How America Lost Its Secrets: Edward Snowden, the Man and the Theft

Epstein is a good writer and this is an easy read all the way through. The first part is the best where he lays out the basic facts of Snowden's life and a chronology of events. The rest of the book has bits of insightful analysis.The problem is, I've read Epstein's book Deception, so I know he is extremely educated on this domain. He was capable of delivering so much more than this mundane book. He leaves a number of gaps in the analysis which Epstein was uniquely qualified to comment on, but did not.First of all, Epstein lays out a convincing case that Snowden had inside help at Booz Allen to steal secrets. He also observes the unlikeliness of this help coming because Snowden starts the new job and immediately begins asking co-workers, "can I have your super top secret password please?" But then Epstein says that Snowden was unlikely to have been working for a foreign agent until he made it to Hong Kong. These ideas are highly contradictory and Epstein barely tries to reconcile them.A second issue is how Snowden arrives in Hong Kong on May 20th and then immediately disappears for almost two weeks. Epstein doesn't even try to commentate on this part at all. Which is a shocking piece of evidence for him to leave out in his "howdunnit"A third issue is that he does not touch on the fact that Snowden being a public figure constantly undermining the US is exactly what Putin would want. Amazingly, even though Epstein would know this fact better than anyone, he hardly touches on the subject matter.Finally, Epstein makes a big point of saying the problem with the documents stolen is that MOST were not the domestic surveillance stuff the public saw, but documents relating to sources and methods that are used against China and Russia. But he spends little time elaborating on what these sources and methods may have been or what the cost to America was. Instead, he spends far more time, and finishes the book, talking about the damage done to America's fight against terrorism based on the documents publicly leaked. Concluding with this argument undermines his own point earlier in the book that the real damage was based on the secret documents Snowden stole which the public has not seen.Okay book for an introduction to the subject. But Epstein, I was expecting more from you!

A good book about the most damaging spy in US history.If you want the truth, skip the movies and read this book.First 1/3rd is the what, the last 2/3rds are the how and why. There is too much repetition to call this a great book.Just another example of the huge gulf between popular media and the facts.And, of course,another example of jaw-dropping government incompetence.

I came to the book with very few pre-concieved idea about Snowden and his motivations. Hero or villain? I had no view. The forensic account of events told in as many details as possible definitely helps answer the question. The account is factual and analytical and does not seek to lead the reader. Anyone wanting to form an opinion on this fascinating case should read it before pronouncing on it.

The author tells an in depth story, of one of America’s most famous whistleblower. Never before has a story been told have one man who stood millions of government secrets.

Not a bad read, but the book slows down a lot after the author finishes describing the theft. There are also a few factual errors in the book of you do some research online. That said, the author makes a convincing case that Snowden isn’t all he pretends to be...

I felt he was objective with his investigation, and you get to know different side of this person and understand how much damage he did to the country.

Ah, we finally get some facts instead of some movie lies. Well told story of a traitor.

A well documented, if a bit lengthy, true story. A sad moment in American history.

I don't normally leave reviews, and the book as a piece of literature is great. Interesting subject matter, albeit much of which I have read before as part of an ongoing piece of academic study. I would certainly recommend this as companion reading to Greenwald's 2014 book, No Place To Hide.The only strange thing is the physical state of the book. I was aware I was receiving a second hand copy so its not that I'm bothered by any dog eared pages etc, and actually the book is overall in great condition. The weird bit is that the edges are all different lengths, like they've been printed and the cut by hand before being bound. So there is no uniform length and it gives the book a jagged edge finish. I thought maybe I'd received a pre-publication copy (i.e. one sent out for editorial or review) but doesn't appear to be.Otherwise great

Four years on and too little to add.

It is no accident that Snowden is hiding out in Russia. This book makes a convincing case that exposing NSA domestic snooping was only part of his plan to destroy his country. He also systematically copied files on intelligence capabilities re. foreign intel gathering. I am appalled and stunned that that self-anointed guardian of liberties, the Guardian, would gleefully facilitate Snowden's escape and treason. This book is not a Breitbart-style screed, but a responsibly researched and convincing case, exposing Snowden for the treasonous spy he is. Let him rot in Russia, that bastion of liberty.

The real story behind the greatest act of treason in American history. Also, a good primer on how countries "recruit" spies and how these spies gather information. Some people make out Snowden and the people who supported him as "heroes". Read this book and you will soon discover this to be a piece of fiction.