First published 2023
Adam Kinzinger chronicles his political journey from small-town Illinois county board member to Air Force pilot flying missions over Iraq to his final controversial term in Congress. The former Republican congressman details his growing alarm at extremism within his own party and the events that led him to break with GOP leadership. Kinzinger recounts his decision to vote for Trump's impeachment following the January 6th Capitol attack, which he viewed as an assault on constitutional democracy. He describes joining the House committee investigating the insurrection despite fierce opposition from fellow Republicans. The book traces Kinzinger's evolution from party loyalist to vocal critic, exploring the personal and political costs of his stance. Through firsthand accounts of key moments in recent American politics, Kinzinger examines how the Republican Party transformed and why he chose conscience over party loyalty. His narrative spans local politics, military service, and the tumultuous final years of his congressional career, offering readers an insider's perspective on democratic institutions under pressure.
Genres: political-science, politics, biography-memoir, 21st-century, american-history
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: conscience-over-party, insider-perspective, political-journey
Setting: Illinois, Iraq
Period: 21st-Century
320 pages · Hardcover · The Open Field