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Securing Democracy: My Fight for Press Freedom and Justice in Bolsonaro’s Brazil
In this riveting follow-up to his acclaimed international bestseller No Place to Hide, Glenn Greenwald documents the courageous fight for press freedom in Brazil, where authoritarianism and rampant corruption threaten the most fundamental principles of democracy.
In 2019, award-winning journalist Glenn Greenwald writes in his gripping new book, “a series of events commenced that once again placed me at the heart of a sustained and explosive journalistic controversy.” New reporting by Greenwald and a team of Brazilian journalists had brought to light stunning information about grave corruption, deceit, and wrongdoing by the most powerful political actors in Brazil, his home since 2005. These stories, based on a massive trove of previously undisclosed telephone calls, audio, and text shared by an anonymous source, came to light only months after the January 2019 inauguration of Brazil’s far-right president, Jair Bolsonaro, an ally of U.S. President Donald Trump.
The revelations “had an explosive impact on Brazilian politics” (Guardian) and prompted serious rancor, including direct attacks by President Bolsonaro himself, and ultimately an attempt by the government to criminally prosecute Greenwald for his reporting. “A wave of death threats — in a country where political violence is commonplace — have poured in, preventing me from ever leaving my house for any reason without armed guards and an armored vehicle,” Greenwald writes.
Securing Democracy takes readers on a gripping journey through Brazilian politics as Greenwald, his husband, the left-wing congressman David Miranda, and a powerful opposition movement courageously challenge political corruption, homophobia, and tyranny. Most vitally, Greenwald demonstrates the importance of independent journalism in holding governments to account, reversing injustices, and ultimately securing the freedoms of democracy.
In 2019, award-winning journalist Glenn Greenwald writes in his gripping new book, “a series of events commenced that once again placed me at the heart of a sustained and explosive journalistic controversy.” New reporting by Greenwald and a team of Brazilian journalists had brought to light stunning information about grave corruption, deceit, and wrongdoing by the most powerful political actors in Brazil, his home since 2005. These stories, based on a massive trove of previously undisclosed telephone calls, audio, and text shared by an anonymous source, came to light only months after the January 2019 inauguration of Brazil’s far-right president, Jair Bolsonaro, an ally of U.S. President Donald Trump.
The revelations “had an explosive impact on Brazilian politics” (Guardian) and prompted serious rancor, including direct attacks by President Bolsonaro himself, and ultimately an attempt by the government to criminally prosecute Greenwald for his reporting. “A wave of death threats — in a country where political violence is commonplace — have poured in, preventing me from ever leaving my house for any reason without armed guards and an armored vehicle,” Greenwald writes.
Securing Democracy takes readers on a gripping journey through Brazilian politics as Greenwald, his husband, the left-wing congressman David Miranda, and a powerful opposition movement courageously challenge political corruption, homophobia, and tyranny. Most vitally, Greenwald demonstrates the importance of independent journalism in holding governments to account, reversing injustices, and ultimately securing the freedoms of democracy.
258 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 6, 2021
35 people are currently reading
442 people want to read
About the author
Glenn Greenwald
17 books809 followersGlenn Greenwald is an American lawyer, columnist, blogger and author who worked as a constitutional and civil-rights litigator prior to becoming a contributor (columnist and blogger) to Salon.com, where he focuses on political and legal topics. He has also contributed to other newspapers and political news magazines, including The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The American Conservative, The National Interest, and In These Times.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
October 13, 2021
Few journalists experience the stroke of fortune of having a scoop as explosive and important as the Snowden leaks dropped into their laps once in a lifetime - Glenn Greenwald has had it twice. Contacted in 2019 by an anonymous source promising an archive of hacked documents and audio files proving massive corruption and assorted illegal activities by the highest echelons of the Bolsonaro government, he began releasing a series of explosive reports through The Intercept Brazil and other media outlets that broke loose a storm of controversy and resulted in death treats, online attacks by Bolsonaro himself as well as many others, being assaulted on air, and threats of prosecution which have yet to be resolved. A gripping, informative and important book that once again showcases Greenwald's courageous reporting and unwavering defense of press freedom even in the face of relentless attacks.
