of the President of the United States

Think Big and Kick Ass: In Business and in Lifeis a non-fiction book byDonald Trump,then head ofThe Trump Organizationand laterPresident of the United States,andBill Zanker,The Learning Annexentrepreneur, first published in hardcover in 2007 byHarperCollins.Another edition was subsequently published in paperback in 2008 under the titleThink Big: Make It Happen in Business and Life.Trump and Zanker had prior business ventures together before writing the book; Zanker's company helped gain Trump speaking engagements around the world with large audiences.

InThink Big and Kick Ass,Trump advises the reader to create large goals for themselves, citing his future political opponentHillary Clintonas an example of success.[4]Trump focuses a chapter "Revenge" on the importance of retribution, recounting his feud withRosie O'Donnelland criticism ofMark Cuban.[5][6]The book describes Trump's romantic exploits, and he muses that an unknown quality gave him success with women.[7][8]Coauthor Zanker describes Trump's history with The Learning Annex, saying his business partner gave a significant amount of earnings to charity.[9][10]Trump discusses his debt difficulties with banks in the 1990s, and criticizes the banks for unwisely investing with him.[11][12]Trump promoted the book onLarry King Live,at a cash giveaway in New York City, and in a speech at theWharton School.[13][1][14]The book's 2007 printing was for 400,000 copies.[2]Becoming a bestseller in 2007,[15]the book was the highest sellingpersonal financework onAmazon.comin 2015.[16]

Vanguardwrote positively of the book,[17]and fashion designerEmilia Wicksteadsaid it inspired her to become an entrepreneur.[18]Real Estate Weeklycalled the book "the icon of everything Trump".[19]London Review of Bookswrote that it capitalized on consumers' dreams.[20]The work was negatively received by two reviews inThe Economist,[1][15]and byReal-World Economics Review,[14]and theSan Francisco Chronicle.[21]

Background

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Donald TrumpcowroteThink Big and Kick AsswithThe Learning AnnexentrepreneurBill Zanker.[22]Prior to their collaboration on the book, Trump and Zanker had entered into a business relationship through The Learning Annex.[9]Zanker's company performed marketing services forThe Trump Organizationand Trump'sbrand.[9]The Learning Annex helped arrange speeches around the world for Trump.[9]The speeches by Trump were billed as part of a series called the Learning Annex Wealth Expos.[10]Zanker's efforts helped garner crowds of 80,000 in attendance at some of Trump's speeches.[23]After their collaborations including The Learning Annex andThink Big and Kick Ass,Trump and Zanker cofounded a crowdfunding website called FundAnything in 2013.[23][24][25]Trump's role included placing monies into the company, investing in donation drives, and marketing his donations viaTwitter.[24][25][26]Trump parted with FundAnything in December 2014.[25]Trump said of his business ventures with coauthor Zanker, "We really have had great success together."[23]

Summary

[edit]
Donald Trumpin 2008

Think Big and Kick Assemphasizes the importance of maintaining large goals for oneself.[27]Trump elaborates on his think big thesis, saying bravado and playing to people's fantasies can excite people who do not think big themselves.[28]He advises budding business careerists to have an optimistic outlook,[29][30]crediting his positive attitude for his success.[30]Because those who seek out their passions in life will find financial success,[31]he tells readers to devote two hours a day focusing on how to generate money.[32]The book talks about the importance of concentration on the task at hand, but cautions against narrow-mindedness and inflexibility.[33]Trump describes his expectations of loyalty from his employees, writing, "I try to hire people who are honest and loyal.... I put the people who are loyal to me on a high pedestal and take care of them very well. I go out of my way for the people who were loyal to me in bad times."[22][34]Trump citesHillary Clintonas an example of an individual with "the ability to think big".[4]He warns about repercussions for disloyalty, saying a lack of respect will lead to struggles.[35]

