First published 2020
John Brennan opens his memoir on January 6, 2017, a day that brought both his final briefing with President-elect Trump and his father's death. The son of an Irish immigrant in New Jersey, Brennan traces his journey from a young CIA recruit who rode motorcycles and wore diamond earrings to becoming America's top intelligence official. He examines his work under multiple presidents and his role in pivotal national security decisions. Brennan discusses the Iraq intervention, enhanced interrogation techniques, the bin Laden raid planning, and Russian election interference. He reveals the inner workings of the Agency while acknowledging its flaws including insularity and arrogance. The memoir covers his public controversies and personal failures alongside the dedicated work of intelligence professionals. Brennan provides readers with an insider's view of recent American history and the complex world of national security policy.
Genres: history, political-science, autobiography, non-fiction, biography-memoir, 21st-century, current-affairs
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: insider-perspective, personal-journey
Setting: New Jersey, United States
Period: January 6, 2017
464 pages · Hardcover · Celadon Books