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jcschildbach's review against another edition
5.0
This book is "must" reading for anybody who really wants to know what was going on during the "war on terror" under the Cheney Administration, oops, I mean Bush II Administration. I remember a lot of the mainstream media coverage of the allegations of torture, and of the various legal wranglings that took place around the issues covered in this book--and realize now just how shallow most of that coverage was. Mayer goes into deep detail about who drafted what policies and laws, as well as the consequences of those policies and laws--with some rather graphic descriptions of torture that took place against alleged terror suspects--including some who were not known to have any connections to any terrorist groups, or to otherwise have shown any indication that they might know anything about terror plots. The book is truly disturbing in terms of just how far Cheney was willing to push the law and attempt to take control of powers well outside the purvue of the President, much less the Vice President. What is even more disturbing is how he pulled in a group of appointees to assist him in deliberately mangling legal reasoning to justify his wish-list of illegal spying, detainment and torture. It was heartening, though, to realize that there were a number of people within all branches of the government and the military, including numerous people who identify themselves as conservative Republicans, and even members of the Bush Administration, who stood up to try and prevent the abuses, and then to try to overturn the abuses, and then to try to correct the abuses, all while Cheney and his team attempted to gut any reforms, and continually drafted new opinions, policies, and laws stating their behavior was legal and they could not be prosecuted no matter what anybody else said, whether that anybody else was Congress, the Supreme Court, etc., etc. Mayer makes a highly political and complicated chain of events an exciting read.
eelsmac's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Islamophobia, Torture, and War
bloodyfool0's review against another edition
3.0
I'd rate this book a 3.5*. Doesn't quite make the 4* as Dark Money did.
mkesten's review against another edition
4.0
Want to know about George Bush's extraordinary rendition program? Here it is.
jadencove's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, War, Hate crime, Violence, Genocide, Islamophobia, Torture, Forced institutionalization, Racism, Murder, and Death
shann0n's review
challenging
dark
informative
slow-paced
5.0
I was pretty well informed about the nonsense the Bush Administration got up to. But, some of the gruesome details of the torture they inflicted on other human bearing is abhorrent. The braggadocios manor with which many Bush officials (mainly looking at Cheney and Addington) claim the torture was in the name of saving lives is pathetic and reviling. The complete and utter lack of respect for human life is revolting.
carmelitasita's review against another edition
5.0
It is interesting to read this book ten years on after two changes of administration. It puts into context the world as we live in under the Trump America. Is it worse than Bush? Is it better to have dirty deeds done in secret or on Twitter? And despite the loud opposition to Guantanamo, how did it manage to last during the eight year Obama government? He had two years of total control in which to correct this injustice. It is remarkable that when I searched Wikipedia for some of the names in this book, many were still in Cuba.
This book was well written, thought provoking, and a great example of investigative journalism.
This book was well written, thought provoking, and a great example of investigative journalism.