April 24, 2021
This is an exciting account of Greenwald’s process of receiving and reporting on the leaked communications which proved that Brazil’s Operation Car Wash, far from being an impartial legal takedown of corruption, was in fact a political scam targeting the Workers Party that paved the way for the current catastrophe of the Bolsonaro government. It’s a shame that Greenwald spends so much time and energy getting into stupid fights online, because it distracts from his genuine heroism and this story should be known much more than it is outside of Brazil.
June 5, 2025
instead of 3.5, i’ll just give this 4.
after reading a couple books by journalists on specific topics, you come to learn about journalists who can write (much more accessible yet informative) and journalists who can report (concise information, relevant context but not accessible).
anyways, greenwald is definitely in the former. recounting the recent rise of bolsanaro fuelled by the shadow of brazil’s dictatorship and vast media empire, this book is quite good. it follows greenwald as he receives MASSIVE leaks from brazilian officials (anti-corruption politicians, judges, police officers) by an anonymous source. he does a good job of establishing the backdrop for all of these events.
i think the strength of this book comes from greenwald’s personal motivations to report on these leaks. chapters 4 & 5 find him recounting the meeting of his husband, an out socialist politician (one of the first in brazil) and how their close friend and ally was assassinated. these chapters are full of passion and despair, motivated to leave no stone unturned and to bring those who have harmed to justice. the rest of the book doesn’t show similar levels of heart, but they are definitely a standout.
after reading a couple books by journalists on specific topics, you come to learn about journalists who can write (much more accessible yet informative) and journalists who can report (concise information, relevant context but not accessible).
anyways, greenwald is definitely in the former. recounting the recent rise of bolsanaro fuelled by the shadow of brazil’s dictatorship and vast media empire, this book is quite good. it follows greenwald as he receives MASSIVE leaks from brazilian officials (anti-corruption politicians, judges, police officers) by an anonymous source. he does a good job of establishing the backdrop for all of these events.
i think the strength of this book comes from greenwald’s personal motivations to report on these leaks. chapters 4 & 5 find him recounting the meeting of his husband, an out socialist politician (one of the first in brazil) and how their close friend and ally was assassinated. these chapters are full of passion and despair, motivated to leave no stone unturned and to bring those who have harmed to justice. the rest of the book doesn’t show similar levels of heart, but they are definitely a standout.
December 9, 2021
Mwaka 2014, wakati Edward Snowden anapuliza kipyenga na kuibua jinsi gani vyombo vya usalama vya Marekani (National Security Agency) na Uingereza Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ) vinavyotumika, kinyume na sheria, kuwapeleleza raia wake, raia na viongozi wa nchi mbalimbali duniani, kama Brazil. Snowden, alipotaka kutoa habari hizi, alimtafuta Glenn Greenwald, aliyekuwa ni correspondent wa gazeti la the Guardian la Uingereza, mwaka 2013. Pengine swali, kwanini Greenwald?
