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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!
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.