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The first-ever book from CNN Politics chronicles the most hard-fought and newsworthy election of our time—one that laid bare a deep divide across America. Packed with exclusive photojournalism and new revelations straight from the front lines, Unprecedented: The Election That Changed Everything was written and reported while it happened. It is the first draft of history.

The book tells the full story of the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign, as a Republican field of seventeen candidates battled it out until one remained: a blustery billionaire and reality TV star with no military or government experience, no respect for the rules of politics and no fear of offending people—including members of his own party. Across the aisle, Democrats witnessed a showdown between an unlikely populist hero in Sen. Bernie Sanders and the more well-known establishment candidate, Hillary Clinton, who was hobbled by scandal in her second attempt to become America’s first woman president. 

With you-are-there writing and imagery, Unprecedented unleashes new reporting through every twist and turn of an election that must go down as one of the greatest American news stories of all time. From an FBI investigation that refused to die to allegations of sexual assault to an outcome that surprised even the victor, the book depicts every jab between a major party’s first female presidential nominee and a political neophyte who many discounted. Featuring a foreword by CNN’s chief Washington correspondent, Jake Tapper, and an introduction by historian Douglas Brinkley, Unprecedented unleashes new insight and emotion while telling a story that will change America forever.

Authored by top CNN writer Thomas Lake and edited by award-winning veteran political reporter Jodi Enda, Unprecedented is filled with exclusive photos, commentary and insights from some of CNN’s greatest contributors, including author Carl Bernstein, correspondent Brian Stelter and Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer David Hume Kennerly. Together, their work makes this book the ultimate way to feel and understand the epic event it chronicles, an election like no other.