Greenwald, ni Mmarekani, mwandishi wa Habari, ambaye kabla alikuwa na kampuni yake ya kisheria ambayo ilikuwa inajihusisha na mashtaka ambayo yamejikita kwenye haki zinazopatikana kutokana na mabadiliko ya kwanza ya katiba ya Marekani (First US Constitution Amendment, ya mwaka 1791, ambayo yaliweka masharti ambayo yanaikataza bunge la Marekani kutunga sheria ya kuanzisha dini maalumu ya taifa, au kutunga sheria itayozuia uhuru wa kuabudu, kuzuia uhuru wa maoni au habari; uhuru wa Wamerekani kukusanyika kwa amani). Baadae aliacha na kujikita kwenye uandishi wa habari ambao kimsingi ulikuwa ni zenye mlengo wa kupigania uhuru wa kisiasa, maoni na kuabudu. Kwa misingi hii, Snowden aliona huyu ni mtu sahihi, kumpa habari zake 'Snowden Files'. Mwaka 2014, alitoa kitabu kiitwacho No Place to Hide kuelezea mkasa mzima wa Snowden. Hapo ndipo nilipomfahamu na kuvutiwa sana na uandishi wake. Ambapo, kufuatia issue hii ya Snowden, ndipo ilipoanzishwa chombo cha Habari kiitwacho The Intercept, kikiwa na waandishi 'wa kweli' kama Jeremy Scahill, na Mehdi Hasan (kwa sasa hayupo), kikiwa na lengo la kufanya uandishi wa habari za Kichunguzi, bila kuwa na upande - Adversarial Journalism. Baada ya issue hii ya Snowden, Greenward alipata mtifuano mkubwa na serikali ya Uingereza na Marekani, na kuamua kusettle zaidi Brazil. Ambapo huko alianzisha tawi la intercept (Intercept Brazil). Na pia, alikutana na David Miranda na kufunga naye ndoa, in the course of life David, alikuja kuwa Diwani na hatimaye mbunge nchini Brazil.
Mwaka 2018, aliunganishwa na rafiki yake, Mbunge aitwaye Manuela, kuwa kuna mtu amehack mawasiliano ya mtandao wa Telegram (uliokuwa ukitumiwa na kuaminiwa na vigogo wa Brazil kuwa hauwezi kiwa hacked) ya mawaziri wa masuala ya katiba ya Brazil, Sergio Moro na Mwendesha Mashtaka Deltan Dellagnol. Katika Mawasiliano hayo ya zaidi ya miaka mitano, yanaonyesha ni jinsi gani, Moro na Dellagnol walivyokuwa wakiendesha operation kubwa katika historia ya Brazil, ya kupambana na rushwa iliyoitwa Operation Car wash. Uvujishaji huu, ni wa muhimu sana, sababu umetoa elimu na onyo kubwa sana kwenye jamii, juu ya tahadhari inapokuja suala la vyombo vya dola kufanya uchunguzi wa masuala ya Rushwa au madawa ya kulevya n.k!
Brazili ni nchi ambayo kwa sababu za kihistoria (ukoloni), na baadae miaka ya 1960 , kuchangiwa na Marekani kufanya mapinduzi nchini humo na kuweka utawala wake, wa chama kimoja, wa kidikteta na kijeshi, ulifanyw tabaka la weupe ambao ni wachache kuwa ndio wamiliki wa kila kitu nchini humo, siasa, uchumi, biashara, vyombo vya habari, vyombo vya dola na mtandao wa biashara ya madawa ya kulevya. Wasio weupe (non-whites) ambao ndio wengi ni tabaka tawaliwa kwa miaka mingi. Kutokana na misingi ya utawala wa kijeshi, udiktea, maisha ya Brazil katika nyanja zote yametawaliwa na ubabe na rushwa katika kila eneo. Hali hii ilipotamalaki, wabrazil walichoshwa na tabaka la watawala - elite establishment. Na yeyote ambaye alikuwa akihubiri na kupambana na tabaka hilo, wabrazil walimuhusudu na kumpa support mtu huyo.
Falsafa hii ya kisiasa, ndio iliwatawala wabrazil; 'Anyone who is hated by the political system that we despise and the elites who control it, and who promises to burn it and them down to the ground, is on our side.'
