by Dana Priest
First published 2011
The secret government built after September 11th has grown beyond all control or understanding. No official can say what it costs, how many people work within it, or which agencies repeat the same tasks. Dana Priest and William Arkin spent years mapping this hidden world. They found over 1,300 government facilities spread across all fifty states. Nearly 2,000 private companies work as contractors. More than 850,000 Americans hold top secret clearances. The reporters argue this sprawling system may threaten rather than protect national security. Their investigation reveals a fourth branch of government that operates in complete secrecy. Priest and Arkin show how this invisible universe functions and what it means for American democracy.
Genres: non-fiction, 21st-century, government, investigative-journalism, current-affairs, american-history
Vibes: suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: government-conspiracy, investigative-journalism
Setting: United States
Period: 21st Century
320 pages · Hardcover · Little, Brown and Company