Did you read Vanity of the Bonfires?

A conversation from 30-some years ago:

https://twitter.com/KFILE/status/1138813927754743808

Via Paste Magazine for greater ease of reading:

Pat Buchanan: Who are your favorite authors?

Donald Trump: Well, I have a number of favorite authors. I think Tom Wolfe is excellent.

Pat Buchanan: Did you read Vanity of the the Bonfires?

Donald Trump: I did not.

Pat Buchanan: Bonfire of the Vanities, excuse me.

Tom Braden: What book are you reading now? [Crosstalk]

Donald Trump: I reading my own book again because I think it’s so fantastic Tom.

Pat Buchanan: What’s the best book you’ve read beside Art of the Deal?

Donald Trump: I really like Tom Wolfe last book. And I think he’s a great author. He’s done a beautiful job —

Pat Buchanan: Which book?

Donald Trump: His current book.

Pat Buchanan: Bonfire of the Vanities.

Donald Trump: Yes. And the man has done a very, very good job. And I really can’t hear with this earphone, by the way.

It’s interesting to note that his method of bullshitting his way through a lie was the same then as it is now – to cover total ignorance with empty generalities like “I think he’s a great author. He’s done a beautiful job, the man has done a very, very good job.”

Do we wonder why he chose that book to pretend he’d read? Nah, it’s obvious – he didn’t even choose the book, he chose Tom Wolfe, and he chose Tom Wolfe because it was a newsy name and easy to remember. Two syllables: Tom Wolf. Easy, and manly. He’d probably sat next to Tom Wolfe on a few talk show couches. He’d probably run into him while groping a few crotches at Elaine’s.

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