The Strange Case of Donald J. Trump

The Strange Case of Donald J. Trump provides a coherent and nuanced psychological portrait of Donald Trump, drawing upon biographical events in the subject's life and contemporary scientific research and theory in personality, developmental, and social psychology. Dan P. McAdams, renowned psychologist who pioneered the study of lives, examines the central personality traits, personal values and motives, and the interpersonal andcultural factors that together have shaped Trump's psychological makeup, with an emphasis on the strangeness of the case--that is, how Trump again and again defies psychological expectations regarding what it meansto be a human being. The book's central thesis is that Donald Trump is the episodic man. The chapters, structured as stand-alone essays each riffing on a single psychological theme, build on each other to present a portrait of a person who compulsively lives in the moment, without an internal story to integrate his life in time. With an emphasis on scientific personality research, rather than political rhetoric, McAdams shows that Trump's utter lack of an inner life story is truly exceptional.This book is a remarkable case study which should be of as much interest to psychologists as it is to readers trying to reckon with the often confounding behavior and temperament of the 45th Presidentof the United States.

“"Interest in Trump is sure to persist, regardless of whether he serves another term as president or not, and this monograph will remain a monumental gift, helpful for shaping thoughtful discussion and reflection on a conspicuous public figure." -- Choice "This book is profound, insightful, and evidence-based. It's the summation of the academic research on personality that McAdams has done over his entire lifetime. I feel entirely comfortable recommending it to readers of all stripes. Strongly recommended." -- Richard Penaskovic, Informed Comment "Dan McAdams' analysis of the personality of Donald Trump is nothing short of a tour de force. Drawing on decades of research, McAdams offers fresh and startling insights into the development-more importantly, the lack of development-of Trump's personality. Reading McAdams' highly engaging account, I finally understood why so many of Trump's actions are so disconnected from 'truth' and 'reality,' and so bafflingly unpredictable." -- Lee Anna Clark, William J. and Dorothy K. O'Neill Professor of Psychology, University of Notre Dame "Here is brilliant and original insight into the strangeness of Donald Trump. 'He is one primal thing,' writes McAdams, and it explains both him and us. This book will enlighten and terrify you." -- Michael D'Antonio, author of The Truth About Trump "An engaging and provocative book, written by one of the world's leading experts on the science of personality. Instead of politicizing or pathologizing Trump, McAdams draws on contemporary scientific research to illuminate one of the most controversial characters of our era. Even those who think they know what makes Trump tick will gain deeper insight into his unique personality, and McAdams adeptness as a storyteller makes the book appealing to both laypeople and scientists alike." -- Richard W. Robins, Professor of Psychology, University of California, Davis "Dan McAdams is one of the world's top experts on the psychology of personality, and in this extraordinary book he applies his talents to the most complicated and consequential personality in American life. McAdams offers no psychiatric diagnosis, just a series of stunning insights that will reduce the confusion so many people around the world have felt since 2016. McAdams' analysis of Donald Trump's lack of any "narrative arc" tying together his never-ending succession of energizing deals and battles is haunting and enlightening. There may be no more important book to read in 2020." -- Jonathan Haidt, Thomas Cooley Professor of Ethical Leadership, New York University Stern School of Business, and author of The Righteous Mind and The Coddling of the American Min”

"Interest in Trump is sure to persist, regardless of whether he serves another term as president or not, and this monograph will remain a monumental gift, helpful for shaping thoughtful discussion and reflection on a conspicuous public figure." -- Choice"This book is profound, insightful, and evidence-based. It's the summation of the academic research on personality that McAdams has done over his entire lifetime. I feel entirely comfortable recommending it to readers of all stripes. Strongly recommended." -- Richard Penaskovic, Informed Comment"Dan McAdams' analysis of the personality of Donald Trump is nothing short of a tour de force. Drawing on decades of research, McAdams offers fresh and startling insights into the development-more importantly, the lack of development-of Trump's personality. Reading McAdams' highly engaging account, I finally understood why so many of Trump's actions are so disconnected from 'truth' and 'reality,' and so bafflingly unpredictable." -- Lee Anna Clark, William J.and Dorothy K. O'Neill Professor of Psychology, University of Notre Dame"Here is brilliant and original insight into the strangeness of Donald Trump. 'He is one primal thing,' writes McAdams, and it explains both him and us. This book will enlighten and terrify you." -- Michael D'Antonio, author of The Truth About Trump"An engaging and provocative book, written by one of the world's leading experts on the science of personality. Instead of politicizing or pathologizing Trump, McAdams draws on contemporary scientific research to illuminate one of the most controversial characters of our era. Even those who think they know what makes Trump tick will gain deeper insight into his unique personality, and McAdams adeptness as a storyteller makes the book appealing to both laypeopleand scientists alike." -- Richard W. Robins, Professor of Psychology, University of California, Davis"Dan McAdams is one of the world's top experts on the psychology of personality, and in this extraordinary book he applies his talents to the most complicated and consequential personality in American life. McAdams offers no psychiatric diagnosis, just a series of stunning insights that will reduce the confusion so many people around the world have felt since 2016. McAdams' analysis of Donald Trump's lack of any "narrative arc" tying together his never-endingsuccession of energizing deals and battles is haunting and enlightening. There may be no more important book to read in 2020." -- Jonathan Haidt, Thomas Cooley Professor of Ethical Leadership, New YorkUniversity Stern School of Business, and author of The Righteous Mind and The Coddling of the American Min

Dan P. McAdams is the Henry Wade Rogers Professor of Psychology, and Professor of Education and Social Policy, at Northwestern University. He is the author of nearly 300 scientific articles and chapters and seven books on personality development and psychological biography. He is a recipient of the Jack Block Award for career contributions to personality psychology, the Henry A. Murray Award for excellence in the study of lives, and the WilliamJames Award for his book, The Redemptive Self: Stories Americans Live By (Oxford University Press, 2006). He is the author most recently of The Art and Science of Personality Development (Guilford Press, 2015). Hiswork has been featured in many media outlets, including The New York Times, The New Yorker, The Atlantic, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today, as well as CNN, NPR, and other television and radio venues.

The Strange Case of Donald J. Trump provides a coherent and nuanced psychological portrait of Donald Trump, drawing upon biographical events in the subject's life and contemporary scientific research and theory in personality, developmental, and social psychology. Dan P. McAdams, renowned psychologist who pioneered the study of lives, examines the central personality traits, personal values and motives, and the interpersonal and cultural factors that together have shaped Trump's psychological makeup, with an emphasis on the strangeness of the case--that is, how Trump again and again defies psychological expectations regarding what it means to be a human being. The book's central thesis is that Donald Trump is the episodic man. The chapters, structuredas stand-alone essays each riffing on a single psychological theme, build on each other to present a portrait of a person who compulsively lives in the moment, without an internal story to integrate his life in time. With an emphasis on scientific personality research, rather than political rhetoric,McAdams shows that Trump's utter lack of an inner life story is truly exceptional. This book is a remarkable case study which should be of as much interest to psychologists as it is to readers trying to reckon with the often confounding behavior and temperament of the 45th President of the United States.

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