Book
This Will Not Pass: Trump, Biden, and the Battle for America's Future
📖 Overview
This Will Not Pass chronicles the political upheaval in America from 2020 through early 2022, with a focus on the presidential transition from Trump to Biden. New York Times journalists Martin and Burns draw from hundreds of interviews with firsthand sources to document this period of crisis and change.
The book provides an inside view of both the Trump and Biden administrations during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 election, and its aftermath. Through extensive reporting and access to key figures, the authors reconstruct conversations and events from the halls of power in Washington.
The narrative tracks the parallel stories of two political parties in turmoil, capturing internal conflicts and power struggles on both sides of the aisle. The authors examine how established political norms and institutions faced unprecedented tests during this period.
At its core, the book raises fundamental questions about American democracy and the stability of the two-party system in an era of extreme polarization. The authors present a sobering assessment of the forces threatening to reshape American political life.
👀 Reviews
Readers value the detailed reporting and insider accounts of both the Trump and Biden administrations, particularly the behind-the-scenes coverage of January 6th and the 2020 election period. Many note the authors' access to key figures and inclusion of previously unreported conversations.
Readers appreciated:
- Extensive primary source material and interviews
- Balance in criticism of both parties
- Documentation of internal Republican party dynamics
Common criticisms:
- Too much focus on minutiae of political strategy
- Writing can be dry and dense
- Some readers found the Biden coverage less comprehensive
Ratings:
Amazon: 4.4/5 (2,800+ ratings)
Goodreads: 4.1/5 (3,900+ ratings)
Several readers noted the book reads "like a very long newspaper article." One reviewer highlighted that "the authors let the facts speak for themselves rather than editorializing." Critics pointed out that the book "gets bogged down in campaign logistics" and "could have been more concise."
📚 Similar books
Peril by Bob Woodward
A behind-the-scenes account of the presidential transition between Trump and Biden based on interviews with participants and primary sources.
Confidence Man: The Making of Donald Trump and the Breaking of America by Maggie Haberman An examination of Trump's rise to power and presidency through interviews and documents from his time in New York real estate through his post-presidency.
I Alone Can Fix It: Donald J. Trump's Catastrophic Final Year by Carol D. Leonnig A chronological documentation of Trump's last year in office focusing on the COVID-19 response and the 2020 election aftermath.
Battle for the Soul: Inside the Democrats' Campaigns to Defeat Trump by Edward-Isaac Dovere A chronicle of the Democratic Party's strategy and internal conflicts during the 2020 presidential campaign.
Lucky: How Joe Biden Barely Won the Presidency by Jonathan Allen, Amie Parnes An investigation of Biden's path to victory through the 2020 primary and general election based on insider accounts.
Confidence Man: The Making of Donald Trump and the Breaking of America by Maggie Haberman An examination of Trump's rise to power and presidency through interviews and documents from his time in New York real estate through his post-presidency.
I Alone Can Fix It: Donald J. Trump's Catastrophic Final Year by Carol D. Leonnig A chronological documentation of Trump's last year in office focusing on the COVID-19 response and the 2020 election aftermath.
Battle for the Soul: Inside the Democrats' Campaigns to Defeat Trump by Edward-Isaac Dovere A chronicle of the Democratic Party's strategy and internal conflicts during the 2020 presidential campaign.
Lucky: How Joe Biden Barely Won the Presidency by Jonathan Allen, Amie Parnes An investigation of Biden's path to victory through the 2020 primary and general election based on insider accounts.
🤔 Interesting facts
🗳️ During the 2020 campaign, Joe Biden's team was so concerned about his performance in virtual events during COVID-19 that they installed a professional TV studio in his Delaware basement.
📱 Mitch McConnell secretly hoped Twitter would ban Trump permanently before January 6th, believing it would reduce Trump's influence over the Republican party.
🤝 The book reveals that Senator Lindsey Graham attempted to repair his relationship with Biden after January 6th by proposing they play golf together, but Biden declined.
📚 Authors Martin and Burns conducted over 300 interviews over 18 months, including conversations with top White House officials, members of Congress, and state governors.
🗞️ The New York Times, where both authors worked as political correspondents, faced internal backlash for allowing them to write the book while remaining on staff during such a crucial political period.