Unthinkable
Trauma, Truth, and the Trials of American Democracy
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Unthinkable
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Narrated by:
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Jamie Raskin
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By:
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Jamie Raskin
About this listen
A #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER.
In this searing memoir, Congressman Jamie Raskin tells the story of the forty-five days at the start of 2021 that permanently changed his life—and his family’s—as he confronted the painful loss of his son to suicide, lived through the violent insurrection in our nation’s Capitol, and led the impeachment effort to hold President Trump accountable for inciting the political violence.
On December 31, 2020, Tommy Raskin, the only son of Maryland Congressman Jamie Raskin, tragically took his own life after a long struggle with depression. Seven days later on January 6, Congressman Raskin returned to Congress to help certify the 2020 Presidential election results, when violent insurrectionists led by right wing extremist groups stormed the U.S. Capitol hoping to hand four more years of power to President Donald Trump. As our reeling nation mourned the deaths of numerous people and lamented the injuries of more than 140 police officers hurt in the attack, Congressman Raskin, a Constitutional law professor, was called upon to put aside his overwhelming grief—both personal and professional—and lead the impeachment effort against President Trump for inciting the violence. Together this nine-member team of House impeachment managers riveted a nation still in anguish, putting on an unprecedented Senate trial that produced the most bipartisan Presidential impeachment vote in American history.
Now for the first time, Congressman Raskin discusses this unimaginable convergence of personal and public trauma, detailing how the painful loss of his son and the power of Tommy’s convictions fueled the Congressman’s work in the aftermath of modern democracy’s darkest day. Going inside Congress on January 6, he recounts the horror of that day, a day that he and other Democrats had spent months preparing for under the correct assumption that they would encounter an attempted electoral coup—not against a President but for one. And yet, on January 6, he faced the one thing he had failed to anticipate: mass political violence designed to block Biden’s election. With an inside account of leading the team prosecuting President Trump in the Senate, Congressman Raskin shares never before told stories of just how close we came to losing our democracy that fateful day and lays out the methodical prosecution that convinced Democrats and Republicans alike of Trump’s responsibility for inciting insurrectionary violence against our government.
Through it all, he reckons with the loss of his brilliant, remarkable son, a Harvard Law student whose values and memory continually inspired the Congressman to confront the dark impulses unleashed by Donald Trump. At turns, a moving story of a father coping with his pain and a revealing examination of holding President Trump accountable for the violence he fomented, this book is a vital reminder of the ongoing struggle for the soul of American democracy and the perseverance that our Constitution demands from us all.
©2022 Jamie Raskin (P)2022 HarperCollins PublishersListeners also enjoyed...
What listeners say about Unthinkable
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- d. kinney
- 02-02-22
a beautiful book about a terrible thing
Rep. J Raskin in his eloquent voice tells the story of losing his beautiful boy and how his boy will forever be with him to inspire him in his fight for democracy...
...the story about the glasses really did break my heart
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- Amazon Customer
- 21-04-22
Fascinating insight to the insurrection
Really enjoyed listening to Jamie Raskin, his heartbreaking story of losing his beloved son, Tommy and how Trump continues to repeat the big lie and how corrupt some Republicans are. I've been fascinated in this since watching the counting of the votes and then the shocking attack on the Capital. living in the UK I'm more interested in this than the politics of UK. He would be the person I would love to meet. Such a lovely man with a loving family. Gill.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Artorias
- 08-01-22
Riveting and poignant
I watched the second impeachment with fascination, and particularly was impressed by Raskin's eloquence. I had no idea of the back story at the time, the tragic loss of his beautiful son. This book weaves the personal together with the political in a seamless fashion, making the story of the impeachment in the aftermath of the insurrection all the more urgent and important. It is well narrated by the author and is, to slip into a written word metaphor, a page turner. The characters of the drama, both domestic and national are deftly drawn, and the motivations and psychological elements of where America finds itself today clear and worrying. The reflections on the importance of memory in the epilogue have given me a lot of food for thought. I highly recommend this book as a window into the fight for liberty against the forces which want to hand it over to forces of populism and capitalist greed. as Thomas Bloom Raskin, the hero of the story said, it's hard to be human. I pray he rests in peace.
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3 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Hilary W.
- 27-08-23
Incredible journey into the unthinkable.
This is an outstanding book. On one level it is a heart stopping, edge of the seat ride where the day after burying his beloved son Tommy, heartbroken Jamie Raskin went to the Capitol to do his duty as a congressman and attend the electoral college count. It was 6th January 2020. Raskin recounts the story from the inside as events unfolded that day, the sheer terror and fear for members of his family including his daughter, as the Capitol building was attacked and penetrated by Trump-loving thugs and no-one knew what might be the outcome. On another level it is an account of grief, not recovery, but coping, learning and developing as Raskin became the Manager in charge of the subsequent impeachment trial, thinking out loud as he developed his arguments and lines of a different kind of attack, ultimately betrayed by Republican cowards in servitude to Trump. Those of us who watched in disbelief from across the Atlantic and feared for the American dream can only thank Professor Raskin for his intelligence, insight and bravery as he travelled what must have been the hardest journey of his lifetime. I listened in one go. I cried a lot, both as a parent and a lover of US democracy, I learned a huge amount about Tommy and humanity. Most of all, it made me think.
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- Cian Tormey
- 13-01-22
Absolutely spectacular
Heartbreaking, inspiring, exquisitely written and read with stentorian elegance. This book is absolutely magnificent, and a rare moment where the audio version is quite arguably better than the print. It's January 2022 and I have found my book of the year.
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- Brian
- 26-01-22
A book of great humanity and conviction.
A wonderful, and at times heartbreaking book by a true champion of democracy. Mr Raskins son Tommy would doubtless be so proud of his dad, as I'm sure his entire family are.
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- Brian
- 26-01-22
Gripping inside story
Firstly my condolences to the author and his family.
As for the book, Fantastic work, loved it from start to finish.
Great insights into the workings of Congress and senate procedures, and the struggles against the GQP.
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- Katharine (Kate) Carreaux
- 22-01-23
Brilliant Passionate A Sage of Truth
From the moment JR opened his mouth on the American political stage, I was mesmerised. He is that rare individu who brings common sense and complex theories together in a delicious concoction of rich verisimilitude. By weaving a biographical story of his don expertly into the events surrounding January 6, he has bared his soul for the nation. He grieves his don while grieving the loss of American integrity. Thank you for putting your heart and prodigious constitutional scholarship out for us all the share in and learn from.
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- lainey
- 22-03-22
What a Man
Fab insights into a man dealing with his indescribable loss of his son and country
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
- SueF
- 06-02-22
An exceptional experience
This is one of the most moving books I've listened to. Mr Raskin's honest outpouring of love for his 'beautiful boy, Tommy' was truly touching and his meticulous sharing of events surrounding Jan 6, 2021 at the US Capitol I found riveting. Thank you for sharing this momentous and for the most part very private part of your life with us, Mr Raskin. A truly memorable listening experience.
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