Bloomberg opinion writer Joe Nocera hearkened back to “innocent times” when he recalled being asked to review Donald Trump’s new book over three decades ago.
Nocera shared a copy of a 31-year-old letter from then Wall Street Journal book review editor David Brooks asking him to review Trump’s “Art of the Deal” years before he became president.
31 years ago, a young book review editor at @WSJ , a fella named David Brooks, assigned me “The Art of the Deal” to review. Here’s his assignment letter, which I came across in the midst of a purge. Oh, such innocent times! pic.twitter.com/h4wZzFsQLm
— Joe Nocera (@opinion_joe) June 10, 2018
“I must admit, I like the a**hole,” Brooks wrote, referring to Trump the real estate mogul because, he said, “he makes life interesting, and by dreaming big, and getting things done, he makes city government look foolish.”
Apparently, Nocera was not a big fan of the 1987 book which went on to become a New York Times Best Seller, remaining at number one for 13 weeks.
To those who have asked about my review of “The Art of the Deal” in @WSJ , I can’t find it online but here is how it begins…. pic.twitter.com/8kthilwtbj
— Joe Nocera (@opinion_joe) June 11, 2018
…and how it ended. pic.twitter.com/nADLpuH0Zo
— Joe Nocera (@opinion_joe) June 11, 2018
Trump plugged his book during a campaign speech in Alabama in 2015, calling it his second favorite book after the Bible.
Twitter users reacted with amusement to Nocera’s trip down memory lane.
lol even then owning the libs was a selling point https://t.co/vkI6tHKRYt
— Patrick Hruby (@patrick_hruby) June 10, 2018
Hi! You must have the rest of it? Can’t you just take the pics and post them in order? Too many of us no longer have a WSJ subscription anyway. Your piece sounds great, fun! Hope you can….thanks!
— P Ebo (@EBOlady) June 11, 2018
Love the review & the references you used from the book about New Yorkers at the time.
Turns out we get to see the book put into practice this week. I’m thinking I might read it. Had it in my Kindle for nearly a decade.
— John Covfefe? (@NobamaDotCom) June 11, 2018
I’d die if that number was still active
— Wendell Wilkie (@WendellWilkie) June 10, 2018
I tried that number. Brooks doesn’t answer.
— Old Life (@oldlife) June 11, 2018
Great note. Great vintage.
— George Ledwith (@GeorgeLedwith1) June 11, 2018
Many were critical of Brooks who even chimed in that he would like to “revise” his comments.
Evidence that David Brooks has always been terrible
— Captain Save-a-lady liberty (@AJTheTVGuy) June 10, 2018
WTH! David Brooks was a “fan” of a*%hole trump? He must really like him now that he’s taking his “getting things done” and “making government look foolish” talents to the national stage.
— Cesar Hernandez (@cesarhdz) June 10, 2018
No matter the subject or topic, editors should keep their opinions out of assignments
— Elizabeth Dinan (@DinanElizabeth) June 11, 2018
After 3 decades of consideration, I would like to revise and extend my remarks.
— David Brooks (@nytdavidbrooks) June 10, 2018
But it seemed many were more fascinated with how the going rate for freelance writers has not changed much over 30 years.
Google says $550.
— Joe Nocera (@opinion_joe) June 11, 2018
This is a valuable document for a number of reasons, including the rate, which would still be pretty plumb today (which is kind of a bummer). https://t.co/nTD6QjOEBL
— Noel Murray (@NoelMu) June 10, 2018
So payment rates have remained much the same the same for 30 years. :( https://t.co/DSD3HH4mC9
— Andrew Downie (@adowniebrazil) June 10, 2018
There are a lot of shocking things in this letter, like the fact that freelance fees for book reviews haven’t changed in 31 years. https://t.co/GlPSb4IPNe
— Nick Confessore (@nickconfessore) June 10, 2018
As proved by this letter, one thing hasn’t changed in 31 years of #journalism:
–The amount paid for a book review. https://t.co/jgfEBO1Dcl— Jonah Blank (@JonahBlank) June 10, 2018
I’m depressed at the fact that that would still be a good rate for a review today.
— Irina Dumitrescu (@irinibus) June 10, 2018
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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