Facts and Fears
Hard Truths from a Life in Intelligence
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Facts and Fears
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Narrated by:
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Mark Bramhall
About this listen
New York Times best seller
The former director of National Intelligence's candid and compelling account of the intelligence community's successes - and failures - in facing some of the greatest threats to America
When he stepped down in January 2017 as the fourth United States director of national intelligence, James Clapper had been President Obama's senior intelligence adviser for six and a half years, longer than his three predecessors combined. He led the US intelligence community through a period that included the raid on Osama bin Laden, the Benghazi attack, the leaks of Edward Snowden, and Russia's influence operation during the 2016 US election campaign.
In Facts and Fears, Clapper traces his career through the growing threat of cyber attacks, his relationships with presidents and Congress, and the truth about Russia's role in the presidential election. He describes, in the wake of Snowden and WikiLeaks, his efforts to make intelligence more transparent and to push back against the suspicion that Americans' private lives are subject to surveillance. Finally, it was living through Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and seeing how the foundations of American democracy were - and continue to be - undermined by a foreign power that led him to break with his instincts honed through more than five decades in the intelligence profession to share his inside experience.
Clapper considers such controversial questions as: Is intelligence ethical? Is it moral to intercept communications or to photograph closed societies from orbit? What are the limits of what we should be allowed to do? What protections should we give to the private citizens of the world, not to mention our fellow Americans? Are there times when intelligence officers can lose credibility as unbiased reporters of hard truths by inserting themselves into policy decisions?
Facts and Fears offers a privileged look inside the US intelligence community and, with the frankness and professionalism for which James Clapper is known, addresses some of the most difficult challenges in our nation's history.
©2018 James R. Clapper and Trey Brown (P)2018 Penguin AudioListeners also enjoyed...
Critic reviews
"James Clapper has written the best book on intelligence in a generation.... At a critical time in our nation, [Clapper] offers a crucial insight into the threat we face.... His great sense of humor also makes the book a pleasure to read." (Brookings)
"James Clapper might just be the nation's most experienced intelligence officer ever.... Facts and Fears does more than simply tell Clapper's own story.... Instead, he's written a book that stands with the likes of Robert Gates' first memoir, From the Shadows.... Clapper's book tells the first, thoughtful, in-depth history of the rise of the American intelligence community as a semi-united entity.... Readers of this memoir will find a more complex and nuanced portrait than they might expect. The James Clapper who comes across in the book possesses a self-deprecating charm and a wry sense of humor.... Every chapter of the book offers hard-earned lessons for our modern moment." (Wired)
What listeners say about Facts and Fears
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Skippy the Magnificent
- 19-06-19
A truly insightful listen
While naturally politics do eventually take a hold of this [audio]book, the story as a whole takes insight and experience to a whole new level. From a man who has literally been to and seen it all, the depths to which he explains particular moments in time are fantastic, and at times make you feel as though you were actually there.
Politics aside, I feel that this would be an extremely entertaining and thought-provoking read/listen for anyone from either side of the spectrum, and who has a taste for learning and acquiring new information, much like myself. A lot of the stories and memoirs of high profile events go far further than typically available to the naked eye, and I genuinely feel that you will enjoy this book.
Mark Bramhall maintains a very stable and calming tone throughout - without sounding boring - making this book extremely easy to listen to and enjoy. I just wish there were a few more chapters!
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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- Marie B
- 08-09-18
Set the records straight
Interesting to get the history over several Presidents and how things actually turned out instead of the conspiracy stories.
It also highlighted to me how much meddling the Russians have done in the world with regards to elections and warfare. I hope lessons are learnt from that.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Roisin
- 26-06-19
essential listening
a top down view of the perils facing the USA in the age of Russian interference
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Kenneth Taylor FCCA
- 12-06-18
Truth to power
Anyone who wants to know the truth about Trumps reign so far should read this
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Liza1044
- 28-05-18
Fascinating
An interesting life, a man of absolute honour and dedication to his country; whether you believe in his viewpoint or not, only a person blinded by tunnel vision won’t learn something from this book. A truly fascinating read.
From a production perspective, on the whole it was fine but the corrections that were added after the main recording were dubbed in poorly and are very obvious. However the content is so interesting I didn’t want to drop my rating.
If you are interested in the state of the US now and want a taste of the intelligence service over the last 50 years, please read this book you won’t be disappointed.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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- Tt13
- 22-07-18
Excellent!
life story of an Honest! Unsung American patriot/hero. If only Trump had half the integrity.
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- Mike Thomas
- 11-07-18
Very informative
Men such as Clapper and James Comey, lived by certain principles. They worked for many years under more than one president, to keep the nation safe. If they are worried about Trump's principles, or lack of them, then thee is good reason to be worried.
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3 people found this helpful
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- D. Burgess
- 14-11-18
Critical Perspective
Whilst I do not agree with some activities undertaken by the US Intelligence Community it would be foolish not to recognise the importance of the community's perspective on Russian influence in our democracies and what better person to speak out than the ex DNI. Thank you JC for making your views available.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Greta Evans
- 14-10-18
Outstanding, captivating and riveting
From his life of service, to his dedication to intelligence, to truth to power! Listened to Jim Clappers book and could not stop. I learnt so much about how intelligence reporting has progressed and how you may not always like not being in the know but how I'd rather not be and just be in the know that good hardworking men and women are behind the scenes protecting democracy and protecting citizens. Huge respect for the man himself.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Brizano
- 21-07-18
A stunning and seriously worrying book by someone who TRUELY knows that the man that you should be able to trust the most is to be trusted at your peril. Commander in Chief? LIAR in Chief!
Keep on speaking truth to power James!
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