Peril

Woodward, Bob and Robert Costa. Peril. 2021. 512p. ISBN 9781982182915.

The end of the Trump presidency was one of those consequential times in American history. After losing a historic election in 2020, President Trump stuck to discredited claims that the election has been fraudulent and that massive vote rigging had occurred. Despite winning more than 74 million votes, Trump's tally was eclipsed by that of Biden, who received more than 81 million votes. As Trump advisors and lawyers continued to unsuccessfully search for voter fraud, president-elect Biden prepared a transition of power that would be anything but smooth. 

Then January 6, 2021 happened. Stoked by claims that the election was stolen, thousands of people who were protesting in Washington, D.C., marched on the Capitol following Trump's instructions to do so. They broke into the building, assaulting police officers and causing damage to the building. Angry that their candidate has supposedly been cheated, protesters sought to reverse the American people's electoral decision through intimidation and violence. Following the deployment of the National Guard, Vice-President Mike Pence certified the election results, assuring that Joe Biden would become the 46th President.

Recounting two years in American history, Peril explores the ups and downs of an electoral campaign like no other and a chaotic presidential transition that made many people wonder whether American democracy was now in danger from authoritarianism. Fans of political history will enjoy this highly documented recent history into one of the most important times in recent American history.