Inside WikiLeaks

My Time with Julian Assange at the World's Most Dangerous Website

By: Daniel Domscheit-Berg

Narrated by: Erik Davis

An exposé of the “World’s Most Dangerous Website” from a former WikiLeaks insider

The basis for the movie The Fifth Estate (starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Julian Assange), this eye-opening account by Daniel Domscheit-Berg, the former spokesman of WikiLeaks, reveals never-disclosed details about the inner workings of the increasingly controversial organization that has struck fear into governments and business organizations worldwide and prompted the Pentagon to convene a 120-man task force.

Under the pseudonym Daniel Schmitt, Domscheit-Berg was the effective No. 2 at WikiLeaks and the organization’s most public face, after Julian Assange. In this book, he reveals the evolution, finances, and inner tensions of the whistleblower organization, beginning with his first meeting with Assange in December 2007. He also describes what led to his September 2010 withdrawal from WikiLeaks, including his disenchantment with the organization’s lack of transparency, its abandonment of political neutrality, and Assange’s increasing concentration of power. What has been made public so far about WikiLeaks is only a small fraction of the truth. With Domscheit-Berg’s insider knowledge, he is uniquely able to tell the full story. A computer scientist who worked in IT security prior to devoting himself full-time to WikiLeaks, he remains committed to freedom of information on the Internet. Today he is working on a more transparent secret-sharing website called OpenLeaks, developed by former WikiLeaks people, to be launched in early 2011.

Captivating, objective and well-written.

I decided to get this book after stumbling upon the movie The Fifth Estate recently. I did read about WikiLeaks and Assange himself back in the day, but never really spent a lot of time on it. Since the movie fascinated me, and we got to see more than one side of the story, I was immediately attracted to the book as well, especially since Assange seemed so critical towards it, claiming it was an attempt to make him look like the bad guy.
After finishing the book, I’m quite puzzled as to why. Yes, there is criticism, but there is also praise. Whether it’s all true, or some it are subjective views of what actually happened is something only the actual parties involved will know.
To me, it seemed like a fairly neutral depiction of one man’s life, lessons learned, friendships made (and lost), as well as doing something good; fighting for a good cause, while ensuring other people’s safety in the process.

A love story gone wrong...

The book was well written and explained how the series of events went. The author tried to be unbiased on his comments of Julian Assange. But this was a perspective of a disgruntled volunteer only, I hope there were documented facts coming as well from other sources.

Gawd Awful

Initially, very briefly, a WikiLeak inside story seemed interesting. In order to save you the cost of the audiobook, here is my synopsis. The theme: imagine if the Heaven’s Gate cultists meet up at Jonestown, put on Darth Vader Costumes, and hold a Star Trek convention. To that degree, maybe, it is interesting that the driving force apparent for the author is primarily a cult of personality for its leader. The plot: 1) The greatest, most super duper, smartest, awe inspiring brilliant super being ever—ever—is Julian Assange, formerly known as super hacker “Mendax”. 2) The author drools his deepest, flamingest admiration for Mendax, I mean Assange. 3) Mendax fires the author from WikiLeaks, leaving him smitten and so mad. 4) The author pens this audiobook to expose Assange as a terrible person: 9 hours and 32 long minutes of vacuous whiney drivel. Rating: No Stars

Waste of Time & Money!

Learned NOTHING NEW about Wikileaks and found out disturbing information about the author! From someone who is a self-proclaimed Communist and believes that " property is theft " I question why he even wrote this book at all? Since making an income is a Big No No and Big Government should be supporting him. I got halfway thru this wasteful book and I was too repulsed to go on. Talk about a liar, saying one thing and doing another. I could not believe anything this guy said. This was a total waste of my hard-earned money!!!

Daniel Domscheit-Berg, THIS BOOK IS SOUR GRAPES!

Mr. Domscheit-Berg sure does have some animosity toward Julian Assange! And, that is all this book is, sour grapes. This guy does not miss an opportunity to slight Mr. Assange, including critiquing his wardrobe (several times) ! Talk about a crybaby! I want my money back! Daniel Domscheit-Berg is a sniveling whiner, and manages to snivel and whine throughout the entire book. Second place is just the guy who lost first. This book has little to do with Wiki, and quite a bit to do with Domscheit-Berg's bad taste, poor timing and lack of physical endowment. Save your money, I wish I had.