The chapter "Revenge" focuses on achieving retribution against perceived enemies.[36][5][37]It begins by recounting a long-running argument between Trump and actressRosie O'Donnell.[5]Trump then criticizes businessmanMark Cuban's television persona and appearance.[6][38]He goes on to praiseBill Clinton's courage and criticizesMario Cuomo's lack of it.[34]Trump advises readers who have been wronged to "screw them back in spades"[37]and reap any possible benefits.[39][40]He elaborated on the measure of revenge by saying he responds to wrongs by retaliating in the same manner, but with more severity.[41]Trump cautions readers against being complacent and trusting in civilization because the world is cruel and ruthless.[42]Trump writes that those who do not seek revenge are remiss and calls them "schmucks".[5][43]

Trump recalls some of his romantic exploits, claiming to have secretly been with "Beautiful, famous, successful, married" women.[44][7][45]Trump reflects on how he would be filled with disbelief during these exploits, surprised at his own success.[46][47][48]He explained that he was successful in his endeavors with women due to someunknown qualityhe possessed.[8]

CoauthorBill Zankerwrites in the work about the importance ofbrand namepower for Trump, saying Trump's worth comes from his passion and ability to connect with people.[9]Zanker gave his company,The Learning Annexand its business relationship with Trump as an example, saying Trump earns more from speaking engagements than just the nominal amount on his paycheck when one factors in advertising and promotion.[9]Trump concurs with Zanker's assessment and notes that he donates his monetary income from speeches to charity.[10]

Trump discusses his 1990s conflicts with finance companies regarding debt management in the work, saying the banks accepted some of the blame.[11][12][49]He tells the reader that economic depressions are beyond a borrower's control[50]and reminds them that banks fear lawsuits.[39][51]

Genre

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The New YorkerandPoliticoplacedThink Big and Kick Assin the genre ofself-help books.[22][39]The EconomistandBookseller + Publisher Magazinesaid it was part of a trend of business books.[52]The Economistnoted that during successful periods of thestock marketmore finance books were published.[1]Author and academic John Lubans wrote about the business genre, "And there’s a subset of the business fad industry: books. Not about a system of work, but titles written by celebrity leaders like Donald Trump, Jack Welch, and others bent on explaining how they got to be as good as they decidedly are and how you too, if you follow their advice, can make it to the top. Mr. Trump’s latest,Think Big and Kick Ass,probably defines the genre. "[53][54]Jeffrey L. Buller wrote inChange Leadership in Higher Educationthat the book was part of "a school of thought that says when it comes to success in life or at work, leadership requires people to become aggressive, assertive, and at times even abusive in order to achieve their goals.[55]The Daily Beastmarveled that subsequent toTrump's inauguration,the work joined the pantheon ofpresidential memoirs.[56]

Release and sales

[edit]

Think Big and Kick Asswas first published in 2007 in hardcover format byHarperCollins.[57][22]An audiobook was released the same year.[58]An audiobook was released under the same title again in 2008.[59]The work was first published under the titleThink Big: Make It Happen in Business and Lifein paperback format in 2008.[60]HarperCollins gave it additional print releases under this title, in 2010 and 2012.[61][62]In November 2007 there were 400,000 print copies of the work.[2]Must Read Summaries published a summary of the book in 2014 and 2016.[63][64]

Trump marketed the work with an interview on theCNNprogramLarry King Live,[13]and at appearances in New York City.[21][65]He promoted sales of the book by doling our currency.[3]At an event in New York City, Trump personally handed out one-hundred-dollar bills to the first 100 purchasers of the book.[1]Trump gave a presentation about the book at theWharton School of the University of Pennsylvaniain an event hosted byMSNBCon January 2, 2008.[14]During a 2008 lawsuit involvingDeutsche Bank,attorneys for the finance company quoted from the book as evidence about Trump's views on loan relationships with banks.[66][67][40]According toThe Economist,the book became a bestseller in 2007.[15]In July 2015, the book was the highest selling work in the category ofpersonal financeonAmazon.com.[16]Trump declared revenues of less than $201.00 from the book in 2016.[68][69][70]

