As the fight for privacy wages on, it is up to each of us to decide where we stand, to decide what kind of a world we wish to live in. And that is just what we’re here to do. Following are some of the most incredible and revealing works on privacy that will show you a lot more than all those news articles you come across regularly. So let’s take a look.
1. No Place to Hide
The lessons of courage and integrity contained within the pages of No Place to Hide, as exemplified by Edward Snowden, Greenwald as well as the journalists, editors and publishers who supported their efforts in shining a light into the darkest corners of the most powerful government in the world, make this a must read for any truly privacy-conscious individual. The book reads almost like a thriller, but contains a morality tale about the personal courage required of Snowden and Greenwald and his colleagues to expose government wrongdoing while risking their own lives and liberties in doing so. It is the tale that started this debate. This is easily one of the best book on privacy there is, you can find it here.
2. Data and Goliath
When it comes to what government and business are doing together and separately with regards to personal data of everyone in the world, Bruce Schneier (the author) is as knowledgeable as it gets. Data and Goliath exposes the many and surprising ways governments and corporations monitor all of us, making for an excellent read. Not only that, but several practical recommendations and solutions are discussed that deserve to be a part of a much-needed public debate. The cold and dark picture painted by this book seems almost too bad to be true and yet it is the world we live in. You can find this book here.
3. @War: The Rise of the Military-Internet Complex
This book takes you deep inside the government’s surveillance and cyber operations to give an unsparing look at what the NSA and other agencies are really doing with all of our data. In the age of abstract Snowden documents, @War actually introduces you to the people running America’s electronic spying machine, and offers invaluable insights into how their ambition and turf battles impact our financial security, our privacy, and our freedom. Get it from here.
4. Cybersecurity and Cyberwar
If you’re looking for something lighter yet illuminating, this is it. Cybersecurity and Cyberwar provides an easy-to-read, yet deeply informative overview of privacy and cyberwarfare that the world has been desperately missing. Everything from the “Anonymous” hacker group to WikiLeaks to state-funded cyber warfare is discussed in depth.
If you’re new to the field of privacy and cyberattacks, this is the book for you. And if you think you know a lot about these topics, this is still the book for you. It’s thorough, exhaustive, and extremely approachable which make this a must read for everyone. Get it here.
5. How to Be Invisible
How do you keep yourself under the radar in an information age where anyone, anywhere, can track you down? This book addresses this question and lifts you from the depression the above books will likely give you. Meticulously researched and quite entertaining at times, How to Be Invisible gives the smartest and most practical advice on how to stay out of sight in the real world, digitally or otherwise. This is the bible of the privacy-minded. Get it. Follow it. Live it.
So there you have it. These were without a doubt, the most informative and often quite chilling books on privacy and government surveillance. After reading these books, you’ll probably come out with a bleaker outlook of our world. So remember this. The power lies with us. Humanity has overcome a great many obstacles and we will overcome this, but only if you choose to fight. . Privacy is freedom. And what better way to gain knowledge than by reading a book?
P.S: I’ll keep this list updated to account for any new books or editions.
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