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Secrets: A Memoir of Vietnam and the Pentagon Papers Paperback – September 30, 2003

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 601 ratings

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The true story of the leaking of the Pentagon Papers, the event which inspired Steven Spielberg’s feature film The Post

In 1971 former Cold War hard-liner Daniel Ellsberg made history by releasing the Pentagon Papers - a 7,000-page top-secret study of U.S. decision-making in Vietnam - to the
New York Times and Washington Post. The document set in motion a chain of events that ended not only the Nixon presidency but the Vietnam War. In this remarkable memoir, Ellsberg describes in dramatic detail the two years he spent in Vietnam as a U.S. State Department observer, and how he came to risk his career and freedom to expose the deceptions and delusions that shaped three decades of American foreign policy. The story of one man's exploration of conscience, Secrets is also a portrait of America at a perilous crossroad.

"[Ellsberg's] well-told memoir sticks in the mind and will be a powerful testament for future students of a war that the United States should never have fought." -
The Washington Post

"Ellsberg's deft critique of secrecy in government is an invaluable contribution to understanding one of our nation's darkest hours." -Theodore Roszak, 
San Francisco Chronicle
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"[Ellsberg's] well-told memoir sticks in the mind and will be a powerful testament for future students of a war that the United States should never have fought." (The Washington Post)

"Ellsberg's deft critique of secrecy in government is an invaluable contribution to understanding one of our nation's darkest hours." (Theodore Roszak,
San Francisco Chronicle)

About the Author

Daniel Ellsberg, a Harvard graduate, ex-Marine, and Rand Corporation analyst, was one of the "whiz kids" recruited to serve in the Pentagon during the Johnson administration. In 1971, Ellsberg made headlines around the world when he released the Pentagon Papers. He is now a prominent speaker, writer, and activist.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Penguin Books (September 30, 2003)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 528 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0142003425
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0142003428
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.05 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1.12 x 8.42 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 601 ratings

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
601 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book compelling and fascinating. They appreciate the author's insights and ability to describe important historical events. The writing quality is praised as well-written and articulate, with an artful prose style. Readers consider the book worth the price and an eye-opener.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

49 customers mention "Readability"46 positive3 negative

Customers find the book engaging and well-written. They say it's an excellent follow-up to the Pentagon Papers movie. The memoir is considered a critical and important read, especially in this time of new Nixonian nuclear.

"...This is a wonderful book to experience, and in reading it one comes to recognize the formidable skills Ellsberg brings to bear in terms of his..." Read more

"...If it isn't being so already.... Compelling reading." Read more

"...The book is fascinating despite the years that have gone by since the conflict...." Read more

"...An engaging read for anyone interested in American history, politics, and the Vietnam War." Read more

39 customers mention "Insight"39 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's insights. They find it provides important information about the US government's ability to keep secrets. The memoir contains gems and is a valuable resource for history students. Readers praise the author's skill in describing historical events and providing an interesting background.

"...to experience, and in reading it one comes to recognize the formidable skills Ellsberg brings to bear in terms of his amazing recall, eye for details..." Read more

"...It was indeed informative, but I wasn’t completely immersed the entire time...." Read more

"...a four hundred page book on but Ellsberg turns out to have an interesting background and he has a lot to say...." Read more

"...This autobiography provides insight into his life and motivations, while also meticulously detailing the government's efforts to arrest and silence..." Read more

25 customers mention "Writing quality"25 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's writing quality. They find the author articulate and the prose artful. The memoir is written from a perspective that has some experience, and it reads like a novel. Readers also mention that the book is clear, concise, and reads like a fiction.

"...As he explains early in the long yet fascinating monologue, he fully expected to be sentenced to a long prison sentence for having secreted a copy..." Read more

"...Which reads more like a work of fiction than what it truly is: A personal account of what was going on INSIDE the government during the build up and..." Read more

"...I liked that this was written, for lack of better terms, directly from the horse’s mouth...." Read more

"...The book is readable and it states with considerable clarity why the war was wrong." Read more

5 customers mention "Value for money"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book worth the price. They say it's hard to put down and a real eye-opener.