Ndipo ilipotokea mwaka 2014, ilipoanzishwa Operesheni ya kupambana na wala rushwa, wakwepa kodi na watakatishaji fedha. Chini ya aliyekuwa Jaji katika mji wa Curitiba, Sergio Moro, (Jaji wa mahakama hii, unaweza mfananisha na Hakimu katika mahakama ya Kisutu hapa nchini kwetu kutokana na unyeti wa kesi zinazopelekwa pale). Kiongozi wa Operesheni hii alikuwa ni Mwendesha Mashtaka Deltan Dellagnol, na iliitwa Operation Car wash
Greenwald, ni Mmarekani, mwandishi wa Habari, ambaye kabla alikuwa na kampuni yake ya kisheria ambayo ilikuwa inajihusisha na mashtaka ambayo yamejikita kwenye haki zinazopatikana kutokana na mabadiliko ya kwanza ya katiba ya Marekani (First US Constitution Amendment, ya mwaka 1791, ambayo yaliweka masharti ambayo yanaikataza bunge la Marekani kutunga sheria ya kuanzisha dini maalumu ya taifa, au kutunga sheria itayozuia uhuru wa kuabudu, kuzuia uhuru wa maoni au habari; uhuru wa Wamerekani kukusanyika kwa amani). Baadae aliacha na kujikita kwenye uandishi wa habari ambao kimsingi ulikuwa ni zenye mlengo wa kupigania uhuru wa kisiasa, maoni na kuabudu. Kwa misingi hii, Snowden aliona huyu ni mtu sahihi, kumpa habari zake 'Snowden Files'. Mwaka 2014, alitoa kitabu kiitwacho No Place to Hide kuelezea mkasa mzima wa Snowden. Hapo ndipo nilipomfahamu na kuvutiwa sana na uandishi wake. Ambapo, kufuatia issue hii ya Snowden, ndipo ilipoanzishwa chombo cha Habari kiitwacho The Intercept, kikiwa na waandishi 'wa kweli' kama Jeremy Scahill, na Mehdi Hasan (kwa sasa hayupo), kikiwa na lengo la kufanya uandishi wa habari za Kichunguzi, bila kuwa na upande - Adversarial Journalism. Baada ya issue hii ya Snowden, Greenward alipata mtifuano mkubwa na serikali ya Uingereza na Marekani, na kuamua kusettle zaidi Brazil. Ambapo huko alianzisha tawi la intercept (Intercept Brazil). Na pia, alikutana na David Miranda na kufunga naye ndoa, in the course of life David, alikuja kuwa Diwani na hatimaye mbunge nchini Brazil.
Mwaka 2018, aliunganishwa na rafiki yake, Mbunge aitwaye Manuela, kuwa kuna mtu amehack mawasiliano ya mtandao wa Telegram (uliokuwa ukitumiwa na kuaminiwa na vigogo wa Brazil kuwa hauwezi kiwa hacked) ya mawaziri wa masuala ya katiba ya Brazil, Sergio Moro na Mwendesha Mashtaka Deltan Dellagnol. Katika Mawasiliano hayo ya zaidi ya miaka mitano, yanaonyesha ni jinsi gani, Moro na Dellagnol walivyokuwa wakiendesha operation kubwa katika historia ya Brazil, ya kupambana na rushwa iliyoitwa Operation Car wash. Uvujishaji huu, ni wa muhimu sana, sababu umetoa elimu na onyo kubwa sana kwenye jamii, juu ya tahadhari inapokuja suala la vyombo vya dola kufanya uchunguzi wa masuala ya Rushwa au madawa ya kulevya n.k!
Brazili ni nchi ambayo kwa sababu za kihistoria (ukoloni), na baadae miaka ya 1960 , kuchangiwa na Marekani kufanya mapinduzi nchini humo na kuweka utawala wake, wa chama kimoja, wa kidikteta na kijeshi, ulifanyw tabaka la weupe ambao ni wachache kuwa ndio wamiliki wa kila kitu nchini humo, siasa, uchumi, biashara, vyombo vya habari, vyombo vya dola na mtandao wa biashara ya madawa ya kulevya. Wasio weupe (non-whites) ambao ndio wengi ni tabaka tawaliwa kwa miaka mingi. Kutokana na misingi ya utawala wa kijeshi, udiktea, maisha ya Brazil katika nyanja zote yametawaliwa na ubabe na rushwa katika kila eneo. Hali hii ilipotamalaki, wabrazil walichoshwa na tabaka la watawala - elite establishment. Na yeyote ambaye alikuwa akihubiri na kupambana na tabaka hilo, wabrazil walimuhusudu na kumpa support mtu huyo.
Falsafa hii ya kisiasa, ndio iliwatawala wabrazil; 'Anyone who is hated by the political system that we despise and the elites who control it, and who promises to burn it and them down to the ground, is on our side.'
