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aberdeenwaters's review against another edition
4.0
I’ve long been fascinated with Snowden. It was cool to read about the experiences that shaped him. I’d recommend the audio version, but it’s a good story regardless and will provoke some thought.
ethanphealey's review against another edition
**DNF**
Unfortunately, I really wanted to love this one as Edward Snowden should be considered an American hero. However, his overly long prose and his inconsistent writing just for the major point to be written in a single chapter or two is not my cup of tea.
Because I respect Snowden and his contribution, I will not give this book a rating. Also because it isn't fair to give a rating for a book that didn't hold MY interest.
Unfortunately, I really wanted to love this one as Edward Snowden should be considered an American hero. However, his overly long prose and his inconsistent writing just for the major point to be written in a single chapter or two is not my cup of tea.
Because I respect Snowden and his contribution, I will not give this book a rating. Also because it isn't fair to give a rating for a book that didn't hold MY interest.
miss_creant's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
medium-paced
4.5
This was a good read. I had no idea just how pervasive the US governments policy on mass surveillance and data collection on ordinary citizens was. This book was an eye opener.
erkoning's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
I found the memoir to be interesting and informative, as it explained what led up to his decision to be a whistleblower. He spends significant time reflecting on his childhood and young adulthood, which were clearly very formative for his politics and view of the government and military.
While he does explain his experience of finding the documents that he later shared with journalists, this is not a technical book. It is instead focused on the emotional experience of it all. That is not a good or bad thing, just something to be aware of if interested in the subject.
The whole process, from first seeing the documents to residing in Russia, was clearly an immensely difficult emotional experience, as one would expect, and this memoir explains how the entire process worked, from his perspective.
While he does explain his experience of finding the documents that he later shared with journalists, this is not a technical book. It is instead focused on the emotional experience of it all. That is not a good or bad thing, just something to be aware of if interested in the subject.
The whole process, from first seeing the documents to residing in Russia, was clearly an immensely difficult emotional experience, as one would expect, and this memoir explains how the entire process worked, from his perspective.
angelofthe0dd's review against another edition
I'll come back to it. Lost interest.
loochoo's review against another edition
i learned so much about techology and technological safety...
quiss42's review against another edition
5.0
The book doesn't give new insights on the mass surveillance performed by the U.S. government, but instead shows us the person behind the "leaks" (including a short, entertaining deviation pondering the negatively flavoured naval terms used for this kind of actions).
This intelligent, self reflective and emotional description of his way from a struggling teenage computer nerd to one of the most wanted enemies of the government, just because actually believing in the ideals of the Constitution of the United States and consequently following them, is a recommended read for anyone advocating the "Nothing to hide argument".
Audio book: Perfect reading by Holter Graham!
This intelligent, self reflective and emotional description of his way from a struggling teenage computer nerd to one of the most wanted enemies of the government, just because actually believing in the ideals of the Constitution of the United States and consequently following them, is a recommended read for anyone advocating the "Nothing to hide argument".
Audio book: Perfect reading by Holter Graham!