2036: The Year Trump Stepped Down!

A Horrifying, Factual Account Sent Back in Time (Through 3 Black Holes) to Some Random, Hack Writer

By: Michael Sandels

Narrated by: Michael Sandels

2036: The Year Trump Stepped Down is the hilarious and quirky futuristic story of America after enduring 20 years with Donald TXXXP and his family running the show. The good news is, you’ll never have to read the TXXXP name since this book redacts it every time (but this is the audiobook, so maybe there is no good news - you'll just have to listen to find out). The bad news is, the country is a catastrophic mess, a barren wasteland similar to the Old West, except now both coasts, East and West, are completely gone!

America in 2036 is a place where only two types of people exist: the have-nots and the rich. The have-nots must gut it out every day in the dangerous outdoors (suffering other-worldly and disastrous weather patterns along with the better-than-likely chance of getting shot for any reason at all). The rich reside in the 10 domed capital cities, all of them able to withstand any weather catastrophe from the outside world, and they receive every penny of the Administration’s coffers to support their own homes, these 10 examples of human ingenuity, these 10-mile-wide luxury domes called the capital cities. In the novella, an array of six different groups of people from every walk of life in 2036 America strive to survive the frequent world-shaking events of the day, and all the while desperately trying to figure out what happened to the entire Southern Hemisphere (which, rumor has it, is missing).

To uncover the answers, the book takes its listener into the jaw-dropping, comical, and satirical world of the TXXXP “Regime” (as they’re now called), including the nonrepentant KellyaXXX CXXXXY and the sociopathic Stephen MXXXER amongst others. In short, the world has become a ludicrous wasteland only 16 years from our present day. 2036: The Year Trump Stepped Down is a fun, often-deep, and oft-hilarious pause-resister (which can be consumed easily in one day at the beach) (without the kids) that takes its listener into the heart of a future America with this Administration at the helm for two decades, and they’re still refusing to leave, 20 years later!

The story follows six separate groups of characters, each with their own eponymous subchapter, which creates the common structure of the story. Besides Donald J., The Chosen One, Himself, the other main characters include The Mcgillicuddys, a family of four trying to survive in the wastelands; Bob and Ted, a gay couple who live above the former East Coast as algae farmers in a small hut, suspended above the ocean; the entire TXXXP Administration, including The Chosen One, plus Duke Don the Younger, Prince Eric, and Princess Ivanka (all of whom have been trying out the whole royalty thing for the last few years, but it’s all still pretty new to them); Alice who is a Rambo-like, solo survivor out in the wastelands; and Admiral Grayson Bilge, the middle-aged Secretary of War for the Administration, who's having serious doubts about the horror he’s created along with this Administration.

By the exciting conclusion, the novella’s characters have battled gamely on until the final-day showdown. Whether the world survives or not at this point, dear listener, is wrapped up neatly by the end, when the story reveals some surprises, and the listener finally gets to see the real truth behind the tale’s mysteries in this futuristic, truth-ambiguous landscape of dust and lies. On top of it all, 2036 is the story of the infamous TXXXP family, if they continued on for 20 full years as the proverbial bull in a China-shop world, and the tragic decisions made in the past (and present) which are now re-circling back to haunt them, and, in the end, punish the evildoers in all-too-just ways. Hopefully, just hopefully, everyone else won’t be punished in the process.

©2019 Michael Sandels (P)2019 Michael Sandels

Interesting

I received this book for free at my request but the opinion is of my own. This book takes us to the future as if trump never leaves the office and has forced his way to stay until a bitter end for him. During this time rape becomes acceptable, people live very short lives, those against trump are hunted, and the world is a mess. Definitely a scary thought for those that care about what’s going on in our world.

Very funny and really makes you think! Get this!

This is really timely sci-fi look at America if this White House never went away. Very funny and really makes you think! Get this!