Critical reception

[edit]

Vanguardjournalist Ochereome Nnanna wrote positively of the book in 2016, saying her impression of Trump was as "a very imaginative, straightforward, practical person".[17]Fashion designerEmilia Wicksteadtold theFinancial Timesin 2014 that the book inspired her to become an entrepreneur in her twenties.[18]Real Estate Weeklywrote in 2015, "Think Big And Kick Assis the title of one of Trump's books and the icon of everything Trump. "[19]London Review of Bookssaid the work was a way to capitalize on the aspirations of consumers in 2016.[20]

The Economisthad two reviews of the book in 2007. One was critical of the advice imparted in the work,[1]and the other wrote, "Donald Trump is a Wharton alumni, but you would not guess it from his new bestseller [...] with its street-fighter's advice to always get even and never marry without a prenuptial agreement."[15]University of Hawaiibusiness history professor Robert R. Locke compared Trump's principals for self-enrichment torobber baronsin theGilded Agein a 2017 article onTrumponomicsforReal-World Economics Review.[14]In 2015,Carlos Lozadawrote inThe Washington Postthat he found most of Trump's advice to be obvious or useless.[71]

San Francisco Chroniclewas critical of the book in 2016, calling it "self-aggrandizing" and, "extolling little other than a brash,Gordon Gekko-like pursuit of money and real estate holdings. "[21]The Economic Timescommented upon the work in 2017, saying it gave a window into Trump's views on deal-making.[72]Bloomberg NewsandThe Huffington Postobserved in 2016 that the work formed part of a collection of works which were profitable for Trump in collaboration withghostwriters.[73][74]

