Top Secret America: The Rise of the New American Security State

by Dana Priest and William M. Arkin
Top Secret America: The Rise of the New American Security State cover
Good Books rating 4.0
Technical
  • ID: 5469
  • Added: 2025-10-23
  • Updated: 2025-10-23
  • Reviews: 3
Reviews
insidestory.org.au · Unknown · 2012-04-11
eye-opening 4.00

Top Secret America is a comprehensive and eye-opening exploration of the vast and often secretive American security state. The book reveals the immense scale and complexity of the security apparatus, highlighting the challenges of oversight and accountability. It's a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the inner workings of national security.

Top Secret America by Dana Priest and William Arkin is a meticulously researched and revealing look into the sprawling American security state. The book provides a detailed account of the vast network of agencies, contractors, and programs that have grown exponentially since 9/11. It highlights the lack of coordination and oversight, raising serious questions about efficiency and accountability. The authors present a compelling case for reform, arguing that the current system is unsustainable and poses significant risks to national security. They also explore the human impact of this secretive world, including the psychological toll on those working within it. Overall, the book is a sobering and thought-provoking examination of a critical but often overlooked aspect of American governance.

Quick quotes

    The book reveals a vast and often unaccountable security apparatus

    The authors present a compelling case for reform, arguing that the current system is unsustainable

    It's a sobering and thought-provoking examination of a critical but often overlooked aspect of American governance

denverpost.com · Unknown · 2011-10-27
informative 3.50

The book delves into the intricate world of the American security state, highlighting the overwhelming role of technology in managing secrets. It's a detailed and somewhat overwhelming exploration that leaves readers with a sense of the complexity and scale of the security apparatus.

Top Secret America offers a comprehensive look into the vast and often hidden world of the American security state. The book meticulously details how technology has become a cornerstone in the management and dissemination of secrets, creating a landscape that is both impressive and daunting. The sheer scale of the security apparatus is highlighted, showing how it has grown to encompass numerous agencies and technologies. While the book provides valuable insights, it can be overwhelming due to its depth and the vast amount of information presented. Readers are left with a sense of the complexity and the immense resources dedicated to maintaining this secretive world. The book's thoroughness is both its strength and its weakness, as it can be challenging to navigate through the dense information. However, for those interested in understanding the intricacies of national security, it offers a unique and detailed perspective.

Quick quotes

    The book is a detailed and somewhat overwhelming exploration of the American security state.

    The sheer scale of the security apparatus is highlighted, showing how it has grown to encompass numerous agencies and technologies.

    The book's thoroughness is both its strength and its weakness, as it can be challenging to navigate through the dense information.

washingtonpost.com · Unknown · 2011-09-30
heartwarming 4.50

The reviewer finds Truman Capote's 'A Christmas Memory' to be a heartwarming and bittersweet tale that captures the essence of Christmas through the eyes of a child. The story's focus on giving, tradition, and loss resonates deeply, making it a perfect read for the holiday season.

Truman Capote's 'A Christmas Memory' is a short story that beautifully encapsulates the spirit of Christmas through the lens of a young boy and his elderly cousin. The narrative follows their preparations for Christmas, including foraging for pecans, making homemade gifts, and baking cakes for friends and strangers. The reviewer appreciates the story's childlike wonder and the joy found in simple, heartfelt gestures. The tale also touches on the melancholy that often accompanies the holiday season, as the narrator reflects on the distance growing between him and his cousin. This bittersweet memory of Christmases past adds depth to the story, making it a poignant and memorable read. The reviewer finds the story's themes of giving, tradition, and loss particularly resonant, especially in the context of 2020. The act of creating and giving, despite limited resources, is highlighted as a powerful and essential aspect of the holiday season. The story's charm and potency remain timeless, making it a perfect read for those seeking a heartwarming and reflective Christmas tale.

Quick quotes

    A childish innocence and wonderment run through the story, winds around it like a string of Christmas lights.

    The act of giving is both literally and figuratively far reaching.

    The story holds on to its festive mood, its festive youthful dreaminess; but by the end, it reads as an elegiac love letter, a memory of Christmases and loves lost.

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