"...Great price for an important old (2002) book about a mostly-forgotten event, despite its stunning revelations about our Country’s most divisive War..." Read more

"...those who have an interest in the Vietnam War should find it worth the effort...." Read more

"I haven't finished the book yet, but it is already worth the price. It's hard to put down...." Read more

"...I found this book to be a real eye opener and worth every second it took to read it!!!!!!!!!!!" Read more

Read This Book!
5 out of 5 stars
Read This Book!
Must read. It reads like a thriller as it exposes Sec Def McNamara and his staff supporting Pres. Johnson who repeatedly deceived the World about his criminal invasion of Vietnam. Ellsberg's Secrets opened my eyes.
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2002
    After finding this book quite by accident while browsing through the wonderful Concord bookstore the other day, I was astounded to find how relevant and interesting a story author Daniel Ellsberg manages to conjure up after all this time regarding his legendary experience leading up to and including the leaking, release and publication of the infamous "Pentagon Papers' by the New York Times. As he explains early in the long yet fascinating monologue, he fully expected to be sentenced to a long prison sentence for having secreted a copy of the highly classified Department of Defense's official history of the American Government's policy and involvement in Vietnam. The report was a damning confirmation of the worst fears of the anti-war movement, and provided overwhelming evidence of the cynical, manipulative, and deceitful character of our government and its deceit to its own people regarding its involvement.

    What surprised Ellsberg most in all of this swirling excitement and activity was his own growing celebrity, and while he spent years fearing the worst for his own admitted culpability in defying criminal statues by stealing and leaking official government secrets, eventually the charges against him were dropped based, among other things, on the revelations of the Nixon's plumber's unit's illegal break-in at Ellsberg's psychiatrist's office. Ellsberg was an unlikely hero, a graduate of the Harvard University economics doctoral program, a former marine officer turned defense issue intellectual, a frequent visitor to Vietnam who was rankled by the distinct difference between what he was seeing and experiencing during his visits, on the one hand, and what the official American government position regarding what the situation was on the ground on the other.

    Based on this growing dissatisfaction and the discovery of the so-called Pentagon papers, a treasure trove of more than 7,000 pages of carefully documented details about the U.S. Government's involvement in Vietnam and its motives, considerations, and actions, Ellsberg tried to enlist the support of a number of Senators and Congressmen in an effort to use the evidence in the Pentagon Papers to undercut the Government's position and thereby end the war itself. Failing to do so, he finally surrendered the documents to the New York Times, which agreed to publish them through a series of daily excerpts (and also later in an abridged best-selling paperback version). The Government tried to stop publication, but was denied the right to do so by the Supreme Court. Of course, with the publication came an increase in public opposition to the war and a recognition of the degree to which the Executive branch and the military had intentionally misled the public regarding the conduct of the war and the situation on the ground for the moiré than 500,000 troops then stationed in-country. Still, it took more than five more years before the American involvement in Vietnam ended.

    This is a wonderful book to experience, and in reading it one comes to recognize the formidable skills Ellsberg brings to bear in terms of his amazing recall, eye for details, and ability to successfully juggle a variety of interacting considerations at the same time. This guy is smarter than the average teddy bear, and it is easy to see how difficult a task it would have been for the Department of Defense and the nitwits over in the White House to try to outmaneuver him. I was a bit surprised at some of the personal revelations in the book, and while it is obvious that Mr. Ellsberg has a healthy ego, he manages for the most part to keep it at bay in retelling a story that could have easily have devolved in a retelling of the David against Goliath epic, but which he keeps objective and factual enough to keep the story rolling along as a recounting of the gripping events that transpired more than thirty years ago and helped to turn the tide of public opinion toward the war in Vietnam. I heartily recommend this book to anyone interested in 20th century American history. Enjoy!
    200 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2013
    This is a brilliant book. During the time Ellsberg relates, he was constantly called upon to write lengthy and detailed reports for officials already over burdened with endless reports they had to consume. He had to be clear, precise, cogent, and articulate. This highly developed skill is amply demonstrated in this book. Which reads more like a work of fiction than what it truly is: A personal account of what was going on INSIDE the government during the build up and eventual crisis of the Vietnam War. And in the fields and hamlets of Vietnam.

