Alberta says his readers fall across the political spectrum. “I know lots of Republicans who are loyal to Trump who are reading the book, because, if they’re being honest, everyone has a question about how did we get here?” At the same time, “liberals like the book because they see a Republican Party that sold many of its closest held principles in the pursuit of political power and that validates all of their animus toward the G.O.P.”

“In many ways Trump symbolized the climax of the Republican civil war and the end of the Republican civil war,” he argues. “Because this battle that had been waged within the party over matters of policy and ideology and tactics has largely been set aside at this point. The only remaining question within the Republican Party today is: Are you with Trump or against Trump?”