The President's Book of Secrets

The Untold Story of Intelligence Briefings to America's Presidents from Kennedy to Obama

By: David Priess

Narrated by: Jason Culp

Every president has had a unique and complicated relationship with the intelligence community. While some have been coolly distant, even adversarial, others have found their intelligence agencies to be among the most valuable instruments of policy and power.

Since John F. Kennedy's presidency, this relationship has been distilled into a personalized daily report: a short summary of what the intelligence apparatus considers the most crucial information for the president to know that day about global threats and opportunities. This top-secret document is known as the President's Daily Brief, or, within national security circles, simply "the Book". Presidents have spent anywhere from a few moments (Richard Nixon) to a healthy part of their day (George W. Bush) consumed by its contents; some (Bill Clinton and George H. W. Bush) consider it far and away the most important document they saw on a regular basis while commander in chief.

The details of most PDBs are highly classified and will remain so for many years. But the process by which the intelligence community develops and presents the Book is a fascinating look into the operation of power at the highest levels. David Priess, a former intelligence officer and daily briefer, has interviewed every living former president and vice president as well as more than 100 others intimately involved with the production and delivery of the president's book of secrets. He offers an unprecedented window into the decision making of every president from Kennedy to Obama, with many character-rich stories revealed here for the first time.

©2016 David Priess (P)2016 Audible, Inc.

A fascinating and enlightening look at the Presidents Daily Briefing

As a citizen of the United States (and, as a person who has a healthy curiosity of the presidency), I found that this book has enlightened me on one of the most important roles of the President of the United States: the safety and security of the nation. This is facilitated perhaps in many ways, but one of the most basic and initial ways is through the President’s Daily Briefing (PDB). In his book, David Priess offers a thorough and revealing look into the PDB and it’s rich and interesting history. There are things that obviously cannot be revealed. But “The Presidents Book of Secrets” will give the reader an insight into what the President must use in consultation with other security experts to maintain the nations safety and security. I, for one, am glad that we have a vast network of folks working on this in the various national agencies. I also gained and cultivated a healthy respect for our nations leaders as a result. You will definitely enjoy this book if you are interested in learning how the President of the United States gets his information at the start of his day and how this PDB shapes what is potentially going to happen during that day…and beyond.

Good for what it is.

You must enjoy the minutiae of Presidential routine to stay with this book. The comparison of styles between the Presidents is interesting as are aspects of the book's changes over time.

About CIA | Not What I was Hoping For

I cant recall if I read the dam summary or not, regardless, I was hoping for some juicy government secrets (sshhhhh!)

This book did a great job on telling the story centered around a publication delivered to the Presidents over the decades, however it was more about the CIA than anything else.

No juicy secrets uncovered, just a history over the PDB's evolution.

Would I out right recommend this book to anyone? Hahaha...NO!

Are you a history buff and find anything about the guvment interesting? Well then, this book is right up your alley.

Although it was disappointing on the basis that this book was not what I was expecting, this should not discount the fact that the author did a good job showing the reader (or listener) on a very narrow subject matter such as the PDB, how it transformed throughout the years & how different personalities shaped the document even through criticism at the highest level of guvment (POTUS).

Bush Jr was the “golden age of the PDB?!

The author asserts that George bush Jr was the golden age of the president daily brief. That’s a stunning admission considering bush Jr was in charge during the greatest intelligence failures in us history (9/11 and Iraq). It really tells you how bureaucratic and delusional these right wing nuts really are. Let’s stop pretending he’s something other than an abject failure.

Goes great paired with Drift by Rachel Maddow

this book lends insight into what was going through the minds of our Modern Day Presidents and seriously goes great with Drift. The two combined layer a comprehensive overview of US Intelligence and Military changes that we should all be keenly aware of. A must read.