    Two quotes to frame the context:

    "A popular government, without popular information or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy, or, perhaps, both. knowledge will forever govern ignorance: And a people who mean to be their own governors, must arm themselves with the power knowledge gives." James Madison. Quoted by Daniel Ellsberg (p431)

    "Once in 1967 after a somewhat pessimistic briefing by John Vann, Rostow, slightly shaken, said, "But you do admit that it'll all be over in six months." "Oh," said Vann somewhat airily, "I think we can hold out longer than that." - The Best And The Brightest p.637 David Halberstam.

    Ellsberg's memoir was published before the Snowdon revelations about the true breadth and depth of NSA foreign and domestic data mining. So there is that additional perspective to ponder. Ellsberg, one of Halberstam's Best and Brightest. A true cold warrior, third in line under McNamara. One of the very best and brightest, who came too late to question Vietnam Policy and ordered the compiling of the Pentagon Papers. The history of Presidential folly, self deception and fear of the primitives and isolationist anti communist("You Lost China") lobby. The Pentagon Papers that Ellsberg released to the press.

    So we have two profoundly important themes - the abuse of power and executive efforts to restrict access to any remotely pertinent information "top secret". And, in Ellsberg's memoir the circumstances and thinking that made him break with the establishment and publish that top secret information.

    "Plus ca change" as the French say. We seem condemned to deprecate the British Empire while seriously intensifying both that Empire's moral (self righteous) certitudes and its most egregious failings and obtuseness.

    The one thing that most impressed me about this book is what Elleberg did NOT say. Did not NEED to say, because he writes so clearly the picture is so clear, in all its awful complexity. To be sure he has his own moral point of view. And he lets this show from time to time. Only, I think, to underscore the fallibility of everyone and anyone involved with or observing the unfolding and unravelling of US Vietnam policy. But, for the most part he has chosen his examples and sequence of events and policy decisions to paint a complete portrait, showing far more than he tells. For me this is brilliant.

    Not a jeremiad. Just a cool and personal report for the ages. Which, judging by more recent military adventures, we are doomed to repeat and not learn from. There will always be honorable souls, like George Ball, Vann and several others Ellsberg quotes and acknowledges, who will see to the heart of the matter. And there will always be "primitives" (Roosevelt's term) who will scare enough people enough of the time for this tragedy to be repeated. If it isn't being so already....