See also

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References

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  1. ^abcdef"Business books: Kicking ass in an unflat world",The Economist,November 1, 2007,retrievedJune 13,2017
  2. ^abcDean, Josh (December 21, 2007),"Bill Zanker Never Wants to Come Down",Inc.,retrievedJune 13,2017
  3. ^abChan, Sewell (October 18, 2007),"Cash Giveaway Promotes Trump Book",The New York Times,retrievedJune 13,2017
  4. ^ab"7 new zingers for Donald Trump",MarketWatch,July 29, 2015,retrievedJune 13,2017
  5. ^abcdPanetta, Alexander (August 11, 2015),"The sultan of slurs: Donald Trump explains his passion for putdowns",The London Free Press,The Canadian Press,retrievedJune 13,2017
  6. ^abSargent, Hilary (September 14, 2015),"Your guide to eccentric billionaires who may or may not want to be president",Boston.com,retrievedJune 13,2017
  7. ^abDiamond, Jeremy (January 26, 2016),"GOP senator who raised Trump's marital infidelities to campaign with Cruz, Rubio",CNN,retrievedJune 13,2017
  8. ^abResnick, Gideon (March 25, 2016),"Donald Trump's Heidi Cruz Attack Excites Men's Rights Activists",The Daily Beast,retrievedJune 13,2017
  9. ^abcdefKaczynski, Andrew; Massie, Christopher (August 11, 2016),"That Time Trump Said He Had World's Highest Speaking Fee And Everybody Went With It",BuzzFeed News,retrievedJune 13,2017
  10. ^abcKaczynski, Andrew; Massie, Christopher; McDermott, Nathan (June 19, 2016),"Trump Promised Millions To Charity, But Gave Little To His Own Foundation",BuzzFeed News,retrievedJune 13,2017
  11. ^abElstein, Aaron (July 10, 2016),"When major firms could no longer stomach the risk, Trump turned to this shadow bank",Crain's New York Business,retrievedJune 13,2017
  12. ^abHedegaard, Erik (May 11, 2011),"Donald Trump Lets His Hair Down",Rolling Stone,retrievedJune 13,2017
  13. ^abLévy, Bernard-Henri(April 14, 2017),"Trump the traitor: Simplistic ideas",The Himalayan Times,retrievedJune 13,2017
  14. ^abcdLocke, Robert R. (March 30, 2017),"Trumponomics, firm governance and US prosperity"(PDF),Real-World Economics Review(79): 120–135,retrievedJune 13,2017
  15. ^abcd"Business view: What witch doctors?",The Economist,November 13, 2007,retrievedJune 13,2017
  16. ^ab"Latino leaders warn Republican Party to condemn Trump for comments about Mexicans",Fox News,July 3, 2015,retrievedJune 13,2017,'Think Big,' co-written by Bill Zanker, was Amazon's top seller for personal finance.
  17. ^abNnanna, Ochereome (November 17, 2016),"America's sore losers (2)",Vanguard,Nigeria,retrievedJune 13,2017
  18. ^abLong, Carola (September 12, 2014),"Interview: Emilia Wickstead's show will be a highlight of London Fashion Week",Financial Times,retrievedJune 13,2017,As important, though, was a copy of Donald Trump's Think Big and Kick Ass in Business and Life that she picked up in her early twenties: its make-things-happen mantra provided an unlikely source of motivation.
  19. ^ab"How to brand yourself like Donald Trump",Real Estate Weekly,August 12, 2015, archived fromthe originalon October 22, 2016,retrievedJune 13,2017
  20. ^abWeinberger, Eliot (August 3, 2016),"It was everything",London Review of Books,38(16),retrievedJune 13,2017
  21. ^abcMcMurtrie, John (December 21, 2016),"Farewell to the reader in chief",San Francisco Chronicle,retrievedJune 13,2017
  22. ^abcdShesol, Jeff(May 19, 2017),"What kind of loyalty does a president need?",The New Yorker,retrievedJune 13,2017
  23. ^abcGannes, Liz (May 8, 2013),"Donald Trump Launches FundAnything, a Kickstarter Clone Meant to Bring Crowdfunding to the Masses",All Things Digital,retrievedJune 13,2017
  24. ^abPrimack, Dan (May 7, 2013),"Donald Trump gets into crowdfunding",Fortune
  25. ^abcPrimack, Dan (December 4, 2014),"Donald Trump bails on crowdfunding site",Fortune,retrievedJune 13,2017
  26. ^Primack, Dan (August 13, 2013),"What Donald Trump keeps (mostly) quiet about on Twitter",Fortune,retrievedJune 13,2017
  27. ^Keane, Anthony (November 12, 2016),"What you can learn from Donald Trump's words of financial wisdom",The Advertiser,retrievedJune 13,2017,If you're going to be thinking anything, you might as well think big.
  28. ^Reilly, Peter J. (May 4, 2017),"President's Religious Liberty Order Might Not Change IRS At All",Forbes,retrievedJune 13,2017
  29. ^Griffiths, Chris; Costi, Melina (2011),Grasp: The Solution,Proactive Press, pp. 95–96,ISBN978-1905493760
