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Master of Deceit: J. Edgar Hoover and America in the Age of Lies Audiobook
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(3.10) - 147 listener ratings
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“King, there is only one thing left for you to do....Take it before your filthy, abnormal, fraudulent self is bared to the nation.”
Dr. Martin Luther King received this demand in an anonymous letter in 1964. He believed that the letter was telling him to commit suicide.
Who wrote this anonymous letter? Most likely William Sullivan, an assistant director of the FBI.
Who was Sullivan trying to impress in his campaign against King? J. Edgar Hoover.
In this unsparing exploration of one of the most powerful Americans of the twentieth century, accomplished historian Marc Aronson unmasks the man behind the Bureau—his tangled family history and personal relationships; his own need for secrecy, deceit, and control; and the broad trends in American society that shaped his world. Hoover may have given America the security it wanted, but the secrets he knew gave him—and the Bureau—all the power he wanted. Master of Deceit challenges readers to explore Hoover and his secrets by offering dossiers of photos from his files, as well as FBI memoranda, movie posters, magazine covers, and cartoons from the era. Was Hoover a protector of America or a betrayer of its principles? What is the price of security? Here is a book about the twentieth century that blazes with questions and insights about our choices in the twenty-first.
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"I must have blinked when this was taught in history class and am fascinated to learn more about J Edgar Hoover, other than that he created and was head of the FBI for years. He was a shady character- just like some of the ones he claims to have collected files of information on! Also very interesting to learn more about communism, the fear of the Cold War years, and really think about how our reaction to 9/11 mirrors the problems of that earlier time. Why is it that when we feel unsafe, it is our personal freedoms that are compromised- aren't those freedoms the very thing that a democracy is based on?"
— Lisa (5 out of 5 stars)
Master of Deceit Listener Reviews
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" A well written book detailing the life of J. Edgar Hoover. It seemed to do a really good job of giving the facts and only included things that were documented. The author did make note of rumors or gossip about Hoover but also listed what facts were known about the rumors and what was unproven. A few places in the book were lacking dates that would have helped explain when the event happened, but overall the book was very good. "
— Mary, 2/3/2014 -
" I credit Aronson with writing a well balanced account of the FBI and J. Edgar Hoover. The research, illustrations and writing are all excellent and present a very readable book for teens. "
— Mary, 1/22/2014 -
" This exceedingly important collection of facts carefully reveals and unmasks the life of the deceitful man who controlled the FBI and shaped the US and so many Americans, in a time before the internet. "
— Caroline, 1/10/2014 -
" Wow. I wish this guy would write a history textbook! This one book has exactly what most of the history textbooks out there don't have -- an engaging narrative, relevance to current events, how popular culture fits into the larger historical context of its time, and so much more. "
— Ms., 12/27/2013 -
" The reader gets detailed insights, through letters and pictures, into the life of J. Edgar Hoover and the times he lived, from the 1920s to the 1960s, including his rise to power as he helped create and direct the Federal Bureau of Investigation. "
— Mary, 12/2/2013 -
" Absolutely fascinating. I found myself saying "Wow. I didn't know that," time and again. The author's notes and back matter are an added bonus. Knowing how he came to research and write this book offers crucial insights, especaily to a teen reader. "
— Maxine, 3/30/2013 -
" 3.75 Read as part of a Mock Printz Book Club. A well done non-fiction book. Yes, the author did interject his personality/beliefs, but he did bring up both sides. An enjoyable and informative read. "
— Renee, 10/23/2012 -
" Excellent balanced look at J. Edgar Hoover. I think it would be great used in high school government or history classes. I found it very informative and enjoyed learning about that period of history. "
— Cathy, 9/9/2012 -
" A very good, solidly written biography that gave me new insights into the J. Edgar Hoover years. Fascinating... "
— Dee, 8/2/2012
About Marc Aronson
Marc Aronson is an editor and author of many award-winning books for young people, including Master of Deceit: J. Edgar Hoover and America in the Age of Lies and Pick-Up Game, which he coedited with Charles R. Smith Jr.
About Luke Daniels
Luke Daniels, winner of sixteen AudioFile Earphones Awards and a finalist for the Audie Award for best narration, is a narrator whose many audiobook credits range from action and suspense to young-adult fiction. His background is in classical theater and film, and he has performed at repertory theaters around the country.