astridrv's review against another edition
informative
inspiring
This was a quick read, especially since any of the more abstract/general points were well known to me. But I chuckled and gasped at the more personal details about the whole journey of this package. I have such endless admiration for both Snowden and the journalists involved. Especially Laura, a true hero.
turbomandoll's review against another edition
4.0
Really enjoyed this, an interesting and unique view on the Snowden leaks from a pair of people right at the centre whilst still being completely at the periphery of the action - the Rosencrantz and Guildenstern of leaking NSA secrets. There's plenty of new information here even for people like me who've read essentially everything related to Snowden, and looking at the still thrilling events through the lens of trust is a useful perspective.
It does feel a little stretched out, even for a short book, with a somewhat superfluous chapter on privacy and the surveillance state breaking the flow. However, for people interested in the Snowden leaks this is an essential read.
Also, Glenn Greenwald still sounds like an absolute tool.
It does feel a little stretched out, even for a short book, with a somewhat superfluous chapter on privacy and the surveillance state breaking the flow. However, for people interested in the Snowden leaks this is an essential read.
Also, Glenn Greenwald still sounds like an absolute tool.
bizlet's review
4.0
Really interesting perspective on the Snowden leaks with an emphasis on the human element in building a secure system. It feels like a good intro to security for those who maybe wouldn't want to spend the time with some of the more technical or larger books and I felt that the authors' choice to include some history and some 101 was really helpful in this context.
bookishjesse's review against another edition
3.0
I am a big fan of the Intercept and was excited when I received the advanced audio book copy from Libro.fm. I was also intrigued by the premise of combatting declining social trust.
The sections based on personal narrative are excellent. They are compelling, interesting, and reveal how isolating being involved in whistleblowing can be. I respect the authors' vulnerability and believe these passages struck the right tone: enough information to tell a story, but not so much as to be melodramatic.
I did not enjoy the sections later in the book. Anyone interested enough to read a work like Snowden's Box is likely already aware of the various ways in which private companies and governments track, store, and share data citizens often give voluntarily. This meandering intro to Alexa and other devices and companies read like a "Privacy 101" primer that had little to do with the narrative at hand. To be honest, it seemed like the authors realized how short their book would be and so they added some sections about privacy more generally. I would be less critical had they not repeatedly mentioned being long-form journalists. Surely, they are aware of story arcs and so I was surprised they didn't choose another medium.
This would have made a fabulous podcast. The best parts of the book are those that seem to have been conceived during chats between a few people who experienced something extraordinary together.
The sections based on personal narrative are excellent. They are compelling, interesting, and reveal how isolating being involved in whistleblowing can be. I respect the authors' vulnerability and believe these passages struck the right tone: enough information to tell a story, but not so much as to be melodramatic.
I did not enjoy the sections later in the book. Anyone interested enough to read a work like Snowden's Box is likely already aware of the various ways in which private companies and governments track, store, and share data citizens often give voluntarily. This meandering intro to Alexa and other devices and companies read like a "Privacy 101" primer that had little to do with the narrative at hand. To be honest, it seemed like the authors realized how short their book would be and so they added some sections about privacy more generally. I would be less critical had they not repeatedly mentioned being long-form journalists. Surely, they are aware of story arcs and so I was surprised they didn't choose another medium.
This would have made a fabulous podcast. The best parts of the book are those that seem to have been conceived during chats between a few people who experienced something extraordinary together.
simsian's review
4.0
Really liked the lens through which this story is told, and the unassuming subject at it's core.
chalexdv's review against another edition
5.0
I was a little afraid that I would find this book somewhat repetitive after reading Snowden's memoir "Permanent Record" less than six months ago, but that wasn't the case. Of course the central points are much the same, but the change of perspective (from whistleblower to journalists) was very interesting and brought many new points to light.
A strong recommend for anyone interested in modern surveillance (including IoT and "smart"devices) and/or the media shabang surrounding Snowden.
A strong recommend for anyone interested in modern surveillance (including IoT and "smart"devices) and/or the media shabang surrounding Snowden.