jcarrcatzel's review against another edition
5.0
What a great read. Snowden's writing is split between technical, esoteric explanations of IT work, yet contrasts each account with a narrative or description allowing the reader (or non-computer savvy layman) to breath. His determination and passion is inspiring. His story doesn't romanticise the traditional narrative of a knight in shining armour, one who reveals the truth and gets justice. It is the brutal, exhaustive, labour-intensive plight to tell the truth, with all the sacrifices of a real hero. Like the blurb on the back says, this book will stand the test of time, a true account of a rare time in history. A time when we were all complicit perhaps, missing the bigger picture.
Interesting that encryption may the only weapon we have, as national laws fail to keep up with the pace of the internet and cross borders. Thinking about my data overseas and spread around the planet. Disturbing thinking about predicting movements, behaviour, and how you can control someone that way, direct them towards a product, move them further along that predetermined path. Disturbing account of the man and son overseas, the supposed "suspect" while Snowden spied on them behind the camera.
Enjoyed the constant return to Lindsay and the importance and role of love. Felt deeply moved by final movements in Hong Kong, waiting in the apartment. Of being filmed, bare and naked in front of the camera. Watching the real footage was powerful, knowing how he felt in that moment.
Interesting that encryption may the only weapon we have, as national laws fail to keep up with the pace of the internet and cross borders. Thinking about my data overseas and spread around the planet. Disturbing thinking about predicting movements, behaviour, and how you can control someone that way, direct them towards a product, move them further along that predetermined path. Disturbing account of the man and son overseas, the supposed "suspect" while Snowden spied on them behind the camera.
Enjoyed the constant return to Lindsay and the importance and role of love. Felt deeply moved by final movements in Hong Kong, waiting in the apartment. Of being filmed, bare and naked in front of the camera. Watching the real footage was powerful, knowing how he felt in that moment.
thelazyoxymoron's review against another edition
5.0
This was exactly what I had expected. An honest, inside look from the man who, it would not be hyperbole to say, changed the course of history for internet activism.
siriuslysirius's review against another edition
5.0
First off, Ed (I call him "Ed" because that's what he seems to prefer) is a phenomenal writer and found a fantastic editor. This bio reads like a movie and flowed perfectly.
Of course, Permanent Record starts at the beginning. In the early 80s, as a child, Ed discovers video game consoles and soon thereafter, computers. Instantly, he's enamored. He talks of dial-up and meeting people on BBSes (BBSes were fairly niche back in the late 80s and early 90s) and forums- which is a total throwback for me. Here in these forums, he learns the importance of anonymity and finds that he has a voracious appetite for learning how all of this new tech works. This appetite follows him into adulthood.
Permanent Record is so well written that I didn't notice that the "juicy bits" don't come until the 3rd and final part of the book. I'll spare the details, because you should have an idea of what happened, but probably not the how or the why. I mean, his actions were all over every news outlet around the world. It is Through Permanent Record that Ed humanizes himself. Up until now, I just saw him through the lens of the media. No connection, really. Mad respect, yes. But he was just a dude who has to hide for exposing the deceit, corruption, the blatant illegal actions, and total disregard for the basic human right to privacy of the United States government. What he discovers is disturbing and sickening.
If you have just a passing curiosity or if you're of the "I have nothing to hide and don't care that the government spies on EVERYTHING" mentality, Permanent Record will enlighten you for sure. Well done, Ed and please keep writing!
#PermanentRecord
Of course, Permanent Record starts at the beginning. In the early 80s, as a child, Ed discovers video game consoles and soon thereafter, computers. Instantly, he's enamored. He talks of dial-up and meeting people on BBSes (BBSes were fairly niche back in the late 80s and early 90s) and forums- which is a total throwback for me. Here in these forums, he learns the importance of anonymity and finds that he has a voracious appetite for learning how all of this new tech works. This appetite follows him into adulthood.
Permanent Record is so well written that I didn't notice that the "juicy bits" don't come until the 3rd and final part of the book. I'll spare the details, because you should have an idea of what happened, but probably not the how or the why. I mean, his actions were all over every news outlet around the world. It is Through Permanent Record that Ed humanizes himself. Up until now, I just saw him through the lens of the media. No connection, really. Mad respect, yes. But he was just a dude who has to hide for exposing the deceit, corruption, the blatant illegal actions, and total disregard for the basic human right to privacy of the United States government. What he discovers is disturbing and sickening.
If you have just a passing curiosity or if you're of the "I have nothing to hide and don't care that the government spies on EVERYTHING" mentality, Permanent Record will enlighten you for sure. Well done, Ed and please keep writing!
#PermanentRecord
mountain_adventures's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
This was an intriguing read and insightful. Only Snowden could accurately portray his story from his point of view. This goes well beyond the headlines in the news.
ewang's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
annoeing's review against another edition
5.0
It was insightful but also really scary knowing how much someone like the government could learn about you. Its funny knowing that when governments collect mass data and stuff they aren't actually going through like your texts and things but rather just looking at trends and things cause like as long as you aren't doing anything suspicious, you're irrelevant, but the thing is they COULD. like that's why they have all this data, all your texts, photos, search history and even this goodreads review. So apparently they can keep all this data in case one day they needed to blackmail you or stalk you down one day which is creepy but also impressive. In a bad way of course.