I listened to the 10-hour Audiobook of this book. The author is a reporter who had access to Trump for many year. I think he did a nice job telling the history of their encounters and his impressions. ( )

I like Jonathan Karl's style for this book, about the things he was exposed to as a reporter during those times. Disappointing from the point of view that a lot of it I already knew, having lived through it and following all the media coverage. But still I liked learning the extra that Karl tells us through the lens of his seat at the table. ( )

Disappointing. Felt like I knew all about each vignette from cable news, NYT, and Washington Post. "Front Row" did not improve my understanding of Trump nor events nor issues in any major way. Overall, the book felt a bit shallow. I think Karl is a very good reporter, and I enjoy hearing his reports on TV, and I like his writing style (a bit chatty), but I won't be getting his November 2021 release. Seen this movie before. ( )

"Front Row at the Trump Show", by journalist Jonathan Karl, introduces the reader into what it's been like to be a White House reporter during the Trump Administration. Karl has known and interviewed Donald Trump many times, first writing about the NY real estate mogul some twenty-five years ago, and dealing with him off and on over the years since then.

Having a long-term working relationship with Donald Trump, Karl has good insights into Trump's behaviors and personality. So Karl has a good frame of reference to decipher Trump's words and actions. His behind-the-scenes descriptions of his interactions with the President are insightful, showing how at times, the President can be candid and friendly behind the scenes, and be a completely different person when he takes the stage and plays to the crowd in front of his supporters.

When reading, you get to see how Trump plays his role as master manipulator, and see why Trump continues to meet with reporters from the "fake news" outlets. Trump want to be the story, and often his most outlandish statements, even if knowingly false, gives him the coverage he seeks.

I liked the way Karl explained his relationship with the President. While Trump was frequently critical of Karl and/or the news organization(s) he represented, the book doesn't focus on each personal slight, nor spend all his time trying to criticize each and every policy decision of the President. He spends much more time simple telling his story of what it's like being a reporter covering the President who is so critical of the main stream media.

I also found it interesting in hearing about Karl's other working relationships with and what he had to say about fellow reporters such as CNN's Jim Acosta, and White House Press Secretaries Sean Spicer and Sarah Sanders.
( )

I found this book very fair to the President and his Cabinet. I found that this book pointed out flaws with everyone involved even his fellow reporters and even with himself. It was interesting to get a peek behind the curtain to see how the press corps works. ( )