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shannonw19's review against another edition
5.0
I always thought that Edward Snowden got a raw deal. I've always been fascinated with his case. So I was excited to read (or listen to, I should say) Permanent Record. I found this book illuminating and terrifying. It makes me realize how really screwed we are.
The first half of the book discusses Snowden's childhood, his trouble with school, love of computers and hacking, and his venture into adulthood. He then discusses his entry into the Army, separation from the Army, and foray into the intelligence community. He discusses what he discovered about he NSA and CIA's spying on Americans habit and how he felt it necessary to disclose to reporters what he learned. I found the last third of the book the most riveting. Snowden discusses his flight from Hawaii, leaving his girlfriend without a word about what he was doing. His flight to Hong Kong, meeting with reporters and trying to figure out where to go to stay away from the US, were fascinating.
I also enjoyed hearing from his now wife, Lindsay, via her journal entries from the time he left. What she went through was harrowing. The fact that she has stood by Edward says a lot about them both.
Everyone should read this book. And everyone should be extremely troubled by its contents. What the government is doing is predisposing us to lose our privacy, piece by piece. Everyone should be afraid after reading this book, but everyone should definitely read it.
The first half of the book discusses Snowden's childhood, his trouble with school, love of computers and hacking, and his venture into adulthood. He then discusses his entry into the Army, separation from the Army, and foray into the intelligence community. He discusses what he discovered about he NSA and CIA's spying on Americans habit and how he felt it necessary to disclose to reporters what he learned. I found the last third of the book the most riveting. Snowden discusses his flight from Hawaii, leaving his girlfriend without a word about what he was doing. His flight to Hong Kong, meeting with reporters and trying to figure out where to go to stay away from the US, were fascinating.
I also enjoyed hearing from his now wife, Lindsay, via her journal entries from the time he left. What she went through was harrowing. The fact that she has stood by Edward says a lot about them both.
Everyone should read this book. And everyone should be extremely troubled by its contents. What the government is doing is predisposing us to lose our privacy, piece by piece. Everyone should be afraid after reading this book, but everyone should definitely read it.
roshanraju's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Realities of surveillance brutally exposed
lillanaa's review against another edition
5.0
Yeah, this was exactly as good as I thought it would be when I heard it was coming to stores.
Technology is an ever changing, impossible to fathom beast; one that we as humans both love and absolutely hate. For those who comprehend what some of it is doing though, it's suffocating. The way Snowden describes the things he unearthed during the period he worked at the NSA is life changing, and earth shattering. What should be a tool, is being used in the most villainous ways possible; something that sounds out of a horror story.
I feel for him, being caught in that kind of moral quandary is never easy, but... This was a beautifully written piece about what happens when someone actually takes that leap.
Keep going. Someone needs to step up.
Technology is an ever changing, impossible to fathom beast; one that we as humans both love and absolutely hate. For those who comprehend what some of it is doing though, it's suffocating. The way Snowden describes the things he unearthed during the period he worked at the NSA is life changing, and earth shattering. What should be a tool, is being used in the most villainous ways possible; something that sounds out of a horror story.
I feel for him, being caught in that kind of moral quandary is never easy, but... This was a beautifully written piece about what happens when someone actually takes that leap.
Keep going. Someone needs to step up.
jteddy90's review against another edition
4.0
I actually really enjoyed this book. It did get a bit technical but its his side of the story and an intriguing one at that.
simplestyle's review against another edition
5.0
Edward Snowden became a hero of mine overnight in 2013. Since then, his actions have had a significant impact, though that impact is not as extensive as we all would like. Encryption is more widely adopted, certain policies have been rolled back, but our privacy has continued to erode.
The book makes the case for privacy and blasts the Intelligence Community and politicians for betraying ours. The arguments are straightforward and compelling, benefitting from the books memoir structure, which allows us to relate to Snowden and better understand his actions.
And those actions are inspiring. The man gave up everything to stand up for principles that everyone around him in the IC had abandoned. His continued exile in Russia is testament to the self-serving nature of the US government, which is more interested in protecting itself than in reforming its practices, which erode our privacy and the country's democracy.
It was interesting to read Permanent Reading having just finished The World As It Is, which painted an overwhelmingly positive picture of the Obama administration and only made the briefest mention of Snowden and his revelations, essentially dismissing both. This book balances the scale.
The book makes the case for privacy and blasts the Intelligence Community and politicians for betraying ours. The arguments are straightforward and compelling, benefitting from the books memoir structure, which allows us to relate to Snowden and better understand his actions.
And those actions are inspiring. The man gave up everything to stand up for principles that everyone around him in the IC had abandoned. His continued exile in Russia is testament to the self-serving nature of the US government, which is more interested in protecting itself than in reforming its practices, which erode our privacy and the country's democracy.
It was interesting to read Permanent Reading having just finished The World As It Is, which painted an overwhelmingly positive picture of the Obama administration and only made the briefest mention of Snowden and his revelations, essentially dismissing both. This book balances the scale.
ayoota's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Every single second of this book was captivating.
Honestly loved how he wove his whole life and the events that impacted him when he was younger
The addition of Lindsay's side was heartbreaking I didn't think I'd cry but I did.
I do wish that what he hopes for our privacy would happen but honestly I'm of the few that gave up the illusion of having any privacy in the internet era
Honestly loved how he wove his whole life and the events that impacted him when he was younger
The addition of Lindsay's side was heartbreaking I didn't think I'd cry but I did.
I do wish that what he hopes for our privacy would happen but honestly I'm of the few that gave up the illusion of having any privacy in the internet era
jetski's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.25