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Unthinkable: Trauma, Truth, and the Trials of American Democracy
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.
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.
428 pages, Hardcover
First published January 4, 2022
1740 people are currently reading
8707 people want to read
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January 2, 2022
We must never forget January 6, 2021. We must never forget the say our democracy almost died because of lies and misinformation from a corrupt criminal.
READ THIS BOOK! Read it. Consume it. Thank you Congressman Raskin for writing a vivid account of trying to hold “he who shall not be named” accountable for inciting an insurrection against the United States.
READ THIS BOOK! Read it. Consume it. Thank you Congressman Raskin for writing a vivid account of trying to hold “he who shall not be named” accountable for inciting an insurrection against the United States.
January 20, 2025
My Favorite Memoir I read in 2024
“I realized that the time had come for me to cross over from scholarship and punditry to fight for the things I believed in: to go into politics or resolve just to be a sideline critic.”
Full Disclosure. I admire this man. Congressperson Jamie Raskin, who I will now refer through the rest of this review simply as the ‘author.’ I sat riveted every time he spoke during the Impeachment proceedings of Donald Trump and during the United States House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol.
I couldn’t help but respect his tenacity, relevance and eloquence in what he would bring to the floor each time he spoke. I found him to be a brilliant, moral man. What he had to say resonated with me. So, when I heard he had written a book, I was interested and ordered it from my local library. I have read it and now I am bringing my review to Goodreads.
This story is heart-wrenching as much as heart-inspiring. There was also a sense of urgency as it related to our state of democracy.
Even as he shared in his preface about the coup of January 6, 2021, he felt that “our fundamental expectations about the peaceful transfer of power in America, the norms of our constitutional democracy had already been overrun by years of political propaganda, social media disinformation, racist violence, conspiracy theorizing and authoritarian demagoguery.”
And here we are, April 2024! Have we not learned any lessons?
As I continued to read, I found myself flooding the pages with sticky index tabs so I could remember the quotes that stood out for me. Soon his book was immersed with color! How could I put all these thoughts into a simple review that you would take the time to read? My heart was beating so fast. I clearly was so invested here.
Mostly, I was encouraged by the author’s heart-full look at the world. His love of family. Through heartbreak and beyond. His love of country. His immense knowledge and his belief in us.
“We can renew. We can rebuild.”
But I was also filled with immense emotion, because he wasn’t just a Congressperson to me now. He was someone who was sharing his life openly on these pages for us to read. And I could feel his feelings so deeply. I never expected that I would be reaching for Kleenex, as well.
Because it was those personal parts that really got to me. And I found myself asking…
How do we even begin to talk about the loss of a beloved child to suicide?
“Please forgive me.
My illness won today.”
We don’t ever think of our world without our children. We grow them to be there long after we are gone, not for them to leave before us, especially in this way.
“Tommy…my greatest student…my greatest teacher…best friend, too.”
We read about Tommy’s struggles, and how the family worked to cope and help. And of Tommy’s brilliance and brightness, despite his own fading light through depression. And, the impact his life and death had on everyone, especially the author – which would include garnering forgiveness and healing.
Moving on into the political side of this book, it is fascinating to watch January 6 unfold from an insider’s viewpoint. The strength of Speaker Pelosi as she “invoked a message of unity against insurrection and terror and said we would not allow any violence to go unpunished.”
And when it was clear to everyone that Trump not only incited the insurrection – the coup – and organized it, “and was the key actor all along,” what would anyone eventually do about it?
Some thought that invoking the Twenty-Fifth Amendment would be the best resolution. Afterall, it was established as a bipartisan resolution to address when a President has gone off the rails, as this one seemingly had. But it is sad to note the cowardice of Trump’s Cabinet to do anything about him.
And even more so, that this current Republican party would even reconsider allowing this person to be their presumptive nominee to ever be near the halls of our government again.
By Chapter 7, I felt exhausted. It wasn’t as if I didn’t already know everything that was shared and experienced. That I hadn’t seen it in video or read about it in countless newspaper stories.
But this time, I felt as if I were present in the room. The author’s writing was so clear and excruciatingly explicit.
I could literally feel the tension. Experience the anger, shock, disappointment, trauma and mourning all over again.
What Trump did on January 6, before that day and beyond, was brutal. And to even consider that people are forgetful about it and still support him today breaks my heart. How can they not care about the circumstances of his actions? The sheer madness of that man? The criminality? The con?
By Chapter 8 we begin another impeachment of Trump. We know how that turned out. The author shows how Speaker Mitch McConnell could have changed everything if he would have voted guilty and convinced his fellow Republicans to do the same.
Imagine this…if he were actually convicted from his impeachment, we would not be in a position of having to reconsider Trump as a candidate today. McConnell knew Trump was complicit in an insurrection, he even said so. And it was proven through documentation, witness testimony and visual evidence.
In his epilogue, the author shows that they are just beginning the process for the United States House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol. For those of us who watched it, read the report and reviewed it (I did), you can’t help but feel tremendous respect for the thoroughness that went into their work. Currently, Trump is facing numerous criminal and civil charges, along with others who have been cited for their involvement in his deceptions.
Congressperson Raskin also shares…
“In an authoritarian society, a dictatorship, or a failed state, the mental and emotional health of the population is, at best, irrelevant to the government, and it may in fact be dangerous to the government. The ruling class is no more interested in uplifting the mental and emotional health of the population than it is interested in promoting mass education, public literacy, or the physical health of the public.”
This is a good warning for us to take into consideration going into the November elections.
And yet, we are also given a sense of beautiful hope, too. Because this is where the author truly shines. His love of democracy. And his belief in us.
“…in a democracy, the mental health of the population is essential and vital to the success of a society. …we all benefit when we are all at our physical and mental best.”
When we are at our mental and physical best, we thrive. Yes, we do.
Yes, this is a political story. But it is also a story of love. Love of family and country. And yes, I probably sound a bit biased because of my respect for the author. And I do recommend you read it.
“I realized that the time had come for me to cross over from scholarship and punditry to fight for the things I believed in: to go into politics or resolve just to be a sideline critic.”
Full Disclosure. I admire this man. Congressperson Jamie Raskin, who I will now refer through the rest of this review simply as the ‘author.’ I sat riveted every time he spoke during the Impeachment proceedings of Donald Trump and during the United States House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol.
