Permanent Record

By: Edward Snowden

Narrated by: Holter Graham

An NPR Best Book of the Year - 2019

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, 29-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.

©2019 Edward Snowden (P)2019 Macmillan Audio

Who should read

Every American should read this book and see what our secret agencies are doing. Edward Snowden is a hero in my eyes and people who lie should not even be in government. Some should be in jail for their lies to Congress.

Thank you Ed Snowden, an American Patriot!

Amazing book!

Amazing book! Each chapter better than the last. I admit my eyes got teary on the last chapter. Hope to one day see you and thank you for your sacrifice!

eyeopening

This will make you aware of how your privacy no longer exists.
It is nice to hear his perspective...
Well worth it.

Profound Revelations

Aside from his gross mispronunciation of several of my favorite anime shows, I enjoyed this book immensely. I hope that he knows and holds conviction that he did the right thing. Though I'm sure he doesn't see it this way, he is a hero that took the only correct possible action in showing this country how their freedoms were being disregarded. I hope he gets his freedom returned at some point. The government needs to call off their pursuit of him, especially considering it's only petty revenge that they can be seeking at this point.

Hello CIA!

I really like hearing about his backstory, but I felt it was a little heavy on the backstory. I would have loved to listen to him read it himself. Other than that, absolutely fascinating and downright horrifying.

American Hero

loved hearing the true story directly from Snowden himself
i enjoyed the chronology and how the events were painstakingly described

A Must Have

Every one should get this book without question. Its Phenomenal and groundbreaking in my opinion.

Absolutely Shocking

I assumed Edward Snowden wasn't the traitor he was described by the US government, but I didn't realize just how justified his actions truly were/are. I seriously doubt his actions have changed much, indeed I suspect the gathering of information has only increased. I also suspect that he will be regarded as a hero within about 10 years. This massive government invasion of people's privacy is something people will eventually demand cease and ensure that it happens.

Democracy is messy it requires Sacrafice

If you agree with this headline then you will understand Mr. Snowdens story and sacrifice, don't have to agree with all his reasons but one thing I do agree with he is an American warrior for democracy and all its truths and failings.

5 stars all around

It’s a real eye opener and a beautifully written story, Ed is extremely courageous and I thank him for that.