    Compelling reading.
    17 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2024
    I always found the Pentagon Papers and Watergate intriguing subjects. I actually used this book as a reference in a research paper for a college course about the Vietnam War. I usually don’t read books like this, but I occasionally find a subject I want to learn more about and read as much as I can on it. This book in particular looks at Daniel Ellsberg, a former military analyst/activist, who leaked what was known as the Pentagon Papers. They revealed how the American people were lied to and mislead into believing false information about the war. I liked that this was written, for lack of better terms, directly from the horse’s mouth. It was indeed informative, but I wasn’t completely immersed the entire time. But if you are interested in reading about any topics I have previously mentioned, I definitely recommend this read.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • George Thomas
    5.0 out of 5 stars Honesty wins, for once!
    Reviewed in India on December 5, 2024
    This is an examination of conscience. Of the terrible things done in the name of national security. Of petty, cruel people killing people just because they could, and just because getting out of Vietnam seemed a loss of face.
    It is the sad story of a long war started on a faulty premise and continued by President after President, despite the tremendous suffering it caused, and the loss of limbs, mind and life recorded in so many books and films, simply because they did not want to look weak.
    Many paid the price for this narcissism.
  • J. N. Lawson
    5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Engaging
    Reviewed in France on July 22, 2023
    I remember all too well the events narrated in this book. (It chronicles the events that led to my leaving the US for good.) Ellsberg connects more of the dots between the Pentagon papers, the anti-war movement, his own actions and Nixon’s monarch-like rule over a supposed democracy. It makes clear the abrogation/dereliction of duty by both houses of Congress. Sadly, under Trump, the US has come dangerously close once more to an elected monarchy. A must read for all those who wish to avoid the end of democratic rule. Ellsberg, along with M.L. King, Jr, was one of the towering moral heroes of the late 20th century.
  • Matt
    5.0 out of 5 stars Real life spy thriller
    Reviewed in Canada on February 8, 2021
    Like many 30-somethings, I was never taught the history of the Vietnam war in school. Plenty about the world wars and the contemporary conflicts, but for whatever reason, a massive gap in mid-century conflicts.

    There could really be no better time to read this book than today. The power of the executive branch has lost none of its potency and it is incredible to witness the lack of dignity given to congress let alone the voting public.

    Ellsberg is a passionate and driven writer. The book can feel a bit aimless and unbalanced from a plot point perspective but he has so many gems throughout the book and profound insights that you can see a true master of his craft.

    I'd rank this more of 4.5 / 5.0 but 4.0 / 5.0 is just cruel. The book is excellent, highly recommended.
  • ohneeigenschaften
    5.0 out of 5 stars outstanding memoir
    Reviewed in Germany on May 16, 2014
    This is really an outstanding personal memoir of the Cold War and essential reading. There's nothing more to say except to admire the relentless honesty of the enterprise.
  • Barry Ryder
    5.0 out of 5 stars Hero or villain?
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 29, 2013
    Daniel Ellsberg may not have been the first `whistle-blower' and he certainly isn't the last but, he is, most assuredly, one of the most courageous and effective voices ever to shout above the din of governmental deception.

    He did betray his pledge of secrecy and he did break the law. But, ultimately, his actions hastened the end of the Vietnam War and prevented any further carnage. His revelations and refusal to be silenced was also the Genesis of the Watergate scandal which ended with the ignominious resignation of Nixon and the imprisonment of those who had sought so hard to cover-up the duplicity of the White House.

    On balance, this reader remains convinced that Ellsberg - and the many who assisted him - is and are heroes.
    This book chronicles the author's early involvement and support of the expanding war in Vietnam. Ellsberg believed in the war and its aims and he was deeply committed to it. However, after tours of the battle zones, he began to be struck by the `credibility gap' of what he was seeing and what his government was reporting to the American people.
    `Secrets' takes the reader through Ellsberg's crisis of conscience and his eventual `turning'. It's a compelling read. He - and others, too - risked jail and public acrimony for being `traitors' but they did what they believed to be right and carried public opinion with them.

    There is much here about how the press, at first wary of involvement, soon became galvanised to publish the Pentagon Papers as the White House sought to silence it. It's gripping from beginning to end.
    Some of the most chilling parts are the transcripts of Nixon's taped conversations with Kissinger and others. The reader will be able to examine particular exchanges in which Nixon `sounds out' Kissinger on the possibilities of bursting the dykes and drowning two-hundred-thousand Vietnamese. In another segment, Nixon broaches the possibility of pursuing the nuclear option. When Kissinger baulks, Nixon berates him and chides him, saying, " The nuclear bomb, does that bother you?...I just want you to think big, Henry, for Christ sakes."

    To appreciate the maximum effect of these and other taped exchanges, readers might wish to view the DVD `The Most Dangerous Man In America'. It follows this book very closely and actually hearing the voice of Nixon saying these things really is shocking.

    barry