I couldn’t help but respect his tenacity, relevance and eloquence in what he would bring to the floor each time he spoke. I found him to be a brilliant, moral man. What he had to say resonated with me. So, when I heard he had written a book, I was interested and ordered it from my local library. I have read it and now I am bringing my review to Goodreads.
This story is heart-wrenching as much as heart-inspiring. There was also a sense of urgency as it related to our state of democracy.
Even as he shared in his preface about the coup of January 6, 2021, he felt that “our fundamental expectations about the peaceful transfer of power in America, the norms of our constitutional democracy had already been overrun by years of political propaganda, social media disinformation, racist violence, conspiracy theorizing and authoritarian demagoguery.”
And here we are, April 2024! Have we not learned any lessons?
As I continued to read, I found myself flooding the pages with sticky index tabs so I could remember the quotes that stood out for me. Soon his book was immersed with color! How could I put all these thoughts into a simple review that you would take the time to read? My heart was beating so fast. I clearly was so invested here.
Mostly, I was encouraged by the author’s heart-full look at the world. His love of family. Through heartbreak and beyond. His love of country. His immense knowledge and his belief in us.
“We can renew. We can rebuild.”
But I was also filled with immense emotion, because he wasn’t just a Congressperson to me now. He was someone who was sharing his life openly on these pages for us to read. And I could feel his feelings so deeply. I never expected that I would be reaching for Kleenex, as well.
Because it was those personal parts that really got to me. And I found myself asking…
How do we even begin to talk about the loss of a beloved child to suicide?
“Please forgive me.
My illness won today.”
We don’t ever think of our world without our children. We grow them to be there long after we are gone, not for them to leave before us, especially in this way.
“Tommy…my greatest student…my greatest teacher…best friend, too.”
We read about Tommy’s struggles, and how the family worked to cope and help. And of Tommy’s brilliance and brightness, despite his own fading light through depression. And, the impact his life and death had on everyone, especially the author – which would include garnering forgiveness and healing.
Moving on into the political side of this book, it is fascinating to watch January 6 unfold from an insider’s viewpoint. The strength of Speaker Pelosi as she “invoked a message of unity against insurrection and terror and said we would not allow any violence to go unpunished.”
And when it was clear to everyone that Trump not only incited the insurrection – the coup – and organized it, “and was the key actor all along,” what would anyone eventually do about it?
Some thought that invoking the Twenty-Fifth Amendment would be the best resolution. Afterall, it was established as a bipartisan resolution to address when a President has gone off the rails, as this one seemingly had. But it is sad to note the cowardice of Trump’s Cabinet to do anything about him.
And even more so, that this current Republican party would even reconsider allowing this person to be their presumptive nominee to ever be near the halls of our government again.
By Chapter 7, I felt exhausted. It wasn’t as if I didn’t already know everything that was shared and experienced. That I hadn’t seen it in video or read about it in countless newspaper stories.
But this time, I felt as if I were present in the room. The author’s writing was so clear and excruciatingly explicit.
I could literally feel the tension. Experience the anger, shock, disappointment, trauma and mourning all over again.
What Trump did on January 6, before that day and beyond, was brutal. And to even consider that people are forgetful about it and still support him today breaks my heart. How can they not care about the circumstances of his actions? The sheer madness of that man? The criminality? The con?
By Chapter 8 we begin another impeachment of Trump. We know how that turned out. The author shows how Speaker Mitch McConnell could have changed everything if he would have voted guilty and convinced his fellow Republicans to do the same.
Imagine this…if he were actually convicted from his impeachment, we would not be in a position of having to reconsider Trump as a candidate today. McConnell knew Trump was complicit in an insurrection, he even said so. And it was proven through documentation, witness testimony and visual evidence.
In his epilogue, the author shows that they are just beginning the process for the United States House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol. For those of us who watched it, read the report and reviewed it (I did), you can’t help but feel tremendous respect for the thoroughness that went into their work. Currently, Trump is facing numerous criminal and civil charges, along with others who have been cited for their involvement in his deceptions.
Congressperson Raskin also shares…
“In an authoritarian society, a dictatorship, or a failed state, the mental and emotional health of the population is, at best, irrelevant to the government, and it may in fact be dangerous to the government. The ruling class is no more interested in uplifting the mental and emotional health of the population than it is interested in promoting mass education, public literacy, or the physical health of the public.”
This is a good warning for us to take into consideration going into the November elections.
And yet, we are also given a sense of beautiful hope, too. Because this is where the author truly shines. His love of democracy. And his belief in us.
“…in a democracy, the mental health of the population is essential and vital to the success of a society. …we all benefit when we are all at our physical and mental best.”
When we are at our mental and physical best, we thrive. Yes, we do.
Yes, this is a political story. But it is also a story of love. Love of family and country. And yes, I probably sound a bit biased because of my respect for the author. And I do recommend you read it.
February 3, 2023
In addition to be an enlightened read that made me shake my head in sorrow over Trump’s acts of cruelty, the book was also an honest and heartbreaking story about suicide. Raskin described his love for a brilliant son, and the loss after he decided to leave this world. This book will stay with me for a long time.
February 20, 2022
Unthinkable: Trauma, Truth, and the Trials of American Democracy was a beautiful book by Jamie Raskin that is at its core, a tribute to his son, Tommy Raskin, who tragically lost his battle with mental illness and depression, taking his life on December 31, 2020. And then heroically seven days later Congressman Jamie Raskin returned to the House for the certification of the 2020 Presidential election results on January 6, 2021. But alas on that day violent insurrectionists, at the beckoning of President Donald Trump, stormed the capitol leaving all of us in horror as we saw those hallowed halls violated by such violence and hatred with little regard for the history of this country and the sacredness of our democracy. As we all watched in utter disbelief, Jamie Raskin flashed back to Donald Trump's Inaugural address that struck him were the two words: American carnage. And as he so poignantly stated that the meaning was now revealed. This was American carnage.
