Book Review : A Higher Loyalty – Truth, Lies, and Leadership by James Comey
A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership by James Comey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
A well written thoughtful and intriguing account of James Comey’s life and career (so far).
You might expect this book to focus on his time as FBI director under Trump and the rather shameful & ignominious way he was treated and subsequently fired from that position – but it’s NOT.
This book contains well written vignettes from throughout his life and impressive career both in and out of public service. From his time working as a shelf-stacker in a grocery store, to being held at gunpoint as a teenager in his home through to fascinating accounts of his time in the Justice Department and the cut & thrust of bumping up against partisan politics in the Bush administration.
We see a man of integrity standing his ground against bullying immoral politics & policies from the illegal activities of the NSA’s surveillance and the CIA’s torture programme.
It’s clear that he’s the antithesis of Trump.
Words that leap to mind from this book : Moral; integrity; thoughtful; intelligent; committed; honest.
In summary: A thoughtful, honest & intriguing analysis of the times we live in seen through James Comey’s life and career .
Book Synopsis
‘Official’ Book Description
In his book, former FBI director James Comey shares his never-before-told experiences from some of the highest-stakes situations of his career in the past two decades of American government, exploring what good, ethical leadership looks like, and how it drives sound decisions. His journey provides an unprecedented entry into the corridors of power, and a remarkable lesson in what makes an effective leader.
Mr. Comey served as director of the FBI from 2013 to 2017, appointed to the post by President Barack Obama. He previously served as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, and the U.S. deputy attorney general in the administration of President George W. Bush. From prosecuting the Mafia and Martha Stewart to helping change the Bush administration’s policies on torture and electronic surveillance, overseeing the Hillary Clinton e-mail investigation as well as ties between the Trump campaign and Russia, Comey has been involved in some of the most consequential cases and policies of recent history.
