Between 2000 and 2015, when Trump announced his candidacy, he was able to identify an unserved political constituency, hone a persuasive message that appealed to their needs, and deliver it effectively, despite intense media opposition. Salkin and Short provide a nonpartisan oral history which shows that Trump had carefully planned his bid for the presidency since he launched what many considered to be a joke candidacy in 1999. His business, media, and political dealings from this era serve as a guide for understanding the man, his mindset, and his every action. -- adapted from jacket "A Rosetta Stone for understanding Donald Trump's style, mindset, and every action, made up of over one hundred interviews with his closest associates and adversaries over the last 15 years." -- From Amazon.com summary. "To his critics, Donald Trump is an impulsive, undisciplined crackpot who accidentally lucked into the presidency. But in The Method to the Madness, reporters Allen Salkin and Aaron Short reveal that nothing could be further from the truth. This objective, nonpartisan oral history shows that Trump had carefully planned his bid for the presidency since he launched what many considered to be a joke candidacy in 1999. Between 2000 and 2015, when he announced his candidacy in the lobby of Trump Tower, Donald Trump identified an unserved political constituency, crafted a persuasive message that appealed to their needs, and learned how deliver it effectively, despite intense media opposition. Through candid conversations with more than 100 subjects close to the President, Salkin and Short make the case that Donald Trump's ostensibly erratic approach to politics is consistent with his carefully honed personal and professional style of information gathering, opinion seed-planting, and conclusion sharing. His business, media, and political dealings from this era serve as a guide for understanding the man, his mind-set, and his every action. The Method to the Madness brings readers into the private rooms where decisions are made, confidences are broken, strong words fly, and not all eyewitnesses see the same scene in quite the same way."--Dust jacket.

Reformed: 1999-2000. At a crossroads, Trump test-markets Trump the political brand -- Playing the part: 2000-2010. Trump finds a TV persona, sharpens his skills at attacking rivals, and grows in natural stature -- Settling on a political voice: 2010-2013. Trump builds a political team and slowly learns the power of social media -- The race before the race: 2013-2014. A productive detour onto the gubernatorial trail in New York -- To the escalator: 2014-2015. A popularist politician emerges -- Epilogue: The centre cannot hold. Part one: Reformed: 1999-2000 : at a crossroads, Trump test-markets Trump the political brand. Introduction: Yes, there is a method ; Tipster ; The tough and tireless Roger Stone ; Ross for boss ; The America we deserve ; The Trump RV ; Standing Pat ; I pledge I will not rename the White House ; The unreformed -- Part two: Playing the part: 2000-2010 : Trump finds a TV persona, sharpens his skills at attacking rivals, and grows in national stature. C.E.O. ; Bound for glory ; The N-word ; Trump ascendant ; Wolfgang does not have any recollection ; Below the belt ; Staying tuned -- Part three: Settling on a political voice: 2010-2015 : Trump builds a political team and slowly learns the power of social media. Creating a brain trust ; A party Trump likes the sound of ; Born in the USA ; Roasted ; The twitterer ; Remaining a player -- Part four: The race before the race: 2013-2014 : a productive detour onto the gubernatorial trail in New York. Sitting on the hood of a car ; Selling Trump to Trump ; Like a hurricane ; An enlightening distraction ; Staying sharp ; Flannel shirt -- Part five: To the escalator: 2014-2015 : A popularist politician emerges. Outwit, outplay, outlast! ; Team of apprenti ; How the wall got built ; The announcement -- Epilogue: The centre cannot hold.