What is so beautiful about this book is that it is not about Donald Trump. Instead, Jamie Raskin has lifted it to a level of the motivations and hardships that he endured as he was appointed impeachment manager at a time that he was still raw with the grief of losing his son just a month before. And throughout this book is the lovely soul of Tommy and how he reacted to life from a very sensitive and vulnerable and all-embracing stance in this world. One of the most beautiful parts of the book was a passage where Jamie Raskin shares the Amish Quilt theory:
This was a wonderful book as Jamie Raskin, a constitutional lawyer, takes us to another level in his frequent references to the likes of Thomas Paine pointing to the fragility of our democracy. After a valiant attempt against all odds to bring Republican senators to vote for impeachment, Raskin points out one of the most important lessons for us all:
What is so beautiful about this book is that it is not about Donald Trump. Instead, Jamie Raskin has lifted it to a level of the motivations and hardships that he endured as he was appointed impeachment manager at a time that he was still raw with the grief of losing his son just a month before. And throughout this book is the lovely soul of Tommy and how he reacted to life from a very sensitive and vulnerable and all-embracing stance in this world. One of the most beautiful parts of the book was a passage where Jamie Raskin shares the Amish Quilt theory:
". . . a family is not best seen as a sequence of generations that just leaves the oldest ones behind but, rather, as an Amish quilt in which each of us is represented by a square, whether we happen to be alive or not, and no one ever loses his or her place in the quilt, but the whole quilt just keeps getting bigger and more beautiful over time."
This was a wonderful book as Jamie Raskin, a constitutional lawyer, takes us to another level in his frequent references to the likes of Thomas Paine pointing to the fragility of our democracy. After a valiant attempt against all odds to bring Republican senators to vote for impeachment, Raskin points out one of the most important lessons for us all:
"As I told the senators, this trial was not about Donald Trump, for the whole world knew exactly who he was and what he stood for. The trial was about who we are."
January 30, 2022
Unthinkable: Trauma, Truth, and the Trials of American Democracy
by Jamie Raskin
Wow, I needed tissues to read part of this book! This was a deep and moving book. Raskin is one of my favorite lawmakers, I wish we had one like him for my state but I have the fools like Hawley!
Raskin is a man of duty, common sense, and compassion. Having him described the death of his son, and the terrorists attack on the Congress just made my heart ache. He felt like he should have seen both coming. Like there would have been a way to stop both. That is a big burden to carry.
I can't help but compare that to the other party that encouraged and denied that the attack was really an attack! How can two parties be so different?
As I read this book, I had hope again that there are people fighting for Democracy despite all their own personal problems, and his was heavy indeed. We forget, or at least I do, that these lawmakers also have battles to fight personal and they fight for us. At least some of them do!
I didn't want to read this at first although I really like Raskin. I wanted to forget politics for a while and I didn't want this book to bring me down. But this actually made me feel stronger. If Raskin can battle for me and the US while dealing with sorry and grief, then I can continue to write letters to congressman and try to get changes done. I don't have money to donate. I am not able to go on marches. I will still do my part.
by Jamie Raskin
Wow, I needed tissues to read part of this book! This was a deep and moving book. Raskin is one of my favorite lawmakers, I wish we had one like him for my state but I have the fools like Hawley!
Raskin is a man of duty, common sense, and compassion. Having him described the death of his son, and the terrorists attack on the Congress just made my heart ache. He felt like he should have seen both coming. Like there would have been a way to stop both. That is a big burden to carry.
I can't help but compare that to the other party that encouraged and denied that the attack was really an attack! How can two parties be so different?
As I read this book, I had hope again that there are people fighting for Democracy despite all their own personal problems, and his was heavy indeed. We forget, or at least I do, that these lawmakers also have battles to fight personal and they fight for us. At least some of them do!
I didn't want to read this at first although I really like Raskin. I wanted to forget politics for a while and I didn't want this book to bring me down. But this actually made me feel stronger. If Raskin can battle for me and the US while dealing with sorry and grief, then I can continue to write letters to congressman and try to get changes done. I don't have money to donate. I am not able to go on marches. I will still do my part.
January 12, 2023
The President of the United States summoned this mob, assembled the mob, and lit the flame of this attack. Everything that followed was his doing. None of this would have happened without the President. The President could have immediately and forcefully intervened to stop the violence. He did not. There has never been a greater betrayal by a President of the United States of his office and his oath to the Constitution.
A quote by Liz Cheney on Page 220.
In May of 2020 Derek Chauvin, a Minneapolis Police Officer, knelt on the neck of George Floyd, who was handcuffed and lying face-down in the street eventually causing his death. This event symbolizes the stranglehold Donald Trump has on the Republican party.
This book is about the January 6, 2021 insurrection and the subsequent impeachment trial. The author, Jamie Raskin, was the lead impeachment manager of this, the second impeachment trial of Donald Trump.
But the book is also a homage to Tommy Raskin, the author’s son, who took his own life a week prior to the insurrection. Raskin explains that the book is an attempt to personally answer the thousands of letters of condolence he received following Tommy’s death. The day after Tommy’s funeral Raskin and his daughter and son-in-law were at the capitol for the certification of Joe Biden’s election as president. They were there during the attack and had to hide from the insurrectionists. That night Raskin began drafting an article of impeachment against Donald Trump. Six days later Nancy Pelosi named him the lead manager for the impeachment trial.
Raskin was aware that the chances of impeaching Trump were slim. However, Senator Elizabeth Warren advised him that the actual jury was not the Republican Senators, but the American People and history. Raskin hoped to reach the constituents of members of congress.
Following the conclusion of the trial which did result in a dismissal of the charge, Senator Mitch McConnell, as partisan a senator as can be, stated: that there was “no question that Trump was practically and morally responsible for provoking the events of the day” and that “the impeachment managers had proven Trump’s complicity in the insurrection.” (Page 394) Despite that he had voted not guilty because, like Kevin McCarthy, he did not want to jeopardized his position as the leader of the Republican party in the Senate.
Thus the GOP passed up a chance to rid their party of the cancer of Donald Trump.
A GoodReads Friend frequently mentions the need for people to read and understand history. The author also mentions the need for an understanding of history. He compares the Big Lie of Donald Trump with the myth of the Lost Cause by the South following the Civil War.
We cannot forget the essential histories of the human story. At a time when political actors are willing to make war against scientific facts and historical memory, and propagandists online are ready to destroy truth, it is essential that we have an accurate memory of slavery in this country, the Holocaust, and now the January 6th insurrection. The names of Jim Jordan, Kevin McCarthy, Lindsay Graham, and Ted Cruz will be recorded in the history of this insurrection.
To paraphrase something the author says near the end of this book:
If a parent can survive the unthinkable suicide of a child, then perhaps this country can survive the unthinkable event that occurred on January 6, 2021.
April 26, 2024
Well paced and easy to read, author Raskin has written an emotional and passionate book for the ages. Emotional because Raskin’s son, Tommy, is always on his father’s shoulder being his better angel. Passionate because of Raskin’s fervent belief that human decency and moral conscience will always win out…until it doesn’t.
