Original Sin Audiobook By Jake Tapper, Alex Thompson cover art

Original Sin

President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again

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Original Sin

By: Jake Tapper, Alex Thompson
Narrated by: Jake Tapper
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About this listen

From two of America’s most respected journalists, an unflinching and explosive reckoning with one of the most fateful decisions in American political history: Joe Biden’s run for reelection despite evidence of his serious decline—amid desperate efforts to hide the extent of that deterioration

"Explosive."
—The New York Times

"[The] most significant book to date about Biden’s cognitive decline." — The Atlantic

"Superbly reported . . . Reads like a Shakespearean drama on steroids." — Los Angeles Times

"It’s hard to think of a book which has shifted the political dial to this extent in recent years." — Politico

In Greek tragedy, the protagonist’s effort to avoid his fate is what seals his fate. In 2024, American politics became a Greek tragedy.

Joe Biden launched his successful 2020 bid for the White House with the stated goal of saving the nation from a second Trump presidential term. He, his family, and his senior aides were so convinced that only he could beat Trump again, they lied to themselves, allies, and the public about his condition and limitations. At his debate with Trump on June 27, 2024, the consequences of that deception were exposed to the world. It was shocking and upsetting.

Now the full, unsettling truth is being told for the first time. Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson take us behind closed doors and into private conversations between the heaviest of hitters, revealing how big the problem was and how many people knew about it. From White House staffers at the highest to lowest levels, to leaders of Congress and the Cabinet, from governors to donors and Hollywood players, the truth is finally being told. What you will learn makes President Biden’s decision to run for reelection seem shockingly narcissistic, self-delusional, and reckless—a desperate bet that went bust—and part of a larger act of extended public deception that has few precedents. The story the authors tell raises fundamental issues of accountability and responsibility that will continue for decades.

The irony is biting: In the name of defeating what they called an existential threat to democracy, Biden and his inner circle ensured it, tossing aside his implicit promise to serve for only one term, denying the existence of health issues the nation had been watching for years, dooming the Democrats to defeat. The decision to run again, the Original Sin of this president, led to a campaign of denial and gaslighting, leading directly to Donald Trump's return to power and all that has happened as a consequence. Rarely does hubris meet nemesis more explosively. Wherever you stand on the political spectrum, Original Sin is essential listening.

©2025 Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson (P)2025 Penguin Audio
Politics & Government
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Comprehensive Investigation • Revealing Insider Details • Excellent Voice Impressions • Thorough Reporting
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I did not like the hypocrisy of Jake Tapper.
He portrays himself as an innocent bystander
when he is an activist pundit.

The shocking efforts the Biden handlers implemented to hide the decline of Joe Biden.

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I recommend it , there are some interesting revelations about the inner sanctum of Biden world and how willing they were to cover up his deterioration or how in denial they were about reality. I just hate how the likes of Tapper profit of not really questioning what all of us could see happening in real time and then resorting to writing a book about it.

As for Biden, the continued public dissonance shown even recently when interviewed in the View where he had to be accompanied by Jill and trying to reduce it all to a bad debate is tragic and disingenuous.

Fascinating but…

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The original sin is that Jake Tapper is writing this book when he was part of the cover up. Also could have done without jabs at Trump.

Jake Tappers lack of accountability

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Not a particular bad book, but a bit lengthy repeating most of the same info over and over. Nothing super informative, and very few sources (if any) on the record. Some interesting bits for sure, but not sure if it's worth the price in my opinion.

Average

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I hesitated to listen to this audiobook at first. I am a conservative Republican and don’t trust much that came from a CNN personality. It is obvious that they did copious research. My only regret is that none of the over 200 individuals that were interviewed for this booksaid a thing about Biden’s condition prior to the debate everybody saw the condition Biden was in. I learned a lot about what happened. I am embarrassed for our government that the mental ability of our commander and chief could so easily be hidden we at an American people need to totally review and investigate the situation and put laws into place so that this will never happen again we were fortunate that no action on the part of the commander-in-chief was required during the times that he was incapacitated. That is why we need an investigation and procedures put in place so that this never happens again all in all a very enjoyable book. I actually did the audiobook in one day.

Much more honest review than expected

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Great book. Factual. Objectively written. Finished in one day…couldn’t stop listening. Highly recommend. Thanks for telling us the real story.

Excellent

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The book is well researched and paints a damning portrait of Biden’s inner circle and immediate family. It is hard to dispute the picture it paints of Biden’s decline. The book is angry and without compassion, however, bordering on mean. Although I agree with the authors’ conclusions, I feel there is a tragic aspect to the story the authors miss. It is all uncompromising indictment, and in my view less nuanced than Jonathan Allen and Ami Parnes’s “Fight.”
I must say Tapper’s narration, though mean spirited, is excellent and he does surprisingly good voice impressions of President Biden and several other public figures.
Although I have some reservations about the tone, the book is essential for understanding President Biden’s decline and how his inner circle created a bubble around him that sustained the illusion the president could not only rise to the rigors of a presidential campaign but govern for four more years.

Well Researched, Uncompromising

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i think this was very well written and had a lot of reporting from inside the Democratic party and perspectives that spanned Biden's entire term. Really interesting for those interested in the inside story of how things went wrong with Biden.

Great sourcing and accounting of insider perspectives

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It was a page turner in my opinion, and answered many questions I've had since the November 2024 election.

Great investigative journalism

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No matter what party or belief system you have this is a political book that gives you a day by day understanding of what was happening with the presidency the vice president on a pivotal election year

Who was running the country?

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