Nation of Secrets: The Threat to Democracy and the American Way of Life

by Ted Gup

In The Book of Honor , Ted Gup uncovered some of the CIA's closest-held the names and stories of the seventy-one undercover operatives who were killed in the line of duty. Now he turns his attention to a broader range of American institutions, exposing how and why they keep secrets from the very people they are supposed to serve. Drawing on original reporting and startling analysis, Gup argues that a preoccupation with secrets has undermined the very values—security, patriotism, privacy, the national interest—in whose name secrecy is so often invoked.

Gup shows how the expanding thicket of classified information leads to the devaluation of the secrets we most need to keep, and that journalists have become pawns in the government’s internal conflicts over access to information. He explores the blatant exploitation of privacy and confidentiality in academia, business, and the courts, and concludes that in case after case, these principles have been twisted to allow the emergence of a shadow system of justice, unaccountable to the public.

Drawing on Gup's decades of work as an investigative reporter, NATION OF SECRETS will shake our faith in some of our most trusted institutions, piercing the veil of secrecy to reveal an alarming new threat to democracy in America. Gup presents a vision radical in its clarity, conservative in its roots, of a country teetering on the brink of losing its identity.

Genres: Politics, History, Nonfiction

336 pages, Hardcover

First published May 29, 2007

About the author

Ted Gup is the author of A Secret Gift, (Penguin Press, 2010) and two previous books: Nation of Secrets: The Threat to Democracy and the American Way of Life (Doubleday, 2007) winner of the Goldsmith Book Prize from Harvard Universitys Kennedy School of Government, and the bestseller, The Book of Honor: Covert Lives And Classified Deaths At The CIA (Doubleday, 2000.) He is a former investigative reporter for The Washington Post where he worked under Bob Woodward. He later wrote for Time magazine covering Congress, the environment, and served as Washington investigative correspondent."

Reviews

[Jeff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though this book was enjoyable, it was one of the toughest things I've read in quite some time...imagine reading a 300-page newspaper article. Its primary theme, though, is one to which we should all serve notice. Excessive secrecy - in government, business, etc.- will threaten our way of life here in America. From my career-based knowledge of the intelligence failures preceding 9/11 to some serious but ultimately trivial things that are happening in my extended family, covering up the truth brings heartache, creates an even greater web of lies to keep a secret suppressed, and so on. Needless to say, this book resonated with me.

Gup presents a number of examples of secrecy and information classification gone awry. What is most disturbing are those cases related to homeland security. What could be more important in a time when we send our sons and daughters abroad to fight a war to protect the very homeland that supports our way of life? I see this personally when I am forced to classify (albeit the "light" classification of FOUO) an after-action report of an emergency exercise. Does the public not have a right to know what strengths their emergency responders have? Does the public not have a right to know of their community's vulnerabilities so it can prepare itself?

In short, pick this book up to learn how you can open the doors of government, the press, big business, and so on. It is paramount. It is our responsibility as Americans. It is patriotic.

J.

[Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great book and I just lent it to one of my friends for him to read. Talk about reading a book and feeling less trust worthing of the US gov, the system, colleges, lawyers and judges. It is how everything is being classified in the gov, any court decisions nowadays are being sealed and just overall how America and the freedom of speech is being taken away by Americans daily.

This was written in 2007 and I would LOVE for him to do a follow up on in after the Obama's administration. He touches on how his speeches have been that the government needs to be open and more honest during his election run. I think the opposite has been happening with the US gov covering up more things daily and changing our US history as they see fit. It is how controls the presents controls the past.

A must read and Ted a follow up is needed after Obama is out of office!!!

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Don't read this if you don't want your mind blown out the back of your head. Buckle up and get a grip.

[Ellen]

What a horrible title (That's why its hair's so big!) but it looks interesting.

[Jim Noyes · Rating 4 out of 5]

a very good investigative work. I enjoyed it very much

[John Barth · Rating 4 out of 5]

so far, incredible...

[Lorelei Kung · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good investigative book. But the writing is a bit all over the place.