A week prior to January 6, 2021, Jamie Raskin’s only son died. This grief and weight was sitting on his soul when a mob attacked the Capitol and displayed a level of violence not seen on those steps and beyond in recent times.
The information presented about not only that day, but about the inner workings of our government, politics, and our constitution is riveting.
For those interested readers, this book is most recommended.
WARNING: suicide, violence, sadness
A week prior to January 6, 2021, Jamie Raskin’s only son died. This grief and weight was sitting on his soul when a mob attacked the Capitol and displayed a level of violence not seen on those steps and beyond in recent times.
The information presented about not only that day, but about the inner workings of our government, politics, and our constitution is riveting.
For those interested readers, this book is most recommended.
WARNING: suicide, violence, sadness
January 12, 2022
This story simultaneously broke my heart and warmed it at the same time. The Senator's unimaginable loss coupled with his unwavering patriotism and determination to protect our democracy (most notably in the midst of the worst time in his life) is truly inspiring.
November 2, 2022
I am teetering between 3 and 4 stars for this one. And 4 it will be, because Raskin seems like such a kind, earnest politician (is that possible??). His personal story is deeply moving and I'd challenge anyone not to feel compassion for the man and his family and the tragedy they have to live with, losing a son. My issue with the book is mostly that it is just too long. You can tell Raskin is a professor, because he goes on and on and on, hammering home an issue that, to me, and likely most of his other readers, is already crystal clear: January 6th was appalling and democracy is being attacked. Yes and yes, but do I need to hear the same thing repeated chapter after chapter, not really. That being said, Raskin is thorough and thoughtful and I wish there were more politicians - and humans - who shared his values, hopes and ambitions.
January 16, 2022
4.5 ⭐️
Jamie Raskin may have just gone a long way toward restoring some of my faith in humanity. Which I what I desperately need out of 2022.
This book is about two tragedies, one private, one public.
On Dec 31, 2020, Raskin found his adult son, Tommy, dead by suicide.
A week later, on Jan 6, 2021, he was caught in the terror of the Insurrection, as a member of the House. (So were his daughter, and his son-in-law: they were there with him as guests, to keep close during their grief.)
The two events are unbreakably bound for him.
Raskin writes incisively about both calamities.
The terrible loss of his son is both wrenching and beautiful. Raskin adores all his children. So each word about Tommy is both an ode and an elegy, enhancing both the gift of his life and the chasm of his absence.
Raskin is also an ardent fan of democracy and public service. So the assault on our election by Trump’s mob is a grievous affront to him. And he discusses the threat of this coup in extensive, eloquent detail.
Raskin was a Professor of Law before he began working as a public servant. And his oratory and instructional skills are put to good use here, detailing this event in historical and Constitutional context. When he moves into talking about his role as Lead Impeachment Manager, it is a testament to his acumen that the listener can follow along with his legal maneuvers and follow the logic of his arguments. His mind is an American treasure, and we are lucky to have someone of his intellect working for us.
But the heart of the book, the true inspiration, is in understanding what a good, decent, loving man this is. Indeed, the same can be said of his entire extended family. It’s evident in the way he speaks of everyone he loves. It’s underscored by the countless friends he mentions who come to the family’s side when Tommy dies. It’s highlighted when he tells of true respectful relationships he’s forged with some Republican counterparts. (The reader can infer he is characterizing these truthfully - not exaggerating them or whitewashing them - when he also speaks of Republican counterparts he no longer holds in esteem.) And when he writes of his hope that the Senators are reasonable, logical, intelligent, and patriotic enough to vote Trump guilty, it’s not a cockeyed idea. It comes from his confidence in the argument he and his team laid out.
In these moments of this book is where I found glimmers of my own previous optimism in - and love for - humanity. To know that people of the Raskins’ character are still out there, still working hard for the good of us all, remaining undaunted in the face of such tragedies, is a true comfort.
In fact, this was cathartic. There is so much we’ve all lost since 2020, so much we haven’t been able to properly process. In feeling the loss of Tommy with Raskin, the listener is able to tap into some of their own feelings of loss. And in hearing Raskin’s account of 1/6, and his subsequent trial of Trump, one can process some of the anger and frustration about that event. If you’ve despaired that “nothing happened - no one was held accountable - he got away with it” that’s understandable. But Raskin is here to tell you it isn’t quite true. A lot was done. The historical record is unambiguous. And more is being done by people like Raskin every day.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book.
Jamie Raskin may have just gone a long way toward restoring some of my faith in humanity. Which I what I desperately need out of 2022.
This book is about two tragedies, one private, one public.
On Dec 31, 2020, Raskin found his adult son, Tommy, dead by suicide.
A week later, on Jan 6, 2021, he was caught in the terror of the Insurrection, as a member of the House. (So were his daughter, and his son-in-law: they were there with him as guests, to keep close during their grief.)
The two events are unbreakably bound for him.
Raskin writes incisively about both calamities.
The terrible loss of his son is both wrenching and beautiful. Raskin adores all his children. So each word about Tommy is both an ode and an elegy, enhancing both the gift of his life and the chasm of his absence.
Raskin is also an ardent fan of democracy and public service. So the assault on our election by Trump’s mob is a grievous affront to him. And he discusses the threat of this coup in extensive, eloquent detail.
Raskin was a Professor of Law before he began working as a public servant. And his oratory and instructional skills are put to good use here, detailing this event in historical and Constitutional context. When he moves into talking about his role as Lead Impeachment Manager, it is a testament to his acumen that the listener can follow along with his legal maneuvers and follow the logic of his arguments. His mind is an American treasure, and we are lucky to have someone of his intellect working for us.
But the heart of the book, the true inspiration, is in understanding what a good, decent, loving man this is. Indeed, the same can be said of his entire extended family. It’s evident in the way he speaks of everyone he loves. It’s underscored by the countless friends he mentions who come to the family’s side when Tommy dies. It’s highlighted when he tells of true respectful relationships he’s forged with some Republican counterparts. (The reader can infer he is characterizing these truthfully - not exaggerating them or whitewashing them - when he also speaks of Republican counterparts he no longer holds in esteem.) And when he writes of his hope that the Senators are reasonable, logical, intelligent, and patriotic enough to vote Trump guilty, it’s not a cockeyed idea. It comes from his confidence in the argument he and his team laid out.
In these moments of this book is where I found glimmers of my own previous optimism in - and love for - humanity. To know that people of the Raskins’ character are still out there, still working hard for the good of us all, remaining undaunted in the face of such tragedies, is a true comfort.
