Unthinkable

Trauma, Truth, and the Trials of American Democracy

De: Jamie Raskin

Narrado por: Jamie Raskin

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 Publishers

Ezceptional - a must read

Honest, sincere, incredible. There are really no words. To hear the author read it was so moving. My heart is broken, my heart is full.

Excellent book

A very well written and very sad read. Oh that we in America will have empathy for the animals and ALL the people. We must rise up against evil it is not enough to reject or ignore it. We must demand honesty and truth. With consequences for those that mislead and lie in the pursuit of personal gain and power.

To the Raskin family I am so so sorry for your loss. it is possible, in fact probable that your dear boy is now part of the light that will guide us to better days ahead. May God bless you and the United States.

Thank you Jamie

From the bottom of my heart I thank you, Jamie, for your brilliance put to work for our democracy, our country our grandchildren. You have a choice how you spend your precious time, how you live your life. I suspect your work must seem thankless at times. Please know that us ordinary, everyday, US citizens can't thank you enough. It is unthinkable that the GOP at large doesn't have the courage or the intelligence to rid their party of cancer, especially when they had the perfect chance, a chance handed to them on a silver platter, After 4 years of terrorizing the typical US citizen, and frankly the world, they didn't have the guts to get rid of their mob boss. All they cared about was their jobs. A sickening, myopic position. Yes, UNTHINKABLE. I will never vote for a Republican in any position ever again.

Please keep up your amazing work, please write another book, this chapter in our history isn't over and last, my heart bleeds for Tommy, someone I never met, but can only imagine how he could have following in your footsteps in some awesome capacity. Sadly it was not meant to be. He would have been, perhaps is, supremely proud of your work.

should be required reading

Rep. Jamie Raskin's book presents truthful current and past history and explains political machinations. He captured events clearly as I remember them and revealed condemning information I was not aware of. I was driven to tears much of the time and anger often as remembrances brought back the horror and criminality of events and people involved to bring down democracy. I am glad he recorded the facts of these difficult times and those involved, for all times sake. Hopefully DOJ reads this book as it reaches it's conclusions.
My heart aches for his loss of Tommy. Thanks for working hard for America.

Unforgettable - a work of heart

I am overwhelmed with love and compassion for Jamie and his beloved son. A tribute to a life well lived and an urgent cry to the perils we Americans are facing today.

Personal, powerful & thought provoking book

Once I started listening I couldn’t stop. I’m a retired RN after 48 years. My heart breaks every time I see a nurse or doctor being interviewed on television with how completely burned out they are. I worked HIV/AIDS surveillance for the county for seven years during the 1990’s when cryptosporidium ravaged the HIV community making our hospital floors look like a prisoner of war camp as these poor souls just wasted away. After two years of COVID it is still hard for me to wrap my head around that I am now living through yet another pandemic. Why? Because a megalomaniac was sitting in the Oval Office of the PEOPLE’S HOUSE (not his house!!!) who was more concerned about himself, afraid he would be seen as weak if he wore a mask instead of leading by example to contain this deadly virus that has now claimed over 800,000 Americans. So much of this could have been prevented.I want to thank Congressman Raskin for serving at such a devastating time in his & his family’s lives. Thank you for this book. I pray the normal members of what used to be the GOP take time to read this and find their way back to being representatives of the PEOPLE of the United States and not the lying, deceitful human that occupied THE PEOPLE’S HOUSE for the longest four years of my life.

Listening to this book read by the author has been an honor.

Representative Raskin’s love for his son Tommy and fierce and fearless devotion to our democracy are spellbinding.

An emotional and important book

Full of emotion, love and heart. He illustrates scenes beautifully. I began recommending it to friends within the prologue and after finishing it I would still do so. Something I would even consider rereading. Wonderful.

Outstanding

In my entire life, I have never experienced a better read/listen than this book. The addition of it being read by Congressman Raskin with the passion of his words paired with the emotion in his voice was an added bonus. Thank you Congressman for sharing your pain, your passion, and your incredible knowledge. I am telling everyone I know to read this book !

Very deep, very well written & very educational!

I received a very in-depth understanding of the democratic process! I also got lost in the sorrow of the words written about not only the immense pain of losing a child to suicide, but how to celebrate the memories and time the Raskin family had with Tommy. I am forever changed and believer of our democracy. I am indebted to all of our senators and congressmen/women who continue to fight for our rights. Xoxo. Thank you Mr. Raskin.