Ndipo ilipotokea mwaka 2014, ilipoanzishwa Operesheni ya kupambana na wala rushwa, wakwepa kodi na watakatishaji fedha. Chini ya aliyekuwa Jaji katika mji wa Curitiba, Sergio Moro, (Jaji wa mahakama hii, unaweza mfananisha na Hakimu katika mahakama ya Kisutu hapa nchini kwetu kutokana na unyeti wa kesi zinazopelekwa pale). Kiongozi wa Operesheni hii alikuwa ni Mwendesha Mashtaka Deltan Dellagnol, na iliitwa Operation Car wash
March 6, 2022
I snagged this one on Audible, mainly because I was vaguely aware of a lot of the events described in
this book and wanted to be more informed about just what all had gone down in Brazil over the course of the past few years and Greenwald- love him or hate him- was at the center of the journalistic firestorm around a lot of it.
The structure of the book is well laid out-- before you dig into the reporting and the controversy Greenwald found himself in, he 'sets the scene' in a structured and informative way. While I knew the basics of Brazil's history, Greenwald filled in a lot of details I didn't know. Namely the depth of American involvement in bringing the military dictatorship to power- the depth of their repression and how it impacted society, but more importantly, how much of Bolsonaro's support came from people and companies that found their greatest success during the Dictatorship.
Greenwald then touches on his personal history in the country, how he came to meet his husband, David Miranda, their subsequent marriage, and how his reporting on Snowden with its revelations that the NSA and other western powers were openly spying on Brazil and monitoring the phone conversations of their leaders. Miranda and Greenwald settle into life in Brazil and soon become aware of a prosecutor, Sergio Moro whose 'Car Wash' Probe leads directly to deep-rooted corruption at the very top of Brazilian society. Moro rode a wave of public support to grow the probe and take down some of the richest and most powerful people in Brazil. It even played a part in the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff and lead to the imprisonment of former President Lula da Silva.
Shortly after Bolsonaro came to power, an anonymous hacker approached Greenwald with a massive trove of previously undisclosed telephone calls, audio, and text messages which contained some of the private messages of the most powerful people in Brazil, up to and including people very close the President himself.
At this point, Moro, the Car Wash Prosecutor was now incredibly powerful. Bolsonaro had ridden a wave of public outrage about corruption straight to the Presidency by hitching himself to Car Wash and Moro had been rewarded with a Ministry position in the government. There was some unease growing about the excesses of the Car Wash prosecution, especially about its use of preventative detention in order to pressure accused individuals to name more people and thus deliver more convictions. The trove that Greenwald received confirmed that there was good reason to cast doubt on the dubiousness of these actions and much of the work of the Car Wash prosecution was suspect.
It was a lot and in a country that didn't have a history of leak-based journalism the way the United States did, deciding how to report this was just as important as the decision to report it. After figuring out the best way to report it, Greenwald and his team of journalists took the plunge, and then the backlash began. The death threats, the heckling at public appearances, the threats of prosecution, and multiple threats to his family all of that Greenwald had to live through while reporting the story. But in the midst of all the bad, there was good too. Journalists in Brazil and abroad rallied to defend press freedom. Parts of Brazilian society, so shocked by Bolsonaro's victory and more than a little scared, given his love of the military dictatorship and as a former Army officer began to believe that they could fight back as well.
Eventually, Greenwald's reporting lead to the release of former President Lula da Silva from prison. (He's running for President again as well!)
This was a good read/listen for multiple reasons. First, it illuminated aspects of the corruption scandal in Brazil (Car Wash) that I was previously unaware of. It filled in a lot of blanks about the military dictatorship and how it continues to influences and impact Brazilian politics today. It's also refreshing to go on a deep dive into the politics of the largest country in South America- which is something people should pay more attention to, especially in America. I'm a big believer in actually getting to know your neighbors, which given our checkered history in the region can only be a good thing, if for no other reason that it could help prevent us from contributing or causing tragic mistakes in these countries that we don't have to bear the responsibility for.
