American Reckoning: Inside Trump's Trial - And My Own

A vivid eyewitness account of the historic first criminal trial of a president and a cri de coeur for American democracy from the New York Times bestselling author and presidential historian.

For 23 days, Jonathan Alter sat just feet away from the most dangerous threat to democracy in American history, watching the spectacle of the century: the felony trial of Donald Trump. Highly publicized but untelevised and thus largely hidden from public view, this landmark trial offered hope of real justice amid a grueling eight-year national ordeal and foreshadowed the drama of the 2024 presidential election.

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"No cameras in the courtroom but Jonathan Alter’s brilliant book is the next best thing or better when he zooms in on Trump’s hair finds the shiny dome underneath, when catches every “dirty look” Trump throws at his enemies, when he sees the resemblance between the pornstar witness and a certain senator, and when he describes Trump’s “pained face” after the verdict. Alter was the best writer filing reports from the courtroom and the only one who knew Trump’s favorite lawyer, Roy Cohn. He brought his whole Iife as a journalist into that courtroom and delivers the historic drama as no one else could. And, oh yeah, there’s a happy ending.”

“I have been deeply indebted to Jonathan Alter for his political wisdom and journalistic experience these last 20 years, and I’m grateful for this gripping guidebook through a bizarre chapter in the life of our strangest president.”

“Because the trial wasn’t televised, the country couldn’t experience it. Alter’s lively account brings home the drama, the twists and turns, the moments of real accountability—with broader thoughts about his own life experience and essential constitutional values. First-rate.”

“Jonathan Alter’s American Reckoning is a wonderful hybrid—a memoir of an extraordinary career in journalism, a political history of our recent past, and above all an insightful account of Donald Trump’s criminal trial in New York. It’s also a cry for decency and democracy at a critical moment.”

“A must-read for anyone who truly cares about the majesty of the rule of law during these perilous times.”

“I loved reading about Jonathan’s formative years and the powerhouse women who influenced him. Now I know why he’s such an original thinker! This is a great read."