In fact, this was cathartic. There is so much we’ve all lost since 2020, so much we haven’t been able to properly process. In feeling the loss of Tommy with Raskin, the listener is able to tap into some of their own feelings of loss. And in hearing Raskin’s account of 1/6, and his subsequent trial of Trump, one can process some of the anger and frustration about that event. If you’ve despaired that “nothing happened - no one was held accountable - he got away with it” that’s understandable. But Raskin is here to tell you it isn’t quite true. A lot was done. The historical record is unambiguous. And more is being done by people like Raskin every day.
I wholeheartedly recommend this book.
January 19, 2022
This is, without any shred of a doubt, one of the most beautiful and enlightening books I have ever had the privilege of reading. A constitutional law professor, Congressman, and fervent progressive idealist, Jamie Raskin served as the Lead Impeachment Manager during Donald Trump's second impeachment trial mere days after the tragic and harrowing death of his son Tommy, who lost his battle against depression on the last day of 2020.
The book is a work of art and love, an expression of his zealous dedication to the constitution and the rule of law, and his unconditional, boundless love for his late son Tommy, who was also his political confidante and advisor.
Few people have the ability to so eloquently describe their grief, love, and dedication to justice and democracy as Raskin does. The pure love and deep grief he expresses when talking about Tommy is profound and piercing. The juxtaposition of Tommy's tragic death and his selfless dedication to peace and harmony while on Earth cannot be more stark. While taken from his family at the young age of 25, Tommy Raskin's life had an enormous impact on his family, friends, community, and virtually anyone he ever came in contact with. He was a light in this world, the person that will go out during a snowstorm to donate blood, the child that will ask his dad to peacefully protest against the war in Vietnam at the tender age of 8 years old, a slam poet, passionate vegan, and advocate for all, especially the marginalized, the poor, and those who cannot speak for themselves.
It is thanks to Tommy's spirit and and guidance, even in death, that Congressman Raskin took on the biggest job of his career so far, vowing to do all he could to protect the rule of law and democracy as America knows it. Every word spoken by Congressman Raskin about his son's pure spirit and boundless love for all sentient beings is what makes this book an absolute must read, paired with his tireless devotion to justice and democracy.
What a delight it was to read a memoir by one of the most inspiring, eloquent, kind and decent people to have ever served in politics. And even though he is an optimistic and fervent progressive, Raskin has the unique ability to connect and be able to work with people who think very differently than him politically, always politely, with respect, without ever shooting cheap shots or low blows at anyone. He never stoops low, never goes for the jugular, and this, in part, is also thanks to his late son's example. Congressman Raskin did a terrific job writing this book, and I highly recommend everyone to read it.
The book is a work of art and love, an expression of his zealous dedication to the constitution and the rule of law, and his unconditional, boundless love for his late son Tommy, who was also his political confidante and advisor.
Few people have the ability to so eloquently describe their grief, love, and dedication to justice and democracy as Raskin does. The pure love and deep grief he expresses when talking about Tommy is profound and piercing. The juxtaposition of Tommy's tragic death and his selfless dedication to peace and harmony while on Earth cannot be more stark. While taken from his family at the young age of 25, Tommy Raskin's life had an enormous impact on his family, friends, community, and virtually anyone he ever came in contact with. He was a light in this world, the person that will go out during a snowstorm to donate blood, the child that will ask his dad to peacefully protest against the war in Vietnam at the tender age of 8 years old, a slam poet, passionate vegan, and advocate for all, especially the marginalized, the poor, and those who cannot speak for themselves.
It is thanks to Tommy's spirit and and guidance, even in death, that Congressman Raskin took on the biggest job of his career so far, vowing to do all he could to protect the rule of law and democracy as America knows it. Every word spoken by Congressman Raskin about his son's pure spirit and boundless love for all sentient beings is what makes this book an absolute must read, paired with his tireless devotion to justice and democracy.
What a delight it was to read a memoir by one of the most inspiring, eloquent, kind and decent people to have ever served in politics. And even though he is an optimistic and fervent progressive, Raskin has the unique ability to connect and be able to work with people who think very differently than him politically, always politely, with respect, without ever shooting cheap shots or low blows at anyone. He never stoops low, never goes for the jugular, and this, in part, is also thanks to his late son's example. Congressman Raskin did a terrific job writing this book, and I highly recommend everyone to read it.
June 4, 2022
"Unthinkable" is Congressman Jamie Raskin's account of both his beloved son's suicide as well as the January 6th insurrection at the U.S. capitol. His son Tommy (named for Thomas Paine) had ended his own life on New Year's Eve 2020. Just one day after burying his son, Raskin had to participate in Congress' ratifying the results of the presidential election. I can't even imagine the strength it took for Raskin to do this; His daughter and son-in-law accompanied him to lend their support.
The memoir is painful, raw, educational and very human. Like so much of the country, I had watched in disbelief and horror as the insurrection on January 6th unfolded. Raskin's eye-witness account (as well as his insights coming from his leadership of the team that prosecuted Trump) sharpened my understanding of how this could have happened. "Unthinkable" is an apt title. It applies both to the events of January 6th and to how Raskin views the death of his child.
The public hearings of the House of Representatives' January 6th Committee will begin in June. I will be watching.
Here is a video featuring Raskin talking with students of Harvard University's Institute of Politics on a wide range of topics. As much as I enjoyed reading the book, it is far more compelling to hear Raskin speak. He is remarkable. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsH3E...
The memoir is painful, raw, educational and very human. Like so much of the country, I had watched in disbelief and horror as the insurrection on January 6th unfolded. Raskin's eye-witness account (as well as his insights coming from his leadership of the team that prosecuted Trump) sharpened my understanding of how this could have happened. "Unthinkable" is an apt title. It applies both to the events of January 6th and to how Raskin views the death of his child.
The public hearings of the House of Representatives' January 6th Committee will begin in June. I will be watching.
Here is a video featuring Raskin talking with students of Harvard University's Institute of Politics on a wide range of topics. As much as I enjoyed reading the book, it is far more compelling to hear Raskin speak. He is remarkable. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lsH3E...
October 9, 2022
Poignant, smart, passionate, fascinating, excellent...rtc
4.5+ Stars
Listened to the audiobook. The author Jamie Raskin narrated and was nearly perfect. This was a very detailed and very intimate personal account. It was affecting and well done!
4.5+ Stars
Listened to the audiobook. The author Jamie Raskin narrated and was nearly perfect. This was a very detailed and very intimate personal account. It was affecting and well done!