Overall: solid, tightly written and a great quick listens, Greenwald lays out his role in one of Brazil's biggest stories in years. If you're curious about the politics of Brazil, journalism in general, or just want to know what all the big deal was about, this is well worth reading/listening to. My Grade: *** out of ****.
this book and wanted to be more informed about just what all had gone down in Brazil over the course of the past few years and Greenwald- love him or hate him- was at the center of the journalistic firestorm around a lot of it.
The structure of the book is well laid out-- before you dig into the reporting and the controversy Greenwald found himself in, he 'sets the scene' in a structured and informative way. While I knew the basics of Brazil's history, Greenwald filled in a lot of details I didn't know. Namely the depth of American involvement in bringing the military dictatorship to power- the depth of their repression and how it impacted society, but more importantly, how much of Bolsonaro's support came from people and companies that found their greatest success during the Dictatorship.
Greenwald then touches on his personal history in the country, how he came to meet his husband, David Miranda, their subsequent marriage, and how his reporting on Snowden with its revelations that the NSA and other western powers were openly spying on Brazil and monitoring the phone conversations of their leaders. Miranda and Greenwald settle into life in Brazil and soon become aware of a prosecutor, Sergio Moro whose 'Car Wash' Probe leads directly to deep-rooted corruption at the very top of Brazilian society. Moro rode a wave of public support to grow the probe and take down some of the richest and most powerful people in Brazil. It even played a part in the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff and lead to the imprisonment of former President Lula da Silva.
Shortly after Bolsonaro came to power, an anonymous hacker approached Greenwald with a massive trove of previously undisclosed telephone calls, audio, and text messages which contained some of the private messages of the most powerful people in Brazil, up to and including people very close the President himself.
At this point, Moro, the Car Wash Prosecutor was now incredibly powerful. Bolsonaro had ridden a wave of public outrage about corruption straight to the Presidency by hitching himself to Car Wash and Moro had been rewarded with a Ministry position in the government. There was some unease growing about the excesses of the Car Wash prosecution, especially about its use of preventative detention in order to pressure accused individuals to name more people and thus deliver more convictions. The trove that Greenwald received confirmed that there was good reason to cast doubt on the dubiousness of these actions and much of the work of the Car Wash prosecution was suspect.
It was a lot and in a country that didn't have a history of leak-based journalism the way the United States did, deciding how to report this was just as important as the decision to report it. After figuring out the best way to report it, Greenwald and his team of journalists took the plunge, and then the backlash began. The death threats, the heckling at public appearances, the threats of prosecution, and multiple threats to his family all of that Greenwald had to live through while reporting the story. But in the midst of all the bad, there was good too. Journalists in Brazil and abroad rallied to defend press freedom. Parts of Brazilian society, so shocked by Bolsonaro's victory and more than a little scared, given his love of the military dictatorship and as a former Army officer began to believe that they could fight back as well.
Eventually, Greenwald's reporting lead to the release of former President Lula da Silva from prison. (He's running for President again as well!)
This was a good read/listen for multiple reasons. First, it illuminated aspects of the corruption scandal in Brazil (Car Wash) that I was previously unaware of. It filled in a lot of blanks about the military dictatorship and how it continues to influences and impact Brazilian politics today. It's also refreshing to go on a deep dive into the politics of the largest country in South America- which is something people should pay more attention to, especially in America. I'm a big believer in actually getting to know your neighbors, which given our checkered history in the region can only be a good thing, if for no other reason that it could help prevent us from contributing or causing tragic mistakes in these countries that we don't have to bear the responsibility for.
Overall: solid, tightly written and a great quick listens, Greenwald lays out his role in one of Brazil's biggest stories in years. If you're curious about the politics of Brazil, journalism in general, or just want to know what all the big deal was about, this is well worth reading/listening to. My Grade: *** out of ****.
