Summary

Permanent Record is a memoir written by former CIA and NSA contractor Edward Snowden who rose to global prominence in 2013 after revealing classified information about the NSA’s surveillance operations to a number of journalists. Part 1 deals with Snowden’s childhood and adolescence.

In the Preface, Snowden offers a brief summary of the story that follows in the rest of the book: his quick rise through the ranks of the CIA and NSA because of his technical ability; his growing concerns about the scope of the NSA’s surveillance programs and the lack of accountability; his decision to go public with his concerns; and the impact his decision had on his family and loved ones. Snowden argues that his actions were taken out of a sense of public duty and a love of his country. He asserts that he was initially reluctant to...