I’ll admit, I found this book far more captivating than I expected. “American Reckoning” gives you a front-row seat to the absolute circus that is Donald Trump’s felony trial, with Alter offering his personal take on all the madness that went down. Blending Trump’s chaotic rise with his own sharp political insights, it felt like I was getting an incredibly rare, behind-the-scenes look at a courtroom drama—especially considering cameras were banned like it was some top-secret operation. Alter’s storytelling is vivid and electric, bringing the entire mess to life as he introduces the key players, the wild plot twists, and all the jaw-dropping drama, while also weaving in his own career highs, lows, and those oh-so-human moments that make you realize even insiders like Alter are just trying to make sense of it all. With a perfect blend of snark, passion, and surprisingly hopeful moments, “American Reckoning” is so much more than just another trial recap. It’s essential reading for anyone trying to untangle the chaos that’s shaping the future of American politics. If you’re looking for an insightful (and honestly entertaining) look at this chaotic chapter in history, do yourself a favor and grab a copy. You won’t regret it.

A huge thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read this ARC!!

Thank you, BenBella Books, for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I just finished American Reckoning: Inside Trump’s Trial—and My Own, by Jonathan Alter.

This book will be released on October 22, 2024.

There are three parts to this book. The first part was a memoir of Alter’s life and career. Most of the focus was about him growing up in a very politically active family. That part was interesting, but will not be the reason why anyone will be reading this book.

The second part was, fortunately, the longest part of the book, as well as being the best. It was a look at Donald Trump’s criminal trial in New York. The part was written in the form of a diary, with entries for all of the important pretrial activity, as well as very good coverage of the trial. Alter did a great job making the reader feel as though they were at the trial, including plenty of behind the scenes nuggets, such as binoculars and snacks, that one would have to have been there to know about.

The final part was the aftermath, which also including some inside info about Biden dropping out of the 2024 race.

I give this book an A. Goodreads and NetGalley require grades on a 1-5 star system. In my personal conversion system, an A equates to 5 stars. (A or A+: 5 stars, B+: 4 stars, B: 3 stars, C: 2 stars, D or F: 1 star).

After finishing this book, I ordered the audiobook version, so I will also be able to listen to it.

This review has been posted at NetGalley, Goodreads and my blog, Mr. Book’s Book Reviews

I finished reading this on October 17, 2024.