Read
October 11, 2021Greenwald is very effective again telling the story of how he received a treasure trove of emails, videos, and audioclips of the inner workings of a probe into political corruption from an unnamed source. What was revealed in this material was collusion and an attempt to frame the politicians caught up in the probe all of whom were from left-wing parties. Greenwald carefully parses Brazilian political history going back decades which is necessary to put the whole business in context. Then he details how he gathered cohorts in Brazilian media to help him publish the revelations to best effect. He is nothing if not exacting and careful. After the first of his stories are published the blowback began as supporters of the original probe went after Greenwald and his family. Attacks against him were vicious and involved the Bolsonaro government. Some of the charges against GG were still pending as this book went to press. A riveting deep dive into Brazilian politics. Well done.
September 30, 2021
Greenwald is definitely in contention for “most interesting man in the world”. The true epitome of investigative journalist unfettered by a corporate pressure. After assisting Edward Snowden in revealing the wide abuses by the NSA, Greenwald ends up in Brazil where he uncovered the abuses in Operation Car Wash and President Bolsonaro. This book details that story.
Greenwald seems to be motivated to expose the abuses of power and admirably has not spared anyone nor seems beholden to a political ideology. This is a Jewish man in a same-sex marriage to a socialist Brazilian politician currently exposing the Hillary Clinton campaign of a hoax on Russia and also questioning the need for funding the Israel Iron Dome program. He sounds like a mythological beast or a creature from another planet.
Greenwald seems to be motivated to expose the abuses of power and admirably has not spared anyone nor seems beholden to a political ideology. This is a Jewish man in a same-sex marriage to a socialist Brazilian politician currently exposing the Hillary Clinton campaign of a hoax on Russia and also questioning the need for funding the Israel Iron Dome program. He sounds like a mythological beast or a creature from another planet.
May 4, 2022
The reporting in this book is superb. However, the book also has many flaws. I'm writing this review during the Russian invasion in Ukraine. Because of that world-changing event, this book did not age well.
Throughout this book (and especially at the beginning), the author is extremely critical of the United States' foreign and internal policies. It is now clear that it's much better to have the US as a super-power and not Russia or China. Moreover, Greenwald at one point justifies Brazil's decisions to do business with, for instance, Iran, only to criticise the elected government of Brazil of being dictators.
Even though this book is a pretty good read, the readers of this book should be aware that some of the author's theses are contradictory. If there were a little less geopolitical comments, this would be a superb book. With these comments, it's just okay.
Throughout this book (and especially at the beginning), the author is extremely critical of the United States' foreign and internal policies. It is now clear that it's much better to have the US as a super-power and not Russia or China. Moreover, Greenwald at one point justifies Brazil's decisions to do business with, for instance, Iran, only to criticise the elected government of Brazil of being dictators.
Even though this book is a pretty good read, the readers of this book should be aware that some of the author's theses are contradictory. If there were a little less geopolitical comments, this would be a superb book. With these comments, it's just okay.
February 9, 2022
An absolute page turner. I couldn’t put it down. I follow Glenn on twitter and when someone is as hated as he is, and by people from all political backgrounds and ideologies, it makes me want to listen to what he has to say. I get that sometimes he comes off rude or even dare I say …. a bit of a bully? But his contributions to the press, its freedom, and his involvement with the Snowden reporting and Vaza Jato give him a pass on his sometimes harsh rhetoric. This book however is in plain language and written in a factual manner with a steady voice, but still extremely engaging. It is great recount of vaza jato, the political climate in Brazil for the last few years as well the aftermath of his reporting.
May 23, 2021
Greenwald is a courageous journalist and much of this book reads like a spy thriller about his reporting on judicial and political corruption in Brazil. Worth a read.
September 17, 2021
Not the greatest writing in a literary sense, but a very important and compelling topic, press freedom in the world’s largest democracy.
October 3, 2022
Wild story
March 2, 2024
Really in depth and inspirational in parts and harrowing in others. Mr. Greenwald has worked tirelessly in order to our world a better place. May more reporters have the same bravery and ethic.
May 16, 2025
Veer well written
September 16, 2021
Outstanding read. Reads like a political thriller.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews