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Permanent Record Audiobook
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(3.33) - 3 listener ratings
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Publisher Description
Edward Snowden, the man who risked everything to expose the US government’s system of mass surveillance, reveals for the first time the story of his life, including how he helped to build that system and what motivated him to try to bring it down. In 2013, twenty-nine-year-old Edward Snowden shocked the world when he broke with the American intelligence establishment and revealed that the United States government was secretly pursuing the means to collect every single phone call, text message, and email. The result would be an unprecedented system of mass surveillance with the ability to pry into the private lives of every person on earth. Six years later, Snowden reveals for the very first time how he helped to build this system and why he was moved to expose it. Spanning the bucolic Beltway suburbs of his childhood and the clandestine CIA and NSA postings of his adulthood, Permanent Record is the extraordinary account of a bright young man who grew up online—a man who became a spy, a whistleblower, and, in exile, the Internet’s conscience. Written with wit, grace, passion, and an unflinching candor, Permanent Record is a crucial memoir of our digital age and destined to be a classic.
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"Mr. Snowden is clearly torn between his wish to advance a cause, and the publisher's wish to tell a good story of his personal life. The outcome is a good combination of description of the intricacies of a bloated intelligence-community, a strong warning on social and political implications of the growing surveillance society, and a sprinkling of sweet personal stories of a man and his father, his mother, his love. so good combination of important/worthy read, with an enjoyable one. Thank you Mr. Snowden, for the book, and also for your courage."
— yoni (5 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“A riveting blend of spycraft as Snowden painstakingly figures out how to confirm his suspicions without tipping off his bosses, and a brilliant ethical treatise as Snowden reveals the reasoning that took him from each step to the next.”
— Cory Doctorow, New York Times bestselling author -
“A riveting account…Reads like a literary thriller…When it comes to privacy and speech and the Constitution, his story clarifies the stakes.”
— New York Times -
“Gripping…Snowden demonstrates a knack for explaining in lucid and compelling language the inner workings of [CIA and NSA] systems.”
— Washington Post -
“A deeply reluctant whistleblower, Snowden also emerges as a peculiarly American patriot, with roots that go back to Plymouth Rock…He deserves our thanks.”
— The Nation -
“His account of the experiences that led him to take momentous decisions, along with the details he gives of his family background, serve as a robust defense against accusations that he is a traitor.”
— The Guardian (London) -
“Well written…Snowden’s descriptions of the real impact of the various surveillance systems he disclosed—stripped of abstract concepts and technical jargon—are some of the most disturbing parts of the book.”
— The Economist (London) -
“Holter Graham narrates with skill, sharing details of espionage in the digital age…Graham’s steady tone and pacing imbue Snowden with relatability and credibility. This story is a worthwhile listen not only for those interested in political nonfiction but also for everyone who has been affected by the government’s actions.”
— AudioFile
Awards
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New York Times bestseller
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#1 Amazon.com bestseller in Intelligence & Espionage
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A New York Times Bestseller in Audio
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USA Today bestseller
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An iBooks bestseller in Memoirs
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Among longlisted titles for NPR Best Book of the Year, 2019
Permanent Record Listener Reviews
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Ron DeFries, 6/5/2022
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Marek Glück, 3/17/2022
About Edward Snowden
Edward Snowden was born in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, and grew up in the shadow of Fort Meade. A systems engineer by training, he served as an officer of the Central Intelligence Agency and worked as a contractor for the National Security Agency. He has received numerous awards for his public service, including the Right Livelihood Award, the German Whistleblower Prize, the Ridenhour Prize for Truth-Telling, and the Carl von Ossietzky Medal from the International League of Human Rights. He serves as president of the board of directors of the Freedom of the Press Foundation.
About Holter Graham
Holter Graham, winner of three of AudioFile magazine’s Best Voice of the Year awards, is a stage, television, and screen actor. He has recorded numerous audiobooks and earned multiple AudioFile Earphones Awards. As an actor, his film credits include Fly Away Home, Maximum Overdrive, Hairspray, and The Diversion, a short film which he acted in and produced. On television, he has appeared in Army Wives, Damages, As the World Turns, Rescue Me, Law & Order, and New York Undercover. He received a BA degree from Skidmore College and an MFA from Vermont College.