Read
June 28, 2022Assigning a star rating to the book would be pointless, in my opinion. I can't imagine what I'd be evaluating: how well Raskin conveyed his terrible pain at the loss of his son to suicide? the events of January 6? his fear for the future of democracy in the United States?
For me, this is a book better read with the heart than the head -- not because it's irrational or exhibits flawed reasoning or anything like that, but because what Raskin is describing is so powerful, so overwhelming. As others have pointed out, most of what he reports here is already public knowledge, particularly now that the Select Committee hearings are underway. What was new to me were the passages describing how his team prepared for the second impeachment trial, what he thought as it was going on, what he expected the outcome to be.
I was also struck by the clarity of his outrage and how he held nothing back in excoriating colleagues who tried to undermine the investigation. Some samples:
��� "...Donald Trump’s party, which operates like a religious cult and couldn’t give a damn about the Constitution or democracy."
• "Then arose Jim Jordan, drawing from his bottomless reservoir of outrage to make fervent arguments rooted in emotion, tortured factual claims, and logical fallacy. His demagogic rhetoric, beguiling when you first hear it but now cartoonish to my ears, is what passes for rational argument in the GOP today."
• "This fact-free, logic-impaired discourse is the daily bread fed to Fox News viewers, but is becoming a lethal threat to critical thinking in our besieged democratic republic."
• "Refusing to wear a mask in this safe room [as the rioters were in the Capitol] struck me as not just dangerous but bizarrely passive-aggressive. Here we had fled, to a packed indoor space because of their cult hero’s recruitment, mobilization, and exhortation of a violent armed mob to storm our workplace, and instead of acting responsibly, they were openly flouting the mask rules while grinning and yucking it up."
• "Gaetz’s speech and the various derivatives it would inspire were the very definition of gaslighting, political revisionism that aimed to rewrite the history of this day before the blood on the floor had even been mopped up."
Are there things I might criticize or question? Sure, but the book should be read for what it is: a eulogy for a beloved lost son, an impassioned indictment of political cowardice and the absence of integrity, and an effort to try to make sense of it all -- to let us see what he was seeing, hear what he was thinking, feel some small bit of what he felt. Mr Raskin is not my Congressman but I surely wish he were.
For me, this is a book better read with the heart than the head -- not because it's irrational or exhibits flawed reasoning or anything like that, but because what Raskin is describing is so powerful, so overwhelming. As others have pointed out, most of what he reports here is already public knowledge, particularly now that the Select Committee hearings are underway. What was new to me were the passages describing how his team prepared for the second impeachment trial, what he thought as it was going on, what he expected the outcome to be.
I was also struck by the clarity of his outrage and how he held nothing back in excoriating colleagues who tried to undermine the investigation. Some samples:
��� "...Donald Trump’s party, which operates like a religious cult and couldn’t give a damn about the Constitution or democracy."
• "Then arose Jim Jordan, drawing from his bottomless reservoir of outrage to make fervent arguments rooted in emotion, tortured factual claims, and logical fallacy. His demagogic rhetoric, beguiling when you first hear it but now cartoonish to my ears, is what passes for rational argument in the GOP today."
• "This fact-free, logic-impaired discourse is the daily bread fed to Fox News viewers, but is becoming a lethal threat to critical thinking in our besieged democratic republic."
• "Refusing to wear a mask in this safe room [as the rioters were in the Capitol] struck me as not just dangerous but bizarrely passive-aggressive. Here we had fled, to a packed indoor space because of their cult hero’s recruitment, mobilization, and exhortation of a violent armed mob to storm our workplace, and instead of acting responsibly, they were openly flouting the mask rules while grinning and yucking it up."
• "Gaetz’s speech and the various derivatives it would inspire were the very definition of gaslighting, political revisionism that aimed to rewrite the history of this day before the blood on the floor had even been mopped up."
Are there things I might criticize or question? Sure, but the book should be read for what it is: a eulogy for a beloved lost son, an impassioned indictment of political cowardice and the absence of integrity, and an effort to try to make sense of it all -- to let us see what he was seeing, hear what he was thinking, feel some small bit of what he felt. Mr Raskin is not my Congressman but I surely wish he were.
January 19, 2022
read this book
That’s all. Just read it. You won’t regret it. I could not be more proud to live in Jamie Raskin’s district.
That’s all. Just read it. You won’t regret it. I could not be more proud to live in Jamie Raskin’s district.
February 12, 2022
Setting aside the politics and what happened on January 6, 2021, at the Capitol building, this memoir is a sad but powerful tale of a father's grief for his only son's suicide. Jamie Raskin discusses the ups and downs of treating Tommy's depression. In hindsight, Jamie recognizes the warning signs that all was not well with his son's mental health. Tommy was a bright, sensitive kid with a wonderful future ahead of him. The loved ones left behind have to sort out the pieces, and it's not easy or fun, as Jamie shows us. However, he seems to have found some peace in his life.
February 9, 2022
Not sure where the truth is here.
This violent insurrection were a couple of unarmed idiots. The only one who died was Ashley Babbitt and she was killed by Capital Police.
Congress resumed that same day, just a few hours later.
This is truly revisionist history!!!
This violent insurrection were a couple of unarmed idiots. The only one who died was Ashley Babbitt and she was killed by Capital Police.
Congress resumed that same day, just a few hours later.
This is truly revisionist history!!!
January 8, 2022
Beautiful, heart-breaking, inspirational, vital.
January 27, 2022
The author is an amazing writer, Congressman, law professor, dad, husband, person. I think his analysis of the politics of America is correct and insightful. The one area on which he only obscurely alluded is the gullibility of large segments of our population. The book was a very touching and heartfelt discussion of his son. It is also a loving and kind description of an insider's view of Congress and, at least, the democratic party members of it.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book which will serve as a tool for future historians. I think we will hear and see much more of Jamie Raskin. I am looking forward to it.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book which will serve as a tool for future historians. I think we will hear and see much more of Jamie Raskin. I am looking forward to it.
February 11, 2022
Searing and important. I cried.
January 23, 2022
The passages on Raskin’s son Tommy are beautiful, harrowing, and heartbreaking. The chapters on January 6th and the impeachment trial are much less so. Maybe it's too soon, especially after all of the coverage of the January 6th anniversary, but Raskin does not bring few new facts or insights to the account of the day and trial. He also uses a lot of partisan rhetoric and adjectives which feel unnecessary, likely turning off any less partisan readers who might have come to the book because of Tommy’s story.