  30. ^abDecelles, Germain (2013),Change Your Future, Now!,WebTech Management and Publishing incorporated, pp. 64–65,ISBN978-0978366773
  31. ^Guenot, Garett (2016), "Do What You Love and the Money Will Follow",Fueled By Purpose,FriesenPress,ISBN978-1460286784
  32. ^Roux, Danette (2012),In The Garden Of My Heart,Balboa Press, pp. 85–86,ISBN978-1452560410
  33. ^Marshall, Alex (November 9, 2016),"Donald Trump's unexpected thoughts on music - revealed",BBC Music
  34. ^abMerica, Dan (May 11, 2017),"Comey firing puts Trump's most cherished trait on center stage: Loyalty",CNN,retrievedJune 13,2017
  35. ^Glover, Scott (15 December 2016),"Trump's books offer clues on how he'll lead from White House",CNN,retrievedJune 13,2017
  36. ^Watson, Brian T. (July 26, 2016),"A foul public mood may elect a brand",The Salem News,retrievedJune 13,2017
  37. ^abCoppins, McKay (February 6, 2017),"Bracing for Trump's Revenge",The Atlantic,retrievedJune 13,2017
  38. ^Kludt, Tom (August 3, 2015),"Trump once said Mark Cuban has look of a 'Neanderthal'",CNN,retrievedJune 13,2017
  39. ^abcKruse, Michael (October 7, 2016),"Donald Trump Says He 'Called' the '08 Crash. Here's What Really Happened",Politico Magazine,retrievedJune 13,2017
  40. ^abNorris, Floyd (December 4, 2008),"Trump Sees Act of God in Recession",The New York Times,retrievedJune 13,2017
  41. ^Purcell, Andrew (December 7, 2016),"The chilling of dissent in Trump's America",The Herald,retrievedJune 13,2017
  42. ^Almond, Steve (February 17, 2017),"American Agita: Resistance As Antidote To Donald Trump-Induced Anxiety",WBUR-FM,retrievedJune 13,2017
  43. ^Collins, Eliza (June 14, 2016),"70 for 70: Memorable Donald Trump quotes on his big birthday",USA Today,retrievedJune 13,2017
  44. ^French, David (January 27, 2016),"Yes, It Was Fair for Ben Sasse to Question Donald Trump About His Many Affairs",National Review,retrievedJune 13,2017
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  47. ^Kaffer, Nancy (October 6, 2016),"The misogyny inherent in Trump's campaign",Detroit Free Press,retrievedJune 13,2017
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  49. ^Moyer, Justin Wm. (August 10, 2015),"Why Donald Trump shrugs so much",The Washington Post,retrievedJune 13,2017
  50. ^Gross, Daniel (2009),Dumb Money: How Our Greatest Financial Minds Bankrupted the Nation,Free Press,pp.1–2,ISBN978-1439159873
  51. ^Smith, Geoffrey (March 21, 2016),"This Is Donald Trump's Go-To Lender",Fortune,retrievedJune 13,2017
  52. ^Evans, Eamon (July 2008),"The Business of Business Books",Bookseller + Publisher Magazine,88(1): 22–23,ISSN1833-5403
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  55. ^Buller, Jeffrey L. (2014),Change Leadership in Higher Education,Jossey-Bass, pp. 192–193,ISBN978-1118762035
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  57. ^OCLC946581955
  58. ^OCLC416796597
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  62. ^OCLC801586527
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  64. ^Summary: Think Big and Kick Ass: Review and Analysis of Trump and Zanker's Book,Business Book Summaries, 2016,ISBN978-2511048351
  65. ^Drew, Elizabeth (May 6, 2016),"Trump's Long Game",The New York Review of Books,retrievedJune 13,2017
  66. ^Harding, Luke; Hopkins, Nick (February 16, 2017),"How Donald Trump became Deutsche Bank's biggest headache",The Guardian,retrievedJune 13,2017
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  68. ^Jacobs, Ben (May 18, 2016),"Trump financial declaration reveals he holds bonds in companies he attacked",The Guardian
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  70. ^Eder, Steve; Barbaro, Michael; Bennett, Kitty (July 22, 2015),"Donald Trump's Income and Wealth Are Shown in Filing but Are Hard to Pinpoint",The New York Times,retrievedJune 13,2017
  71. ^Lozada, Carlos (July 30, 2015),"I just binge-read eight books by Donald Trump. Here's what I learned.",The Washington Post
  72. ^Krishnan, Raghu (January 27, 2017),"Donald Trump's policies seem to be inspired by Ayn Rand's 'Atlas Shrugged'",The Economic Times,retrievedJune 13,2017
  73. ^O'Brien, Timothy L. (July 19, 2016), "Trump Doesn't Write His Own Stuff. Why Should Melania?",Bloomberg News
  74. ^Dreier, Peter (December 19, 2016),"Zsa Zsa, Donald, And America's Celebrity Culture",The Huffington Post,retrievedJune 13,2017
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