THE ROOM WHERE IT HAPPENED
By John Bolton
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
The former national security advisor gives his account of the 17 months he spent working for President Trump during his first administration.
Review by By The Books Reviewer
John Bolton's "The Room Where It Happened" is a self-indulgent, tedious tome that serves more as a monument to the author's inflated ego than as a substantive account of his tenure as National Security Adviser. Clocking in at nearly 500 pages, the book is replete with minutiae that do little to illuminate the inner workings of the Trump administration. Bolton's penchant for recording every trivial detail, including the timing of routine meetings and even his own naps, suggests a belief that his every action is of monumental importance. ([irishtimes.com](https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/books/the-room-where-it-happened-review-john-bolton-s-tedious-slightly-unhinged-memoir-1.4282390?utm_source=openai))
The narrative is marred by Bolton's grandiosity and self-aggrandizement. He frequently positions himself as the lone voice of reason amidst a sea of incompetence, yet his accounts often reveal his own failures to effect meaningful change. His disdain for international diplomacy and his hawkish tendencies are evident throughout, as he sneers at the protocols of international governance and disparages allies as weak-kneed. ([theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/books/2020/jun/28/the-room-where-it-happened-by-john-bolton-review-donald-trump?utm_source=openai))
While the book does provide some insights into the chaotic nature of the Trump White House, these revelations are overshadowed by Bolton's self-serving narrative. His decision to withhold critical information during the impeachment proceedings, only to later profit from it through this publication, raises serious questions about his integrity and motivations. ([washingtonpost.com](https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/john-boltons-book-is-full-of-startling-revelations-he-should-have-told-us-sooner/2020/06/17/beac5bb6-b0e5-11ea-8758-bfd1d045525a_story.html?utm_source=openai))
In summary, "The Room Where It Happened" is a bloated, self-important account that offers little new information and is more likely to exhaust readers than enlighten them. Bolton's attempt to cast himself as a principled hero falls flat, leaving the impression of a man more interested in settling scores and boosting his own profile than in providing a meaningful contribution to the historical record.
Recommendation: Not recommended.
written on: 9/4/2025