January 9, 2022
This was like being on the inside of the terrible January 6th day at the Capital. Jamie’s personal account of the first 45 days of 2021 and his sharing of unimaginable grief were griping, informative and so insightful.
I am Canadian and watching the US government go through the Trump years, pains me too.
May there be better days ahead.
I am Canadian and watching the US government go through the Trump years, pains me too.
May there be better days ahead.
February 8, 2022
Unthinkable to lose your beloved son. To find him when you're alone in the house, everyone else preparing to celebrate the New Year around the country.
Unthinkable to bury your son one day, go to your place of work, the US Capitol for the ceremonial accepting the Electoral College votes, bring your daughter and her sister's husband to watch, and be caught up in a violent insurrection.
Unthinkable to NOT know if your child is safe, knowing she is hiding in a Capitol office.
Unthinkable.
Part family heartbreak, and part a lesson on the Constitution, this book is searing, especially when Raskin, in that recognizable voice, reads it to me. He reads the heartbreaking passages with courage. And he reads the words he read at the second impeachment trial of #IndividualOne with passion.
He takes us backstage to the planning of the trial in the Senate...the minute decisions the team made to assure a quick trial with maximum effect. I loved his descriptions of his colleagues, his connections. His deep roots in the academic law community. Lawrence Tribe was his law professor; he was Stacey Plaskett's law professor. She is the Representative from Virgin Islands...he was the leader of the Impeachment team and relied on his visits with Tribe, and he asked Plaskett, who loves to tease him that she has more seniority in the House than he does. We see how important relationships are for Raskin. He really thought they might win an impeachment. He learned the GOP Senators were afraid to break ranks.
This book fits with our book group's February theme of new beginnings...a life without his son, a life in grief, a life in the spotlight, a career walking back into the Capitol building, having seen what we saw, having heard what we heard.
Democracy held this time, even if #IndividualOne was not held accountable...I hope it's a new beginning for our leaders...but sadly too many have not shown the courage they should.
Unthinkable to bury your son one day, go to your place of work, the US Capitol for the ceremonial accepting the Electoral College votes, bring your daughter and her sister's husband to watch, and be caught up in a violent insurrection.
Unthinkable to NOT know if your child is safe, knowing she is hiding in a Capitol office.
Unthinkable.
Part family heartbreak, and part a lesson on the Constitution, this book is searing, especially when Raskin, in that recognizable voice, reads it to me. He reads the heartbreaking passages with courage. And he reads the words he read at the second impeachment trial of #IndividualOne with passion.
He takes us backstage to the planning of the trial in the Senate...the minute decisions the team made to assure a quick trial with maximum effect. I loved his descriptions of his colleagues, his connections. His deep roots in the academic law community. Lawrence Tribe was his law professor; he was Stacey Plaskett's law professor. She is the Representative from Virgin Islands...he was the leader of the Impeachment team and relied on his visits with Tribe, and he asked Plaskett, who loves to tease him that she has more seniority in the House than he does. We see how important relationships are for Raskin. He really thought they might win an impeachment. He learned the GOP Senators were afraid to break ranks.
This book fits with our book group's February theme of new beginnings...a life without his son, a life in grief, a life in the spotlight, a career walking back into the Capitol building, having seen what we saw, having heard what we heard.
Democracy held this time, even if #IndividualOne was not held accountable...I hope it's a new beginning for our leaders...but sadly too many have not shown the courage they should.
January 6, 2022
Weaves the story of two traumas: burying his young son one day, and giving a speech inside a building that is under siege the very next day. Beautifully written and forcefully argued on historical, legal, intellectual, and emotional grounds. Few people have this insider view and the position and talent to tell a story like this. I wrote about some of the concepts on my Disruptive Dissertation blog and about the narrative on Medium.
January 9, 2022
Jamie has written a show stopper here - it brought my weekend to a halt as I raced through it. It was a pleasure and surprise to learn more about Tommy and what an amazing and immensely thoughtful person he was, and a privilege to get a first row seat to watch the number one defender of our democracy take on the Insurrectionist in Chief. Thank you for taking the time to write this, Jamie. We think of you and the family often.
January 20, 2022
On January 6th a large group of ignorant thugs attacked the capital. After these people are all put in jail to rot, there needs to be books written about this pathetically sad event brought on by the Republicans and the man behind this wrecked excuse for a political party, Donald Trump. This book, however, is not one of those books. Jamie Raskin is undoubtedly a kind man with honest intentions to do what is best, if that is possible in today's politic. He is a congressman, and a father, both of which undermined his ability to write this book.
As a congressman Raskin falls prey to the verbose grandstanding that congress is infamous for. The book's basic story is tied to Raskin's and his children's unfortunately fate to have been at the capital on January 6th. However, instead of presenting a viewpoint from the inside of the capital that sad day, Raskin falls prey to his own need to self aggrandize. Parts of the book portray Raskin's personal experience as he was ushered away from violence but all throughout return to his work as a congressman, self-congratulating at times.
The death of his son by suicide is the other side of this book, and I believe that the title, Unthinkable refers to both January 6th and his son's suicide approximately a week before. A parent's loss of their child by suicide is in fact, unthinkable, and it might be understandable that Raskin uses this book to work through his tribulations, but the complex emotions of the loss of a child does not pair well with the larger issue of American citizens being willing to destroy one of the few goods this country actually has.
Unfortunately Unthinkable comes across not as Raskin's attempt to make sense of the insurrection or his son's death, but as a way to take advantage of an opportunity. I sincerely hope this is not the case, but throughout the book it is difficult to see past the possibility.
As a congressman Raskin falls prey to the verbose grandstanding that congress is infamous for. The book's basic story is tied to Raskin's and his children's unfortunately fate to have been at the capital on January 6th. However, instead of presenting a viewpoint from the inside of the capital that sad day, Raskin falls prey to his own need to self aggrandize. Parts of the book portray Raskin's personal experience as he was ushered away from violence but all throughout return to his work as a congressman, self-congratulating at times.
The death of his son by suicide is the other side of this book, and I believe that the title, Unthinkable refers to both January 6th and his son's suicide approximately a week before. A parent's loss of their child by suicide is in fact, unthinkable, and it might be understandable that Raskin uses this book to work through his tribulations, but the complex emotions of the loss of a child does not pair well with the larger issue of American citizens being willing to destroy one of the few goods this country actually has.
Unfortunately Unthinkable comes across not as Raskin's attempt to make sense of the insurrection or his son's death, but as a way to take advantage of an opportunity. I sincerely hope this is not the case, but throughout the book it is difficult to see past the possibility.
February 1, 2022
Incredibly remarkable memoir of Representative Jamie Raskin, as he reflects on the period of December 2020 to now (December 2021, basically) - from when his son, Tommy, died by suicide, to the week after, when the January 6 insurrection of the US Capitol occurred.
The first half of the book is a gut-wrenching and heartbreaking reflection on Tommy's final days, as well as Tommy growing up. Raskin adored and adores his son, who he beautifully calls a "radical visitor from a progressive far future" (I paraphrase, but the idea struck me). Hearing about this kind, intelligent boy being consumed by depression and OCD was just so incredibly sad.
Raskin then vividly describes - with a novelist's eye for human details - the alienating and terrifying attack on the Capitol. He jokes at one point about all the middle-aged congressmen running for their lives through various underground hallways; "I didn't think we had it in us."
The second half of the book describes - also in great, quotidian detail - the second impeachment trial of Trump for inciting a riot. Raskin was asked by Speaker Nancy Pelosi to be the lead impeachment manager, something which fit him perfectly, as a former professor of constitutional law and, in general, giant democracy nerd.
So this book was a tearjerker, a chilling warning of fascism/authoritarianism in America, and an inspiration. Raskin is really amazing. He writes with enormous enthusiasm, lyrical and intelligent and emotional. He made the day-to-day reality of being in Congress fascinating and involving and exciting - like "The West Wing"! He made me want to watch CSPAN, for the love of God, haha. We're really lucky to have him in Congress.
The first half of the book is a gut-wrenching and heartbreaking reflection on Tommy's final days, as well as Tommy growing up. Raskin adored and adores his son, who he beautifully calls a "radical visitor from a progressive far future" (I paraphrase, but the idea struck me). Hearing about this kind, intelligent boy being consumed by depression and OCD was just so incredibly sad.
Raskin then vividly describes - with a novelist's eye for human details - the alienating and terrifying attack on the Capitol. He jokes at one point about all the middle-aged congressmen running for their lives through various underground hallways; "I didn't think we had it in us."
The second half of the book describes - also in great, quotidian detail - the second impeachment trial of Trump for inciting a riot. Raskin was asked by Speaker Nancy Pelosi to be the lead impeachment manager, something which fit him perfectly, as a former professor of constitutional law and, in general, giant democracy nerd.
So this book was a tearjerker, a chilling warning of fascism/authoritarianism in America, and an inspiration. Raskin is really amazing. He writes with enormous enthusiasm, lyrical and intelligent and emotional. He made the day-to-day reality of being in Congress fascinating and involving and exciting - like "The West Wing"! He made me want to watch CSPAN, for the love of God, haha. We're really lucky to have him in Congress.
August 16, 2022
Maryland U.S. Congressman Jamie Raskin shares incredibly personal thoughts and feelings as he experiences not one, but two unthinkable events in the space of a week. First, his troubled law school son, Tommy, commits suicide. A week later, Raskin, his Congressional colleagues, and some family members are sheltering for their lives during the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol of January 6, the day that the 2020 election was to be certified by Congress.
Thoughts of his son carry him through his duty as the person who will lead the presentation of the House's case for impeachment to the Senate. And the background of the building of the case is fascinating! What will be presented? How will it be presented? Who will deliver the evidence? Do we call witnesses?
Raskin was a Constitutional Law professor before running for Congress, and his knowledge of the details surrounding the Constitution and cases related to it is remarkable. In addition to the inside story of the events of January 6 and its aftermath, we get a glimpse of some of the major players in our national government, and Raskin's impressions of them, good and bad. A story he relates of Congressman Elijah Cummings is especially inspiring.
If there is a flaw in this book, it is Raskin's exuberant use of adjectives. But it is sincere in its intent so I can overlook it - most of the time.
Thoughts of his son carry him through his duty as the person who will lead the presentation of the House's case for impeachment to the Senate. And the background of the building of the case is fascinating! What will be presented? How will it be presented? Who will deliver the evidence? Do we call witnesses?
Raskin was a Constitutional Law professor before running for Congress, and his knowledge of the details surrounding the Constitution and cases related to it is remarkable. In addition to the inside story of the events of January 6 and its aftermath, we get a glimpse of some of the major players in our national government, and Raskin's impressions of them, good and bad. A story he relates of Congressman Elijah Cummings is especially inspiring.
If there is a flaw in this book, it is Raskin's exuberant use of adjectives. But it is sincere in its intent so I can overlook it - most of the time.
January 17, 2022
It's not too surprising that I read this book; I read all the political books. Also, Mr. Raskin represents my hometown. (Go Maryland!) But this is SO much more than a political memoir.
On December 30th, 2020, his 25-year-old son wished him a good night, went downstairs, and killed himself. Congressman Raskin discovered his body the next morning. A week later, he, his daughter, and his son-in-law were at the Capital during the January 6th insurrection. It is understandable that these two traumas are conflated in his mind. He speaks of both events, and offers his thoughts on the impeachments of President Trump and other issues of national importance with candor, with lucidity, with insight, and with boundless love and humanity. This man has suffered tragedies you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy, but the tone of this book is uplifting. It doesn't read like a bid for higher office. It's a testament to the love he has for his son and his country. What an impressive man!
On December 30th, 2020, his 25-year-old son wished him a good night, went downstairs, and killed himself. Congressman Raskin discovered his body the next morning. A week later, he, his daughter, and his son-in-law were at the Capital during the January 6th insurrection. It is understandable that these two traumas are conflated in his mind. He speaks of both events, and offers his thoughts on the impeachments of President Trump and other issues of national importance with candor, with lucidity, with insight, and with boundless love and humanity. This man has suffered tragedies you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy, but the tone of this book is uplifting. It doesn't read like a bid for higher office. It's a testament to the love he has for his son and his country. What an impressive man!
February 21, 2022
Provides a blend of beautiful reflections on a personal, as well as at a national level. On the national level, he simply lays out the events of January 6th, as well as all the previously failed plots to overturn democracy, many of which I hadn’t heard or fully understood. His personal reflections left me feeling heartsick, but also warm and hopeful. Somewhat shockingly, the book also has some light and humor as he shares information like the origin of his family nickname, Frank Reynolds. Through this memoir, Tommy’s legacy will continue to push us to strive to make the world a better place. An essential book.
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