Creative, Timely, Hysterical, Entertaining Satire

Michael Sandels delivers a politically incorrect fiction that will make you laugh, chuckle, and think. He creates an imagined 2036 life in a place filled with injustice. The conversations and interactions are positioned as relating the distortion of the world’s future, due to social and political choices. You can enjoy this book regardless of your voting party preferences but only if you have a sense of humor.

2036 is laid out with a focus on people and communities that remain. One of the chapters, Above Myrtle Beach, June 4, 2036 introduces listeners (readers) to Ted and Bob. Their conversation takes you on a serious, yet whimsical tour of life at that time with creative license.

Ted and Bob were both smiling and feeling like they were floating in the sky. “This is the life.”
“Oh, yeah,” responded Ted, “You kidding?”
“Just checking.”
(They relaxed and drank from cups with paper umbrellas.) “So no more saying anything?” Ted asked Bob.
“Nope.”
“About it?”
“Nope.”
“Abut Him too? Can I even say ‘Him’?”
“just probably don’t,”
“And this is not the law?”
“That’s what I hear.”
“From the Administration?”
“Well, yes. And Facebook.”
“Can I even say that now? ‘The Administration? Without getting’ a look-see from above? From ‘Space Force!’?”

And on these guys go while applying their 147 sunblock. Each area of the remaining world highlighted in each chapter provides those characters’ viewpoint and highlights the errors made that resulted in this new world, while Facebook watches everyone and everything.

Michael Sandels provides a fabulous rendition of the story using distinct voices and specific accents in a non-stop manner that kept me fully engaged. Michael is closest to the story he created and effectively uses his voice to make this an enjoyable experience. I can say with confidence that no one would subscribe to this as the outcome of our world, so it will give you pause.

pretty good satire

narrator is fine. this is simultaneously completely ridiculous and mostly believable as something Trump might actually try.

Recommended!

This is a great look into the future as if Trump never left. It is very funny and very scary and very real. Recommended!

Awesome book, well worth the time

I received this book for free for an honest review, so here it is. This book is hilarious, highly entertaining and enjoyable. I listened to it at work and my day flew by, because I was so engrossed in the story. It had me chuckling throughout and outright laughing several times. I would highly recommend it.

An interesting take on an alternative future

This is an interest take on what could happen. Ofter with a comic tone, the author provides an interesting take on the Trumps and a glimpse into a possible future.

Brilliant !! Must listen

This is the first book I’ve read/listened to by this author and I would gladly listen to another.
I found this book thought provoking, funny, satirical, sadly realistic, and although taken to extremes - very plausible. The results of our choices in the past and today result in a world with greatly reduced land mass, extensive loss of vegetation and fresh water, news in which nothing stated is based in reality, Facebook watches our every move, authorities make unsavoury topics illegal and anyone who opposes them disappear.
The publisher’s summary is extensive and covers the book well, but you need to listen/ read this book to fully experience the brilliance of this story.

This is the first book I’ve listened to by Michael Sandel. He narrates his own book. Most characters had distinct voices, and he uses accents to differentiate. The cadence is good and he performs the book, not reads it.

There are no explicit sex scenes, excessive violence or swearing.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and voluntarily left this unbiased review.
Please feel free to comment on whether you found my review helpful.

Well written, gives a lot to think about

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but I went in with an open mind. From the title and summary, there was no question that it would be political and lean hard liberal. I'm more conservative in a lot of ways, but I like to be challenged. If you are easily offended, this book is not for you. But if you would like to explore a dystopian future that calls into question a lot of the choices we make today as Americans, and have a thick skin and a good sense of humor, this might be your book. I agreed with more of it than I figured I would, disagreed with some of it, had some laughs, and have a lot to think about. Overall, I consider that a good experience. Note - I was given this audiobook in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Light hearted and enjoyable

Will Biden win the Democrat nomination? Will Trump be impeached? All these present questions are forgotten as we move ahead to a future where Trump wins the 2020 election. Welcome to a new world of the haves and have-nots with plenty of tongue-in-cheek humor thrown in. I would laugh more if it didn’t sound too much like today’s America.
For those who like light-hearted humor, this will be enjoyable.