First published 2018
James Clapper opens his story as America's fourth Director of National Intelligence, serving Barack Obama through six turbulent years. He navigates the hunt for Osama bin Laden, manages the fallout from Edward Snowden's devastating leaks, and confronts Russia's interference in the 2016 election. Clapper wrestles with fundamental questions about his profession. Is spying ethical when it means recruiting human sources and intercepting private communications? How much surveillance should Americans accept? He pushes for greater transparency while defending necessary secrecy. The Benghazi attack tests his resolve. Cyberattacks multiply as new threats emerge. Clapper traces his military rise and decades of intelligence work, revealing his complex relationships with presidents and Congress members. He examines whether intelligence officers compromise their objectivity when they influence policy decisions. At its heart, this memoir explores the moral weight of protecting national security while preserving civil liberties in an interconnected world.
Genres: history, political-science, non-fiction, biography-memoir, 21st-century, current-affairs, american-history
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: memoir, moral-dilemma, personal-journey
Setting: America, Benghazi
Period: 21st Century
432 pages · Hardcover · Viking